Sunday Morning Service

FBC Family,

You may recall that last week, we spoke of Jesus sending the disciples out to preach the kingdom and to heal the sick. Now we turn to a miracle that is recorded in all 4 gospels. This is only one of 2 miracles that are included in all 4 gospel accounts, the other miracle that is recorded is Jesus’ Resurrection.

This causes me to ask why this miracle? Why is it so important, that all 4 writers include it in their gospel accounts? Luke records it as a matter of fact, while Matthew, Mark and John add much color to it. 

This miracle known as the feeding of 5000 is not to be confused with the miracle of feeding of the 4,000. A very similar miracle, yet in the feeding of the 4,000 He used 7 loaves and the number of fish is not stated. Here with the 5,000 we read that he used 5 loaves and 2 fish.

In the Book of Matthew both of these miracles are recorded. The feeding of the 5,000 in Chapter 14 and the feeding of the 4,000 in Chapter 15.

Now any student of the Word of God would have to legitimately have to ask about the similarities of these 2 miracles and the differences. Some liberal commentators have suggested that they are one and the same, however this is not the case.

The feeding of the 4,000 is only recorded in Matthew and Mark, whereas the feeding of the 5,000 is recorded in all 4 gospels. One took place in Decapolis and the other in Bethsaida. One had 5 loaves and 2 fish the other 7 loaves and a few fish.

After the feeding of the 5,000 there were 12 baskets full of leftovers and after the feeding of the 4,000 there were 7. While these 2 miracles have many similarities, there are many differences- yet the main evidence that these 2 miracles were separate incidents, the most conclusive evidence that they were indeed 2 different miracles is stated by the Jesus himself in Matt 16:9-10  9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?

I encourage you to read these passages and be ready to enjoy a spiritual meal this Sunday.