Matthew 15:21-39

Jesus left and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that area came, shouting out, “Lord, son of David! Please have mercy on me, because my daughter is suffering badly because she's possessed by a demon!” But Jesus didn't reply at all. His disciples came to him and told him, “Tell her to stop following us. All her shouting is really annoying!” “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” Jesus said to the woman. But the woman came and kneeled before him, and said, “Lord, please help me!” “It's not right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs,” Jesus told her. “Yes, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat crumbs that fall from their master's table,” she replied. “You have great trust in me,” Jesus answered. “Your wish is granted!” And her daughter was healed immediately. Jesus returned, passing by the Sea of Galilee. He went into the mountains nearby where he sat down. Huge crowds came to him, bringing those who were lame, blind, crippled, dumb, and many others who were sick. They laid them on the ground at his feet, and he healed them. The crowd was astounded at what they saw happen: the deaf could speak, the crippled were healed, the lame could walk, and the blind could see. They praised the God of Israel. Jesus called his disciples over and told them, “I feel really sorry for all these people, because they've been with me now for three days, and they have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, in case they faint on their way home.” “Where could we find enough bread here in this desert to feed such a huge crowd?” the disciples responded. “How many loaves of bread do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven, and a few small fish,” they replied. Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and the fish, and after blessing the food he broke it into pieces and gave it to the disciples, and the disciples gave it to the crowds. Everybody ate until they were full, and then they collected the leftovers, filling seven baskets. Four thousand men ate the food, not counting women and children. Then he sent the crowds away, got into a boat, and went to the Magadan region.