Matthew 15:29-31 And Jesus departed from there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.… In this narrative there is no word of Christ recorded; yet the scene is full of animation. It is the animation of power. We have in it - I. CHRIST IN THE POWER OF HIS ATTRACTION. 1. He sat upon the mountain. (17 Possibly Tabor. "The mountain," meaning some particular mountain which he was accustomed to frequent; for whenever it is spoken of at a time when Jesus is in Galilee, it is always distinguished by the article (cf. Matthew 4:18; Matthew 5:1; Matthew 13:54; Matthew 14:23; Matthew 28:16). "I suppose it was Mount Tabor" (Wakefield). (2) Mountains were symbols of powers. So they are put for kingdoms. Thus the powerful kingdom of Babylon is described as a "destroying mountain" to be devoted to destruction (see Jeremiah 51:25). Places of power and authority within a kingdom are also compared to mountains (see Amos 4:1). Powerful obstacles to the progress of the gospel are described as mountains which have to be removed (see Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 41:5; Isaiah 49:11). The exaltation of the kingdom of Christ above the kingdoms of the world is called the establishing of the mountain of the Lord's house in the top of the mountains and its exaltation above the hills (see Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:17. And the kingdom of Christ is described as a little stone destined to swell into a great mountain which shall fill the whole earth (see Daniel 2:35). (3) The attitude of Jesus, seated upon this mountain, silently asserted his enthronement above all power, material and spiritual, secular and sacred. 2. Great multitudes came to him. (1) See them streaming out from the surrounding towns and villages. Yet are these but portents of the millions through the ages to be influenced by his attractive power (see John 12:32). Surely this is that Shiloh to whom shall be the gathering of the people (Genesis 49:10). (2) Some came to him. These were the more healthy. It is a sign of spiritual health when a man can come to Jesus in faith. Conspicuous amongst those who came would be those upon whom, on former occasions, Jesus had shown miracles of healing. (3) Others were brought. These were the diseased who could not come without help. It is the purest benevolence to bring to Jesus, the Healer, in faith those who are morally diseased. Perhaps many who now bring the sick were formerly themselves brought as sick. So the attractive power of Christ is ever multiplying. II. CHRIST IN HIS POWER OF HEALING. 1. Physical maladies owned this power, (1) The sick of all sorts were brought to him. Note: Sin has turned this world into a hospital. (2) The spectacle moved his compassion as the accumulation of living misery was "cast down at his feet." The oratory of misery is eloquent in the ear of mercy. (3) "And he healed them." Here was no case so malignant as to baffle the resources of this great Physician. As from the Mount of Beatitudes Jesus delivered in his memorable sermon lessons of wisdom, so now from this, probably the same mountain, he dispenses the blessings of his power. 2. The physical are typical of the spiritual. (1) The lame. Lameness here is perhaps limited to the legs, and is thus distinguished from the maiming mentioned afterwards. Those are morally lame whose walk or conduct is irregular or inconsistent, or who cannot move in the ways of righteousness. (2) The dumb. These are also generally deaf. And there are those who are deaf to the voice of God calling them to duty; and who have not the moral courage to confess the truth, or the moral disposition to praise God. (3) The blind. Those the vision of whose understanding is blinded by prejudice. Those whose judgment is at fault through ignorance, error, or malignity. Moral blindness is voluntary, and therefore the more difficult of cure (see John 9:41). (4) The maimed. These would include those who had lost a member; those who had lost the use of member, as by palsy; and those whose limbs were disabled by distortion through disease or accident (cf. Matthew 18:8; Mark 9:43). The morally maimed are those whose faculties are impaired or obliterated by sin. (5) "Many others." As devils are legion, so are their possessions. The varieties of evil are legion as well as the number of their victims. 3. The miraculous is typical of the spiritual healing. (1) See now the lame leaping for joy and walking steadily in the ways of God's commandments. (2) Listen now to the dumb witnessing for Christ and singing the praises of the Saviour. (3) Behold how the faculties and powers of the maimed have been restored. Is there not a new creation here? (4) Witness how the blind eyes are opened to see the wonders of God's Law. (5) All distortions of the soul are cured by the power of Jesus. III. CHRIST THE POWER OF GOD. 1. The people glorified Christ as God. (1) His healing power was undoubtedly the power of God. For here is the reproduction of a hand or foot at a word or touch. Is not this creative energy? What power short of omnipotence can create? (2) But Jesus wrought his miracles immediately from himself. In this case he could not have wrought by delegated power. Omnipotence cannot be delegated, for there cannot be two Omnipotents. (3) How otherwise, then, could the people who "wondered" at the miracles glorify God without discerning Christ to be the Power of God? 2. They glorified him as "the God of Israel. (1) They identified him as the very God of Jacob, who in human form wrestled with that patriarch and changed his name to Israel (cf. Genesis 32:24-30). (2) They identified him as the God of the covenant people. The same Miracle-Worker who brought Israel out of Egypt. The same who gave them the Law from Sinai. The same who established them in the land of promise. The same who in the Shechinah enthroned himself in the temple as in the palace of his kingdom. The same who will restore again to Israel the kingdom. - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. |
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