Matthew (Written)

Sunday, 11 January 2026

Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Matthew 15:33

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And the disciples, they say to Him, ‘Whence to us in solitude – loaves so many as to gorge a crowd so vast?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that He had compassion on the crowd, knowing they had not eaten for three days. He noted that He didn’t want them to depart hungry lest they might collapse on the way. Matthew now records, “And the disciples, they say to Him, ‘Whence to us in solitude – loaves.’”

A new word is seen, erémia, solitude. It is derived from erémos, lonesome. Both give the sense of a wilderness or waste area, including a desert. The disciples are concerned about presenting bread to the people, as there was no place near enough to obtain it.

This attitude perplexes scholars who immediately assume they would have remembered the feeding of the five thousand and taken it for granted that this would be expected again. Such an attitude is shallow, and it dismisses the reality of life with Jesus.

They traveled to places, had to feed themselves, such as when walking through the grainfields picking the heads, they ate at people’s houses, etc. At these times, Jesus didn’t just pop food in front of them. Luke specifically records this thought in his gospel –

“Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Luke 5:17

The words seem to presuppose that there were times when the power to heal wasn’t openly manifest. They may have gone to many towns where He taught, and yet no healings took place. We weren’t there and cannot know.

This is true with the disciples and apostles as well. There were times when they could heal and times when they did not. This continued through the apostolic age. Paul specifically mentions a number of people with physical troubles whom he did not heal. There are times when Peter and Paul restored the dead to life. But these were unique, non-repeatable events.

This attitude also dismisses the record of Israel where there were great miracles, such as the crossing of the Red Sea, the bitter water made sweet, manna and quail being provided, etc., and within no time, Moses was saying –

“The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’ ²² Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?” Numbers 11: 21, 22

There is no reason for the disciples to have been confounded by Jesus’ words. One miracle does not presuppose that it can be or will be repeated. Throughout the times in the wilderness, Israel faced hardship and deprivation as a means of testing the people. Jesus is now testing His disciples, who continue with the words concerning their need for bread, saying, “so many as to gorge a crowd so vast?”

The multitude was expansive, and the location was barren. Just like Israel in the wilderness being led by Moses, the answer to their dilemma was and is –

“Has the Lord’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.” Numbers 11:23

Life application: It is easy for us to look back on the narrative in Scripture and say, “Why are they so dull?” John Calvin reflects this superior attitude, “nimis brutum produnt stuporem: They reveal too much brute stupor.” But we can be certain that Calvin’s faith ebbed like the tides in the Bay of Fundy at times.

We look at the Bible as events occurring in seconds and without any discomfort or temporal confusion for us as we sit reading and turning page by page. But those with Jesus, as well as the apostles later in their ministries, faced daily life, trials, attacks by foes, splinters, and thorns as they walked, heat in the day, and cold at night.

The disciples’ understanding that Jesus is the Messiah is not the same as understanding that Jesus is God. It took until after the resurrection to figure that out. In the meantime, they thought they were dealing with a guy selected by God to do what God instructed Him. When power was available, they saw it and were amazed. When it wasn’t, they had to struggle through daily life.

Elijah, through faith, conquered the challenge of the four-hundred prophets of Baal. The next day, he ran away as scared as a kitten at the threat of one woman.

We have the full counsel of God with the knowledge available to us that Jesus is God and He prevailed over death for us, and yet our faith wanes at times. Who is in the weaker position? To avoid such times of consternation, we should ensure we read the word daily, stay in tune with the Lord at all times, and hold fast to our faith without easing up. Life is difficult, messy, and each moment is uncertain. Eyes on Jesus! That will carry us through the rough patches of this earthly walk.

Lord God, help us to remember You as we enter into times of uncertainty, trouble, loss, grief, and so forth. We know You are there, and yet our minds are so easily distracted. May we have the wisdom to keep You and Your promises at the forefront of our minds to help carry us through the days of difficulty. Amen.

Saturday, 10 January 2026

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Matthew 15:32

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He said, ‘I gut-wrench upon the crowd because already three days they bivouac with Me, and naught they have that they may eat. And I wish not to dismiss them unfed, not lest they should collapse in the way’” (CG).

In the previous verse, the crowd marveled over Jesus’ ability to heal the many who came to Him. Matthew continues now, saying, “And Jesus, having summoned His disciples.”

