JESUS FEEDS 5000

Passage: Matthew 14:13-21

Key verse: 1

NIV

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(A)(B)

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them(C) and healed their sick.(D)

15 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(E) 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.(F) 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.

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ESV

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 Now when Jesus heard this, (A)he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he (B)saw a great crowd, and (C)he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; (D)send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; (E)you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, (F)he looked up to heaven and (G)said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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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. You give them something to eat (13-16)

Jesus was sorry about John. He wanted to be alone with his disciples, so he withdrew to a solitary place. But the place did not remain solitary! Crowds seeking a shepherd were waiting for him. Jesus had compassion on them and he served them all day long. The disciples waited patiently until evening. They made a reasonable suggestion: 'The people are hungry; send them away to buy food.' Jesus' reply was shocking. 'You give them something to eat.' Jesus wants his disciples to learn his shepherd's heart and learn faith that overcomes the world.

2. Five loaves and two fish (17-21)

They only had 5 loaves and 2 fish, and the task looked impossible. But when they brought what they had to Jesus, he blessed the loaves and fish and enabled the disciples to feed the crowd abundantly.

Prayer: Lord, accept our loaves and fish and feed the people of our world with the word of God.

One Word: You give them something to eat!