Jesus Feeding the Multitude Again - Matthew 15:36

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 in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-six of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus fed the multitude again where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and he took” which means “and Jesus held in His hands” “the seven loaves” or “the seven bread loaves comprised of flour mixed with water and baked” “and the fishes” which refers to “and the little fishes”, “and gave thanks” or “expressed gratitude especially like saying grace at a meal”. Matthew shared how Jesus took the seven loaves and fishes in His hands and said a prayer of thanks over them.

The verse goes on to say, “and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” Matthew continued with the words, “and brake them” which means “tore and pulled apart the loaves and fishes”, “and gave” which means “and supplied, furnished and bestowed” “to his disciples” or “to Jesus' students, pupils and attendants”, “and the disciples” which means “and Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “to the multitude” or “to the crowd and massive group of people”. Matthew shared how Jesus tore the “loaves and fishes” in pieces, distributed them to His disciples who gave them to the people.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see the process Jesus used for feeding the people. First, He took the bread and fish into His hands. Secondly, He blessed them and thirdly He distributed them through the disciples to the crowd. God has a plan and process for feeding people, and He has a plan to “save” them from their “sins” through His Son Jesus. The physical need of food was furnished to this multitude by Jesus, and He is willing and able to “save” all who yield their lives to Him.

Next time Matthew shares how the multitude, “did all eat, and were filled”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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