Matthew (Written)

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.

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28

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).

“Then, Jesus answering, He said to her, ‘O! Woman, your faith is great! It become to you as you determine.’ And she’s cured, her daughter, from that hour” (CG).

In the previous verse, the Canaanite woman agreed with the Lord’s assessment concerning bread going to the children, but she noted that even the puppies got the crumbs from the table. With that, we next read, “Then, Jesus answering, He said to her, ‘O! Woman, your faith is great!’”

These words are not because of her astute assessment of the workings of a household. Rather, her note concerning crumbs being sufficient for the great miracle she requested in the healing of her daughter is what set her apart. How unlike Naaman the Syrian, who misunderstood God’s workings and capabilities –

“Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.’ ¹¹ But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, ‘Indeed, I said to myself, “He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.” ¹² Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rage.” 2 Kings 5:9-12

Naaman was looking for something great and exciting as a means of healing his servant. This Canaanite woman asked for no such thing. She was observant of how things worked in a house. In hearing Jesus’ words concerning His mission, she was able to take the two and conclude how things must work in God’s economy.

In other words, “If God has a plan and purpose for the lost sheep (a metaphor) of Israel, and that purpose is to provide bread to the children (another metaphor), then He must be dealing with Israel in a way which reflects those metaphors.”

Astute, yes, but her faith is in understanding that bread, no matter how small the amount, would crumble off and be uneaten when it was broken. And more, that teeny amount of bread would be sufficient to tend to her needs.

Understanding this, Jesus next says, “It become to you as you determine.” The woman had asked in faith, Jesus accepted her request, and from there His words noted that as she determined, so it would come about. Just as when a person calls out for spiritual healing, the physical healing was to be realized for her daughter. This is noted in Matthew’s closing words, “And she’s cured, her daughter, from that hour.”

The woman determined that healing her daughter was what she desired. Jesus responded accordingly, and her daughter was immediately healed. Concerning salvation, Paul says –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13

Life application: The word repent has been so thoroughly abused from its original meaning that there is no longer any sense of what God expects of His people in order to be saved. See if you think these words from George Barna match what Paul says concerning salvation as noted in Ephesians 1 –

“Tens of millions of people who attend Christian churches every week, and who consider themselves to be followers of Christ and eternally secure, do not seem to understand that repentance is necessary for salvation, and repentance demands a change in behavior.” He stressed that “repentance is not merely sorrow over misdeeds” but “must include a determined effort to change both mind and actions to avoid committing the same sins in the future.”

The answer is that not only do they not match what Paul says, but they are heretical. The gospel says that we come to Jesus with nothing but faith. If we need to change our actions before salvation, then it means that our salvation is up to us, not to Jesus Christ.

This woman was not told, “Ok, then you need to go get medicine and administer it to your daughter three times a day, and she will be healed.” This is essentially what George Barna is saying concerning the woman’s faith, which would not be sufficient at all to heal her daughter.

The Greek word translated as repent is metanoeó. It means to “think differently.” That may lead to action, but action is not a part of what the word means. If we have to go beyond a mental assertion that we need a Savior and that Jesus can save us, then we have merited our salvation. This is not the gospel.

However, it is what almost all preachers in the world present to their congregations, week after week. Instead, we come to Jesus needing a Savior. We believe that He can save us. Jesus saves us. From that time, we should have actions worthy of our repentance. Even Jesus said that in Luke 3:8 to the people of Israel while still under the law.

We must keep our theological boxes separate, or we will fall into contradiction, legalism, or full-blown heresy. Be circumspect in your soteriology (doctrine of salvation), never crossing the lines of the beautiful gospel that Jesus has presented to the people of the world.

Lord God, give us the wisdom to consider what You have done and of what You expect us in relation to salvation. May we never tread on Your ground, attempting to earn what has already been provided by Jesus. May our hearts be trusting in Him alone for reconciliation to You. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Monday, 5 January 2026

And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Matthew 15:27

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 she said, ‘Yes, Lord. And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master’s table’.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus responded to the Canaanite woman, telling her it wasn’t good to take the children’s bread and cast it to the puppies. Now, her incredible response to His words is given. Matthew records, “And she said, ‘Yes, Lord.’”

This Canaanite woman doesn’t argue Jesus’ premise, nor does she go off on some woke tangent, crying that His words are xenophobic, racist, or anti-Canaanitish. She fully accepts His statement, knowing it is right and logical.

However, she has words for Jesus that not only acknowledge this, but which highlight them in the most profound way, saying, “And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master’s table.’”

A new word, psichion, crumbs, is introduced. It will only be seen here and in the parallel account in Mark. It is also found in Luke 16:21 in some texts. Of this word, the Topical Lexicon says –

“First-century Mediterranean households commonly used small flat loaves both as food and as utensils for dipping and scooping. Portions too small or too soiled for human consumption were discarded from hand to mouth or allowed to fall to the floor, where house dogs—kept not as pampered pets but as low-status scavengers—would consume them. In that light, ‘crumbs’ suggests the tiniest, seemingly insignificant portion of sustenance. The woman’s statement accepts her social standing without protest while affirming the superabundance of the Master’s provision: even leftovers from Israel’s table are sufficient to meet her need.”

Another new word, trapeza, a table, is seen here. It is from tessareas, four, and peze, foot-wize. Thus, it is a stool or table. This woman understood the power of Jesus, obviously having paid heed to what was said by others who had encountered Him. She understood that she had no standing in Israel but that the God of Israel was abundant in mercy and was capable of extending Himself beyond the Israelite nation.

Using the metaphor of the dog receiving table crumbs, she acknowledges Jesus’ words concerning her being a dog. Without finding any fault in His statement, she humbly accepts her status but wisely notes that even in Israel, where dogs are unclean animals according to dietary laws, it did not make them inherently unclean within the society or the household.

Instead, they were a recognized and acceptable part of the family and received their sustenance, including that which was reserved for the family under ceremonial laws of cleanliness, when it was surplus to the needs of the family.

This woman had in no way “out-mastered the Master.” Rather, she had brilliantly relieved the tension that He faced in the matter of being sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, which was contrasted to His innate desire to help this distressed Gentile woman.

Jesus’ response to her logic will be seen in the next verse.

Life application: No person who has heard the gospel message of Jesus and believed that it is true should ever feel that he is unacceptable to be saved. It doesn’t matter if a woman was a prostitute or a lesbian, it doesn’t matter if a man was a womanizer or a drunk, it doesn’t even matter if someone was a cannibal. God’s mercy in Christ is without any such limit.

People from each of these categories, and an innumerable list of others, have heard, been saved, and gone on to do great things for Jesus. To assume that your earthly status, culture, skin color, or past is a limiting factor in your being accepted by God is to place that supposed issue above God, who created all things.

All such things are incidental to your state as a human. It is your humanity that allows these things to be overlooked because Jesus shared in human existence. Don’t fret that you are unworthy to be saved. Every other person ever saved has been unworthy of being saved. Rejoice that in our state of unworthiness, God sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself.

Rejoice in this and praise His name!

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!
² For His merciful kindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!” Psalm 117

Lord God, we stand in awe of You. You have created all things and given life to all beings. We are the ones who strayed and offended, and yet You, in Your infinite grace and mercy, have brought us back to Yourself through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You for Jesus! Amen.