The Feeding of the 4,000

Observations from the feeding of the 4,000 in Matthew 15 

1. Jesus had COMPASSION on all the people, which spurred Him to meet a need they had.

2. Their NEED was hunger, because they hadn't eaten for three days.

3. The disciples response? Um, Jesus, where are we gonna get all that food around here?

Jesus asks His disciples, "What do YOU have?"

They have a mere seven loaves of bread and a few small fish for a crowd of well over 4,000 people.

5. Before Jesus feeds the people He GIVES THANKS for the sacrificial offering of food they are giving to the people. Jesus and His disciples did not give out of their abundance, but out of the little they had. It was barely enough food to feed themselves. It was a sacrificial gift of faith and God blessed it in great abundance.

If we are spurred with compassion towards a person or persons then our next response must be, "Lord, what shall I do?" He may ask you, "What do you have?" Then, He may show you something that would require a great sacrifice on your part, do not worry, your heavenly Father will meet your needs according to His riches in grace.

When we offer up our gift to those whom God has stirred us with compassion for we must do it with a heart of thanks, not begrudgingly or in doubt that God will be able to meet our needs.

God desires to take your little and multiply it to show off His glory. Do not hold onto your little for fear that you will not be provided for. God is faithful, if you are stirred with compassion and God shows you a need to meet for someone else, then go and meet it with a heart of thanks. He will provide for you. He is faithful and good.