Matthew 14:13-21
You Do It
This is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. It is also recorded in
Mark, Luke, and John. In 3 of the 4 gospel accounts, a command from
Jesus is clearly recorded.
Matt 14:16 But Jesus said unto them, They need
not depart; give ye them to eat.
Mark 6:37 He answered and said unto them, Give
ye them to eat….
Luke 9:13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to
eat…
John does not record Jesus’ command but he did indicate that Jesus
expected the disciples to participate.
John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and
saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto
Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may
eat?
When Jesus gave the command, He knew that these men could not feed
the 5000. He also knew that He was going to end up feeding them. Yet,
it is clear—by all four gospel accounts—that Jesus told them to do
it. WHY?
Well, since He knew all the time that He would do the miracle, it
must not have been that He wanted them to do something as much as
He wanted them to learn something.
Like what?
I. Jesus wanted the disciples to learn the difference between
watching and working.
A. The disciples had been watching Jesus perform miracles for
some time now.
1. It is difficult to know the exact time line of the gospels
I would guess we are into the 2nd year of Jesus’ earthly
ministry.
2. In that time, many had been taught, helped, comforted,
and healed.
3. But Jesus had been doing most—if not all—of the work.
4. Jesus did many great miracles but one He still performs
today, and it is very important.
a. Jesus turns sheep into shepherds.
b. Jesus takes by standers and turns them into builders,
of men, or souls, or churches.
5. It would appear that the disciples of Jesus thought their
ministry was to watch Jesus work.
B. Contrary to what most believe, going to church should NOT be
a passive experience.
1. That simply means we are to go church to DO something.
2. That something is worship.
a. Most Christians have the wrong idea about church and
worship.
(1) Worship is not a spectator sport you view from a
sideline but a participatory sport played from
your pew.
(2) Until Christians quit watching the pastor work
and start worshiping while the pastor preaches,
nothing of significance will happen in God’s
house.
b. How do you worship?
(1) In praise…
(2) In prayer…
(3) In presenting yourself: your time, your talent,
your money, your spirit, your heart, and your
body.
3. But even beyond WOR-ship, every believer should also be
involved in WORK-ship.
a. That is, every believer should find a way to serve
Jesus through the local church.
b. I think our gifts are divided into two groups: the
people gifts and the place gifts.
c. The PEOPLE gifts:
(1) Some are gifted to care for people even before
they ever go to a church.
(2) Some are gifted to get some to come to the
church.
(3) Some are gifted to minister to those who are at
the church.
(4) Some are gifted to care for people after they
have left church.
d. Then there are the PLACE gifts:
(1) Some are gifted to take care of the things of
the church and others.
(2) This is not a secondary gift. It is as much a
gift as any others—if it is used for the Lord.
C. In this story, the disciples are really standing in the place
of the Church.
1. You see, Jesus wasn’t going to be on the earth forever and
these disciples were being trained for the future.
2. Jesus told them to feed the multitude because He was
preparing them for the future.
3. When the disciples became the leaders, they in turn
prepared others to lead.
4. Those others prepared others and so it went all the way
down to me.
5. Now, it is my turn to prepare others.
6. Guess what? You are the others!
7. All who serve for Jesus are a part of a chain of servants
that was forged by Jesus on this hillside in Galilee!
8. Where do you fit in that chain? Will you be another link
of the end of the chain?
II. Jesus wanted the disciples to learn the difference between
being blessed and being blind.
A. To introduce this thought, let me tell you three things:
1. I am very blessed.
2. Most people are not as blessed as me.
a. Most of them have more severe family problems than you
do.
b. Most of them have greater emotional problems.
c. Most of them have greater financial problems.
d. This is because most of them have far greater
spiritual problems than you do.
3. But my very blessings isolate me from the people with
needs.
a. I am largely isolated.
(1) I don’t hang with the people at the bars.
(2) I don’t hang with the people at the jail.
(3) I don’t hang with the people on skid row.
(4) I don’t hang with the homeless.
