Matthew 14:13 - 21

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.

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”

19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.

21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

This entire passage begins following the report of John the Baptist's death. After the report Jesus needed some privacy so he left the prior location by boat to go to a secluded location to be alone. However the multitudes learned of where He had went so they followed Him on foot.

Even though Jesus had went to this location for privacy and rest, he had great compassion for the great throng of people so He healed those who were sick.

Because the day was nearing a close, the disciples worried about the crowd being away from their provisions and needing to eat so they suggested Jesus send them into the villages to buy food. Could any of the villages supply 15,000 or more people with food? Even today's small rural towns with a few fast food establishments would be challenged with the order of providing food for that many people at one time.

The twelve must have been shocked when Jesus told them to feed the thousands. Jesus tested their faith and received a lesson on cooperation.

The answer of the disciples show they were not bestowed with miraculous powers and they thought they were expected to feed the multitudes from their own private supplies, so they pointed out how little food they had with them.

The two fish and five loaves of bread could not even give a taste to all of the people there, five thousand men, their wives, and children, probably 15,000 or more individuals, but Jesus was about to fulfill their needs using just five loaves of bread and two fish.

This miraculous work shows regardless of the amount of talent or supplies we have for the service of the Lord, He will work with us to accomplish the task at hand.

This is obviously not a desert area because there is grass to sit on. Jesus then acknowledges God as the supplier of all of our blessings, Jesus gives us a good example of giving thanks to God and asking Him to bless the food we eat.

By giving the food to the disciples to have them to dole the food out to the multitudes made them participants with Jesus in feeding the multitudes.

This miracle did not only give the crowd just enough to sustain them, but gave each person enough to eat that it filled their stomachs. And there were leftovers. He began with five loaves of bread and two fish, he filled the bellies of approximately 15000 or more people, and there were 12 baskets of leftovers.

(John 6:12[ So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” ]) Even though the production of food showed Jesus had the power to produce food easily, Jesus teaches the philosophy we are not to waste what we have been blessed with.

The amount fed not only included the five thousand men, but also women and children probably at least 3 – 4 times the number listed or more.