The Feeding of the Five Thousand
June 19, 2021
Commentary
Just prior to this time, Jesus had a great crowd around Him and a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years touched Him (Lk. 8:43-44). She knew that He had healed others and she wanted Him to heal her. Jesus knew that somebody with faith had touched Him and had been healed by His power (Lk. 8:45-48). This passage can be divided into three parts:
The account of their sending (vv. 1-5).The work they did (vv. 6-9).Their return and report (vv. 10-17).John began his ministry with,"Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Now He sends His disciples to preach “the kingdom of God” (v. 2). As they go we are not given much details but we are told one result of their going. That is that Herod the tetrarch heard what was happening and wanted to see the Lord (v. 9). When they returned they reported to Jesus. He knew they were tired so He took them to a desert place for some R and R. However, when they reached the desert place there was a multitude already there. Instead of trying to find another place to escape, Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them (vv. 11-17). It is here that we learn about the feeding of the five-thousand.
Application
He took what they had and fed the crowd. From this I learn that I can not feed a crowd with what I have. What I need to do is give it to Christ and He will multiply my efforts to feed them.
Luke 9:1– 17 (NET)
1 After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave the area. 5 Wherever they do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 Then they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. 9 Herod said, “I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. 11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing. 12 Now the day began to draw to a close, so the twelve came and said to Jesus, “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and food, because we are in an isolated place.” 13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 (Now about 5,000 men were there.) Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So they did as Jesus directed, and the people all sat down.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up—twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Illustration: The Family is the Foundation of Society
The evidence is convincing that the better our relationships are at home, the more effective we are in our careers. If we’re having difficulty with a loved one, that difficulty will be translated into reduced performance on the job. In studying the millionaires in America (U.S. News and World Report), a picture of the “typical” millionaire is an individual who has worked eight to ten hours a day for thirty years and is still married to his or her high school or college sweetheart. A New York executive search firm, in a study of 1365 corporate vice presidents, discovered that 87% were still married to their one and only spouse and that 92% were raised in two-parent families. The evidence is overwhelming that the family is the strength and foundation of society. Strengthen your family ties and you’ll enhance your opportunity to succeed. (Zig Ziglar in Homemade, March 1989).