Matthew 15:34-39

Matthew wrote that this time the disciples gathered the remaining scraps in a different type of basket. The Greek word spyridas describes baskets made of rushes that the Gentiles used to carry fish and other food (cf. Acts 9:25). In Matthew 14:20 the disciples used kophinous, baskets the Jews used to carry kosher food, at least in Rome. [Note: A. E. J. Rawlinson, The Gospel According to St. Mark, p. 87.] This is another clue that the audience here was mainly Gentile.

Possibly there is some significance in the number of baskets of fragments the disciples collected. If 12 in Matthew 14:20 represents the 12 tribes of Israel, these seven baskets may stand for the mark of a creative act of God, as in the seven days of creation. However this symbolism is highly tenuous.

As before, everyone got enough to eat. Matthew again only recorded the number of the males present, in keeping with Jewish thinking. Perhaps the total crowd numbered between 8,000 and 16,000 people.

The site of Magadan is unknown (Matthew 15:39). Probably it was on the west side of the lake, the Jewish side, since conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees followed. Some commentators believe Magadan is the same as Magdala, an area just north of Tiberias on Galilee’s western shore. [Note: E.g., Walvoord, Matthew: . . ., p. 120.] Some conjecture that this was the hometown of Mary Magdalene.

This incident would have impressed the disciples with God’s graciousness in dealing with the Gentiles. His kingdom plan definitely included them albeit in a secondary role. Their role as disciples would include ministry to the Gentiles as well as to Jews. They had the same ministry responsibilities to both ethnic groups.

"If Jesus’ aphorism about the children and the dogs merely reveals priority in feeding, then it is hard to resist the conclusion that in the feeding of the four thousand Jesus is showing that blessing for the Gentiles is beginning to dawn." [Note: Carson, "Matthew," p. 357.]

The fact that Moses and Elisha each performed two feeding miracles should have elevated Jesus to a status at least equal with them in the people’s minds (cf. Exodus 16; Numbers 11; 2 Kings 4:1-7; 2 Kings 4:38-44). Unfortunately most of the people, Jews and Gentiles, continued to come to Jesus only to obtain physical help.