Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 15:32

"And Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I would not send them away fasting, lest haply they faint on the way." — Matthew 15:32 (ASV)

On Jesus’ compassion, see comment on 9:36. It appears that Jesus’ preaching and miracles so captivated the people (cf. v.31) that they refused to leave him till he hesitated to dismiss them, fearing that many of them would collapse for hunger on their way home (v.32). Some had come a long distance (Mark 8:3). The response of the disciples is not surprising. While they may have understood the feeding of the five thousand Jews as anticipating the messianic banquet, they were undoubtedly a long way from admitting that Gentiles could share in any anticipated messianic banquet. Furthermore, we must never lose sight of a human being’s vast capacity for unbelief.