Wherever Jesus went, as He lived in this world, there always was a group of people who found fault with everything that He did and everything that He said. We tend to find fault with people we don’t like, especially people who show us our own faults. And so the Pharisees hated the Lord Jesus and wanted to get rid of Him. Their traditions were against God’s commandments. Jesus taught that what is most important is not how we look on the outside, as other people see us, but how our hearts look to God’s eyes.
When God speaks, we will not understand, if we are not willing to hear with our hearts what He says.
What a cheer the “woman of Canaan” must have been to the Lord Jesus! She was not a Jew in Israel; she was a Gentile from a neighboring country. Usually the Jews did not have anything to do with Gentiles. But this woman’s daughter was possessed by a demon, and the mother knew that only Jesus could help her with her serious problem. Many tried to turn her away, but the Lord Jesus valued her great faith that would not give up, and so He was very happy to deliver her daughter from the demon.
Jesus had come to heal and bless the people. Here He also does another miracle with food — He once again feeds a multitude of people with just a few loaves and fish. Those who received the blessing “glorified the God of Israel” — they gave Him the honor and thanks that He deserved.
1. Jesus challenged the Pharisees for making their tradition transgress God’s __________. Matthew 15:___
2. We can say nice things with our lips while our __________ is far from God. Matthew 15:___
3. The Lord told the multitude to __________ and __________. Matthew 15:___
4. The Lord honored the __________ of the woman of Canaan and healed her daughter. Matthew 15:___
5. In Jesus’ hands were seven __________ of bread and a few __________, enough to feed over 4000 people. Matthew 15:___