Matthew 14:13-2213When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15And 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. 16But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18He said, Bring them hither to me. 19And 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 brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. (Matthew 14:13‑22)
ONCE Jesus went into the wilderness with His disciples, and many people came after Him. Then Jesus preached to the people, and told them about His Father, and how He Himself had come down from heaven to save people from Satan. They listened to Him from morning till night.
When it was getting late, the disciples came to Jesus. They asked Him if He was going to send the people home. But Jesus knew that the people had nothing to eat all day, and He did not like to send them home tired and hungry. So He said to His disciples, ‘Can you not feed them?’
‘No,’ they said, ‘we have only five loaves and two small fishes, and see how many people there are!’
But Jesus said, ‘Make them sit down on the grass, and bring the loaves and fishes to Me.’ So the disciples made them all sit down.
There was a huge crowd of people. There were five thousand men, besides women and little children. How tired the little children must have been! It was time for them to have their supper and go to bed.
We shall hear how Jesus fed all these people.
They sat down on the green grass. Jesus took the loaves and fishes. First, He lifted up His eyes to His Father, and thanked Him for the food.
He took a piece of bread and gave it to Peter. He said, ‘Feed all those people sitting there.’ He gave another piece to John and said, ‘Feed those people.’ He gave a piece of bread and fish to each of the disciples and told each to feed some people.
One little piece of bread would not be enough for all the children in this room. But Jesus made the bread to be enough for all the people. Everyone had enough, and they threw on the grass a great many little pieces. But Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Take some baskets and pick up the crumbs.’ And they filled twelve baskets full of little bits of bread. Then Jesus told the people to go home.
How wonderful was the work Jesus had done! Yet you know that He feeds you, my little children, and all the people in the world.
How does He feed you?
He gives you bread.
What is bread made from?
From flour.
What is flour made from?
From wheat.
Who makes wheat?
God makes it grow in the fields.
Jesus is God; He makes the wheat grow; so you see that Jesus feeds you. If He did not make wheat and the other food grow in the fields we would die.
But He will not forget us. He even remembers the little birds. They are not clever enough to plow, or to sow corn, or to reap, or to put corn into barns, yet God does not let them starve. The birds cry to God, and He hears them, and lets them find food. Now God loves us much better than He loves the little birds, because we have souls. So He will certainly hear us when we pray to Him.
If your mother had no bread in her house, and if she could not get money to buy some, yet God would hear her if she loved Him. He would not let her starve. Will you not ask God for bread every day, and say, ‘Give me this day my daily bread?’
We ought to thank God for the food we eat. Before we eat breakfast, or dinner, or supper, we should say, ‘I thank Thee, O Lord, for this nice food.’
In listening they had spent the day;
Their homes far distant lie;
They would have fainted by the way
Without this kind supply.
Jesus, whose words they came to hear,
Has pity on their need;
He loves the weary heart to cheer,
The hungry poor to feed.
He gives them of His little store
By His disciples’ hands.
Though little, He can make it more,
For all things He commands.
The Lord provides the beasts with food,
To Him the ravens cry;
He watches over us for good
And does our need supply.
Lord, save me from a selfish heart,
That nothing good can spare
To others may I give a part,
And all my comforts share.
Questions
Did many people come to hear Jesus preach?
Why did Jesus not like to send them home at night?
How many loaves and fish did Jesus feed them with?
Who gave the people the bread and fish?
Did the people leave any of the bread?
Where were the little pieces of bread put?
What does God make grow in the fields?
Could your mother give you bread if God did not make the corn grow?
Does God feed any other creatures besides men, women, and children?
Why does God take more care of you than of the birds?
How God feeds people and animals:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn: