Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility marks a major transition in Jesus’ ministry as He withdraws, reveals true worship, and opens the door to the Gentiles. The Canaanite woman shows that great faith flows from humility, not persistence alone. Jesus responds to worship that bows low and trusts His goodness. The healing and feeding of the Gentiles reveal that what God has done before, He can do again, and true humility still moves His heart.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Matthew 15:21, 1 Kings 19:19-21, Luke 5:27, Luke 5:27-28, Matthew 11:16, Matthew 15:22-24, Matthew 15:25-28, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 15:29-31, 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, Matthew 15:32-38,
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Transition and New Division in the Ministry of Jesus
We’ll look at Matthew 15:21–39, which brings us to the end of chapter 15 and moves us toward chapter 16. This matters because this lesson marks the beginning of a new session, a new section, and a new division in the ministry of Jesus Christ, according to the book of Matthew. Matthew presents the ministry of Christ in five major divisions, and this section marks the third, placing us right in the middle of what Matthew is showing.
From this point, the movement of the Gospel carries us forward toward the passion week (Matthew 21–27) and eventually into the resurrection (Matthew 28:1–20). Although we are still weeks away from those events, they are now clearly in view. With that in mind, we turn to the introduction for today’s section, verses 21 through 39 of chapter 15.
We will see that even the Lord took a vacation. I want you to see that because we all need a vacation. He becomes our pattern, and I want to show that the Lord Jesus was not a Fuddy Dutty but a real neat guy. You and I would probably enjoy vacationing with Him, and one day we will.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Overview of the Lesson — Gentiles, Faith, and Repeated Miracles
In this lesson, we also see the great faith of the Canaanite woman. She faced a situation that would anger most of us, yet she impressed the Lord. This marked the beginning of the Lord’s ministry to the Gentiles. After the vacation, the multitude returned. He healed them, delivered them, had compassion on them, and even fed them. This multitude was Gentile, not Jewish. The feeding of the 4,000 shows that whatever the Lord has done for us in the past, He can and will do it again.
As I thought about this, I realized how often we forget the miracles the Lord has already worked in our lives. Like the disciples, we forget and then cry out again, wondering what we will do. Yet the same Lord who fed the 4,000 and the 5,000 can still do it again (Matthew 14:19-21; Matthew 15:36-38).
Matthew structures his Gospel around five major breakdowns of the ministry of Christ. The beginning of His ministry runs from chapter 1, verse 1, through chapter 4, verse 11. The Galilean ministry follows from chapter 4, verse 12, through chapter 15, verse 20, which we have just completed.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
We now begin the period of rest, or retirement, and the Perian ministry. This section runs from chapter 15, verse 21, through chapter 20, verse 34, and focuses on ministry to the Gentiles. Matthew’s purpose is to show that Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 1:1), so he spends more time on the Galilean ministry to the Jews and the Passion Week in Judea. The Passion Week covers chapter 21, verse 1 through chapter 27, verse 66, and the resurrection is recorded in chapter 28, verses 1 through 20 (Matthew 28:1-20).
Jesus Withdraws to Tyre and Sidon
Matthew 15:21
21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
In verse 21, Jesus departed to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. The word departed means to retire. He withdrew into that region (Matthew 15:21). According to Hendrickson’s New Testament commentary on Matthew, this retirement ministry lasted about six months, from April to October of AD 29. After that, the Perian ministry began around December of AD 29 and continued into April of AD 30. That was a six-month vacation!
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
During this time, Jesus was largely away from the crowds and spent time with His disciples. Matthew records only one interruption, the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22-28). For six months He was mostly alone with His men. When I think about that, I cannot see them spending the entire time fasting and praying. I believe there was teaching, but I also believe there was rest, relationship, and time together that shaped them before everything that followed.
As I thought about this, I could not see them spending six months fasting, praying, and teaching over and over. That does not sound like a vacation to me. I believe the Lord Jesus could swim and still be the Son of God. I believe He could enjoy Himself and still be who He was.
Discipleship Through Shared Life
Some of the most memorable ministry times Judy and I have had were when our pastor included us in his vacations. We traveled together, swam, fished, ate, played golf, laughed, and ate some more. Those were the times when I was truly ministered to as a person. Corporate gatherings matter, but discipleship does not happen in one hour a week. It takes time and shared life, and my pastor poured that into me.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
We were not always talking about Scripture. Sometimes we were just enjoying life together, and I learned how to live the gospel, not just talk about it (James 1:22). That is where I learned how to live this thing, not by listening to sermons. I believe the disciples needed to learn the same way (Matthew 10:24-25), and that takes time.
