The Motley Crew

May 26, 2010

Questions

Read Matthew 14:13-21

1. What else besides John's beheading had just happened in Jesus' ministry that caused Him to want to get away with the disciples. (Not that John's beheading is not enough.)

2. Would you have followed Jesus on foot?

3. What do you think of Jesus' response to the crowd when he really wanted/needed to be alone with the disciples? See Matthew 9:35-36.

4. What do you do when needy people interrupt what you already have planned to do?

5. How does John 6:5-7 fit into Matthew's account?

6. How did Philip do on the test?

7. Notice Who never wavered about if there would be enough provisions?

8. What does this say to us and to Christ's bride – the Church?

9. What were the feelings of the 12 as they sat down around Jesus with 12 baskets full of food?

10. How will this help you the next time you face “multitudes.”

The Motley Crew

May 26, 2010

Some Suggested Answers

We opened with prayer.

Read Matthew 14:13-21

Matthew 14:13-21 (New International Version)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

1. What else besides John's beheading had just happened in Jesus' ministry that caused Him to want to get away with the disciples. (Not that John's beheading is not enough.)

Rejection in Nazareth and return of the 12 from their successful ministry. Mark 6:30: “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.”

Scripture interprets Scripture. When ever we want to better understand any passage, a first step is to read all other accounts in Scriptures that bear on that subject or incident. Here, all four Gospels give accounts of this miracle, and each help to better explain the full story (see below).

...this is the best advice, that one should draw from the source and diligently read the Bible. For a man who knows the text is also an extraordinary theologian. One passage or one text from the Bible is worth more than the glosses [commentaries] of four writers who aren’t reliable and thorough. Martin Luther, Table Talk No. 4567: "The Church Fathers and Biblical Interpretation," Recorded by Anthony Lauterbach, May 7, 1539

When he heard of the fate of John the Baptist and of Herod's conjectures concerning himself. It was a busy time. The twelve had just returned from a highly successful ministry and his own popularity was at its greatest height. The crowds, anxious to see, converse with him, or to be healed, pressed on him so as to give no leisure for reflection, or even to eat (Mark 6:31). It was but natural that he should wish a quiet season on receiving the tidings of the death of one related to him like John. B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary; Lenski, p. 562.

2. Would you have followed Jesus on foot?

Lenski: “The crowd took the longer route by land around the upper part of the lake. The crowds obviously swelled as they passed from town to town around the populous west share of the lake.” Try to image …

Walking was the most common mode of traveling, and it was not uncommon for people to walk miles and miles in the course of a day.

The multitudes, seeing the course of the boat that bore the Savior and the twelve from Capernaum, rushed along the shore in order to reach its landing place in advance. The country west of the Sea of Galilee was, at that period, according to Josephus, wonderfully populous. Capernaum alone had 30,000 inhabitants, and there were twelve other cities upon or near its shores. B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary.

3. What do you think of Jesus' response to the crowd when he really wanted/needed to be alone with the disciples?

See Matthew 9:35-36: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

And Mark 6:34: When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

And Luke 9:11: but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

Compassion here = splagna = heart-lungs-liver = inner being. “Jesus was moved deep in His soul” (P.E. Version)

Their sick (tou arrwstou autwn). "Without strength" (rwnnumi and a privative). Esplagcnisqh is a deponent passive. The verb gives the oriental idea of the bowels (splagcna) [splagchna] as the seat of compassion. Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament.

The heart of Jesus goes out in compassion to the great crowd which Jesus sees assembled on the lower levels. [Thus, even though He has encountered much unbelief and despite His intention to withdrawal from public activity,] his heart … [was] moved at the sight of this crowd that had followed him. Lenski, p. 563.

