He Feedeth Me

He Feedeth Me: A Feast of Faith

Bible Passage: Matthew 14:13–21

Summary: In this passage, Jesus performs the miracle of feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, illustrating God’s provision and the abundance of His grace in times of need.

Application: This sermon speaks to the struggles we all face with scarcity—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It reminds Christians that Jesus is aware of our needs and is able to provide abundantly, encouraging believers to trust in Him even when resources seem limited.

Teaching: Through this passage, we learn about the compassion of Jesus and the power of faith in action. It teaches us how God can multiply our meager offerings to meet the needs of others, empowering us to step out in faith and serve.

How this passage could point to Christ: This miracle prefigures Christ as the Bread of Life, who sustains us spiritually. Just as He provided physical nourishment, He offers spiritual sustenance that satisfies our deepest longings, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment found in Him.

Big Idea: In times of need, trust in Jesus to provide abundantly, for He sees our struggles and has the power to multiply our efforts to bless others.

Recommended Study: Consider exploring the historical context of Jewish feasts and the significance of bread in the culture of Jesus' time through your Logos library. Delve into commentaries that discuss the impact of this miracle on the ministry of Jesus as well as the theological implications of Jesus as the Bread of Life in the Gospel of John, which will enrich your sermon preparation and deepen your understanding.

1. Jesus' Compassionate Awareness

Matthew 14:13-15

Verse 13:

Jesus leaves the area near Jerusalem and goes out to the wilderness, to a desert place, the KJV says. Presumably Christ is seeking solitude, yet the crowd follow him on foot to where he goes by ship.

Still it seems that they are coming to him from every where. Note that it says that they come to him out of the “cities”, plural.

Verse 14:

Upon seeing the crowd he was moved with compassion toward them.

This was not the first time Jesus was filled with compassion for the multitude, Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

It was not the last time that he would have compassion on the multitude, Matthew 15:32 “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.”

Here we see the truth of the words of John 3:16, the Love that God has for man and his care of them. For God truly makes the rain to shine on the just and the unjust alike. Why? Because of His benevolent love for man and care for Him. Even while man is his enemy because of sin, because of disobedience. These do not hinder the love of God toward men. Had it constrained His love for us, surely His son would have never been sent to save us.

Verse 15:

The Disciple meant to send the crowd away. They could see anyway of providing for such a large crowd. They knew that they had no means of caring for them. They wanted to send them away to buy food for themselves.

Yet their lack of resource was no excuse for their lack of care for them in Jesus’ mind. He would show even more compassion upon this crowd who had followed him to the wilderness. Christ surely cares for our needs, he surely cares for us.

2. Jesus' Call to Faith

Matthew 14:16-18

Verse 16:

Jesus first says that they have no need to depart. This begs a question on Christ’s part, “What could they need that I cannot provide?”

Then Jesus commands them to give them something to eat. He is challenging them to step out in faith and to rely on Him to fulfill what they seem insufficient to accomplish. Tell your name, you can’t do this without Him!

Verse 17:

They have but 5 loaves and two fish, and this was not even theirs, they borrowed it from a young man among them John 6:9 “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”

God certainly blesses what we willing give to him and trust him with. And his blessing are often far greater than our meager contribution. You cannot out give God.

Verse 18:

Christ says bring them to me? To show you what He can do with what is placed in his hands. Their faith was being challenged to act.

3. Jesus' Miraculous Multiplication

Matthew 14:19-21

Discuss how Jesus takes the five loaves and two fish, blesses them, breaks them, and distributes them through His disciples. Suggest focusing on the act of blessing and breaking as a means of multiplication—not just of physical food but of grace and provision. This could be a clear demonstration of how God’s blessing can transform our modest offerings into abundant provisions. Relate this to the Christocentric theme of Jesus as the Bread of Life, pointing to His redemptive sacrifice for spiritual sustenance.

Verse 19:

Jesus here demonstrates for us the right attitude of receiving not only our food, but any blessing that God might grant us.

He blesses it most certainly means he pronounces a traditional Hebrew blessing for the meal. An act of thankfulness to the Father for the provision.

He then brakes the bread and divides it among the disciples and they gave it to the crowd. As this is happening like the oil in the widows vessel 2Kings 4:1-7

2 Kings 4:1–7 KJV 1900

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Like the manna that came in the wilderness the bread was enough for all who needed it. See what verse 20 says, “And they did all eat, and were filled:”.

Christ gives provision for eternal life that is sufficient for all and to any who will receive him.

Here is the preview of Christ as the Bread of Life, the Bread from Heaven, which gives eternal life, John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Even the breaking of the bread is a picture of Christ sacrifice, Matthew 26:26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” This too is a reference to the Messiah, the suffering servant of Isaiah 53.

Verse 21:

Note that Matthew counted only the men, but lets you know that there were women and children there. So there were more than five thousand, despite what we normally call this miracle.

Personal Reflection:

How can you offer your "five loaves and two fish" to God, trusting Him to multiply your efforts for His purposes?

In what areas of your life are you experiencing scarcity, and how can you invite Jesus to provide for you abundantly?

Community Action:

How can we, as a church, come together to support each other and share our resources, just as the young boy shared his meal with the crowd?

What opportunities do we have to serve others in our community, demonstrating God's provision and grace?

Spiritual Growth:

How can you deepen your faith and trust in Jesus, knowing that He is aware of your needs and is able to provide abundantly?

In what ways can you make room for God to perform miracles in your life by stepping out in faith, even when the outcome seems uncertain?

Christ-Centered Living:

How does this passage challenge you to live in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and to rely on Him as the Bread of Life who sustains you spiritually?

What habits or practices can you adopt to ensure you're living in constant trust and reliance on God's provision?