I believe Jesus enjoyed those times with His disciples. Certainly, my pastor did, and I do now. I laugh, I relax, and I am not always reading Scripture. Steve Almond told me that one thing that ministered to him was that I never forced things on him. I did not always try to get him baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4) or impress him with what I knew. I was available when he wanted to talk, and I answered his questions.
To me, those six months were not spent solely in fasting and prayer. I believe they enjoyed themselves. They likely fished because they liked to fish (Matthew 4:19). I believe they ate a lot, and Jesus Himself said they called Him a winebibber and a gluttonous man (Matthew 11:19).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Attachment in Ministry — Elijah and Elisha
Randy Adler’s story illustrates that attachment. He wanted what Dr. Hammond had, so he served him in simple ways and stayed close. Without forcing himself in, he attached himself and allowed ministry to be imparted through a relationship.
He was talking about being at a seminar when a minister approached him and said he thought someone would take care of him and disciple him. He said he always answers with the same Scripture Elijah spoke, telling Elisha to go back and not depend on him (1 Kings 19:20). The point is that if you really want it, you will go after it and hook up with it.
Elisha went back, slew his oxen, and burned his equipment so he could not return to his old life. Then he went after Elijah (1 Kings 19:21).
1 Kings 19:19–21
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Elisha spent the rest of Elijah’s time on earth with him because he attached himself to Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). That is what I see here and what I am trying to get across. To be in ministry, you have to attach yourself to ministry.
Personal Attachment and Spiritual Jealousy
Somehow I knew that, even if I could not explain exactly why. God put my pastor and me together. Everywhere you saw him, there I was working side by side. It made people in the church envious and jealous of the relationship (1 Corinthians 3:3). I did not really care. I wanted what he had, and that was the closest thing I had to true ministry, and I held on to it.
There was perhaps some fasting, praying, and teaching, but there was also enjoyment and shared life. I believe Jesus liked to have fun, that He could swim and laugh and still be the Son of God.
I believe He enjoyed Himself, even though pictures never show Him that way. The Bible does not present Him as joyless or detached. That brings me to the next point. This is the main thing I want to emphasize, and the rest we will simply scan because we have largely covered it.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Let’s look at Luke 5:27.
Luke 5:27-28
27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
We discussed this earlier in Matthew, but I am taking it from Luke because he gives more detail. Jesus went forth and saw Levi, who is Matthew, sitting at the receipt of customs. Jesus said to him, Follow me. Levi left all, rose up, and followed Him (Luke 5:28).
That statement that Matthew left all is important. When you follow ministry, you leave things behind. It does not usually happen all at once, but eventually you end up with nothing or everything. That is simply part of following (Luke 14:33). In practical terms, that means being dependent on God. I am dependent on this fellowship, on my eldership, and ultimately on God. That is the way I want it, and that is the way God has led me (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 37:23).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Jesus at the Feast With Sinners
After Levi followed Jesus, he made a great feast for Jesus in Levi’s, i.e., Matthew’s, own house. There was a large company of publicans and others sitting with them (Luke 5:29). This was clearly a gathering, even a party. Jesus went where sinners were, and that is a powerful evangelistic picture. When people get saved, they should gather their friends, and we should be willing to go to them just as Jesus did (Luke 5:29-32).
The scribes and Pharisees murmured against the disciples, asking why they ate and drank with publicans and sinners (Luke 5:30). The text shows that Jesus Himself ate and drank with them, as Matthew also records (Matthew 9:10-11). The point is clear. Jesus enjoyed being with people.
Jesus could enjoy Himself and still be holy and righteous. He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). There is no suggestion of anything improper. He was pure, righteous, and holy. That brings us to what Jesus said about Himself in Matthew 11, beginning at verse 16.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Matthew 11:16
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Jesus Recognized by Sinners, Rejected by the Religious
I want you to see that Jesus enjoyed Himself. When He went with His disciples on that six-month vacation, I believe they enjoyed themselves. I do not believe it was spent only in fasting, praying, and Scripture, even though those things were certainly part of it.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
When I look back at my own life, the times I learned to live a Christ-like life were not spent sitting in a pew. I learned it in a fishing boat and on a golf course. I learned how to live the Christian life outside the church (James 1:22). That is how discipleship really happens. You are not going to be discipled properly by sitting under a two-hour message once a week (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus was not some gloomy or unnatural religious figure. I do not believe He walked around as a spiritual guru with His hands in the air speaking in tongues all the time (1 Corinthians 14:2). I do not find that in Scripture. What I do find is that sinners liked Him far more than religious people did (Luke 7:34).
