Lord’s Day, Vol. 8 No. 10

Give Ye Them to Eat

 ³⁴And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. ³⁵And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the timeis far passed: ³⁶Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. ³⁷He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? ³⁸He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. ³⁹And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. ⁴⁰And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. ⁴¹And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. ⁴²And they did all eat, and were filled. ⁴³And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. ⁴⁴And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. (Mk. 6:34-44 KJV)

Our Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to provide food to feed the multitude that came out into a desert place to seek Him. He taught them many things – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).They were as sheep not having a shepherd.

Our text tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion toward them. God’s love and care for His people was demonstrated so visibly in this account for our comfort and strengthening. The people wisely came to Jesus for help. Jesus did not leave them stranded with a hungry stomach but He commanded His disciples “Give Ye Them to Eat” (v37a). 

In the desert place, there was no food. The disciples understood the physical reality of the challenge before them when they asked Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?” (v37b). A penny was the day’s pay for a labourer (Matthew 20:2). There was a need to buy a substantial number of loaves of bread to feed the multitude of about five thousand men (v44). Many vans packed full with bread have to be sent immediately to bring the needed supply and to meet the immediate need!

The psalmist testified for our encouragement in Psalm 37:25-26, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.” 

The psalmist further testified in Psalm 37:18-19, “The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.”

The people sought Jesus. We are reminded of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. He will demonstrate His ability to help them in a wholesome way. He did not disappoint them. Jesus asked His disciples, “³⁸How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes”. The food available could barely feed 20 people. The need was 250 times more! 

³⁹And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. ⁴⁰And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. ⁴¹And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 

Jesus visibly demonstrated how He was able to meet the needs of those who come to Him methodically as they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. Jesus rounded up His sheep upon the green pastures and fed them with bread enough and a healthy supplement of fish – Psalm 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

Our Lord Jesus looked up to heaven, acknowledging our help comes from the blessing of our heavenly Father who sent Him!

Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

⁴²And they did all eat, and were filled. 

None who sought Jesus were left out. They were willing to be rounded up by the beckoning of His disciples who organized them according to their Master’s instruction. 

⁴³And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 

The disciples were able to further pack 12 baskets full of the fragments and of the fishes.

Jesus is God. He is the Creator. Therefore, He has the power to manufacture bread in the wilderness by His bare hands and to supply an unending supply of cooked fish by His power.

John 1:3-5 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:9-13 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus came to bring salvation to mankind – eternal life in heaven to all who come to Him. May the Lord strengthen His people as we look to Him. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee