The Not-So-Insignificant Gift: Matthew 15:32-39

Focus Passage: Matthew 15:32-39 (NLT)

32 Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”

33 The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”

34 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

   They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.”

35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.

37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 38 There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. 39 Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of Magadan.

Read Matthew 15:32-39 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

During the lesser famous miracle of the feeding of the 4,000, we see a unique detail that makes this event distinctly different from the more famous miracle where 5,000 were fed. This detail comes in the form of a question. Jesus asks the disciples: “How much bread do you have?” (v. 34a)

This detail doesn’t seem significant or unique on the surface, except that we have more details about the miracle where 5,000 were fed, and we can use this additional information to determine some unique aspects of this seemingly less significant miracle.

In the feeding of the 5,000 miracle, all four gospels tell us that the entire miracle was prompted by the disciples suggesting to Jesus that He should send the crowd away. In our feeding of the 4,000 miracle, the disciples don’t question Jesus, but Jesus realizes that some of those in the crowd are in trouble. This is a difference worth considering.

Next, we learn from John’s gospel that the initial food that was provided for the miracle where 5,000 were fed originated with a boy who happened to be the only one left in the crowd who had food. It is this detail and difference that I will focus in most closely on: While the feeding of the 5,000 happened because food came from an outside source (i.e. a young boy), the feeding of the 4,000 happened because the disciples gave all the food that they had left.

When Jesus asks the disciples, “How much bread do you have?” the disciples reply saying, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.” (v. 34)

The miracle where the crowd of over 4,000 people is fed is prompted by the generosity of those who are followers of Jesus. While the feeding of 5,000 happens using an insignificantly-sized gift from an outside source, the feeding of the 4,000 happens because Jesus’ closest followers choose to be generous with what they have and Jesus uses it to bless those present.

Regardless of where we are at in life or the amount we feel we can offer, Jesus can use our gifts (however insignificant we feel they may be) for His glory!

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.

Striking the Shepherd: Zechariah 13:2-9


Read the Transcript

As we continue moving forward in our journey through the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, specifically looking at prophecies that Jesus’ life fulfilled during this point in His ministry, we arrive at one of the clearest prophecies regarding Jesus’ betrayal and arrest.

However, before looking at the events during the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, let’s look at the prophecy which will be the focal point of our time together.

Our passage and prophecy is found in the book of Zechariah, chapter 13, and we will read it using the New American Standard Bible translation. Starting in verse 2, Zechariah writes:

“It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you have spoken falsely in the name of the Lord’; and his father and mother who gave birth to him will pierce him through when he prophesies. Also it will come about in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not put on a hairy robe in order to deceive; but he will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I am a tiller of the ground, for a man sold me as a slave in my youth.’ And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will say, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’

“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
And against the man, My Associate,”
Declares the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered;
And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
“It will come about in all the land,”
Declares the Lord,
“That two parts in it will be cut off and perish;
But the third will be left in it.
“And I will bring the third part through the fire,
Refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are My people,’
And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

In this prophecy, we have a clear picture of a very negative and unpleasant time. A broad look at this passage seems to indicate that what is being described is the purification of God’s people. Through Zechariah, God shares a challenging message about a future time when prophecy will be looked down on, and that anyone claiming to be a prophet will be, at the very least, chastised by even their own parents, if not worse.

During the time that is being described, God’s people are being sifted out of and set apart from the rest of the world. Some might say that what is being described here happens at Jesus’ return, or at the judgment, though I would need to do more study before concluding the same way.

However, tucked within this prophecy that seems to be reserved for a future time, we have a phrase Jesus pulls out and applies to His ministry.

To set the stage, if we step back to earlier in the evening that ends with Jesus’ arrest, to the supper Jesus shares with His disciples, Jesus references this prophecy, much to the surprise and shock of the disciples present.

In Matthew, chapter 26, starting in verse 31:

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

Near the end of the special supper Jesus eats with His disciples, Jesus makes reference to this prophecy from the writings of Zechariah. However, while Jesus intended to take this prophecy and frame it in the context of His resurrection, this detail is missed by the most vocal of the disciples, Peter. While trying to warn the disciples about the events of that night, while also wanting to remind them that He would not stay dead, Jesus draws the disciples’ attention to this prophecy about the shepherd being struck, and the flock being scattered.

However, while we oftentimes look at Peter and how he verbally claims that he would never deny Jesus, all the remaining disciples say the same thing. Abandoning Jesus was never an option to these men, and because they didn’t want to focus any time on discussing the possibility, they miss any opportunity to be prepared for what that night would ultimately hold.

Jumping forward in Matthew, chapter 26, to later on that night, after Jesus had finished praying in the garden and had come back to wake His disciples up, starting in verse 47, we read:

47 While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

During Jesus’ arrest, while the initial reaction of the disciples is one of hostility, seeking to do anything and everything necessary to defend Jesus and keep Him from being arrested, Jesus knew that this was not a part of God’s plan for His life. While God had protected Jesus from every threat against His life prior to this point, what was written into history for that weekend was a death Jesus willingly walked towards which would ultimately bring God the glory. Jesus stepping forward and facing death was a direct fulfillment of prophecy.

However, stepping back to Zechariah’s prophecy that we began this podcast by looking at, Jesus’ death that was written into history, was destined to be the ultimate test for purifying and separating God’s people. While humanity was hopelessly infected with sin, God, through Jesus, stepped into history to make a way out of sin. The way out of sin that Jesus made was taking our punishment onto Himself allowing God the option of forgiveness. Anything less than punishment for sin makes God not just, and strict punishment against the sinner makes God unloving and unmerciful.

