JESUS FEEDS FOUR THOUSAND

Passage: Matthew 15:29-39

Key verse: 36

NIV

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand(A)(B)(C)

29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.(D) 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.(E)

32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people;(F) they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them(G) and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.(H) 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

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ESV

Jesus Heals Many

29 (A)Jesus went on from there and walked (B)beside the Sea of Galilee. And he (C)went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them (D)the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 (E)so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, (F)the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And (G)they glorified (H)the God of Israel.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

32 (I)Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, (J)“I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, (K)“Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and (L)having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And (M)they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of (N)Magadan.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Jesus decides to feed the crowd (29-33)

Jesus moved from Tyre and Sidon back to the Sea of Galilee. Huge, needy crowds gathered. Jesus continued his healing ministry to what is believed to be a mostly Gentile crowd (who praise the God of Israel). Jesus expressed the same compassion to Gentiles as he did with Jewish crowds in chapter 14 by deciding to feed them. The disciples were at a loss at how to do that. They seemed to have forgotten what Jesus could do. How will you respond when God prompts you to participate in what he wants to do?

2. 'How many loaves do you have?' (34-39)

Jesus asked the disciples what they had. It was only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. But Jesus took it, thanked his Father, broke it, and gave it to his disciples to distribute to the four thousand men besides woman and children. Everyone ate well, and there were even basketfuls of food left over. Let us not underestimate how God can bless others when we give him what we have.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your tender care for all kinds of people. Help us to remember what you've done and offer what we have to you in faith.

One Word: What can you offer to Jesus?