Feeding The Four Thousand
July 3, 2021
Commentary
We are not to get this miracle of feeding the Four Thousand confused with the feeding of the Five Thousand. Jesus leaves Tyre and Sidon and goes up into the hill country, on the southeast shore of the Sea of Galilee (v. 29). This seems to have been Gentile country in the region of the Decapolis. Decapolis included 10 cities that were a league that was authorized by the Romans to mint their own coins, run their own courts, and have their own army. When the people learned that He was there, great crowds came to Him and brought the sick, the lame, the blind, the dumb, and the crippled. Jesus healed them. (vv 30-31).
This ministry lasted for approximately three days (v. 32). After this length of time the people had used up their supply of food and Jesus did not want to send them away hungry for fear they would faint along the way. So we find Him performing the miracle of feeding the 4,000 (vv. 33-39). The following shows some of the differences between this event and the previous feeding of the 5,000:
FEEDING THE 5,000 FEEDING THE 4,000
Primary Jews Primary Gentiles
At Galilee In hill country
5 loaves 2 fishes 7 loaves, “a few fish”
12 baskets over 7 baskets over
Crowd there 1 day Crowd there 3 days
Tried to make king No popular response
Application
The disciples seemed to be as perplexed about where they were going to get the food to feed the 4,000 as they had been for the 5,000 when they should have known that the Lord would provide. Are there times when I am worried about things when I should just trust the Lord?
Matthew 15:29– 39 (NET)
29 When he left there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain, where he sat down. 30 Then large crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them. 31 As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.
32 Then Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry since they may faint on the way.” 33 The disciples said to him, “Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?” 34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven—and a few small fish.” 35 After instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds. 37 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38 Not counting children and women, there were 4,000 men who ate. 39 After sending away the crowd, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Illustration: The Pivotal Political Year
“Politically, 1974 was marked by the increasing cohesion and power of the Arab world, a surging strength fueled by the largest transfer of wealth in history. In all this, the shrewd and dedicated king Faisal of Saudi Arabia played a key role.” It was concluded that the big upturn in the price of oil helped make 1974 “a pivotal year that saw the decline of old powers, old alliances, old philosophies, and the rise of new ones.” (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #404).