Feeding the Multitude (First Slide)

Clint Fink

Matthew 14-20 • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

Matthew 14:13–21

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Jesus Shepherds the Crowds (2nd slide)

This month begins a series of sermons looking into Matthew’s vision of Jesus and how he is God. (or like God) As we begin this passage of Jesus caring for the followers we can see that He is now extending his ministry to feed the multitude. (3rd slide explain what they see) Let us look at what the scripture begins with and deal with that before going on. Now when*(4th slide) Jesus heard it,* he withdrew from there in a boat to an isolated place by himself.

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 14:13. (5th slide)What did Jesus Hear? (6th slide)And when the crowds heard it-(7th slide)what did they hear? It is most likely that Jesus heard of the news of the death of John (his cousin) and saw this news as the beginning of his ministry. (Read this section and explain the ambiguity)

Matthew: A Great Light Dawns Jesus Shepherds the Crowds (14:13–21)

However, even though the proximity of verses 12b and 13 make it sound like the two events are connected, it is more likely that 12b is a thorough rounding-off of the flashback to the story of John the Baptist, and perhaps when we are reading it, it should therefore be followed by a dramatic pause to let the story sink in. In terms of the historical sequence of events, Jesus being told of John’s burial would be the precursor to him beginning his own ministry (4:12), and so 14:12 is therefore a subtle reminder of how far Matthew’s story has come.

(Slide 8) (slide 9)or (slide 10) (slide 11) (slide 12)

(slide 13) So, if this is the case why did Jesus draw away rather than stay with the people? (slide 14) Perhaps he was seeking advice from the Father? (slide 15)they followed him by land from the towns.

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 14:13.

(slide 16)

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 14

and had compassion on them and healed their sick.

(slide 17)

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 14

15 Now when it* was evening, the disciples came to him saying, “The place is desolate and the hour ⌊is late⌋. Release the crowds so that they can go away into the villages and* purchase food for themselves.”

When it got late is an important distinction here in my thoughts. We tend to think of things in terms of responsibility. The Disciples do not want to feed all these people. But Jesus said to them, (slide 18) “They do not ⌊need⌋ to go away. You give them something* to eat.”

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 14:16. Jesus is taking on a role that the Father once did,(slide 20) And Yahweh said to Moses, “Look, I am going to rain down for you bread from the heavens, and the people will go out and gather enough for the day on its day; in that way I will test them: Will they go according to my law or not? 5 And then on the sixth day, they will prepare what they bring, and it will be twice over what they will gather every other day.”

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Ex 16:4–5.

(slide 21)Notice the human response when we are asked to do something beyond our capabilities. Jesus is using the moment to teach us how to bring what we have first. We don’t withhold what we have and expect a miracle. (slide 22)Did God need the bread and fish to feed the people? (slide 23) The people were in a place where they could not provide for themselves again. God wants you to be a part of what He is doing. (slide 24)(slide 25)(slide 26) (slide 27)God wants you to be a part of what He is doing.

Before Jesus blesses the meal he asks the crowd to sit and get prepared for a meal. Jesus shows the disciples that we can go to the Father with confidence for what we need. This passage is about our limitations and God’s abundance. But it is about more than that as well. It is about the role of Jesus in our lives.

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If we listen and learn from the teacher we will be satisfied. God shows us that what He can do makes all things possible and to make it even more amazing Matthew concludes that the numbers were a multitude. 21 Now those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 14:21.