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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
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 its mouth,
thou shalt find a piece of money, that take and give unto them for Me and thee."
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:), and reminds them that prayer and fasting were essentials. Peter shares,
however humbly, in the miracle of the tribute money; the disciples take a part in the
miracle of the colt, and when the disciples marveled at the withering of the fig tree, they
are again reminded of the faith which removes mountains. There is a reason for this,
"Greater works than these shall ye do, because I go to My Father", said the Lord, and
Mark 16: closes with the words, "The Lord working with them, confirming the Word
with signs following". These are therefore all indications of the coming dispensation of
Pentecost. All was now awaiting that sign of all signs, the sign of the prophet Jonah.
The references to the coming of the King, and the hosannas to the Son of David, again
indicate how near the common people were to accepting the Lord as their Messiah. What
a shocking charge lies at the door of their spiritual rulers, who instructed them to choose
Barabbas instead of Christ! How soon will this piece of history be repeated on a grander
scale? The spiritist activity and world wide conditions seem to indicate that the Lord is
near.
There are two miracles which we reserve for more detailed consideration owing to
their bearing upon the dispensational outlook, namely, that of the woman of Canaan, and
that of the withered fig tree. These we hope to deal with in our next article.