Matthew Ch15v21-39 - Jesus: Hope of The Nations

Matthew 15

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We're going to start reading from Matthew 15, verse 21, through to the end of the chapter.

Matthew 15:21

Matthew 15, starting at verse 21, and we'll read to the end of the chapter.

Amen.

So his disciples came to him and urged him, send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.

He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.

The woman came and knelt before him.

Lord, help me, she said.

Jesus replied, it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.

Yes, it is, Lord, she said.

Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.

Then Jesus said to her, woman, you have great faith.

Your request is granted.

And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Jesus left there and went along to the Sea of Galilee.

Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others,

and laid them at his feet, and he healed them.

The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well,

the lame walking, and the blind seeing.

And they praised the God of Israel.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said,

I have compassion for these people.

They have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.

I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.

His disciples answered,

Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?

How many loaves do you have?

Jesus asked.

Seven, they replied, and a few small fish.

He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.

Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,

and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples,

and they in turn to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied.

Afterwards, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

The number of those who ate was 4,000 men,

not counting the women and children.

After Jesus had sent the crowd away,

he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

Well, let's keep our Bibles open there in Matthew's Gospel,

and we'll pray, and we'll ask for the Lord's help to understand his Word.

Let's do that now.

Father, again, we thank you for your Word.

Lord, we thank you for the Gospel of Matthew,

events and the life of Jesus written down,

recorded for us to hear,

to learn from today.

And we pray that we may encounter Jesus afresh,

that we may experience him,

that we may know and understand why he has come,

the response he looks for,

and the future that we can have with him.

So, Father, pour out your Spirit upon us generously.

May not one of us leave this building

without knowing Jesus more.

That's our desire,

and we ask for your help.

And it's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, this morning we're going to look at three things from the text.

We're going to see a shocking move,

a surprising response,

and a stunning vision.

So get ready to be shocked, surprised, and stunned.

First, a shocking move.

Jesus moves towards sinners and sufferers.

Jesus moves towards sinners and sufferers.

Jesus is always on the move,

as we've been reading through Matthew's Gospel,

declaring the good news in towns and villages.

But here in Matthew 15,

Jesus steps across a line,

one that shocks the disciples.

He crosses not just geographical and political borders,

but he crosses a spiritual and social barrier.

Jesus moves towards sinners.

Look at verse 21.

Leaving that place.

So Jesus is presently in Jewish territory

around the Lake of Galilee.

So he leaves that place,

and Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

Tyre and Sidon are north of Galilee,

into pagan territory.

So you could imagine what the disciples are thinking

as Jesus makes his move.

You can't possibly go there.

They're outsiders and foreigners.

That's where the sinners live.

Now you may remember,

we've met these places before Tyre and Sidon.

Have a look back with me in Matthew's Gospel,

chapter 11.

Go back to chapter 11, verse 20,

where we come across Tyre and Sidon.

So again,

Jesus has been preaching in the towns and villages,

healing people.

Verse 20,

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns

in which he did most of his miracles,

because they did not repent.

Woe to you, Chorazin!

Woe to you, Bethsaida!

This was the heartland of Israel,

the religious Jewish folk.

For if the miracles that were performed in you

had been performed in Tyre and Sidon,

if they had had the opportunity

that you have had,

they would have repented long ago

in sackcloth and ashes.

Let's go back to chapter 15.

You see, Jesus' move is intentional

and provocative.

By crossing these borders,

Jesus is saying,

I have come for all people,

no matter what their background is

or what their history has been.

I am calling people to repentance.

I haven't come for those who think

they are good, rule-keeping religious folk.

But I've come for the irreligious people,

the ones who don't keep the rules,

the ones who cause chaos and mayhem,

the ones with messy, broken lives.

I've come to welcome sinners into my kingdom.

For no one is off limits,

no one is excluded,

and no one is outside of my reach.

So Jesus moves to sinners,

but he also moves to sufferers.

Because as Jesus enters this area,

look what happens, verse 22.

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity

came to him crying out,

Lord, son of David,

have mercy on me.

My daughter is demon-possessed

and suffering terribly.

Now everything about this event

is making the disciples

squirm uncomfortably.

She's a Canaanite,

a fierce enemy of the Jews.

The whole history of the Canaanites

has been about attacking

the nation of Israel.

And she's also a Gentile,

a pagan.

Religiously, she's unacceptable.

She's excluded.

And she's a woman.

Because you don't go talking

to such common people as women.

You see, the Jews had very strict

religious barriers

to keep such people out.

The kingdom, they thought,

is not open to your kind.

But rather than condemnation,

Jesus displays amazing compassion.

For Jesus, there is no line

or barrier.

