sf129 - The Compassionate Christ (Matthew 14 13-21)
Matthew 14:13-21
INTRODUCTION
This is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels.
Jesus’ ministry is in transition from a public teaching ministry to a more private discipling ministry.
As opposition increased Jesus withdraws more, not for fear of the crowd but in obedience to God’s timetable.
The contrast between Herod’s feast and Jesus’ feeding the 5000
The first was given by a king in a palace, the second by a preacher in the desert.
The first was only for the important people, the second was for the common people.
The first focused on man and his pleasure, the second on God and his purpose.
The first was for this world only; the second gave a foretaste of the world to come.
We are a generation that is never satisfied.
Today, we will want to learn about; the hungry people, the helpless disciples, and the heavenly solution.
1A. The Hungry People (14:13-14)
1B. They sought after Him (14:13)
These people sought His hand not His face.
2B. They stirred Him (14:14)
We see in this verse our Lord's compassion. (Matthew 9:36)
We see our Lord's concern.
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
2A. The Helpless Disciples (14:15-17)
1B. The scope of the problem (14:15, 21)
This was an enormous crowd
Ø 5,000 men, ome estimate as many as 25,000 counting the women and children.
Feeding this crowd was well beyond the disciple's reach.
“Our nothing is really nothing and not a little something.” Martin Luther
The task was also beyond the disciple's reason.
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Ø We must remember that God works in our lives when we cannot!
2B. The smallness of the provision (14:16-17)
Barley was the food of the poor and the fish were probably about the size of sardines.
This lunch was barely enough for a boy. (John 6:8-9)
3A. The Heavenly Solution (14:18-21)
1B. The simplicity of the solution (14:18-19a)
Jesus commanded that the people "sit down"
Ø Sitting down implies sitting down to eat!
Ø Sitting down at the Lord’s command required faith
Ø The entire miracle is based on faith.
The same is true today. We cannot know or please the Lord without faith.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
2B. The source of the supply (14:19b)
Jesus "gave thanks" to God
Ø God is the source! (Psalm 103:1-5)
Ø God through Jesus supplies all we ever need in life.
3B. The sufficiency of the supply (14:20-21)
Filled (chortazo) was used of animals who stayed at the feed trough until they wanted nothing more to eat. Jesus uses the same term in the Beatitudes when He promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness “shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6).
Twelve baskets, enough for each disciple to have one.
4B. The significance of the sign
The importance of God’s timing
Ø Jesus refused to confront Herod.
Ø Therefore, he refused to let the world set His agenda.
The necessity of rest and solitude
The mandate of helping the needy
The priority of the spiritual over the physical
The value of order and organization
The essential nature of faith and obedience
The unlimited power of God
Spurgeon concerning his preaching, “Truly, he who writes this comment has often felt as if he had neither loaf nor fish; and yet for some forty years and more he has been a full-handed waiter at the King’s great banquet.”
The sufficiency of the gospel
Ø No want or waste!
APPLICATION
I am satisfied with Jesus,
He has done so much for me:
He has suffered to redeem me;
He has died to set me free.
When my work on earth is ended, and I cross the mystic sea,
Oh, that I could hear Him saying, "I am satisfied with thee."
I am satisfied, I am satisfied,
I am satisfied with Jesus,
But the question comes to me, as I think of Calvary,
Is my Master satisfied with me?
Matthew 14:13-21
1A. The _________________________ People (14:13-14)
1B. They sought after Him (14:13)
2B. They __________________________ Him (14:14)
We see in this verse our Lord's compassion. (Matthew 9:36)
We see our Lord's concern. (Luke 19:10)
2A. The _______________________ Disciples (14:15-17)
1B. The _______________ of the problem (14:15, 21)
This was an enormous crowd
Ø 5,000 men, ome estimate as many as 25,000 counting the women and children.
Feeding this crowd was well beyond the disciple's reach.
The task was also beyond the disciple's reason. (Jeremiah 33:3)
Ø when we cannot!
2B. The smallness of the provision (14:16-17)
Barley was the food of the poor and the fish were probably about the size of sardines.
This lunch was barely enough for a boy. (John 6:8-9)
3A. The _______________________ Solution (14:18-21)
1B. The simplicity of the solution (14:18-19a)
Jesus commanded that the people "sit down"
Ø Sitting down implies sitting down to eat!
Ø Sitting down at the Lord’s command required faith
Ø The entire miracle is based on faith.
The same is true today. We cannot know or please the Lord without faith. (Hebrews 11:6)
2B. The ____________________ of the supply (14:19b)
Jesus "gave thanks" to God
Ø God is the source! (Psalm 103:1-5)
3B. The __________________ of the supply (14:20-21)
4B. The significance of the sign
The importance of God’s timing
The necessity of rest and solitude
The mandate of helping the needy
The priority of the spiritual over the physical
The value of order and organization
The essential nature of faith and obedience
The unlimited power of God
The sufficiency of the gospel