IVP New Testament Commentary Series – Jesus Meets People's Needs (15:29-31)
Resources chevron-right IVP New Testament Commentary Series chevron-right Matthew chevron-right THE REJECTED PROPHET (13:53-17:27) chevron-right Pharisees and Canaanites (15:1-39) chevron-right Feeding the Four Thousand (15:29-39) chevron-right Jesus Meets People's Needs (15:29-31)
Jesus Meets People's Needs (15:29-31)

After some time alone with his disciples (v. 21), Jesus returns to meeting the people's needs. Jesus here meets people's physical needs (v. 30). Those ultraconservative Christians who have considered ministry to people's physical needs "liberal" need to read the Bible more carefully themselves (compare vv. 3, 7-9; Is 1:10-17; 58:3-9; Jer 22:16; Amos 5:21-24). Some theologians have critiqued some forms of Christianity for focusing on "meeting our needs" instead of on glorifying God. The critique is partly right and partly wrong. Jesus met the broken where they were, meeting their needs. Nevertheless, only those who pressed on to become his servant-disciples would really come to know who he was. Even his initial acts of compassion led to God's glory; though the crowds had exercised some faith in bringing the ailing to Jesus, they still were amazed by the miracles and praised the God of Israel (Mt 15:30-31).

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