He doesn't just see

their spiritual need,

but he sees their physical need.

He empathises with her suffering.

This reminds us, doesn't it,

of why Jesus has come.

He has come to renew

this broken world

and restore our disordered lives.

He sees the great need

of this woman.

Most likely,

she's without a husband.

And her daughter

is suffering

with a demon spirit.

And he moves out

towards her,

crossing all of the

spiritual social barriers

that there are.

Look down at verse 28.

Then Jesus said to her,

Woman, you of great faith,

your request is granted.

And her daughter

was healed

at that moment.

This is who Jesus is.

You see,

he is not repulsed

by our sin.

He's not immune

to the sufferings

that we go through.

The very things

that push people

away from us,

those who struggle,

we struggle to forgive,

those we find it hard

to care for,

these are the people

Jesus is drawn to.

The kind of people

we keep at arm's length

because of their sinful past

and their struggling life,

Jesus embraces them.

So whatever your sin

may be today,

whatever suffering

you may be experiencing,

let's understand this,

you are not

outside the reach

of God

or off limits

to the mercy

of God.

Jesus doesn't avoid

sinners and sufferers.

Jesus moves

towards

people like us,

people who sin

and people who suffer.

That is

good news.

So,

the shocking move.

second,

a surprising

response.

Jesus commends

those with

great faith.

He commends

those with

great faith.

Jesus'

interaction

with this woman

is full

of surprises

and we're just

going to focus

on two of them.

First,

Jesus responds

with silence.

We can imagine

the scene there

as this woman

comes to Jesus.

She's loud

and desperate.

She doesn't care,

does she?

Verse 22,

Lord,

son of David,

have mercy on me.

My daughter,

my daughter,

she's suffering

terribly.

How does Jesus

respond?

respond?

Verse 23,

Jesus didn't

answer

a word.

Silence.

Nothing.

I mean,

this isn't the

Jesus we know,

is it?

It's almost

as if Jesus

is ignoring

her.

But we

mustn't

interpret

the silence

as exclusion

and rejection.

Something that

the disciples

jumped to.

Look at the

rest of

verse 23.

So his

disciples

came to him

and urged him,

send her

away,

for she

keeps crying

out after

us.

They want

nothing to

do with

a pagan

outsider.

No,

Jesus is

silent

because he

wants to

teach the

disciples

and us

that this

woman is

not only

welcome,

but she's

an example

to us

all of

how we

should

respond

to

Jesus.

Of course,

Jesus

could have

answered

her

immediately.

He could

have healed

her daughter

straight away.

No problem.

His delay

is that he

doesn't care,

or is not

that he

doesn't care,

but his

concern is

that we

would learn.

So Jesus

responds with

silence.

And second,

Jesus responds

with

commendation.

You see,

when Jesus

does eventually

break his

silence,

look at what

he says,

verse 24.

He answered,

I was

sent only

to the

lost sheep

of Israel.

Well,

that was

true,

wasn't it?

Jesus came

for those

to whom

he was

sent,

the people

of Israel.

But Jesus

had also

come for

the nations,

for all

people.

And that's

what he

wants the

disciples to

learn.

He wants

them to

see how

this woman,

an outsider,

how she

responds.

So verse 25,

the woman

came and

knelt before

him.

Lord,

help me,

she said.

It's a face

that is

desperately

dependent on

Jesus.

It's a

recognition that

without the

intervention of

Jesus in

my life.

I am

lost.

I've got

no hope.

Lord,

help me.

But Jesus

is still

not ready

to act.

He wants

us to

grasp the

kind of

faith that

he commends.

Verse 26,

he replied,

it is not

right to

take the

children's

bread and

toss it to

the dogs.

Well,

what on

earth is

that about?

Well,

Jews referred

to outsiders

like this

woman as

dogs.

It was

insulting,

racist,

misogynistic.

That's why

the disciples

were so

quick to

tell Jesus,

send her

away,

we don't

want her

kind around

us.

We don't

want anything

to do

with her.

So Jesus

as if kind

of goes

along with

it and

confronts

her with

this view

as if to

say,

what are

you going

to do

about that?

Is it

not right

that you

take the

children's

bread and

toss it

to the

dogs?

Is it

right to

take the

Messiah who

came for

the Jews

and give

him to

the Gentiles?

Her

response is

just

brilliant.

Verse 27.

Yes it

is Lord,

it is

right.

Even the

dogs eat

the crumbs

that fall

from the

master's

table.

Just as

dogs get

to eat the

scraps from

their master,

so we

will receive

from the

Jews what

they don't

want.

I know

I don't

deserve

Jesus the

Messiah.

