Matthew 14:15-21 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “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,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks 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 of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus’ Compassion
Jesus had compassion for the people who followed him and healed the sick and infirm among them
At the end of the day, the disciples wanted the crowd to go away because it was getting dark. But then Jesus said to them, let the people remain and instead give them some food.
The resources
They had only five loaves of bread and two fish. (This miracle is also known as ‘the miracle of the five loaves and two fish’ for this reason.)
Jesus asked the bread and fish to be brought to him, before telling the crowds of gathered people to sit down upon the grass.
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and looked up to heaven, blessing them, before breaking the food. Then he gave the food to the disciples, who in turn gave it to the crowds of people.
At the end of the day
They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftovers. The number of those who ate was ‘about five thousand men, beside women and children’ (Matthew 14:21).
The ‘feeding of the five thousand’ is the only miracle performed by Jesus which is recorded in all four gospels: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:12-17, and John 6:1-14.
This isn’t the only time that Jesus performed such a feat. For there is another similar miracle, the ‘feeding of the four thousand’, which is performed with seven loaves of bread and a ‘few’ fish. This one appears only in Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-9, which is perhaps why it’s less well-known.
Nothing We Face Here on Earth Is Too Big for God
Jesus is big enough for any of our expectations, and he uses other people to bless others, and ultimately, it shows Jesus’ compassion for His people.
He surpassed expectations. He is ultimate. This means that Jesus provides every need and He exceeds. We are reminded about this in the passage John 1:3, as stated, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”
Jesus fed at least five thousand people