Something struck me the other day when reading in Matthew that had never occurred to me before. When we read of Jesus’ miracle of the feeding of the masses with a small amount of food, we tend to look at the disciples and their reaction. We often scoff at their unbelief when Jesus does it again but we never look at the meaning of God’s provision for us.

Matthew 14:14-21 NKJV (NKJV stands for the translation of the Bible the following text is from, and abbreviates New King James Version)

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

And then Jesus does it again here: Matthew 15:32-38 NKJV

32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”

34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”

And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

The disciples’ unbelief, especially the second time, is often the focus in studying these miracles. Here I am, though, wondering not how would I have done it better (if I had been there), which to me is a little like trying to one up a disciple, but what is Jesus trying to teach that it was important enough to do it twice so they understood it. He references these miracles later when they think of food instead of things of greater importance in Matthew 16:5-12 NKJV

5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The disciples were focusing on the physical instead of the spiritual. “We never make that mistake!?” (quotes are to let you know that that was sarcasm and what I meant was “Oh yes we do, all the time, make that mistake.” but it doesn’t sound as good)

Here, now, I am not going to say that I am getting everything we need to know about these miracles but here is what struck me as profound, when I read it. You are going to have to follow me as I explain a little bit. First, we need to remember, Jesus is referred to as the bread of life. Also He was broken for us! (I couldn’t put a period; there I kept reaching for the button but couldn’t hit it. That phrase needs yelled, exalted in, awed over! he he.) No matter how many people are filled with Christ’s righteousness (the state of being right [sins forgiven, no longer an enemy] with God), that small piece that was necessary for me, you, whomever accepts Christ’s payment for our crimes against God. (Yes that includes me, you, and everyone else.) There is always an abundance left for the next person to accept and take from.

To God be the glory for His great abundance and don’t forget if He is able to take care of us in this powerful way He can take care of our daily needs. In fact, that to Him is no harder than tearing a loaf of bread.

In God’s Grace

Steven Butts