To solve this no-win scenario, Jesus came to take our punishment, and give God the ability to extend mercy while also remaining just. This truth purifies God’s people, and as we move forward with Him, living our lives in a way that says thank you to Jesus, we become more like Jesus and better able to reflect Jesus’ love in the world around us.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always open by challenging you, continue to seek God first in your life and accept the gift Jesus offers to take your punishment onto Himself. Choose to place your trust, faith, hope, and belief in Jesus for everything related to salvation.

Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow your personal relationship with God. Through prayer and Bible study, discover just how much God loves you and what Jesus was willing to face to redeem you out of sin. Live your life moving forward in a way that says thank you to Jesus for everything He accomplished for us.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or reject where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year of Prophecy – Episode 29: Near the end of Jesus’ last supper with His disciples, He quotes an Old Testament prophecy that would become the framework for what the disciples would face that night. While none of Jesus’ disciples believed Him at the time He said it, a prophecy from the writings of Zechariah would become instrumental in the events of that night leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.

Join the discussion. Share your thoughts on this passage.

Sinning No More: John 7:53-8:11

Focus Passage: John 7:53-8:11 (CEV)

    53 Everyone else went home, 8:1 but Jesus walked out to the Mount of Olives. 2 Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down and started teaching them. 3 The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. 4 Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. 5 The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?”

    6 They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.

    7 They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” 8 Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. 9 The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone.

    10 Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?”

    11 “No sir,” the woman answered.

   Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”

Read John 7:53-8:11 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

The passage we are going to look at in this entry is one of the most powerful, and it is also one that has a challenging past. In many modern translations, this story from John’s gospel carries with it the note that not all ancient manuscripts include it. This tells me that there were some individuals who really wanted this story to not survive, or some who really wanted this legend to persist.

Regardless of whether this event actually happened as described here or not, for the purposes of our discussion we’ll assume that it did, if for no other reason than that through this encounter, and what Jesus chooses to do, we see an incredible display of God-like love through Jesus’ actions.

At the close of this event, Jesus gives a command that has perplexed me for quite some time. While saying good-bye to the woman at the end of verse 11, He says, “You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.

Some of the more traditional translations say something like, “Go, and sin no more.” Or “Go. From now on sin no more.

This idea has prompted me to wonder, is a “sinless” life even possible? If I take Jesus at His word here, it would seem so. We read elsewhere that “all have sinned” (past tense), but that doesn’t mean that all people are currently sinning (present tense), or that everyone will sin in the future.

There is an idea in some Christian circles that since Jesus’ blood covers our sins, it no longer matters what we do. The idea isn’t nearly as open ended as this, but it might instead be seen instead as simply being free to be ourselves and free to do what we want. It is a wonderful idea, but it cheapens God’s grace.

Receiving grace when we don’t deserve it is wonderful and an incredible gift; Choosing to sin or keep sinning while expecting grace to come is taking advantage of God. The woman received her life back from Jesus, and it came with the command that said something like the NIV says, “Go now and leave your life of sin.

When Jesus has come into our hearts, and our lives, He will change us on the inside, making us free to live without sin. His sacrifice covers our past, and we are empowered and free to live a new life with God.

This event and Jesus’ final command does not lessen the standard for believers, it raises it higher because there is no way we can live a future that is free from sin without Jesus by our side.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.

Approaching God Like a Pharisee: Luke 18:9-14

Focus Passage: Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Read Luke 18:9-14 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

At one point in the middle of Jesus’ ministry on earth, the gospel of Luke describes an illustration Jesus shared with a group of people that are described as “some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else.” (v. 9)

While in this parable, we are given the picture that these people were like the Pharisee Jesus describes, Jesus also gives us a brief description of a tax collector. While I don’t think it was an accident that Jesus used one of the most hated occupations of that time to be the justified person in His parable, this man’s occupation is likely the least relevant part of his presence in this parable.

In Jesus’ parable, the tax collector receives just a single verse to describe how he approached God: “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” (v. 13)

When comparing how the Pharisee prayed with how this tax collector prayed, the tax collector simply has one request, and one word to describe himself. In this prayer, the tax collector asks for mercy and he recognizes himself as a sinner.

This prayer is powerful and praised by Jesus not only because Jesus says in verse 14 that this tax collector went home justified before God, but also because this prayer actually contains a request that only God can answer. Only God can give mercy to sinners, and God is happy to answer this request when the prayer has been given in a humble way.

Everything about this tax collector speaks about his need for God, and his desire for God’s help. The tax collector describes himself like God could describe everyone who has ever lived. At the very core of our relationship with God, we must all realize that we come before God as sinners – which is one way of saying that we are guilty of breaking God’s law.

By starting our relationship with God by recognizing this point, there is nothing we can truly do except ask Him for mercy. While the Pharisee probably would technically admit to being a sinner, he is too interested in making himself worthy of God’s favor based on acting righteously. In contrast, the tax collector realizes the only way He can hope to be accepted by God is if God is willing to show him mercy.

The challenge we all must realize is that nothing we can ever do will outweigh the debt of our life’s sin. The only way any of us can hope to be accepted by God, regardless of how good of a life we have lived, is by asking for His mercy and accepting Jesus into our lives. God has provided us mercy through Jesus’ sacrifice, and while it isn’t stated this clearly in Jesus’ parable, this tax collector was justified because He humbly requested God’s help.

In many ways, this fictional tax collector is the reason Jesus came. When we humbly ask God for help with the sin in our lives, we support Jesus’ mission to earth and the cross. God sent us mercy and help, and all we must do is humbly accept God’s gift through Jesus.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.