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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 88 : The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Text: Matthew 14
12 November 2023

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 12 NOVEMBER 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Text: Matthew 14

Subject: The Feeding of the Five Thousand

DEPARTING TO A DESERTED PLACE

13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 14:13-14

1. The death of John the Baptiser

a) This was soon public news
b) It affected many

2. The Lord Jesus departed to a deserted place

a) The Lord Jesus took time out by Himself
b) Some possible reasons:
i) Personal grief
ii) Public sentiments concerning the Lord Jesus being John reincarnated

3. The multitudes

a) They had also learned about the death of John the Baptiser
b) They looked up to the Lord Jesus as a great spiritual leader
i) In their time of sorrow
ii) In their day of need
c) A great multitude followed the Lord Jesus
d) They came from more than one city

4. The Response of the Lord Jesus

a) He was moved with compassion
b) He saw that many had brought their sick family/ friends
c) He healed those who were sick

IN THE EVENING

15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Matthew 14:15-16

1. The Lord Jesus devoted time to care for the sick and needy

2. Soon, the day ended and evening had come

3. The Disciples urged the Lord Jesus to send the Multitudes away to buy food

4. The Lord Jesus asked His Disciples to feed the Multitudes

THE RESPONSE OF THE DISCIPLES

17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:17-21

1. All that the Disciples had

a) Five loaves
b) Two fish

2. The Lord Jesus instructed the Disciples to organize the Multitudes

a) The multitudes sat down
b) The Lord Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, and blessed it
c) He proceeded to feed the multitudes

3. The size of the Multitudes

a) 5000 men
b) Not counting the women
c) Not counting the children

LESSONS TO PONDER OVER

1. The Compassion of the Lord Jesus

2. The Comprehension that the Lord wanted His Disciples to have

a) The Presence of God
b) The Power of God
c) The Need to Possess Faith in life and ministry