Matthew 15:35

15:29-39 Whatever our case is, the only way to find ease and relief, is to lay it at Christ's feet, to submit it to him, and refer it to his disposal. Those who would have spiritual healing from Christ, must be ruled as he pleases. See what work sin has made; what various diseases human bodies are subject to. Here were such diseases as fancy could neither guess the cause nor the cure of, yet these were subject to the command of Christ. The spiritual cures that Christ works are wonderful. When blind souls are made to see by faith, the dumb to speak in prayer, the maimed and the lame to walk in holy obedience, it is to be wondered at. His power was also shown to the multitude, in the plentiful provision he made for them: the manner is much the same as before. All did eat, and were filled. Those whom Christ feeds, he fills. With Christ there is bread enough, and to spare; supplies of grace for more than seek it, and for those that seek for more. Christ sent away the people. Though he had fed them twice, they must not look for miracles to find their daily bread. Let them go home to their callings and their own tables. Lord, increase our faith, and pardon our unbelief, teaching us to live upon thy fulness and bounty, for all things pertaining to this life, and that which is to come.

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. Not regarding the smallness of the provisions, nor any further consulting with his disciples; but knowing his own power to increase this food, and determining to feed the multitude before he dismissed them, in an authoritative way ordered them to sit down upon the ground in rows, that they might be the better seen, and served.

On the ground (ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν) Compare Mark 8:6. On the occasion of feeding the five thousand, the multitude sat down on the grass (ἐπὶ τοὺς χότρους), Matthew 14:19. It was then the month of flowers. Compare Mark 6:39, the green grass, and John 6:10, much grass. On the present occasion, several weeks later, the grass would be burnt up, so that they would sit on the ground. Gave thanks According to the Jewish ordinance, the head of the house was to speak the blessing only if he himself shared in the meal; yet if they who sat down to it were not merely guests, but his children or his household, then he might speak it, even if he himself did not partake.

The miracle recorded here - the feeding of the four thousand - took place on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. The same account is recorded in Mark 8:1-10 . The circumstances of the miracle are so similar to the one recorded in Matthew 14:14-21 , as to need little additional explanation. Matthew 15:32 Three days, and have nothing to eat - This is not, perhaps, to be taken literally, but only that during that time they had been deprived of their ordinary or regular food. They had had only a very scanty supply, and on the third day even that began to fail.

Verse 35. - To sit down ( ἀναπεσεῖν ) on the ground. At this time there was not "much grass in the place," the season being no longer early spring. Their seat was the bare ground, their meal of the plainest character. He who as man had pitied them was now feeding them as God, yet not with luxuries or dainties, but with food sufficient for their needs. Matthew 15:35

[Reformed Biblical] their ordinary, regular food. They had had only a very scanty supply, and on the third day even that began to fail. {x} "Then Jesus" Mr 7:1 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 33 Verse 33. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:32" {y} "his disciples" 2 Ki 4:43,44 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 34 ## Verse 34. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:32" ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 35 Verse 35. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:32" {z} "And he commanded" Matthew 14:19 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 36 Verse 36. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:32" {a} "and gave thanks" 1 Sa 9:13; Luke 2 2:19; 24:30 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 37 ## Verse 37. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:32" ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 38 Verse 38. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:32" ## THE GOSPEL ACCORD ING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 39 Verse 39. Coasts of Magdala. Mark says, "The parts of Dalmanutha"." These were probably small towns on the east side of the sea

[Reformed Biblical] r foot was wanting. See Matthew 18:8. To cure them—that is, to restore a hand or foot— was a direct act of creative power. It is no wonder, therefore, that the people wondered. And they glorified the God of Israel . To glorify, here means to praise, to acknowledge his power and goodness. The God of Israel was the God that the Israelites or Jews worshipped. {v} "And Jesus" Mr 7:31 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 30 Verse 30. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:29" {w} "he healed them" Psalms 103:3; Isaiah 35:5,6 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 31 Verse 31. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 15:29" ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 32 Verses 32-39. The miracle recorded here, the feeding of the four thousand, took place on a mountain, near the sea of Galilee. The same account is recorded in Mr 8:1-10. The circumstances of the miracle are so similar to the one recorded in Matthew 14:14-21, as to need no particular explanation. Verse 32. Three days and have nothing to eat. This is not, perhaps, to be taken literally, but only that during that time they had been deprived of