Matthew 14:15-21…Working

Matthew 14:15-21…Working

14:15  As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, (out in the country.) and its already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” (victuals-K.J.V.-Meat, foodstuff, etc.)16 Jesus said, They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” (Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish.-{John 6:9a}) they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. (Suggests early  Spring.) Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks (i.e. Gave the blessing) and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls (2894-Small hand basket. Symbolic of the Twelve tribes of Israel or Apostles.) of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Estimates put the total number between 10,000-20,000.)

Continued From Book

“Warns against allowing what little we have to keep us on the sidelines from serving the Lord.” ⇒ Often we say “I’m not going to get involved because I can’t do anything, I don’t have the skill set, I’m not a preacher. Or I don’t have the ability to do something like that. So I’m just going to stay on the sidelines and not get involved”. This is a tool of the Enemy, he wants to keep Christians on the sidelines. He’ll have us believe your not good enough, your not smart enough, your not educated enough, your don’t have what it takes. You don’t have the resources, you can’t get involved because your don’t have anything to offer. When the Enemy lies to us saying we can’t get involved because we don’t have what it takes. We can say to the Enemy; “Ya, your right I don’t have enough to offer. I don’t have what it takes. I don’t have enough to fix the problem. But what I do have, I will put in the hands of Jesus who will be able to take it and use it mighty ways.

“Even today, if we will give Jesus what we have in our hands it is enough for Him use it to reach people. So instead of saying; “I don’t have enough faith. I don’t have enough talent. I don’t have enough skill. Or I don’t have that kind of time or resources.” What we should be saying is; “I will offer up what little I have, and trust you Lord to accomplish it.” ⇒ Will you take what you do have, even if it’s small, even it seems insignificant and put it in the hands of Jesus to use it.  Maybe all you have is times, maybe all you have is some small talent, maybe all you have is few dollars, maybe all you have is limited resources. Will you take that and put it the hands of Jesus and watch Him use it mighty ways. So will will take inventory of what you do have and say “Lord how can I use this for the Kingdom or how can I use this to reach others with the Gospel”.

Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches how God often exposes our lack, not to make us feel discourage or depressed, but to turn to Him in meeting our needs.

Teaches how we’re inadequate to provide for ourselves, but must always depend on God.

Teaches those who follow and trust in God will always have more than what we started with!  (Know that little is much when God is in it!)

Displays the abundance of God’s grace. That God has more grace than we could ever possibly use.

According to the Gospel of John Jesus’ reply was meant to test Philip’s faith for Jesus “already had in mind what he was going to do” (John 6:5-6)

Some have tried to explain away this miracle to other causes:

• That the people were shamed by the boys own generosity, and looked inside their cloaks and shared the lunch they had brought with them.

• That the people were so whipped up into a frenzy in hearing Jesus speak that the fervor suppressed their appetites.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES

• Jesus the source of eternal life. (John 6:32-33, 47-51)

• Jesus’ abundant provision in satisfying people’s spiritual needs. (John 6:26-27, 35)

• A claim to Jesus’ divinity by paralleling the same miraculous provision of manna that God provided in the desert after the Exodus.  (See Ex. Chp. 16)

• A claim to Jesus’ prophetic office by paralleling the same action of the prophet Elisha in miraculously feeding 100 men. (See 2-Kings 4:42-44)

• Fulfilled the Messianic expectations of a prophet like Moses. (Deut. 18:15, Luke 9:18-19)

• Fulfilled the Messianic banquet predicted by the prophets. (Is. 25:6-8, Ps. 132:15, Neh. 9:15, Luke 14:15-24-K.J.V., Rev. 2:17)

• Parallels Jesus’ atoning death and served as a prelude to the last supper (Eucharist) (John 6:35-58, Matt. 26:26-29)