Today’s reading is Matthew 15.
Jesus does it again. Clearly, the apostles didn’t get the point from the first food miracle. They still didn’t know how to feed a large group of people with a small amount of food. But Jesus challenged them and then demonstrated His power again. This time with a group of 4000 men besides women and children.
Many people come to these two miracles and demand that the purpose of Christ’s church (or at least one work of it) is to feed people. To hear people today, you would think Jesus walked into a town, went to the other side of the tracks, started handing out food baskets, clothes, and money. Then when the people finally realized He loved them, He started teaching. At least, that’s what they say churches are supposed to do today. And they go to this passage to make their claim.
However, was that really Jesus mode of operation? Please, notice in this story Jesus didn’t go about feeding people until they started listening to Him. Rather, the people were following Him. They were listening to Him. In fact, in this case, they had stayed with Him for three days. Then, Jesus decided to feed them. He didn’t even feed them on the first day of this “seminar.” Any folks who had decided to go home on day 2 missed out.
No doubt, we are to do good to all people (Galatians 6:10). As Christians, we demonstrate compassion to all. However, let us not get caught up in mission drift. Christ’s mission was not to make sure the poor were clothed. His mission was not to make sure the hungry got fed. His mission was not to make sure the homeless got housed. His mission was to die for our sins, be raised for our salvation, establish His kingdom, and proclaim that good news to all. That was His mission. That was His ministry.
Certainly, when folks followed Him and turned to Him, He provided all kinds of blessings for them. Even then, they often misunderstood; Jesus had to correct them (see John 6). But let’s not distort Jesus into the modern benevolence warrior folks try to claim and believe that because we are benevolent people we are being most like Jesus. We are being most like Jesus when we draw people to salvation in Jesus. Let us not distort the kingdom mission and believe we are doing kingdom work when we are doing the work that anyone, whether they are part of Christ’s kingdom or not, can do. We are doing kingdom work when we are spreading the kingdom. So, let’s get out there and spread the good news of the kingdom.
Next week’s reading is Matthew 16.
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Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
- Are we supposed to do good things for people when we have opportunity? Why or why not? (hint: look up Galatians 6:10)
- Is the mission of Christ’s church and even of Christians, however, to simply do nice things for people?
- What is the mission of Christ, His churches, and His people?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?
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