I know

I'm not

worthy.

I have

nothing to

offer.

I have

nothing to

bring.

I'm a

sinner and

a sufferer,

but I

desperately

need you.

Her

faith is

urgent,

but it's

humble.

She sees

not how

great she

is,

but how

great and

gracious

that Jesus

is.

And so

verse 28,

Jesus said

to her,

Woman,

you have

great faith.

Far from

ignoring her,

Jesus

commends

her,

this is

the kind

of faith

that I

seek from

all people,

people who

see their

desperate need

and run

to Jesus

urgently,

but humbly.

Now we've

got to be

careful how

we interpret

this great

faith.

It's not

the size

or measure

of her

faith that

Jesus

commends,

but the

greatness of

the one in

whom she

trusts.

You see,

it's not

about how

great I

am,

but seeing

how great

my sin

is,

and how

great Jesus

is to

forgive.

It's not

about my

great ability

or strength

to get

through

things in

life,

but seeing

how helpless

and hopeless

we are.

It's running

to Jesus

as our

saving king

and crying

out urgently

but humbly,

Lord,

help me.

This is

the right

response for

sinners and

sufferers.

This is the

kind of faith

that Jesus

commends.

of the

kingdom.

So we

have a

shock,

we have

a surprise,

and we

have a

stunning or

spectacular

vision.

Jesus

gives us

a foretaste

of heaven.

You see,

as Jesus

moves out

towards

sinners and

sufferers,

as he

welcomes

those with

faith,

so Jesus

is giving

us a

foretaste

of the

kingdom to

come.

And the

feeding of

the 4,000

shows us

this.

First,

look at the

crowds that

come.

Once again,

verse 29,

Jesus is

on the

move.

And verse

30,

great crowds

come to

him.

Now,

you may

remember we've

come across a

similar event

like this,

haven't we?

Just last

week in

chapter 14,

there it

was the

feeding of

the 5,000.

But apart

from some

minor differences,

what we

read in

chapter 14

and chapter

15 are

almost

identical.

Both have

large crowds,

both is

about an

event where

people have

no food,

Jesus

miraculously

feeds

everyone

who's

there,

there's

plenty

left over

in the

baskets,

and they

all go

home

satisfied.

The same

kind of

story.

However,

there's one

significant

difference.

The crowds.

Not the

number of

people who

are present,

but the

identity of

the people

who are

present.

You see,

in chapter

14,

it was all

about Jesus

down by

the lake

in Jewish

territory.

But here

in chapter

15,

they're all

from a

Gentile

pagan

background.

They're

still

outsiders.

Look at

the response

of the

people as

they gather.

Look at

the end

of verse

31.

They

praised

the God

of Israel.

They're

obviously

outsiders,

but they've

come to

have an

encounter

with Jesus,

God's

king.

So in

praising

the God

of Israel,

they are

declaring

that he

is their

God too.

Once again,

Jesus is

showing that

he's come

for all

people,

regardless

of what

their

background

or social

situation

is.

His

desire is

to bring

people from

all nations

to himself,

that they

might worship

him.

In fact,

the sheer

number of

people who

are gathered,

look at

verse 38,

which doesn't

include all

the women

and children

who are

there,

is a

foretaste

of heaven.

It's a

picture of

the crowds,

the thousands

that are

beyond number

of sinners

and sufferers

who've

responded in

faith and

will be

gathered

together

in God's

eternal

kingdom.

Well,

you say,

how is there

a vision

there about

God's

eternal

kingdom?

Well,

let's

look at

the feast

that is

to come.

You see,

as the

crowds

gather,

Jesus

begins to

feed them,

doesn't he?

He takes

a bit of

bread and

a few

fish and

he feeds

these thousands

of people

before him

and they're

all satisfied.

But Jesus

isn't just

showing off.

He isn't

just being

generous.

Jesus

is giving

us a

vision

of what

is to

come.

You see,

one of the

ways the

Bible looks

forward to

heaven

is a

feast,

a

celebratory

meal that

includes people

from all

nations

rejoicing in

their salvation.

Isaiah

the prophet

gives us a

foretaste of

what this is

like.

Keep your

finger in

Matthew 15

and let's

go back to

Isaiah

Isaiah 25 · chapter mention

chapter 25.

Isaiah

Isaiah 25 · chapter mention

chapter 25.

Here the

prophet Isaiah

is giving

a foretaste,

a picture

of the

eternal kingdom

to come.

Let's pick it

up, chapter

25 and

verse 6.

let's read

from verse 6.

On this

mountain,

the Lord

Almighty will

prepare a

feast of

rich food

for all

peoples,

a banquet

of aged

wine,

the best

of meats

and the

finest of

wines.

