Matt 14:14-21; 15:32-38. The Feeding of the Multitudes.

1. The Savior provided two similar miracles.

Matt 14:14-21

• How may people were present?

5,000

• What did they need?

to be fed

• What were they able to offer in an effort to meet that need?

5 loaves and 2 fishes

• What words or phrases describe the Savior’s feeling toward the multitudes in their time of need?

“moved with compassion toward them and healed their sick.”

“they need not depart; give them to eat.”

• What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for the multitudes?

“healed their sick”

“they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.”

Matt 15:32-38

• How may people were present?

4,000

• What did they need?

to be fed

• What were they able to offer in an effort to meet that need?

7 loaves and a few fishes

• What words or phrases describe the Savior’s feeling toward the multitudes in their time of need?

“I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, least they faint in the way.”

“he healed them”

• What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for them.

“and they did all eat and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.”

“And great multitudes came unto him and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them.”

2. In each story, the available food was insufficient to fee the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome. Read Romans 3:23, and explain in writing another way human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God. According to Ether 12:27, how does the Lord help us overcome this insufficiency?

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The multitude thought they had nothing, at least what they had was insufficient to feed 5,000 people. They had a little and the Lord took what they had and made sufficient and there was even extra. All of the multitude ate and were full. Romans implies that we all have sinned and we all need God. He can make more of us that we can do ourselves. We need to take what we have to him, even though we think it is little and he will make more and it will be sufficient, and possibly more. I think of this in my own calling as the Young Women’s President. How I have so little to offer the girls or the Lord, however if I take what I have to the Lord he will magnify me. Ether 12:27 States:

“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 me 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.”

In this scripture it says “weakness” not weaknesses (plural). It was suggested to me once by a an institute instructor at the University of Montana that weakness suggests, mortality. That we were sent here to live a mortal life and that is our weakness. Wither or not that is accurate, it is worth pondering. In v 35 it says that if gentiles have not charity because of their weakness it will be taken away from them. If we do not show charity because of our weakness, or because the Lord has made “weak things become strong unto us” then those things that we have been given will be taken from us and given to those who shall “have more abundantly.” So as the Lord takes what we are and make more, we must use what we have been given to show charity and give back to the Lord or it will be taken from us. What a sobering thought, but what a beautiful concept.