B. W. Bacon calls this section Book 4 of Matthew. Jesus went to His hometown and was not honored there. John the Baptist is dead. Jesus feeds 5,000 men plus the women and children with just 5 loaves and 2 fishes. He walked on the water and Peter did too for a short time. The disciples called Jesus the Son of God. Jesus healed people in Gennesaret. He called the Pharisees hypocrites because their hearts are far from God even though their words declare Him. A Gentile woman's faith in Jesus brings healing to her daughter. Jesus then fed 4,000 men plus women and children with i7 loaves of bread and a few fishes. Jesus rebukes the religious leaders because they can discern the weather, but they can not see that the kingdom of God has come. Peter declared that Jesus was the Son of the Living God, and then just a little bit later, Peter rebukes Jesus for talking about His death and resurrection. Jesus declares that the cost of discipleship is to deny self, take up your cross, and follow Me. We read about the Mount of Transfiguration when the glorified Jesus talked with Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophets). Jesus healed a demon possessed boy, and had Peter get their taxes from the mouth of a fish. Chapter 18 is the discourse where Jesus teaches about forgiveness and compassion, which is what the kingdom of heaven is like. This section ends with Jesus heading to Judea beyond the Jordan River.
