"Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion for these people...'"
Matthew 15:32
Compassion (deep-seated concern and care) was a driving principle in Jesus' ministry (see also 9:36 & 14:14). The first principle in Jesus life was obedience to the Father. But this obedience was not a drudgery because it was mixed with love for the Father and compassion for people. With compassion he healed the sick, fed the hungry, taught the masses, developed disciples, and sent out witnesses to the lost. We are the recipients of His compassion and as His life fills us we will become instruments of His compassion to the people around us.
Father, I rejoice in the compassion that drove Jesus to the cross for me and I pray that His compassion for those around me will be more and more manifest in my own life.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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Traditions often help us mark significant events for future generations. In this chapter Jesus confronts the Pharisees about making their traditions more important than the commandments of God. Disobedience is never justified for the sake of a tradition. Jesus now addresses the central issue presented by the Pharisees who tend to pay more attention to the outside. Again Jesus uses the form of a parable to express the truth. Uncleanness is not determined by what is taken into the body but by what comes out of the body thru the mouth from the heart. The heart is identified as the culprit of evil thoughts and others sins. After this Jesus travels to the land of Tyre and Sidon (the two cities mentioned in CH 11) and encounters a non-Jewish woman requesting relief for her daughter from demon possession. Jesus does not immediately answer her but she will not give up from CRYING OUT (there are those words again— ref CH 14). She essentially received two No’s from Jesus but her faith was so strong that Jesus granted her request with the healing of her daughter. Then Jesus departed from there and went to a hillside by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus heals and teaches for three-days and the people stayed with Him. Some of us get a little concerned if the service runs overtime a few minutes. And how many of us would even think of being involved in a three day preaching, praying, healing time without a thought of food? Jesus calls the disciples to Him. Again we see Jesus moved with compassion over the condition of the crowd. Notice, three days and no food...and no complaints either. The disciples had been in a similar place before. They had a little but it was not enough to feed 5,000 men plus women and children. They are still concerned that they do not have enough or could they get enough bread for the 4,000 plus gathered here. How many times must Jesus show them that when they gave their all, it will be more than enough? There are greater questions however. From the crowd point of view — How often have I been so taken by the presence of Jesus that food, sleep or comfortablity were of no concern in comparison? From a disciple’s point of view — When will I ever learn to ask the right questions when confronted with difficult of impossible situations? “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” This question in itself limits their ability to see an answer. Maybe a better question would have been — How can we feed this crowd with God’s help? At least this question has some faith in it. Again, Jesus saves the day and teaches that all things are possible to him/her who believes. When we commit what we have to Him, He can make a miracle happen in a hopeless situation.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it that Jesus has asked us to do? In the counsel of Scripture, we get right to the heart of the matter and begin . . . counting the cost. The disciples showed us how when on the two occasions Jesus told them to feed more people than they even count. The point wasn't that they only had a few pieces of bread and some dried fish. Jesus knew they didn't have enough. He already knows that we do not have enough of what ever is required to do what He has asked of us. The point is that we MUST come to Him in faith if we are to be obedient to His command. Our resources depend upon His resources. Not only can we do all things through Christ, but in our weakness, our lack of resources, His strength is made perfect.
ReplyDeleteCommenting on Matt 15:22-28… When Jesus said "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." …… later He replied "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." ….. then the Canaanite woman said "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." ….
ReplyDeleteJesus was sent to teach the Israelites and to save them, but they did not listen. The Gentiles were not the chosen people and therefore considered like dogs as the next passage insinuates.
When the Canaanite woman asked Jesus to have mercy on her and take the demons out of her daughter, Jesus did not answer. But when she was so persistent, it showed Jesus how much FAITH she had in Him. At that point it did not matter who she was, a dog or an Israelite, she had such great faith, He was willing to grant her request.
This shows us, we MUST have FAITH too. Faith is what saves us, so have faith, be persistent in your prayers and He will listen to you as well.
Matthew's usage of the word compassion (v32) means "to be moved with", suggesting the Lord was moved with compassion (to have the bowels yearning [spla]. I believe the Lord's compassion was not only for the people gathered physical hunger, yes their spiritual yearning to know God. The compassion test was twofold, a lesson for His disciples who could only see the impossible task of feeding so many, yet the Lord saw both physical and spiritual needs. I am humbly reminded, lack of compassion renders me worthless as a vessel for Christ, a stumbling block to others. I pray Lord Jesus that I might seek diligently to be as commpassionate for You, the lost, just as You are for me.
ReplyDeleteMatthew's usage of the word compassion (v32) means "to be moved with", suggesting the Lord was moved with compassion (to have the bowels yearning) [spla]. I believe the Lord's compassion was not only for the people gathered physical hunger, yes their spiritual yearning to know God. The compassion test was twofold, a lesson for His disciples in compassion, who could only see the impossible task of feeding so many, yet the Lord saw both physical and spiritual needs. I am humbly reminded, lack of compassion blinds my spiritual sight and renders me worthless as a vessel for Christ, a stumbling block to others.
ReplyDeleteI pray Lord Jesus that I might seek diligently to be as commpassionate for You, the brethen and the lost, just as You are for me. Help me Lord Jesus to see as You see...Amen