SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 15:29-39
Jesus left Tyre and Sidon and returned to the Sea of Galilee. He went up a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came and he healed many. The people were amazed and they praised the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples to him. He tells them he has compassion on the people who have not eaten for three days and he doesn’t want to send them away hungry or they may collapse. His disciples wonder how they will get the food. Jesus asked for the loaves of bread they had and the fish. He gave thanks for the bread and fish and broke them. He gave them to his disciples who distributed it to the people.
Everyone ate and was satisfied. They had seven basketfulls of broken pieces left over. Four thousand ate plus women and children. Then he traveled to Magadan.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 16, Day 5: Matthew 15:29-39
12a) Similar: Jesus was moved by compassion to feed the crowd. Both times, the disciples didn’t know what to do. Both times, everyone sat and Jesus gave thanks for the bread and fish. He distributed the food through the disciples’ hands. They all ate and were satisfied.
b) Different: In one account, Jesus feeds 5,000; here, he feeds 4,000. The miracles happened in different locations in Galilee. Here, Jesus takes the initiative to feed the people. In the feeding of the 5,000, the disciples wish to send the people away to buy their own food. In the feeding of the 5,000, they had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Here, they have 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. In the feeding of the 5,000, there were 12 basketfuls of broken pieces left over. Here, they had 7 basketfulls left over.
13a) To see that Jesus’s power is consistent and now a fluke. He is the Son of God.
b) He is showing others who he is, as well as setting the stage for the future when Gentiles will be welcomed into God’s kingdom.
14) Contentment in life
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 16, Day 5: Matthew 15:29-39
I love seeing how Jesus cares for his people’s physical needs and provides food and sustenance when they need it. I had forgotten about this miracle since the Feeding of the 5,000 overshadows it.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 16, Day 5: Matthew 15:29-39
This is the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee in a region known as the Decapolis. It was mostly Gentiles or unbelievers. The fact they gathered and believed in the power of Jesus to heal shows his impact on the region.
Whether they had faith before, we are not told. We are told that after they were healed, they glorified the God of Israel, presumably turning to God.
Jesus came to relieve human suffering and show God on earth by opening spiritual eyes.
Again, God provides out of His abundance by having leftovers. Many see the feeding of the 5,000 and the the 4,000 as a precursor to the Messianic banquet and showed that Gentiles would be accepted there.