Matthew 14:15
“And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.”
In this verse, we find Jesus and His disciples in a desert or desolate place, with a multitude of people following Him. The disciples, observing the late hour and the remote location, suggest to Jesus that He should send the people away to nearby villages so that they can buy food for themselves.
This passage follows the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand earlier in Matthew 14:13-14. The disciples had just witnessed a miraculous event where Jesus multiplied the loaves of bread and fish to feed a large crowd. Now, as evening approaches, the disciples are concerned about the practicalities of providing food for the people in this deserted place.
Let’s continue reading to see how Jesus responds to His disciples’ suggestion in the following verses:
“But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me” (Matthew 14:16-18, KJV).
Rather than sending the multitude away, Jesus challenges His disciples by telling them to give the people something to eat. The disciples, perplexed by the apparent lack of resources, respond by mentioning that they only have five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus then instructs them to bring what they have to Him.
As the story unfolds, Jesus performs another miracle, multiplying the five loaves and two fish to feed the entire multitude of people. The people are satisfied, and there are even twelve baskets full of leftover fragments (Matthew 14:19-21).
This passage teaches us several important lessons:
Jesus is concerned about the physical needs of His followers:Jesus shows compassion for the hungry multitude by not sending them away but rather providing for their needs. He demonstrates His care for both the spiritual and physical well-being of His followers.
Jesus challenges us to have faith and take action:When Jesus tells the disciples to give the people something to eat, He challenges their faith and calls them to take action. He asks them to trust in His ability to provide, even when the resources seem insufficient.
God can do the impossible with our meager offerings:The disciples’ five loaves and two fish were far from adequate to feed thousands of people. However, when they surrendered their limited resources to Jesus, He multiplied them abundantly. This miracle reminds us that God can do extraordinary things with what may seem insignificant in our hands.
Jesus is the source of provision:When the disciples brought the loaves and fish to Jesus, He blessed and multiplied them. Likewise, in our lives, Jesus is the source of all provision. When we bring our needs, concerns, and offerings to Him, He can bless them and provide abundantly.
Overall, Matthew 14:15 and the subsequent verses emphasize Jesus’ compassion, His power to provide, and the importance of having faith in Him. This account challenges us to trust in God’s ability to meet our needs and encourages us to offer what we have, no matter how small, for His use.