As will be seen, there has been an extended period of time during which the crowds were with Jesus as He ministered to them. With a plan in mind to tend to them, He calls the disciples together. Once with Him, “He said, ‘I gut-wrench upon the crowd.’”

This is the third time the word splagchnizomai, to gut-wrench, has been seen. Each time, it has been seen in relation to Jesus’ concerns for the people. He is again emotionally distraught for their well-being. This time, the reason is, “because already three days they bivouac with Me.”

A new word, prosmenó, to stay further or remain in place, is seen. It is derived from pros, forward or toward (in many variations), and meno, to stay or remain. As this has been three days, the term bivouac gets the sense.

They would have put up a shelter with blankets or whatever else they had available, temporarily residing in the open. And more, Matthew next says, “and naught they have that they may eat.”

Whatever the people brought had been used up. As such, they would be weakened and not prepared for a return to their places of dwelling. Understanding this, Jesus explains it to His disciples, saying, “And I wish not to dismiss them unfed.”

Another new word is seen, the adjective néstis, not to eat and, thus, unfed. It is derived from the inseparable negative particle ne– and esthió, to eat. Such a situation can be voluntary or involuntary. In this case, the people simply ran out of food after three days with Him. Jesus didn’t want them to trek home in this condition, “not lest they should collapse in the way.”

One more new word is seen, ekluó, to relax. It is derived from ek, out of or from, and luo, to loosen. The word thus means to relax. However, the context signifies relaxing from not eating, and, thus, to collapse.

As was always the case with those He ministered to, Jesus considered them and their needs even beyond their immediate presence, thinking on their plight even after departing from Him.

Life application: If you ever stay with people you didn’t know well, you can learn a lot about them by how they send you off. People will often tend to their guests while they are in residence. They will give them care, ensuring their needs are taken care of in whatever way is necessary for them to be comfortable.

However, when the guests are departing, those who are truly caring by nature will go beyond that and have a care package set aside for the travelers as they depart. One of the interesting things that is seen at such times is that those who do so are usually the poorer members of society. The richer someone is, the less likely they are to consider such situations.

This is not true in all circumstances, but it is a general reality that is seen. It is also seen in the Bible. The story of the Good Samaritan gives insights into this. The account of David and Nabal does as well.

Should you ever have guests who come by, don’t just tend to them while they are there, but maybe consider sending them off with a token based on any anticipated needs. However, if they are flying by air, don’t give them something they would have to toss at the customs inspection. Be attentive to the reality of the situation and act accordingly.

Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. … Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. ¹¹ Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” 1 Samuel 25, 2 & 10, 11

What a loser. Don’t be like Nabal.

Glorious Lord God, help us to be considerate of those whom we encounter in life. If we have the ability to tend to their needs, help us to be conscientious and do so. This doesn’t just mean money or things like food. It goes to the true spiritual needs as well. May we be willing to hand out tracks or even Bibles to those who may have never considered how needy they truly are. Amen.

Friday, 9 January 2026

So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:31

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“So too, the crowds marveled, seeing mutes speaking, cripples healthy, lame walking, and blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus healed the many people with various maladies as they were strewn before Him. Matthew now continues with, “So too, the crowds marveled.”

Seeing what they were seeing would marvel anyone in any generation. These weren’t false Charismatic church healings that would astound the audience until their deceitful, magician-like tricks are discovered. Rather, these were true miracles performed on people whom those in the crowd had interacted with for many years.

Jesus, filled with the power of God, was able to diagnose and correct any and all infirmities set before Him. Matthew next gives a list of some of them, saying that the people were “seeing mutes speaking.”

The participle, seeing, used here, along with the others in the verse, indicates the people actively beholding the miracles that had taken place. One can see the crowds watching, unable to take their eyes off these joyous souls as they, one after another, were freed of their afflictions. Mutes who may never have uttered a word in their lives spoke. Also, “cripples healthy.”

This is the same word, kullos, introduced in the previous verse. These people were broken and rolling about when they were brought in, but they were raised up to perfect health. As noted, the word may even indicate they were missing limbs but were restored. Along with them, there were the “lame walking.”

