Matthew 15:29–39

Verse 30. And he healed them. The Chanaanæan was long in obtaining her request, and only prevailed by her importunity; whereas the Jews were cured on declaring their infirmities. Thus were they left without excuse, seeing how much greater was the faith of this poor Gentile woman, than that of the descendants of Abraham. Chry. hom. liii.

Verse 32. They continue with me now three days, eager to hear his divine instructions, and to witness the greatness of his miracles. The disciples, as if not remembering what Jesus had done on a similar emergency, (see Matthew, 14:16,) expressed their solicitude and uneasiness for the hungered multitude. A.

Verse 36. He gave thanks to his heavenly Father, for that providential care with which he supplies our wants, even miraculously, when necessary for us. Everywhere his goodness and attention to the wants of his children are manifested, but not more so in the manna of the desert, than in the fertility of the holy land. A.

Verse 37. Seven baskets full remained, to intimate that God remunerates with a liberal hand all alms given for his sake. Various are the circumstances attending the present multiplication of the loaves with that in the preceding chapter. In the former, there were five loaves and two fishes; here there are seven loaves and a few little fishes: In the former, 5,000 men were filled, here 4,000: in the former case, 12 baskets full of fragments remained, here seven. Tirinus.—All which sufficiently prove that these were two distinct miracles, to both of which Jesus Christ refers in chap. 16, verse 9. and 10. A.

Verse 39. Magedan. Some copies read Μαγδαλαν, others Μαγαδαν, or Magedan: this last is found in the Vulgate, and in the best MS. copies. Mat. Polus. Tirinus. iv, p. 409.