Topical Encyclopedia The miraculous feeding of the multitudes by Jesus Christ is a significant event recorded in the Gospels, demonstrating His divine authority and compassion. This miracle is documented in all four Gospels, underscoring its importance in the ministry of Jesus. The two primary instances of miraculous feeding are the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand.Feeding of the Five Thousand The feeding of the five thousand is recorded in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-14. This event took place after Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place following the news of John the Baptist's death. Despite His desire for solitude, the crowds followed Him, and He was moved with compassion for them. In the Gospel of John, it is noted that Jesus tested Philip by asking where they could buy bread for the people to eat. Philip responded that two hundred denarii would not be enough to feed the crowd. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, mentioned a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish, but questioned what good they would be for so many people. Jesus instructed the disciples to have the people sit down on the grass. He then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated, as much as they wanted. The same was done with the fish. After everyone was satisfied, Jesus instructed His disciples to gather the leftovers so that nothing would be wasted. They collected twelve baskets full of fragments from the five barley loaves. The Berean Standard Bible records this event in John 6:11-13: "Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated, as much as they wanted. And He did the same with the fish. When everyone was full, He said to His disciples, 'Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.' So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." Feeding of the Four Thousand The feeding of the four thousand is described in Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-10. This event occurred after Jesus had been teaching the crowd for three days. He expressed concern for the people, noting that they had nothing to eat and might faint on their way home. The disciples questioned how they could feed such a large crowd in a remote place. Jesus asked them how many loaves they had, and they replied, "Seven, and a few small fish." Jesus directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. All ate and were satisfied, and the disciples collected seven basketfuls of leftover pieces. The BSB records in Mark 8:6-8: "He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to His disciples to distribute to the people. And they did so. They also had a few small fish, and after He had blessed them, He ordered that these be set before them as well. The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." Significance These miracles are not only demonstrations of Jesus' power over nature but also serve as a testament to His compassion and provision. They prefigure the spiritual nourishment that Christ offers, as He later declares Himself to be the "bread of life" (John 6:35). The abundance of leftovers signifies the overflowing grace and sufficiency found in Christ. These events also highlight the role of the disciples in distributing the blessings of Christ to the people, a precursor to their future ministry. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 14:19-21And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 15:34-37 Library The Miraculous Feeding of the Five Thousand D. The Fourth Period. Ch. 9:1-50 Interpretation of Prophecy. Letter Xlviii. To Pammachius. Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church. They Shall be Called the Children of God part i part ii Resources What is the meaning of “Cast your bread upon the waters” in Ecclesiastes 11:1? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of unleavened bread? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to pray for our daily bread? | GotQuestions.org Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire Bread with Water, the Food of Prisons Bread: (Eating Without Scarceness) of Plenty Bread: (Fulness of) of Abundance Bread: (Of Adversity) Heavy Affliction Bread: (Of Deceit) Unlawful Gain Bread: (Of Wickedness) Oppression Bread: (Partaking of) Communion of Saints Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty Bread: (When Broken) the Death of Christ Bread: Called the Staff of Life Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast) Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast) Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness) Bread: Multitudes Miraculously Fed by Christ With Bread: Nutritious and Strengthening Bread: Offered With Sacrifices Bread: Often Given As a Present Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread Bread: Placed on Table of Shew Bread Bread: Plenty of, Promised to the Obedient Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment Bread: Served Round After Funerals Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy Related Terms |
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