"The Bread of the Kingdom" - from "crumbs for dogs" to loaves for children. . . another miraculous feeding of the multitudes, this time only 4,000: a different time, place, and crowd (gentiles). The need for and provision of the Kingdom transcends race, face and place . . . . we have a constant need to receive and give His grace. "Jesus is not a stirrer of crowds; he does not use them; he welcomes them, brings them together and feeds them." (Bonnard)

Matthew 15:21-28 'All I Need is a Miracle': "But she said, 'Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from the masters' table'. Then Jesus answered and said to her, 'O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish'. And her daughter was healed at once." (never underestimate the power of the Master's crumbs in the lives of Gentile dogs like you and me!)“The Gospel doesn’t divide the good people from the bad people. It divides the humble- those who admit and repent of their sins- from the proud- those who want to justify their sins.” (Keller)

GBC Matthew Series continues in 15:1-20/"Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth- this defiles the man" (v11)-- You being freed from you is the only hope since it's the evil inside of you that hooks you to the evil outside you; for that there's grace. (Paul Tripp)

Matthew series continues in 15:1-9This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me'---"It is as we realize this wonderful possibility of knowing God that everything else should pale into insignificance . . . we must strive, without ceasing, to realize the presence and the fellowship, and the communion of God.” (Lloyd-Jones)

Matthew 14:34-36--Another Miracle Clinic: "and they began to entreat Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured" (v36)-- If you're not praying, you're quietly confident that time, money, & talent are all you need. (Paul Miller)

Matthew 14:22-33 "Walking on Water" - the Deity of Christ; the Deficiency of the Disciples; the Demand to walk by faith, not sight--"Good when He gives, supremely good,Nor less when He denies,E'en crosses from His sovereign handAre blessings in disguise."-James Hervey

Matthew 14:13-21 "All Sufficient King" -- Jesus, in extreme contrast to king Herod, is revealed to be true, compassionate, all powerful, adequate, more than sufficient- "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (Jn. 6:35)

Matthew 14:1-14 -The contrast between Jesus and Herod Antipas could not be any more extreme- Two Kings, Two Loves, Two Destinies - "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach my goal' " (Luke 13:32)

Matthew series continues in 13:53-58, "The infinite loss of unbelief" - Jesus rejected by His hometown - - 'Remember, therefore, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you- it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you- it is Christ; it is not even your faith in Christ, though that be the instrument- it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you art grasping Christ, as to Christ." (Spurgeon)

Philippians 1:12-18In the midst of difficult circumstances believers rejoice as the gospel is advanced and the saints are encouraged.