The Gentile Feeding
Chapter 8 gives the world a beautiful picture of the continuing compassion of the Christ. The place is near the Decapolis area – somewhere in a hilly area (per Matthew’s account). Mark does not give us details but the other reference continues to talk about his healing of the deaf, mute, and lame just as Isaiah had foretold ages before.
Read Mark’s account, 8:1-10 and then read it in Matthew 15:32ff.
- Matthew’s account gives details of Jesus’ healing. What was the response of those who witnessed the healing?
- Praising God or anything else for that matter is something that we at times take too lightly. Can you think of other synonyms for the word praise? Examine the list below as possibilities!
- Glory
- Blessing
- Thanksgiving
- Hallelujah
- Does either author give us any clue that the disciples made any connection of the miraculous feeding this time?
- Of the miracles (physical healing or feeding), which do you think the gentiles remembered better?
Dalmanutha (δαλμανουθα) is the unknown destination of Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee after he fed the four thousand, as recorded in Mark’s gospel. It is sometimes believed to be in the vicinity of Magdala, the alleged home town of Mary Magdalene.
Let’s take a quick look at the two different feedings for just a minute. Only Matthew and Mark record the Gentile Feeding and all four gospel writers record the 5,000. Do any writers in the 5,000 story indicate that the people gave thanks/praise to the God of Israel?
The Bible is full of “praise” from cover-to-cover and especially in the Book of Psalms. It is sometimes referred to as the Book of Praises too! Why, because the word praise comes from the same root word as hallelujah (Hallel). “Hallel” are praises in the Book of Psalms.
We typically think of praises as those set to music and sung, however, praising the LORD or God is done in a variety of ways. First, praising God must originate from the heart – and not just an outward expression. Here are some example but see if you can add to the list.
- Offering sacrifices (gifts)
- Physical movement (David danced before the LORD – 2 Samuel 6:14)
- Meditation
- Testimony
- Prayer
- Sanctified living
Before we leave this subject of praise, read Psalm 150, called the Grand Finale:
Praise the LORD
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens
Praise him for his acts of power;
Praise him for his surpassing greatness;
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet.
Praise him with the harp and the lyre,
Praise him with tambourine and dancing,
Praise him with the strings and flute,
Praise him with the clash of cymbals,
Praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
Read Mark 8:11-21
Mark 8 changes tune as we now address the Pharisees and their demand for signs. Mark calls it the “Yeast of the Pharisees.”
- Jesus sighed deeply. Does this show his disgust? If not, what was his frame of mind?
- Matthew 16 provides more details re: physical signs vs. signs of the times. What was Jesus referring to?
- Verse 14 reminds us that the disciples had “forgotten” to bring bread along with them in the boat (except of one loaf). Jesus says, “Do you still not understand?” Are we sometimes slow to get the big picture of what our LORD requires of us?
Questions for the Day
- Praising God or the LORD is “heart” based. How can we prepare our hearts as the focal point of our daily service?
- Yeast is a very common product used in all types of processes – from bread to beer. Yeast is used negatively in today’s lesson (infection). How can we keep our hearts free from the infection of the world’s lies and keep our focus? Be specific.
- Slow to understand God’s Word happens to all of us. Today’s lesson takes Jesus to spell out to His disciples their lack of spiritual eyesight (lack of bread). How can life’s burdens sometime weigh us down and cause us to lose sight of the “big picture?”