Matthew 15:29-31

Matthew 15:29-31

[29] And  Jesus  departed  from thence,  and came  nigh unto  the sea  of Galilee;  and  went up  into  a mountain,  and sat down  there.  [30] And  great  multitudes  came  unto him,  having  with  them those that were  lame,  blind,  dumb,  maimed,  and  many  others,  and  them  down  at  feet;  and  he healed  them:  [31] Insomuch that  the multitude  wondered,  when they saw  the dumb  to speak,  the maimed  to be whole,  the lame  to walk,  and  the blind  to see:  and  they glorified  the God  of Israel. 

What does Matthew 15:29-31 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus departed from the region around Tyre and Sidon ( Matthew 15:21) and returned to the Sea of Galilee. There are several clues in the verses that follow that enable the reader to see that Jesus went to the eastern (Gentile) side of the lake (cf. Mark 7:31). Again great crowds brought their sick to Jesus for healing. He performed these acts of healing freely. The reference to the people glorifying "the God of Israel" is one clue that the people were mainly Gentiles. They saw a connection between Jesus and the God of Israel. The Decapolis region east of the Sea of Galilee was strongly Gentile in population.
Why did Jesus so freely heal Gentiles here when in the previous section He showed such reticence to do so? Undoubtedly He said what He did to the Canaanite woman for the benefit of His disciples and to give her an opportunity to demonstrate her great faith before them.