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Jesus and his disciples left the region of Tyre and Sidon and went along the Sea of Galilee. They were met by great crowds of people, most likely Gentiles, since they refer to God as the God of Israel (31; cf Mark 7:31, the Decapolis was primarily a Gentile area). They brought the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others in need of healing. For three days, Jesus healed them. The mute spoke, the lame walked, and the blind saw. God’s healing power was very present.
After three days of healing ministry, Jesus called his disciples to him. His compassion had not ended but continued (32). Before sending them on their way, Jesus desired to feed all the people who had gathered but had nothing to eat. Jesus’ compassion extended to all their needs – and his compassion extends to all our needs too.
Jesus invited his disciples to share in his compassion. His disciples wondered where they could get bread in that remote place. He asked them what they had. They only had seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. Jesus miraculously multiplied what they had and fed all the people with food left over. Four thousand men, besides women and children, were fed. Praise the God of Israel for his great compassion for sinners like us!
May 30, 2026
JESUS’ GREAT COMPASSION
Passage: Matthew 15:29-39
Key verse: 32
NIV
chapter 15
29. Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. 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."
33. His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"
34. "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."
35. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.
36. 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.
37. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
38. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.
39. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your compassion for us. Help me to have compassion for others.
One Word: “I have compassion for these people.”