I believe Jesus was a neat guy. I believe you, and I would have enjoyed having Him in our church, going on vacation with Him, playing golf with Him, fishing with Him, and spending time with Him. He was not frightening or detached. He was very real, just as the Bible portrays Him (Philippians 2:7).
Jesus is the Son of God and fully God, and He is the Son of Man and fully man (John 1:14). I do not understand how that works, but I believe it because the Bible says it. He is enjoyable to be with. I enjoy reading about Him, talking about Him, and experiencing His presence (Hebrews 13:5).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
I am trying to move us away from a program mentality. The Lord was not a fuddy-duddy, and He was not a spiritual guru walking around with his hands lifted all the time, even though His heart was always lifted (Psalm 16:8). I may not always walk with my hands lifted, but I try to keep my heart lifted (Psalm 25:1).
Jesus was real, and He enjoyed Himself. He was fun to be with unless you were religious. Jesus did not like religious people, and religious people did not like Him (Matthew 23:27-28). He went on vacation. He took His disciples with Him, and they enjoyed themselves together.
Would We Recognize Jesus Today?
I was reminded of a conversation with Tebo at the hospital when his daughter had surgery. We talked about how the religious people of Jesus’ day did not recognize Him when He came (John 1:11). I still wonder whether we would recognize Him today if He came and spent time with sinners, attended gatherings, drank a little wine, and enjoyed Himself (Luke 7:34).
That is not the way we usually think about Jesus Christ. Yet that is what the Bible actually shows. I do not think we would recognize Him today if He came because we still carry spiritual hangups. When I look at you, I should see Him, and when you look at me, you should see Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). I am not expecting anyone to act spiritual all the time. Let us enjoy our Christianity.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Total abstinence from wine is the best policy (Proverbs 20:1). I do not think that abstinence will ever get you into trouble. I am totally abstinent except in the case of communion at an elder’s house, where a little wine is used (1 Corinthians 11:25). That comes down to how you were raised to think. I still believe abstinence is best, but if someone fails, they can pray through and be forgiven (1 John 1:9).
The Canaanite Woman and the Opening of the Door to the Gentiles
We now move to the next point: the fate of the Canaanite woman in verses 22-28.
Matthew 15:22-24
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
If we get nothing else tonight, this section is enough. The healing and feeding of the 4,000 largely mirror the feeding of the 5,000 in chapter 14 (Matthew 14:19-21). We have already spent a great deal of time on this.
A woman of Canaan came crying out to Him, calling Him the Son of David and asking for mercy for her demonized daughter (Matthew 9:27). Jesus did not answer her at first, and the disciples asked Him to send her away. This shows how far the disciples still had to go. Jesus was on a time of rest with His disciples in the region of Tyre and Sidon, yet this moment opened the door to His ministry to the Gentiles (Matthew 15:28-31).
Up to this point, Jesus had been sent specifically to the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6). Now we see Him beginning to minister beyond natural Israel to spiritual Israel (Romans 2:28-29). This woman followed Him during His vacation time and kept crying out. Her crying was not weeping but clamoring and shouting. She would not stop.
She addressed Him as Son of David, the same title used by the blind men in Matthew 9 (Matthew 9:27). Jesus did not respond to that title then either, but healed them afterward (Matthew 9:28-30). Son of David is a political and kingdom title. Jesus did not come the first time as King but as Savior, the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He came to give His life as the propitiation and sacrifice for sin (1 John 2:2; Hebrews 9:26).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Why Jesus Did Not Respond to the Title Son of David
When He comes again, He will not come as a Lamb but as King and Lord (Revelation 19:16). He will never die again (Romans 6:9). That is why He did not respond to the Son of David title at this moment. Later, when He enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), the crowds will cry out, Hosanna to the Son of David (Matthew 21:9).
But Jesus still did not respond to that title, and we will see that again later. I just want you to notice it here. The woman said her daughter was grievously vexed with a devil. The word daughter means a female child, and the phrase vexed with the devil comes from a single Greek word meaning demonized. The condition is clear and unmistakable. The child was possessed by a demon (Matthew 15:22). Every description points to the same conclusion. There was no doubt about her condition.
I believe that when a person is truly demon-possessed, there is no doubt about it. They do not have to act it or play a part. It is obvious, and demon activity is clearly present (Mark 1:23-26). That is what we see here. This child was not pretending, and there was no confusion about what was happening.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
What stands out to me is that the mother came alone. The daughter was the one demonized, but the mother came and cried out for help. She asked the Lord to help her because her daughter was grievously vexed with a devil (Matthew 15:22). The parent came to Jesus on behalf of the child.