People brought in on beds would no longer need them. Instead, they could give a free ride to the tired soul who brought them in, repaying them for the years of lugging around their bodies bound with infirmity. Matthew also says, “and blind seeing.”

People who needed to be guided up the mountain to the feet of Jesus could now lead the way back home, learning the terrain of the land and the ancient paths that crisscrossed the hills they previously were unable to see. Because of these marvelous things, it says of the crowds, “and they glorified the God of Israel.”

This seems to suggest that the crowds included Gentiles. The exact term is used only here in this manner. There is a reference to the Lord God of Israel in Luke 1:68, along with other variations of the words elsewhere, but the exact phrase is unique in the New Testament to this event.

Therefore, even if Jesus’ ministry was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, it may be that to build upon the excited faith of the Canaanite woman, Jesus purposefully went through the Decapolis as noted in Mark 7:31 in order to elicit more Gentile awareness concerning His abilities. The interesting underlying meaning of the miracle of feeding these people that lies ahead in the narrative seems to indicate this.

Life application: Whether Jesus actually healed any Gentiles or not isn’t the point here. He had just traversed through a predominantly Gentile area. As He did, it is obvious that people followed Him to this location on the mount. As they flocked to do so, any Jew would tell their Gentile neighbors that this was the great Teacher and Healer of Israel.

Therefore, even if Jesus only healed Jews (and we cannot know), it is likely that a multitude of Gentiles witnessed the event. Jesus’ movement from the Canaanite healing through this Gentile area, then, indicates that this was His intent.

A few scattered Gentiles within the land, seeing His miracles, would be outnumbered in number by those who gathered here in the region of the Decapolis. Therefore, saying, “and they glorified the God of Israel,” is intentionally stated to draw attention to this matter.

God was not uninterested in the Gentile people of the world. But there had to be an order and propriety to His working through Christ Jesus to step by step reveal Himself to His people first, while still allowing Gentiles to behold and later understand through Scripture, what He had done and continues to do for all the people of the world.

Unlike the Messianic fervor that fills churches today, which exalts everything Jewish, this is not the intent of Scripture for Gentile people. Rather, they are to come to the Lord as they are, in whatever culture, using who they are to glorify God. Color is irrelevant. The means of worship are left up to the group, etc.

What God is looking for are people who will worship Him with their whole existence, just as they are and just where they are.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’” John 4:21-24

Lord God, thank You that we don’t have to change one iota of who we are culturally in order to worship You. We don’t need to go to a temple in the earthly Jerusalem, which reflects Your now-fulfilled law. Rather, we can worship You through Jesus in a manner that truly glorifies You. No more pointless rituals that only looked ahead in shadows. Now we have the substance. We have JESUS! Amen.

Thursday, 8 January 2026

Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.  Matthew 15:30

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And they came to Him, great crowds, having with them lame, cripples, blind, mutes and others – many, and they strewed them near Jesus’ feet, and He healed them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus was said to have departed from where the Canaanite woman was, drawing near the Sea of the Galilee and going up a mountain to sit there. Next, Matthew records, “And they came to Him, great crowds.”

Matthew doesn’t record how they found Jesus, but it appears that the words “near the Sea of the Galilee” from the previous verse may mean He stopped in a town. As Mark says that He went through the midst of the Decapolis and healed a deaf and mute man, that may have been the trigger to draw so many to where He now is.

The people would know He was there and decided to follow Him. Regardless, it next says, “having with them lame, cripples, blind, mutes and others – many.”

Of these afflictions, one is new, kullos, crippled. It is from kulió, to roll about. Thus, it is someone maimed in the hands or feet. Some commentaries say that the idea of rolling about means that a hand or foot was actually missing. If so, the word should be translated as limb-lost or something similar.

Whatever the exact intent, the adjective “many” indicates that they just kept coming and coming. The sea of humanity in need of the care of Jesus seemed limitless, even though it was in a small part of a very small country. Matthew continues, saying, “and they strewed them near Jesus’ feet.”

The word rhiptó is used. It was already seen in Matthew 9:36. It signifies to deliberately fling or hurl something. It gives the idea of sudden motion. The word strew, to scatter or spread things untidily, gives the proper sense. There were so many people that those helping them cast them down in any available spot. One cannot help but think of the words of Isaiah –

“Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows.” Isaiah 53:4

These people, suffering from all types of afflictions, were brought forward and hurled wherever space would allow by people who were frustrated with the tedium of caring for them day after day. Their only hope in their suffering was Jesus. Understanding this, Matthew notes, “and He healed them.”

