Dave's Diary

Prayer

Before you read, I invite you to pray this prayer based on Psalm 119:172.

Lord, may I hear Your word clearly today,
and may my tongue sing of Your word for all to hear,
for all your commands are righteous.,
Amen.

Briefly prepare your heart in silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your awareness to the voice of God, coming to you through His Word.

Reading

Matthew 15:29-39

This is the second time Jesus fed a massive crowd of people from a tiny supply of food. The first such miracle occurred in Matthew 14:13-21, where Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand, and now this miracle in Matthew 15:29-39. The most significant difference is that this miracle happened on the Eastern shores of Lake Galilee (according to the equivalent account in Mark 7) while the former happened on the western shores. The implication of that difference is that this particular crowd was most likely predominantly comprised of Gentiles, as opposed to the mainly Jewish crowd in Matthew 14.

Another way this difference in the composition of the crowd is indicated is more subtle. In the feeding of the five thousand, the baskets which were used to collect the leftovers are called “kophinoi” in the original Greek, while in the feeding of the four thousand they are called “sphurides“. Kophinoi were the narrow-necked, flask-shaped baskets in which Jews usually carried their own food when out and about, to avoid eating any food that had been touched by Gentiles. Sphurides were big, wide baskets, and were commonly used by Gentiles.

This miracle reminds us that the Kingdom of Jesus is for all people. It is even for those we might view as hopelessly far from God and least “deserving” of God’s love. After all, that is how the Jews viewed the Gentiles. Imagine how challenging it must have been for the disciples to be sent out to distribute Jesus’ miraculous supply of bread and fish to this crowd of people whom they had been raised to despise and to view as hopelessly unclean.

Jesus showed compassion and mercy to all people; even the most apparently “undeserving”. In fact, His mercy and compassion is best seen in all its glory precisely when it is offered to those who need it the most. As His disciples, we are called to minister His mercy and compassion to all, but especially to those whom we consider to be “most lost” and “least likely” to respond.

Who is that in your life? How can you reach out to them with Christ’s compassion and mercy today?

Contemplation

Please take time to ponder what Jesus has commanded us. Turn this declaration over in your mind. Keep it in mind throughout the day and live in step with our King, Jesus.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ,

• I will extend the mercy and compassion of Jesus to all – even the “least deserving”.

Lord Jesus, may my life sing the song of Your compassion and mercy today. Amen.