Jesus Ministers to Gentiles

Topic: Compassion
Passage: Matthew 15:21–39

March 19, 2022

Commentary

Jesus went into Tyre and Sidon (present day Lebanon), Gentile country (v. 21). Jesus wanted His disciples to have a compassion for Gentiles as well as Jews. The gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). A Canaanite woman heard where He was and came to Him pleading that He have mercy on her demon poss­essed daughter (v. 22). At first Jesus did not answer (v. 23). As she persisted the disciples said, “send her away!” Then Jesus responded by saying he had only been sent to the lost sheep of Israel. But again, the woman persisted. Jesus then said it wouldn’t be right to give the children’s bread to dogs, meaning Israel’s blessings shouldn’t go to Gentiles (vv. 24-26). But in faith, she humbled herself, accepting that she was a dog, but even the dogs get the crumbs that fall from the table (v. 27). With this testimony of faith Jesus immediately healed her daughter (v. 28). Only two people in the Gospels are said to have “great” faith, and both were Gentiles. Great faith does not depend on background or position, but on the heart.

From there, Jesus traveled to the Decapolis (the 10 cities) located on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. This was Gentile country as well, a league of cities with special autonomy from the Romans to mint their own coins, run their own courts, and have their own army. When the people learned that Jesus was there, great crowds came to Him and brought the sick, the lame, the blind, the dumb, and the crippled. Jesus healed them. (vv. 30-31). This ministry lasted for approximately three days (v. 32). By that time the people had eaten all their food supply, and Jesus didn’t want to send them away on an empty stomach lest they faint on the way. As he had fed the 5,000 Israelites (14:13-21), he fed the 4,000 Gentiles in the same way (vv. 35-38).

Application

Are there times when persist in asking the Lord to supply a need through prayer? Are there times when I am worried about things when I should just trust the Lord?

Matthew 15:21– 39 (NET)

21 After going out from there, Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that area came and cried out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!” 23 But he did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, “Send her away, because she keeps on crying out after us.” 24 So he answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and bowed down before him and said, “Lord, help me!” 26 “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” he said. 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

29 When he left there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain, where he sat down. 30 Then large crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them. 31 As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.

32 Then Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry since they may faint on the way.” 33 The disciples said to him, “Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?” 34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven—and a few small fish.” 35 After instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds. 37 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38 Not counting children and women, there were 4,000 men who ate. 39 After sending away the crowd, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.