On this

mountain he

will destroy

the shroud

that enfolds

all people,

the sheet

that covers

all nations.

What's that?

Well,

verse 8,

he will

swallow up

death

forever.

The

sovereign

Lord will

wipe away

the tears

from all

faces.

He will

remove his

people's

disgrace

from all

the earth.

The

Lord has

spoken.

In that

day they

will say,

surely this

is our

God,

we trusted

in him

and he

saved us.

This is

the Lord,

we trusted

in him.

Let us

rejoice and

be glad

in his

salvation.

salvation.

Let's

go back

to Matthew

15.

Isaiah's

vision

is of a

mountain.

Picture it

in your

minds,

where people

from all

nations are

gathered and

people are

healed and

death is

destroyed.

Their

relationship

with God

restored and

they celebrate

with rich

food.

it's a

spectacular

vision.

And now

look what we

have here in

Matthew 15.

Look carefully

at what Jesus

does.

Look at

verse 29.

Where does

Jesus go?

Up the

mountain.

What happens

in verse 30?

great crowds

come to

him.

Verse 31.

People are

healed and

restored.

The lame

walk, the

blind see.

Verse 36.

What does

Jesus do for

them?

He provides

a meal.

Okay, it's

just fish and

bread.

It's a long

way off the

best of meats

and finest

of wines.

but,

verse 37,

they are

all

satisfied.

Jesus is

not only

highlighting the

spectacular

vision of

Isaiah,

Jesus is

saying, I

am the one

who's come to

fulfil this

vision.

I am the

one who

makes all

of this

possible.

What I am

doing on the

mountain is

just a

foretaste

of my

glorious

eternal

kingdom.

You see,

for sinners

and sufferers,

the best is

yet to

come.

Yes, Jesus

healed all

these people,

but what

would happen

to them?

Well, they

would all die

at some

stage,

wouldn't

they?

Probably

through another

disease or

sickness.

Yes, Jesus

fed all of

these thousands

of people,

but within a

couple of

days they

would wake

up with

hungry

bellies

needing to

be fed

again.

You see,

what Jesus

was doing

was,

was just

temporary.

Jesus

came for

something

greater,

something

eternal.

He came

to deal

with all

of my

sin and

to destroy

the pain

of death.

He died

on the

cross and

he rose

from the

grave so

that I

might share

in his

eternal

kingdom.

Don't

settle for

what is

past.

Set your

eyes on

the vision

to come.

God

will

come.

You see,

here we

are being

shown

Jesus who

moves out

towards

sinners and

sufferers.

He welcomes

all who

respond in

urgent but

humble

faith.

And he

promises us

a seat

at the

table in

his eternal

kingdom.

A kingdom

where sin

and suffering

will be

no more.

and he

will wipe

the tears

from our

eyes and

we will

be satisfied

forever.

No longer

living by

faith but

feasting

forever with

the king.

What a

shock.

What a

surprise.

What a

stunning vision

for all

who run

to Jesus.

Let's pray

together.

our

Father God,

we come

just as we

are today.

You see

into our

hearts,

you know

our sin,

you know

our mess,

some of

it is

public,

some of

it is

desperately

secret.

You see

our lives

and you

see our

suffering.

Some of

that is

very public

too and

people know

how we

hurt and

how we

struggle.

But yet

we know

that some

of our

suffering

is deep

down

and no

one knows

the torment

that we

may face.

How

wonderful

to know

today

that Jesus

welcomes us

as we

are.

Come to

Jesus,

receive

forgiveness,

receive that

healing,

that

restoration.

salvation.

Come to

him and

know a

glorious

future,

urgently

and humbly

depending on

him in

faith.

Father,

help us

to go,

knowing that

it is you

alone who

will satisfy

us completely.

Help us

to walk

by faith

and not

by sight

as we

look forward

to that

wonderful

feast,

being seated

at the

king's

table,

served by

the Lord

Jesus

himself,

sharing

in a

wonderful

meal

to celebrate

our

homecoming,

our

salvation.

Thank you

for what we

have in

Jesus today.

Amen.

But we're

going to

sing a

celebratory

song.

There's a

higher throne

than all

this world

has known

where

faithful

ones

from every

tongue

that welcome

from every

nation

those who

have faith

in Christ.

I invite

you to

stand and

sing and

if you

are trusting

in the

Lord,

you will

want to

sing this

out in

praise and

thanksgiving.

Let's

sing together.

Amen.

Amen.

口 dele's

water

There is a

higher throne

That all

thoughts

of us

And never

overcome

through

His

heart

That earth

You will

come to

gak

deeds

Into

pits

We

will

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