Needy people are all around us. Whether they have health concerns, financial ones, or a need for the Lord, we see them wherever we go. Many times people close their eyes to these needy folks. They feel they have too many problems of their own, are too busy, or feel there are too many people to care for. Who will help? In our Scripture passage today from the Gospel of Matthew, we read the account of Jesus meeting the needs of those who came to Him. With the exception of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, this is the only event that is recorded in all four Gospels.
Immediately prior to the start of our passage we read of the martyrdom of John the Baptist, who was the cousin of Jesus (Matthew 14:1-12). John had preached repentance to the people, and had proclaimed the coming of Jesus the Messiah. He had also baptized many, including Jesus. Now King Herod had imprisoned and executed him. Jesus loved his cousin John, and knew that his ministry was blessed by God. After hearing that he had been executed, Jesus wanted to go off and be alone (vs. 13). However, what did the crowds of people to whom He was continually ministering do? They wanted His attention and concern, and followed Him. And what was Jesus’ response to them? He could have told them to get lost, and leave Him alone to grieve the brutal death of His cousin. Jesus could have been irritated or even angry at them, since they were so inconsiderate of His needs. Didn’t they care that His cousin just died?
No, that is not what Jesus did. As we read in verse 14, Jesus was moved with compassion for them. He healed the sick that were brought to them, and also met their spiritual needs by teaching them about God and His love for them. Compassion is God’s natural response to human suffering. When the crowds followed Jesus, even when He wanted to be alone to grieve, He ministered to the people, and refused to ignore them. Jesus is a loving, caring, and feeling Person.
After many hours of preaching and ministering to the crowds, the evening was coming, and the disciples wanted Jesus to dismiss the crowds so they could go home and get food for themselves, and the disciples could rest with Him (vs. 15). However Jesus didn’t want to send the crowds away hungry. They were all on foot, and some might have come from a distance. Again, Jesus cared about the people. He had compassion. He could have taken the disciples suggestion, and just sent them off, thinking that if they were hungry that was their own fault. They could have packed some meals with them when they left home.
Instead, Jesus tells His disciples to give them food (vs. 16). Give the huge crowd dinner?! There were thousands of people, and even if each of the disciples had packed plenty of food for themselves, that would not be enough for all of the needy people. And in reality the disciples didn’t even have enough food for themselves, as they only had five small loaves of bread and two fish. Why even mention that small amount of food to Jesus? It was a pitifully meager offering. However, Jesus did not reject it (vs. 18). He took what they offered and multiplied it so that it amply fed the crowds (vs 19-20). We might feel that our contribution to Jesus is insufficient, but He can use and multiply whatever we give Him. When we give to Jesus, our resources are multiplied.
Jesus knew that the disciples didn’t have enough food to feed such a large crowd. He wanted the disciples to acknowledge it, so that it would be clear that a miracle by His power had occurred. This was not just a case of everyone sharing what they had brought among each other. The only food there were a few loaves and fish, enough for one, maybe two people. Jesus is both Lord and Creator, and it is certainly within His power to multiply food in order to feed the crowds.
As Matthew records in verse 21, there were about 5,000 men, so with women and children added, it could easily have been 10,00 - 15,000 fed that evening! Not only were they all fed enough to satisfy any amount of hunger, the disciples collected twelve baskets of leftovers. The disciples each received a basket full of blessings for having faith in Jesus, and trusting that He would feed them all! Do we have similar faith and trust in Jesus, that He has equal compassion on us and our needs, and will meet them amply, as He did that day? God is full of compassion for His children, and His mercy is everlasting!
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