Flashback Episode — Sometimes We Must Give: Matthew 15:32-39

In all the gospel records, and in all of Jesus’ miracles, two similar events are among the most well known events. Actually, let me back up. In all the gospel records, and in all of Jesus’ miracles, there is one event that is very well known, and another similar event that is in many ways just as significant, but it is overshadowed by the more famous event. From these two separate events, we get a glimpse of the size of the crowds that Jesus preached to, though that detail in each event is more of a side note rather than a key detail.

Most of you likely have already jumped ahead and know the two events I’m referring to. These two miracle events are the ones where Jesus multiplies an insignificant amount of food to feed the large crowd of listeners who happened to also be hungry.

One of these events is commonly referred to as the feeding of the five thousand, and it holds a significant and rare award for being one of the few events to be recorded in all four gospels.

However, the event we are focusing in on in this episode is not the feeding of the five thousand.

Instead, for this episode, we turn our attention onto the less famous miracle of this pair, which is simply known as the feeding of the four thousand. While most people know a lot more about the feeding of the five thousand, with the boy giving his lunch to Jesus, let’s discover what we can from this less famous miracle of food multiplication.

Our passage is found in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 15, and we’ll read it using the New Living Translation. Starting in verse 32, Matthew tells us:

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.

In this passage, as we read it together, we can easily see several places where this miracle of feeding four thousand people has similarities to the feeding of the five thousand. However, instead of focusing in on the similarities, like their being loaves of bread and fish in both events and that there were baskets full of leftovers in both events, let’s focus in on one or two things in this passage that make this event unique from the more famous meal where 5,000 were served.

While I already alluded to both events having bread and fish, the first thing that stands out when I read this is not that the quantities of each are different, but the source of food is different. In the feeding of the five thousand, a small boy offers his lunch and this gift is multiplied exponentially to feed the crowd. But in this event, all indications are that the disciples scavenged among what they had to find the seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.

The big idea that stands out in my mind regarding this detail is that sometimes we will have to put in the little that we have in order for God to multiply it into being something more. In the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus accepts and multiplies the gift from someone in the crowd, but in this event, it is the disciples own food and savings that Jesus used and multiplied into the meal for the over 4,000 people present. This would be like saying that the gifts that other people bring can be multiplied by Jesus, but so can the gifts that we bring too.

All too often, we are tempted to sit back and let someone else step up to provide what is needed, and sometimes, like in the feeding of the 5,000, it happens. But other times, like our event where 4,000 are fed, we have to be the ones to supply the materials and effort.

Another thing that stands out in my mind with the feeding of the four thousand is that it was after the crowd had followed Jesus for three days. In verse 32, we read Jesus saying to His disciples, “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.”

While the feeding of the five thousand was after one long day, most of the gospels record the disciples telling Jesus He should send the crowd away so the people can get something to eat. But in this event, after three days, Jesus is the One who prompts this miracle because He realizes these people probably left their homes without preparing for a three or more day trip with Him.

This detail tells me that Jesus sometimes will prompt a miracle because He knows we need it perhaps even without us asking. We don’t see people in the crowd asking for or demanding a miracle. We simply see Jesus offering to perform the miracle because He knows the people need it.

Also, as a side observation, while the feeding of the five thousand was after one day where many of the crowd may have had a big breakfast before leaving to find Jesus, the feeding of the four thousand was after three days and almost all the food was gone. In my mind, these four thousand people probably ate even more total combined food than the five thousand, simply because they were all that hungrier.

All these details come together to bring us a key point: Sometimes God is waiting for us to bring our time, talent, energy, and resources to Him to allow Him to do something great in the lives of those in the world. While we are tempted to let someone else do it, God is waiting for your gifts and mine.

With that said, 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, intentionally seek God first in your life. Intentionally choose to step up and give God the little you have. While you might think your gift is insignificant in the big picture, your gift may be just the thing God is waiting for to transform someone else’s life. Never think your gifts are too small when giving to the One who multiplies small gifts for great impact!

Also, as I regularly challenge you in one way or another, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself to learn and grow closer to Jesus. A relationship with Jesus is vital, not just for gaining eternal life in the future, but for surviving in life today. While many people focus on the future rewards of following Jesus, don’t ignore the gifts and blessings God is willing to give you today for following Jesus!

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 give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!