Five Thousand Men Plus Women and Children - Matthew 14:21

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give you them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them here to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty-one of his book, Matthew wrote how, “they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children” where we read:

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

The verse reads, “And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and they that had eaten” which means “and the people within the multitude who were fully satisfied with food” “were about five thousand men” or counted in number to about five thousand male human beings”. Matthew shared how “five thousand men” were among the crowd whom Jesus fed.

The verse continues, “... beside women and children.” Matthew added the words, “beside women” which means “and separately and apart from the female human beings” “and children” or “and the children who were among the crowd”. Matthew shared how the “women and children” were also fed with the food Jesus supplied.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the number of people fed by Jesus well exceeded the five thousand men when the women and children were considered. This was a massive undertaking for many upon the earth, and yet, Jesus easily carried out the deed. God is Creator God, and nothing is impossible for Him. He desires for people not only to understand that He is more than able to make provision for their physical needs and their “spiritual needs” as well. Those who trust in, rely upon and cling to Jesus will not only be given “everlasting life”, but will also reap the benefits of being in a relationship with an Almighty and Powerful God. May all who consider this great miracle of Jesus receive Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” today.

Next time we see Matthew shares how, “Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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