How often we have seen this in Him? Again and again, even when His needs were leading Him to prayer or rest, He diverts His path to provide healing to those so deeply in need, physically and spiritually.

and was moved with compassion toward them: partly on account of their bodily infirmities, which were very many and great; and partly on account of the bad situation they were in, through want of spiritual pastors to feed them with the bread of life; for Mark gives this as the reason, moving his compassion, "because they were as sheep, not having a shepherd": all which shows the truth of Christ's human nature; proves him to be a merciful high priest, and one truly concerned for both the bodies and souls of men: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.

4. What do you do when needy people interrupt what you already have planned to do?

Depends on how needy they are & how busy I am.

Some said that they felt momentary irritation, but would then try to help, if they could. Others mentioned trying to provide a quick fix. Also, try to read the need and respond accordingly.

A local organization, the Neighborhood Christian Center, provides immediate help, but also tries to help people to become independent. In some cases, this means breaking the situation of generational need. And some of those literally don't know any other way. The goal is to help these to become enabled to do for themselves.

5. How does John 6:5-7 fit into Matthew's account?

John 6:5-7:

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages [200 denarii] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

This verse would fit between verses 15 & 16 of Matthew's Gospel – in order to test Philip. Philip came to the realization of what was going to be needed first, the other disciples came to this understanding later.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

6. How did Philip do on the test?

He flunked. He forgot the miracle at Cana and the many miracles that had been performed since then.

7. Notice Who never wavered about if there would be enough provisions?

Jesus.

Unexpectedly and forcefully, Jesus challenged the disciples to provide food for this vast crowd. He planned to teach them an important lesson. Lutheran Study Bible, p. 1612.

No situation appears to Him desperate, no crisis unmanageable. No need to go. Give ye them to eat, resources will be forthcoming (cf. Exod. 14:15 [“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.”]). ... The story is a fact supported by the testimony of all four evangelists.... Nicoll, The Expositor's Greek Testament.

Give ye them to eat (dote autoiv –meiv pagein). The emphasis is on –meiv in contrast (note position) with their "send away" (apoluson ). It is the urgent aorist of instant action (dote). It was an astounding command. The disciples were to learn that "no situation appears to Him desperate, no crisis unmanageable" (Bruce). Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament.

8. What does this say to us and to Christ's bride – the Church?

God is enough. He is always with us, to the ends of the earth, as long as we're doing His Work here. His real presence is with us.

See in this miracle an emblem of the Bread of life, which came down from heaven to sustain our perishing souls. The provisions of Christ's gospel appear mean and scanty to the world, yet they satisfy all that feed on him in their hearts by faith with thanksgiving. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.

John 6:35 (KJV)
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
“... And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

9. What were the feelings of the 12 as they sat down around Jesus with 12 baskets full of food?

Flabbergasted. In awe, perhaps, of His ability to provide … again and again and again.

But as we will see in the next section, the 12 did not entirely comprehend the scope of Jesus' teaching.

10. How will this help you the next time you face “multitudes?”

We have to believe that there is a way. We must not let Satan rob us of this faith. When we are weak, He is strong. We must hold on to Him, and His unlimited power to provide.

When we are ill, for example, satan can tempt us with fear, despair, anger, etc. But if we know who is the author of these feelings, we can flee to our Savior, who will provide strength and love when we are in need

As was the case in a passage that we looked at a few weeks ago, He is the active provider, and we are the passive recipients of gifts beyond comprehension.

A Christian doesn’t inquire about misfortune in this life, for he knows that Christ will help us here. Satan wants the life beyond, which is eternal. … Satan is opposed to the church, and he is worse than Duke George to the extent that he is greater and stronger than him. The best thing we can do, therefore, is to put our fists together and pray. Even if we don’t keep the Ten Commandments, but rather sin against them, we have the Lord’s Prayer to set over against them. … Let us put our trust in Christ. Martin Luther, Table Talk recorded by Viet Dietrich, #518, “Temptations in the Monastery and Elsewhere.”

