Bread for us - Thoughts from Matthew

Have you ever wondered why there are two accounts recorded of Jesus feeding multitudes of people with small amounts of bread and fish in this book of Matthew? While I was reading through Matthew this past week I had some insight into this from the way Matthew orders these events in his book. Follow me.

First, in chapter 15 of this book he begins to tell a story about a Canaanite woman with great faith (at this point he has already told the feeding of 5000). She comes to Jesus and asks him to cast out a demon from her daughter. He replies, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This seems very strange from the lips of Jesus but we must read on.

She begged on her knees, "Lord, help me!"

He said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

She said humbly, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from the children's table."

Jesus was amazed at her faith and instantly the woman's daughter was healed because of her faith.

Now interestingly in chapter 13 the people from his own town do not have any faith and then in chapter 14 he feeds the 5000. Here in chapter 15 after this Gentile woman has shown incredible faith we move to another feeding miracle.

Now listen. This is incredible! WHY IS THERE SO MUCH BREAD LEFT OVER FROM THE MIRACLE? WHY? Is not Matthew telling us? Is not the Canaanite woman's response to our Messiah informing how we should reading this miracle?

Jesus has fed the children of Israel and there are 7, yes 7, large baskets FULL of bread! There is so much bread remaining for the Gentiles. Our Messiah did come to his own, but he has other sheep! We are part of these sheep! How merciful and gracious has God been to us!

As we continue to read these amazing passages let us see our God and Messiah and may his Spirit help us respond in awe and amazement over his love to and for us.