Seeds for 10/06/2023 - Matthew 15:32-39
Scripture: Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
Observation: After healing the many who were brought to Him—apparently over several days, Jesus assumes responsibility for feeding them. His provision arises from His compassion.
Jesus’ mere mention of His desire to feed the people raises questions on the part of the disciples. They bring up two obstacles: lack of provisions (“where could we get enough bread”) and lack of access (“in this remote place”). Jesus isn’t interested in dealing in hypotheticals, however.
The disciples ask where they can find enough; Jesus asks what they already have.
Matthew shows us for a second time that placing what we have in the hands of Jesus is the key to serving Jesus.
There’s a subtle recurrence that is worth noting as well. What does Jesus do with the seven loaves of bread to prepare them for the people?
“Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.”
Notice the verbs: took, gave thanks (that is, blessed), broke, gave.
Compare with this verse: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples…” (Matthew 26:26)
The same pattern from the feeding of the 4000 recurs at the Last Supper. We’ve seen it once before already at the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14:19).
The late Catholic spiritual writer Henri Nouwen even employed this four-fold rhythm to suggest a pattern for a Christian’s life in God.
It relates to Jesus’ own life and ministry too. Jesus came for the very purpose of reconciling and restoring the world to God the Father. In the proper time, Jesus came forward for baptism by His cousin John in the wilderness. This was not a baptism of repentance, as Jesus was without sin. It was a baptism of consecration of sorts. It was Jesus presenting Himself to the Father to be taken like the bread. The Spirit alights upon Him as a dove and the words of the Father ring out gratitude, pleasure, and blessing over the Son. Jesus’ ministry proceeds and eventually His body will be broken on the cross and given for the salvation of the world.
Whatever your church’s frequency and name for the sacrament (Eucharist, Communion, the Lord’s Supper, etc.), note the pattern of taking the bread, giving thanks/blessing, breaking, and giving. That’s the rhythm of preparation and provision that fed thousands on the hillsides of Galilee, a dozen in an Upper Room, and millions upon millions since.
May the comment about that feeding be true every time we gather at the Lord’s Table: “They all ate and were satisfied.”
Application:
How does the pattern of “taken, blessed, broken, given” speak to you?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, just as you satisfied the crowds on the hillside, may I partake of your present grace to me and find satisfaction in you. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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