Matthew 14 - 11.20.25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 14:13

“When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.” 

OBSERVATION 

Jesus had just heard of the beheading of his cousin, John the Baptist, and he went to a “deserted place”, not out of cowardice knowing what was next. He would have been mourning the loss of this precious man, and Jesus wanted and needed to be comforted and alone with God. At the same time, the multitudes who had been coming to hear of who he was, followed him in their desire to know more of his words—and the disciples had followed him too.  When he saw them, he became more concerned about the “multitudes” than his sorrow.  Moved with compassion verses 14-16, he began to heal the sick and to teach them. Jesus did this all the way until evening. His gracious compassion for the demanding crowds was remarkable.  And because it was evening and they hadn’t eaten he asked the disciples to get them something to eat.  

Jesus Displays Authority over Nature, verses 20-21 You give them something to eat: With this, Jesus challenged both the compassion and the faith of the disciples. Yet He did not ask them to do anything to meet the need without also guiding them through the work. It was the compassion of Jesus and His awareness of the power of God that led Him to go about the miracle of Him feeding the multitude from five loaves of bread and two fish.  

APPLICATION 

In this beautiful story of the compassion of Jesus Christ, how do you select only one scripture? Jesus showed sorrow over someone he loved BUT He had compassion for others over his own feelings. The prominence of this story – recorded in all four gospels – shows that both the Holy Spirit and the early church thought this story was important.  It is more than an example of the miraculous power of Jesus; it defines the compassion of Christ.  

This story is an example to not always focus on ourselves but look for those around us who may need help.  It shows that Jesus had compassion and care for the people of God, even when we might have expected His patience would be exhausted.  It’s God’s example when we see others struggling, to have compassion and faith, and STEP UP and ask to help, “feed them the bread of life in His word”, in prayer.

The feeding of the 5,000 also gives us three principles regarding God’s provision.

· Thank God for and wisely use what you have.

· Trust God’s unlimited resources.

· Don’t waste what He gives you. 

PRAYER 

Lord Jesus, in all the heartache you were going thru in the loss of someone you cared for, you knew of the prophetic words of God for your future, and you needed to get away to pray /talk with/to GOD.  BUT YOU still put others first, because YOU knew of your purpose: to be the savior of your people, as the son of God, the third party of the Trinity.  Lord, this is a lesson for me to have compassion and put others first no matter the trials I face. And come to you in a “quiet place”. And Jesus, thank you for who you were then in these beautiful stories of your life on this earth, and all you did for others in the journey from your birth until your death at age 30; and now. And LORD, to think of the compassion of the stories of you that were written in the gospel by your disciples…who carried your compassion, through faith, to give your word to all nations and died, and are resurrected with YOU. Words fail to thank you and them…let me live a life that reflects your compassion and your Glory! AND always look for others that need to come to know YOU.  Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.  Amen!

- Charleen Zakarian