The Reason For My Faith

Matthew 14:13b-21

Is Jesus Your King Of Salvation

Or

Your Burger King

• • This week’s study picks up where Jesus goes off on a boat, after hearing about the death of His cousin, John the Baptist. This is about the end of HIS second year of ministry, and Jesus knew HE had one year to prepare HIS Disciples for HIS death and resurrection.

When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.

Matthew 14:13a

• • 1. Just as HE knew John would be martyred, HE also knew how each disciple will die

       1. It must have pained HIM to know the trials and tribulation, fear, and hurts each one would go through for their dedication to the Gospel.
          1. HE even felt sorry for What Judas would go through.
       2. Maybe this is why Jesus needed time to Himself
          1. Imagine you have something terrible you must do, but you are keeping it to yourself until the time is right to tell others?
          2. You may be thinking, “If they only knew.”
  • 1. (Matthew 14:13b) Today we will learn about Jesus feeding 15,000 to 20,000 people

But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

Matthew 14:13b

• • 1. At the height of His popularity, the people were clamoring for HIM 
    2. They heard where He was going and followed him from the cities
       1. Jesus was so well known that even Herod Antipas had heard of HIM (Matthew 14:1)
       2. Scriptures tell that 5,000 men, plus women and children came
          1. There is a strong possibility there was about 15,000 to 20,000 people
             1. Back then most parents had 5 to 10 or more children.
          2. That’s almost the population of 
             1. [use a couple towns around you whose total population would be equal]
          3. Imagine if that many showed up to see and hear Billo teach
    3. To truly grasp the situation, one must understand the mindset of the day
       1. Teachers were the rock stars of the day
       2. The best could demand the highest price from the wealthiest of citizens
       3. To have your son accepted by a great teacher meant your child’s future was set
       4. Jesus so popular even the common folks could get close to HIM
       5. However, This teacher was different, this Teacher also healed the sick, comforted the lost, gave hope to everyone, rich and poor alike. 
    4. His fame spread throughout Judea
       1. HIS miraculous healings and how HE spoke with such authority
       2. Even the teacher of Israel, Nickodemus, wanted to learn from HIM (John 3:1-21)
  • 1. (Matthew 14:14) He lands on the beach in HIS boat

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 14:14

• • 1. His compassion was so great for them HE spent the day with them
       1. Healing them of their infirmities
       2. Forgiving them of their sins
  • 1. (Matthew 14:15-21) He feeds the hungry with 2 fish and 5 loaves

When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:15-20

• • 1. This is the only miracle that is mentioned in all four Gospels.
       1. Here (Matthew 14:15-21)
       2. (Mark 6:30-44)
       3. (Luke 9:10-17)
       4. (John 6:1-13)
    2. In John’s Gospel we learn Jesus asked Philip, “where can they buy bread to eat?”

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

John 6:5-7

• • 1. “200” denarii was 200 days of wages, and it would not be enough
       1. Why did Jesus ask Philip?
       2. Like Peter and Andrew, Philip was from Bethsaida 
          1. Bethsaida was but a few miles from where they were at
          2. Maybe Philip knew of a place they could buy food
    2. Jesus already knew what HE would do, He wanted to test the disciples
       1. Andrew informs Jesus a boy has 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread
  • 1. This miracle brings to mind two feeding miracles by Elisha
       1. Elisha made a widows small amount of oil fill many containers

Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”

(2 Kings 4:6-7)

• • 1. Elisha then made 20 loaves feed 100 grown men, with leftovers

Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat.” But his servant said, “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?” He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’ ” So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

(2 Kings 4:42-44)

