Ministry in Gentile Territory (15:29-31).
There is every reason to think that this is in Gentile territory, for Matthew usually makes a return to Jewish territory clear, and that does not occur until Matthew 15:39; Mark 7:31 also confirms that this return to the Sea of Galilee was via the environs of Sidon ‘through the midst of the borders of Decapolis'. This suggests a detour, first going northwards towards Sidon, then eastwards, going past the northern end of the Sea of Galilee, through Gaulanitis, and into Decapolis, a semi-independent group of ten Greek cities. Furthermore it must be seen as significant that the crowds ‘glorify the God of Israel', a phrase found only here. In the light of what has happened previously and the general context this gives the impression of Gentile response. Like the Canaanite woman they too acknowledge the God of Israel as their healer.
This may also be seen as confirmed in the account that follows of the feeding of four thousand. Whereas five thousand spoke of the covenant people, four thousand speaks of the nations of the world, for ‘four' is the number that depicts the world. It is further confirmed by the seven loaves and the seven baskets. These contrast with the five loaves and the twelve baskets. Seven was a sacred number in all nations, five and twelve had special significance for Israel. There were four rivers that watered the world from Eden (Genesis 2:10-14). Four ‘world' kings who came against the five who were in covenant with Abraham in the land (Genesis 14:9). Four wild beasts signified world empires (Daniel 2; Daniel 7). There are four directions, north, south, east and west (Genesis 28:14; Deuteronomy 3:27; Psalms 107:3; Isaiah 43:5-6); four winds of Heaven (Daniel 8:8; Daniel 11:4, and compare Matthew 24:31); four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12; Revelation 7:1).
So we have good reason for seeing that Matthew is indicating that all this activity is taking place in Gentile territory, including the feeding of the four thousand. We do not know how many disciples had been with Jesus prior to this time, perhaps a good number, but this period of travel would clearly have given the opportunity for much solid teaching, and also the opportunity for these disciples to experience a deeper personal relationship with Jesus. They had seen and experienced much. Jesus now wanted them to enter more deeply into Who He is.
Analysis.
a Jesus departed from there, and came alongside the sea of Galilee, and He went up into the mountain, and sat there (Matthew 15:29).
b And there came to Him great crowds, having with them the lame, blind (Matthew 15:30 a).
c Dumb, maimed, and many others (Matthew 15:30 b).
d And they cast them down at His feet, and He healed them (Matthew 15:30 b).
c Insomuch that the crowd wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole (Matthew 15:31 a)
b And lame walking, and the blind seeing (Matthew 15:31 b).
a And they glorified the God of Israel (Matthew 15:31 c).
Note how in ‘a' Jesus went up into the mountain and sat there, and in the parallel they glorified the God of Israel. In ‘b' the lame and blind were healed, and in the parallel they were seen to be healed. In ‘c' the dumb and maimed were healed, and in the parallel the dumb and maimed were seen to be healed. Centrally in ‘d' is the fact that they cast them down at His feet and He healed them.