Four Thousand Men Beside Women and Children - Matthew 15:38

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “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. And his disciples say unto him, Where should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have you? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-eight of his book, Matthew shares how there were “four thousand men, beside women and children” who were fed where we read:

And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

The verse reads, “And they that did eat were four thousand men, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and they that did eat” which means “and the people within the multitude and crowd who consumed the loaves and fishes” “were four thousand men” or “numbered to the amount of four thousand men”. Matthew shared how “four thousand” men ate of the pieces of the “seven loaves and fishes” which Jesus broke and distributed through His disciples.

The verse goes on to say, “... beside women and children.” Matthew added the word, “beside” which means “apart and separate from the” “women and children” which means “female human beings and their offspring and little ones”. Matthew shared how there were “women and children” who were also fed by Jesus.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how large a group of people Jesus fed. Some believe there to be an equal amount of women fed to the men, and they averaged at least two children each. This could put the total between eight to twelve thousand people who consumed the food Jesus provided. God has no problem providing food because He created the sustenance everyone consumes, and His miracle was only limited by the power of the One who provided it. God desires to provide “salvation” for all who will receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and those who yield their lives and worldly appetites to Him, shall certainly be filled and satisfied.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “sent away the multitude … and came into the coasts of Magdala”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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