I have learned, not only through the Scriptures but also from severe inner struggles and trials, that Christ is God and has put on flesh, and likewise I have learned the doctrine of the Trinity. Today, therefore, I don’t so much believe as I know through experience that these doctrines are true. In the worst temptations nothing can help us but faith that God’s Son has put on flesh, is bone [of our bone], sits at the right hand of the Father, and prays for us. There is no mightier comfort. Martin Luther, Table Talk Recorded by John Mathesius, #4915, “The Incarnation of Christ and the Trinity.

We closed with prayer.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24

Parallel Accounts of Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand

For Additional Study:

Online Resources

Book of Concord in PDF Format, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod <http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/TrigBOC.pdf> (2MB file)

These texts are in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely. The source of these translations is Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921).

A number of other Lutheran texts can be found in the Belief and Practice section of the website of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=112

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
<http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/gill/matthew11.htm>

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary.
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mh/matthew11.htm

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
<http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mhc/matthew11.htm>

Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible.
<http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/jfb/matthew11.htm>

B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary
<http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/johnson/matthew11.htm >

Greek Interlinear Bible, http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Greek_Index.htm
Based on NA26/27. A word-by-word translation of the Greek New Testament.

John Lightfoot's Bible Commentary
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/light/matthew12.htm

J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, The Fourfold Gospel or A Harmony of the Four Gospels (Cincinnati, The Standard Publishing Company, 1914)
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/four/matthew12.htm

The NET Bible. <http://bible.org/netbible/> A completely new translation of the Bible with 60,932 translators’ notes. It was completed by more than 25 scholars – experts in the original biblical languages – who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Excellent notes, citing both the Greek and Hebrew, as needed. Greek and Hebrew fonts available without cost.

Harold H. Buls - Sermon Notes <http://www.pericope.org/buls-notes/index.html> and a second collection, Sermon Notes of Dr. Harold H. Buls <http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-bul.html>. Adapted from Exegetical Notes, Series A, Festival Season Sundays, Gospel Texts, by Harold H. Buls, Concordia Theological Seminary Press: Ft Wayne IN, 1980, pp.9-12.

W. Robertson Nicoll, The Greek Expositor's Testament. Vol. 1. Five Volumes. (New York: George H. Doran Co., ca. 1910). Excellent notes on the Greek text and summaries of commentators. Available at Google Books (www.books.google.com) and the Internet Archive (www.archive.org; easier to find here than at Google Books).

Other Additional Resources:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/SPLC/Motley%20Crew%20Research%20Resources.html

Other Resources

Barker, Kenneth L., ed., TNIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006)

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. Readers Edition. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006)

Davies, Benjamin, ed., Baker's Pocket Harmony of the Gospels (Baker Book House, 1975). Formerly printed as Harmony of the Four Gospels.

Goodrick, Edward W. and John R. Kohlenberger III, eds., The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999). This is the second edition, originally published as the Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance. It was originally published as The NIV Exhaustive Concordance. It should be distinguished from The NIV Complete Concordance by the same authors.

Green, Jay P., ed., The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. Vol. IV. Second Edition. (Hendrickson Publishers, 1985)

Halley, Henry H., Halley's Bible Handbook. New Revised Edition (24^th Edition). (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1965)

Hickie, W.J., Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977). This is a reprint of an older edition, originally published by Macmillan, August. 1893. A contemporary review described this as "A handy little volume, compiled on sound principles from trustworthy authorities." The 1911 edition is available online and for download at http://openlibrary.org/b/OL17866849M/Greek-English_lexicon_to_the_New_Testament

Hoerber, Robert G., ed., Concordia Self-Study Bible. NIV (Great Rapids, Zondervan: 1973, 1984).

Lenski, R.C.H., The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1943, reprinted 1964)

The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2009).

Nave, Orville J., ed., Nave's Topical Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979)

New Bible Dictionary. Second Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1962)

NIV Archeological Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005)

Robertson, A.T., Commentary on the Gospel According to Matthew (New York: Macmillan Co., 1911)

Rogers, Cleon L. Jr., and Cleon L. Rogers III, eds., The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998)

Strong, James, ed., The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990)