UNNECESSARY REPETITION? THINK AGAIN.

February 24, 2016

UNNECESSARY REPETITION? THINK AGAIN.

Matthew 15:29–39

Jenny Schreiner

Central Truth

Jesus recognizes our needs before we are fully aware of them and shows compassion toward us. He meets us in our brokenness and offers the free gift of grace.

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." (Matthew 15:32)

Jesus Heals Many

29 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

I am sure many of you have heard the famous story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with just five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21). We learned about it on The Journey just a few days ago! While the story we read today of Jesus feeding the four thousand may seem like an unnecessary repetition, the significance of it lies in whom Jesus was feeding.

When Jesus fed the five thousand, He was providing food to the Jewish community. Here, Jesus is deliberately repeating the Jewish feeding miracle, but this time He is feeding Gentiles who had just "glorified the God of Israel" (Matthew 15:31). While the nation of Israel was already known as God's chosen people, the Gentiles were pagans who regarded themselves highly. However, this passage reveals that the Gentiles, too, will share in Israel's blessing. Because of Jesus, now nations far and wide have the opportunity to receive God's blessing, not just God's chosen people.

Both stories of Jesus feeding the four thousand and Jesus feeding the five thousand are expressions of His compassion and miraculous power. Today's passage does not suggest that people were asking Jesus for food; rather, He knew their need and met them in their weakness. Jesus, like His Father, recognizes our need before we ask (Matthew 6:8). How great is that!? We do not have to make ourselves "perfect" before coming to Jesus. Rather, He meets us in the midst of our sin and brokenness.

There is nothing we can ever do to make ourselves "good enough" to receive God's blessing. All we have to do is accept Christ's free gift of grace.

1. Do you view Jesus as having miraculous power? Why or why not?

2. Do you fully believe the grace Christ extends to us is sufficient for salvation? Or do you believe that you must accept grace and also complete good works to receive this blessing from God?

3. What are some practical ways that you can "meet people where they are" in your day-to-day life?