The Feeding of Four Thousand In Gentile Territory By A Miracle (15:32-39).
It was one thing for Jesus to preach and heal in Gentile territory where there were many Jews, while allowing Gentiles to share the fringe benefits, for the synagogues did the same (at least the preaching bit). Gentiles were welcomed in reasonable numbers into Jewish synagogues so as to learn about the God of Israel. It was, however, quite another to do what He did now. For here they do not just have the opportunity to learn, but are called on to partake in a ‘family' meal, as a community together. They are being treated, at least to a certain extent, as on a level with His Jewish disciples. To the disciples this was probably totally unexpected, which explains why, although they had seen the feeding of the five thousand, they did not expect that to be reproduced here (Matthew 15:33). That had been for Jewish believers, but here there were many Gentiles. From this we learn therefore that the new ‘congregation' of Israel is to include Gentiles, just as the old congregation of Israel had done in the days of the Exodus, when ‘the mixed multitude' (Exodus 12:38) were united with them in the covenant at Sinai.
No doubt the Apostles accepted Jesus' preaching to Gentiles because they looked on these people as similar to ‘God-fearers', those who because they had come to believe in the God of Israel attended worship at synagogues, even though they did not become full proselytes. This explains why they still did not catch on to the fact Gentiles were to be welcomed wholesale into Jesus' new congregation of Israel, and would have to be convinced of it later in Acts 10-11. It also explains why they did not expect that they would be provided with bread from Heaven as Jewish believers had been. After all even to the Canaanite woman He had only offered ‘crumbs'.
Comparing this incident with the parallel picture in Matthew 14:13-21 there are a number of clear distinctions which demonstrate the difference between them, and even in some cases hint at the presence of Gentiles here. The scene in Matthew 14:13-21 took place in the spring (they sat on green grass - Mark 6:39), here it is later in the year, for He sat them on ‘the ground'. In Matthew 14:13-21 the crowd had come a long way, which was why they had no food, here they run short of food because of the length of time that they have stayed with Jesus, listening to His words. In Matthew 14:13-21 it was the disciples who approached Jesus, and drew attention to the problem (of their fellow-Jews?), here Jesus calls His disciples to Him and Himself draws attention to the problem. In Matthew 14:13-21 the idea was that the crowds went to the surrounding villages for food. The idea here seems to be that they would return to their homes. In Matthew 14:13-21 there were five loaves and two fishes. Here there are seven loaves and a few fish. In Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus ‘blesses', that is uses a typically Jewish form of grace, here He ‘gives thanks'. In Matthew 14:13-21 there were twelve wicker baskets (typical of what Jews used for carrying kosher food with them) which were filled with remnants, here it is seven larger baskets, probably made of hemp, of a kind regularly used by Gentiles as well as Jews, and probably brought from the boat.
Thus in Matthew 14:13-21 the ‘family' partook of the bread from God's table, here the family still participated, but Gentiles were also allowed to receive ‘the crumbs' (Matthew 15:27). Once having received illumination from His Father Jesus had no hesitation in carrying it into practise. He recognised that His wider ministry had begun.
Analysis.
a And Jesus called to Him His disciples, and said (Matthew 15:32 a).
b “I have compassion on the crowd, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat, and I would not send them away fasting, lest it happen that they faint on the way” (Matthew 15:32 b).
c And the disciples say to Him, “From where should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a crowd?” (Matthew 15:33).
d And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fishes” (Matthew 15:34).
e And He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground (Matthew 15:35).
d And He took the seven loaves and the fishes, and He gave thanks and broke, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds (Matthew 15:36).
c And they all ate, and were filled, and they took up what remained over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full (Matthew 15:37).
b And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 15:38).
a And He sent away the crowds, and entered into the boat, and came into the borders of Magadan (Matthew 15:39).
Note that in ‘a' He calls to Him His disciples, and in the parallel He sends away the crowds. In ‘b' He has compassion on the hungry crowd, and in the parallel they are all miraculously fed. In ‘c' the disciples wonder how they will be fed, and in the parallel hey are not only fed but there is a large surplus over. In ‘d' there are seven loaves and a few fish, and in the parallel He uses these to feed the crowd. Centrally in ‘e' Jesus tells them all to sit on the ground preparatory to the miracle.