The Feeding of the Multitudes Matthew 14:14-21 & Matthew 15:32-38

The people followed Jesus to hear him teach and for him to heal their sick.  

I found 5  interesting things about the conditions of the people in the multitude:

1.  It was a large multitude.

2.  They were a shepherd less or scattered multitude

3.  It was a hungry multitude

4.  It was a helpless multitude - could not feed themselves

5.  It was a perishing multitude - must be fed or would perish/faint.

Jesus had compassion on the people because they were hungry and had been with him for 3 days.  He asked what food was available so that the people could be fed.  In Matthew 14, the disciples were able to gather 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  In Matthew 15, the disciples were able to gather 7 loaves of bread and a few fish.  Jesus took those loaves and bread and the few fish and broke them.

Then He prayed.

The disciples ate and then fed the 5,000 + women and children in Matthew 14 and the 4,000 + women and children in Matthew 15.

The Savior was able to provide food for the people but He also provided a miracle.  The people wanted a sign that He was the Christ and not just the son of Joseph and Mary.  The miracle was not seen by the multitude or by the disciples (John 6:26)

In each story, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome.  In Romans 3:23 it says "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  We need the Savior and the atonement to make up the insufficiency that we have in overcoming our sins.  Christ makes up the difference.

In Ether 12:27 is says "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."  The Lord helps us overcome our inefficiencies by grace and by allowing each of us to have weaknesses that make us humble and allow us to see where we need to improve.   When we actually overcome a weakness we do become stronger.  The process of overcoming the weakness helps to strengthen us.  The Lord loves us enough to allow trials and experiences to make us stronger.