• • 1. 20,000 were fed, when you consider the because of the women and children
       1. Yet, from 2 fish and 5 loaves all were fed, with 12 baskets left over
          1. They collect up the leftovers
          2. No mess left with food strung all over the place
          3. GOD practices what HE preaches, 
             1. we are to be stewards of the land
    2. This incident reveals the compassion, orderliness, and power of Jesus
       1. His compassion, 
          1. (Mark 6:34) tells us that Jesus wanted his disciples to rest
          2. But compassion moved HIM to comfort, heal, and feed the masses who followed
             1. The same compassion that would move Him to feed 4,000 later on (Matthew 15:32-38)
          3. Compassion that qualifies Him to be a High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16 and 5:1-2)
       2. His orderliness
          1. Jesus had them arranged the people so they could serve them easier
             1. Set in groups of hundreds and fifties
             2. Imagine the site, about 400 groups of 50 people
             3. One group of 50 would be difficult to feed
          2. Orderliness is typical of the GOD, just consider creation (Colossians 1:16; Psalms 19:1; Romans  1:19-20)
             1. Paul tells us that God is not a god of confusion, but rather a GOD of order (1Corinthias 14:33,40)
       3. His power
          1. Power to feed 20,000men women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fish 
          2. Power to have enough for leftovers
          3. The sort of power that provides more than one needs

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

(Ephesians 3:20)

• • 1. Consider how men are
       1. The misunderstood Who He was
          1. Their first reaction was correct about Him being the One the Prophets prophesied about. 
             1. Jesus is the Prophet as foretold by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15)
             2. Revealed by Peter (Acts 3:18-26)
          2. Their desire was to make HIM king of Israel in the World showed their ignorance of Scripture
          3. He told everyone His Kingdom was not of this World, (John 8:12-30) 
          4. After His resurrection they expected Him to assume David’s throne 

they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

(Acts 1:6)

• • 1. This is why we are told, we must study to be approved

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(2 Timothy 2:15)

• • 1. Sometimes we need to thoughtfully fast and pray for understanding of certain Scriptures. Isaiah tells that GOD’s ways and thoughts are different than ours 

Who has heard such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?

Or shall a nation be born at once?

For as soon as Zion was in labor,

She gave birth to her children.

Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord.

“Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?”

 says your God.

(Isaiah 66:8-9)

• • 1. Thus we should quick to hear, rather than presume to know what GOD thinks

Do not be rash with your mouth,

And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.

For God is in heaven, and you on earth;

Therefore let your words be few.

(Ecclesiastes 5:2) 

• • 1. Materialism
       1. Those who sought Jesus back then did so for the wrong reasons
          1. They wanted him to be become the new King David on earth
             1. They wanted Him to end the Herodian dynasty
             2. End Romans control
             3. And Most of all, they wanted Him to be their Burger King
             4. They wanted Him to be their Burger King (John 6:26)
          2. Instead they should have sought the Spiritual food HE offered 
             1. Food that endures to everlasting life (John 6:27)
             2. Food that gives life to the world (John 6:32-33)
             3. The bread of life, given to those who believe (John 6:34-35)
       2. Those of today do the same, people searching churches for the wrong reasons
          1. They want the churches to be entertainment venues
             1. Social gathering places where their ears can get scratched
                1. They want their lifestyles to be Justified
             2. Places to meet others who think like they do politically
             3. A place to to satisfy their physical needs not their spiritual needs
          2. Paul tells us 

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

(Romans 14:17)

• • 1. Dullness
       1. John tells us in his Gospel how many began complaining for things He said
          1. He claimed to be bread from heaven (John 6:41)
             1. They struggled over His sayings, because their ears were dull
             2. Taking Him literally instead of truly understanding (John 6:52)
          2. This is why HE spoke in parables

Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 

(Matthew 13:13)

• 1. Even many of His disciples left Him, for His teachings were too hard to take (John 6:60-66)
• 1. Today, many demonstrate similar dullness of hearing
     1. Unwilling to stay with Jesus through the bad times
     2. Unwilling to study to be approved (2 timothy 2:15) 
     3. Too lazy to make good use of their time to learn and apply (Hebrews 5:11-14)
     4. Thus they struggle to discern good from evil, and are easily swayed by wolves crouching at their doors to sift them
• 1. (Matthew 14:1-21 Takeaway) There have been 2 feasts, 1 by Herod and 1 by Jesus
     1. Herod
        1. Has feast using the best silver and gold to honor himself
        2. Gets excited over a 12 to 14 year old girl dancing suggestively
        3. Has John the Baptist’s head served up on a silver platter
     2. Jesus 
        1. After Heals the sick and forgives the sins of many
        2. He has compassion on them for they have been there all day
        3. So He feeds tens of thousands of people HE had compassion for. 
           1. All ate with hands, no plates, no tables, with GOD as their Host