(5) I don’t hang with the addicted.
(6) I don’t hang with the occult.
(7) I don’t hang with the vulgar.
(8) I don’t hang with the rebellious.
b. However, just because I don’t hang around with them
doesn’t mean that I should care for them, pray for
them, and minister to them!
c. That is the very call of Christianity!
B. If you understand that thought, let’s consider what Jesus
wanted the disciples to learn about being blessed and blind.
1. Blessings can blind us.
a. The disciples were blessed.
b. They didn’t need food.
c. They had five loaves and two fish.
d. However, by being blessed, the disciples were also
blinded to the needs of the other 5,000.
(1) The disciples statement was, "Send them away."
(2) Their thought was, "We have our lunch. Let them
take care of themselves.
2. Is it possible that our blessings have blinded us?
a. Our theme this year is, "Coming together to know
Christ and to make Him known.
(1) The fact that we are so blessed that we have
family to spend time with should not blind us
to the fact others do not.
(2) The fact that we are so blessed that we have
money to use our off time to play games and
have fun should not blind us to the fact that
others do not.
(3) The fact that we have jobs, savings, health, and
time to enjoy life and eternity, should not
blind us that others do not.
b. I do not know that we have to sacrifice everything for
others.
c. I do know that we should not let our blessings blind
us to the needs of others.
d. We should take some of our blessings and use them to
help others.
(1) I would love for us to attempt street preaching
in Bessemer.
(2) I would love for us to run a bus to Bessemer and
pick up children from up there.
(3) I would love for us to open our doors several
times each year to feed the community a hot
meal.
(4) I would love for us to conduct a Bible marriage
seminar and do Bible counseling with couples.
(5) I would love for us to open a Christian school.
(6) I would love for us to have a home for abused
children and women.
(7) I would love for us to have a group of men who
would do projects for the elderly, the sick,
the widowed.
(8) I would love for us to have a literacy program.
(9) I would love for us have a program for those
addicted to drugs, alcohol, and pornography.
III. Jesus wanted the disciples to know the difference in being
incapable and helpless.
A. Jesus gave the disciples a command that He knew they could not
do, but that did not mean there was nothing they could do.
B. No Christian is helpless who has a God for a Savior.
1. I cannot heal, but I can bring people to the Healer.
2. I cannot comfort, but I can bring people to the Comforter.
3. I cannot save, but I can tell them who the Savior is.
C. The disciples could not feed the multitude, but they could:
1. Divide the large groups into smaller groups.
2. Find the boy with five loaves and two fish.
3. Take the baskets of food around to the groups.
4. Take up the food that was left.
D. See something that is very important:
1. Nowhere in the text does the Bible tell us that the
multitude ever knew a miracle took place.
a. They sat.
b. They were served.
c. They ate.
d. They left.
2. The only ones who absolutely knew what had happened that
day was the twelve disciples.
3. Even more: Why did Jesus have the disciples to collect
the remaining food?
a. The multitude was full and leaving.
b. What was He going to do what 12 baskets full of bread
and fish? Probably nothing.
c. Why gather it? So the disciples could see just how
great the miracle was.
E. On that day, the food was for the multitude but the lesson
was for the disciples.
1. Jesus wanted them to know the difference in being
incapable and helpless.
2. They could not feed the multitudes, but they could help
them—and they did.
F. If the Green Pond Baptist Church does not make itself
relevant in this community, it will be our own fault.
1. There are needs out there.
2. There are people in here.
3. There is power up there.
4. Our calling is to bring the three together.
IV. Jesus wanted the disciples to know the difference between
having wealth and having rewards.
A. The disciples probably considered themselves pretty wealthy
that day.
1. It was lunch time and they had a lunch.
2. Friend, on any day you have the food you need, you are a
wealthy person.
B. But when they were willing to sacrifice what they had, they
were able to have something better than wealth. They were
able to have rewards.
Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink
unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water
only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto
you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed
to the sower both minister bread for your food,
and multiply your seed sown, and increase the
fruits of your righteousness;)
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