Many parents want their children to be righteous and holy while they themselves live carelessly. The parent must come to the Lord first and cover the child, just as Job did for his household (Job 1:5). That principle is clear here.
The disciples asked Jesus to send her away. The word besought means they interrogated and repeatedly requested Him to dismiss her. She followed Him, crying out for help, and they saw her as a nuisance. This mirrors their earlier response at the feeding of the five thousand, when they wanted to send the crowd away (Matthew 14:15). Seems they were always trying to push people away to protect Jesus.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Jesus Draws People While Disciples Push Them Away
Jesus consistently pulled people to Himself (Matthew 11:28). He had compassion on them (Matthew 14:14). He did not send this woman away, even though the disciples wanted Him to. Jesus answered them by saying He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24).
Up to this point, that statement was true according to His own words. He had been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6). Yet He did not dismiss the woman. He granted her request, and from there, He went on to minister to thousands of Gentiles.
And He spends the next several chapters ministering. What I want us to see is that He is expanding the disciples’ understanding of who the house of Israel really is. It goes beyond natural boundaries. The house of Israel is spiritual, not merely natural (Romans 9:6-8). Up to this point, the ministry of Christ had been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Now it is time for those with the spirit of Israel to come forth. By His own words, He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but He is now beginning to transcend natural boundaries.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
This is seen clearly in this chapter. He did not send the woman away as the disciples thought He should. The multitudes were healed in verses 29-31 and fed in verses 33-39, and all of them were Gentiles. He ministered to them all, even while saying He was sent to the house of Israel. Their thinking is being expanded. Praise God that He did this. Praise the Lord that He ministered to Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35). It was important that Jesus Himself ministered to us Gentiles.
Matthew 15:25-28
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
This, to me, is the most important thought in this whole section. The first thing I saw was that she came and worshiped Him (Matthew 15:25). The word worship means to humble oneself, like a dog licking its master’s hand. Worship is not clapping, dancing, or singing. It is humility.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Worship Defined as Humility
This Canaanite woman came, crouched down, bowed, humbled herself, and worshiped Him (Matthew 15:25). She was not praising Him. She was worshiping Him. Worship is not praise. Worship is the rending of the veil. It is humbling yourself, rending the flesh, and truly lowering yourself before Him (Psalm 51:17).
Great faith in the New Testament is connected to two things. One is understanding spiritual authority. The other is humility expressed through worship. She was not praising the Lord. She was worshiping Him. The woman humbled herself. She acknowledged Him as Lord, power, Messiah, and King. Just as a dog humbles itself before its master, she humbled herself and prostrated herself before Him.
Christians struggle more with worship than with praise. Praise is easier. It includes clapping, dancing, lifting hands, and celebration. Worship means falling down and acknowledging Him as Master and Lord. It’s humbling one’s self. Worship requires humility and submission (James 4:10).
We do well with praise. Praise is entering His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). It is exuberant and expressive. Worship is different. Worship is another dimension. It is humbling ourselves, rending the flesh, destroying pride, and adoring Him (Philippians 2:5-8).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
The word dogs means puppy dogs. Many teachers say the dogs represent Gentiles, and I agree, but I see more than that. This woman pictures true worship. She humbled herself like a puppy submitting to its master. Jesus used that example and said it was not right to give the children’s bread to the dogs (Matthew 15:26).
Instead of being offended, she accepted it. She did not walk away angry. She responded rightly. Her response revealed a true heart. She yielded, and that proved her worship. That worship produced great faith (Matthew 15:27-28). True worship brings great faith.
Great Faith Identified by Response
If we want to see miracles, we must understand this principle. She acknowledged that a good father cares for his children and his pets. Even crumbs are enough.
I thought about people who care for their animals and how natural that understanding is. That is where this woman was coming from. She trusted the goodness of the Master. She believed He would take care of her (James 5:16). Jesus responded by calling her a woman of great faith and granted her request. Her daughter was healed immediately (Matthew 15:28). That moment showed me that great faith is tied to true worship, true humility, and a rending of the veil of self (Matthew 15:28).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Her faith was seen in her response. If her worship had not been real, she would have been offended. She was not. She humbled herself and trusted Him. I compare her to the centurion in Matthew 8. He understood authority and had great faith. The only two people Jesus called great in faith were the centurion and this woman (Matthew 8:5-13; Matthew 15:28) – both Gentiles.
