Jesus to the Gentiles (Matthew 15 - P 38)

Today's passage is going to sound very familiar!  Just a few details will be changed from the experience we read about in Matthew 14 when Jesus miraculously fed 5000+ people.  But there is a wealth of wonder in those few differences.  Read carefully ...

Matthew 15: 29 - 39

The writers of the gospels do not seem to be the least bit concerned about timing - how much time passes between chapters, sometimes even between verses.  They are telling the story of the God/man and relating to their particular audiences.  So scholars must piece together timing from clues given in the passages themselves.  As I studied, I learned that it was most likely spring when Jesus fed the 5000+ in Matthew 14 and it is most likely summer or fall as we enter our passage today.  Also, we learn from placing this experience with Mark's account of the same event that Jesus has gone from the region of Tyre (by the Mediterranean Sea) to the region of the Decapolis (south and then east of the Sea of Galilee) and he went by way of Sidon (which is north of Tyre).  That would be like a traveler going from Philadelphia to Atlanta by way of New York - or from El Paso to Houston by way of Lubbock.  And remember this traveling was on foot ... not in an airplane.  Why in the world would Jesus go north to go south?  Most believe it was to prolong the journey.  He would have more time with his disciples ... on their own ... without the press of crowds ... without the demands of others.  Those of you who enjoy car trips when there are no time deadlines will understand!

So Jesus and his band arrive in the Decapolis area.  This name refers to a loose federation of 10 free Greek cities.  Notice the details ... and the differences from the previous event:

1. Since they are on the east side of the Sea of Galilee ... since they were in the region of the Decapolis ... their crowd would be primarily Gentile.  The previous group in Matthew 14 was primarily Jewish.  Huge difference!  Why?  It means that Jesus is as concerned about the Gentiles as He was about the Jews.  That's good news for most of us ... probably all of us reading this.  We always speak about Peter opening the door to the Gentile world ... and Paul being the apostle to walk through it and minister to them ... and they were.  But here we see that Jesus was the one to first open the door!  He opens the door to Gentiles so that they, too, can understand that He is the bread of life.  He provides sustenance ... spiritual food for the soul.  It is Jesus.  Still is.
2. The baskets are different.  The word translated 'basket' in Matthew 14 is kophinoi which was a narrow-necked, flask-shaped basket which Jews carried with them to carry a bit of food just in case they were not where they could get "clean" food - untouched by Gentile hands.  The word translated 'basket' in Matthew 15 is sphurides - more like a hamper - the kind of basket a Gentile would use.  More evidence that this is Gentile crowd.  
3. The third difference we notice is the number of 'baskets' of leftovers.  In the first feeding there were 12 baskets filled with the leftovers.  Twelve ... Jewish crowd ... the number of the tribes of Israel ... twelve.  Such an important number for the Jews.  Twelve ... all inclusive ... all Jews ... come, be fed by Jesus.  Now we read of 7 baskets filled with leftovers.  Seven ... Gentile crowd ... the number of the tribes of Canaan.  Such an important number for the Gentiles.  Seven ... all inclusive ... all Gentiles ... come, be fed by Jesus.  

In this passage we get such a beautiful snapshot of our Lord.  He cured physical disabilities and illnesses; He was so concerned for the tired and weary; He fed the hungry.  Close your time today by reading a lovely thought from biblical scholar Alfred Edersheim:

In three successive stages of his ministry, Jesus ended each stage by setting a meal before his people.  First, there was the feeding of the 5,000; that came at the end of his ministry in Galilee, for Jesus was never to teach and preach and heal in Galilee again.  Second, there was this feeding of the 4,000.  This came at the end of his brief ministry to the Gentiles, beyond the bounds of Palestine - first in the districts of Tyre and Sidon and then in the Decapolis.  Third and last, there was the Last Supper in Jerusalem, when Jesus came to the final stage of the days of his earthly life.

So notice ... Jesus ALWAYS left people with strength for the way.  He fed them ... gave them sustenance.  He still comes and offers us to feed upon him ... gain strength for the way ahead ... sustenance for the journey.  Are you feasting?  If not, I would encourage you to heed the advice in these few verses:

Sit down ... thankfully take the bread offered by the Lord ... and be refreshed.