The scene gives the sense of one person after another. If not, what would be the point of strewing them around? Jesus could have just said, “I heal all of you,” and been done with it. Rather, it appears He carefully evaluated each, probably talked to them with care, and then healed them. The tender care of the Lord for the people reveals the heart of God for those who will come to Him with their needs.

Life application: The sad part of this story is the part that remains unstated at this point. Jesus came to Israel, spent His life restoring people who would otherwise have been permanently afflicted with various maladies, and tended to the people’s spiritual needs as well.

His fame was so great that the gospels record that the people wanted to make Him king (John 6:15). However, when prompted by the leaders, Jesus was rejected, crucified, and maligned as a wrongdoer. That attitude toward Him remains to this day among the vast majority of Jewish people.

How poorly humans tend to pick their leaders and heroes. And how faithless we are to those who tend to us. This includes those of the church in their attitude toward Jesus. We are granted restoration and eternal life through what He did for us, and yet we spend much of our time pursuing the things of this life.

Everything we have and all those we know will fade away with time, but Jesus is with us forever. And yet, we constantly seek what is temporary, forgetting to honor the Lord in the process.

Someday, it won’t be like this. A new type of existence is coming, but we should be anticipating that now, holding fast to the Lord, and doing our utmost to get the word out to others. Let us not be waffling or unfaithful in our faith toward and love of the Lord.

Glorious God, we can be so easily pulled away from a close and personal walk with You. It usually isn’t intentional. Things just come up, and off we go in pursuit of that which doesn’t profit. Help us, Lord, to redirect our hearts and minds to You at all times. Give us wisdom to walk in this temporary world with an eternal view. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Matthew 15:29

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having departed thence, Jesus, He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted the Canaanite woman’s faith and granted her desire, healing her daughter. It next says, “And having departed thence.”

They were in the allotments of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21). With this short excursion complete, they return to the area of the Galilee, where Matthew records, “Jesus, He went near the Sea of the Galilee.”

As a reminder, the Galilee is a somewhat circular area in Israel which borders the sea, hence this name. However, the sea has a couple of other designations as well: Kinneret, the Sea of Kinnereth (Chinnereth), Lake Gennesaret, and the Sea of Tiberias.

As for the name, the Galilee, as has been seen before, it is derived from the verb galal, meaning to roll or encircle. Hence, it signifies Rolling, Circle, or Circuit. The verb galal is also the basis for Gilgal, which bears a similar meaning. However, to roll something away gives the sense of being liberated. Thus, the meaning extends to Liberty.

Despite saying Jesus went from Tyre and Sidon to near the Sea of the Galilee, Mark more specifically identifies this trek to be inclusive of going through “the midst of the region of Decapolis.” That is on the eastern side of the sea, so it was a large area He traversed before finally getting to where He is now.

With His return to this area, Matthew records, “and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there.” This will set the stage for another great gathering of people and another noted miracle to take place.

Life application: Despite seeming random, Jesus’ movements in and through the land of Israel are purposeful. His movements are like a walking picture of other events. When we stand back and look at the places He goes and the things He does, pictures of other things in God’s process of redemption can be seen.

This is known as typology. One thing is being used as a type or picture for something else. The Old Testament is filled with typology. Each story is included for a reason, including every detail.

It is important not to jump to conclusions with typology, though. The pictures God reveals have many nuances that must be carefully considered. When they are, rather amazing parallels to what occurs elsewhere in God’s plans can be elicited from the text.

When they are mishandled, erroneous conclusions result. When this occurs, it can actually mar the theology of others, leading them to believe something inaccurate about what God is doing. So be careful as you read and consider the word.

Do your best not to insert what you want the text to say. Rather, let the text provide the information without bias or presuppositions. This is not easy, but it is an important step in understanding these hidden truths tucked away in this precious word.

Heavenly Father, Your word has so many levels of information in it that we cannot process them all. It is wonderful that different people, with different abilities, likes, and understandings, have access to Your word. Each can build on the work of others as we work to understand the marvelous things You have secreted away in it. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.