The centurion understood authority, and this woman understood bowing and humbling herself. Those are the two areas in which Christians struggle most. People resist submission and bowing down. Then we wonder why signs, wonders, and miracles are limited.
In Matthew 8, great faith is connected to understanding authority (Matthew 8:9-10). In Matthew 15, great faith is connected to true humility, which is worship (Matthew 15:25-28). Authority and humility, worship and the rending of the flesh, are the hardest areas for believers to grasp. Scripture connects great faith only to these two qualities.
This woman had many good qualities. She worshiped the Lord. She loved her child. The woman understood humility. She was not easily offended. She persevered (Luke 18:1-8). Perseverance mattered, but it was not the root issue.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Humility as the Key to Answered Prayer
I do not believe perseverance alone would have brought her an answer. She could have followed Him for years, yelling and crying out, and still received nothing. Without humility, she would not have been answered. Everything comes back to her willingness to humble herself (James 4:6).
She followed even when people did not want her around, just as God’s people sometimes reject others (John 1:11). When Jesus finally spoke, He said something she did not want to hear. She did not stop listening. She responded correctly. Jesus answered her request. She wrestled with Him until she was blessed, just as Jacob wrestled until he received his blessing (Genesis 32:28).
She received her answer, and her daughter was made whole from that very hour (Matthew 15:28). I like this woman. I see someone who truly knew how to touch the heart of God. That principle is the same one the Lord gives when He says that His people, who are called by His name, must humble themselves and pray (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God’s Answer to Solomon’s Prayer
Do you know that that was a direct answer to Solomon’s prayer? Solomon has just prayed to the Lord in 2 Chronicles 6 (2 Chronicles 6:36–39).
Solomon had just finished building the temple and lifted his hands in prayer. The entire chapter records his prayer. He asked that if the people were judged, taken captive, and carried to another land, and if they humbled themselves, prayed, and sought God’s face, would God hear from heaven and restore them (2 Chronicles 6:36-39).
God answered that prayer. That sheds light on the meaning of what follows. I hope we do not have to be taken into captivity before we finally humble ourselves. That connection is found directly in what is written in 2 Chronicles 6 and 7 (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Matthew 15:29-31
29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Later, multitudes came to Jesus. He healed them, and they stayed with Him. The Gentiles stayed day and night, while the Jews would go home (Matthew 15:29-31). They remained with Him three days and three nights as He healed the lame, opened blind eyes, caused the dumb to speak, and made the maimed whole (Matthew 15:30-31).
The Purpose of Miracles
The people stood in amazement. They watched as individuals were brought to Him and saw Jesus minister to them one by one. That is why they were filled with wonder. I think about what it would be like if this happened in our city. We need the gifts of the Spirit to manifest so ministry can go forth to this area and this city (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
There is a clear purpose for these miracles. The result was that the people glorified the God of Israel (Matthew 15:31). That is what the gifts are for. First Corinthians 14 explains that when unbelievers or the unlearned see the gifts operating, they will fall down and worship God (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).
1 Corinthians 14:24–25
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
And they’ll go out and report that God is in you of a truth.
Matthew 15:32-38
32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
Then He fed the 4,000, just as He had done in chapter 14, except this time they were Gentiles (Matthew 15:32-38). The situation closely mirrors the feeding of the 5,000. The disciples again questioned how the food would be provided in a wilderness place, even though it had not been long since the earlier miracle (Matthew 14:19-21).
This shows how easy it is to forget what God has already done. When we face a new need, we forget past miracles and cry out again. The disciples did it, and so do we (Psalm 78:11). We may laugh at them, but we are often no different.
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Why the Miracle Is Repeated
The comparison between the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 shows that the miracles are nearly identical, with only a few differences. That raises the question of why Scripture records the miracle again. I see two reasons.
First, what He did for the Jew, He also does for the Gentile (Romans 1:16). This miracle shows Jesus ministering directly to the Gentiles. This Gentile ministry lasted about three days and closely resembles the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus taught them about the God of Israel, showing that the door was now open to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).
Second, Jesus can repeat miracles. What He has done before, He can do again (Psalm 77:14). That truth should comfort us. God can still save a nation. He can still restore a church. Jesus can still bring His people back to what they were in the days of the apostles (Acts 2:42-47). He can also work again in our individual lives. Miracles we needed in the past and that only He could do can be repeated today if necessary. He is able to do it again and again for His people (Ephesians 3:20).
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
Matthew 15 21-39 How to See Great Faith Through Humility
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