 |  |
b
15:31 -39. 4,000 fed.
A2
16:1 -4.
The demand for a sign refused --
no sign but that of the prophet Jonah.
B2
F
17:14-21. Lunatic. Faith removes mountains
G
17:27.
Tribute.
Kingdom not yet come.
(19:2 Multitudes
healed).
Seven
H
20:30.
Blind. Son of David.
Miracles
H
21:1 -11.
Colt. Thy King cometh.
G
21:14,15.
Blind and Lame. Son of David
F 21:19,21. Fig tree withered.
Faith to remove mountains.
A3
27:42 -44.
Demand for evidential miracle refused.
B3
27:52 to 28:8.
the sign of Jonah.
The first set of seven miracles are not so much signs, as miracles of
compassion. `And Jesus ... was moved with compassion' (14:14). The feeding
of the 5,000 resembles the feeding of the 4,000 and there again the Lord
says, `I have compassion on the multitude'.
The second series of seven begins to foreshadow the development of
events. Immediately after the glory of the Transfiguration, the Lord deals
with a difficult case of demon possession, and makes reference to a faith
capable of removing mountains. Then follows the miracle of the tribute money
and its question:
`Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own
children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto Him, Of strangers. Jesus
saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we
should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up
the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth,
thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me
and thee' (Matt. 17:25 -27).
Has the reader observed one great difference between the miracles
performed before the twelfth chapter and those after it? In the case of
those that are detailed in the first half of Matthew, Christ works them
entirely alone. A change comes with this new series.
The disciples are the ones first addressed with regard to the feeding
of the 5,000. `Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to
eat'. While the disciples were utterly unable to comply with the task, they
have an ample share in its outworking. Peter evidently began to realize that
the working of miracles in conjunction with the Lord was now expected, for he
asks the Lord to bid him come to Him upon the water!
The repetition of the feeding of the 5,000 by the feeding of the 4,000
seemed intentional, but the disciples did not at the time appear to grasp the
Lord's purpose. The Lord rebukes both lack of memory and lack of faith as to
these two miracles (16:5 -12). He rebukes the lack of faith again when the
disciples confessed their inability to cast out the demon (17:20), and