Explore the themes of Christ's compassion, God's abundant provision, and the importance of demonstrating grace through action, as illustrated in the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21.
Good morning, church family! I love it when we gather here together, each of us eager to dive into God's word and see what divine wisdom we can glean from it for our lives. Today, we're going to take a look at a well-known passage from Matthew's Gospel that teaches us about Christ's compassion for the multitude, God's abundant provision, and the importance of demonstrating grace through action.
In this passage, the first thing that strikes us is the compassion of Christ. The Greek word for compassion used in this passage is 'splagchnizomai', which means to be moved in the inward parts, the bowels, which were thought to be the seat of love and pity. This is a deep, gut-wrenching feeling of compassion. Jesus, upon seeing the multitude, didn't just feel a fleeting pity or a superficial sorrow. His compassion was deep, visceral, and moved Him to action.
A powerful force that compels action: It is a love that sees, feels, and responds. When Jesus saw the multitude, He didn't see them as a faceless crowd. He saw individuals, each with their own stories, their own pains, their own needs. He saw them in their sickness and their hunger, and He was moved with compassion.
Proactive: He didn't wait for the multitude to come to Him with their needs. He saw their needs and took the initiative to meet them. He healed their sick. He fed them. He didn't just feel sorry for them; He did something about their situation. Compassion is not just about feeling; it's about doing. It's about seeing the needs around us and taking action to meet those needs.
Inclusive: The multitude that followed Jesus was a diverse group. They were men, women, and children. They were probably from different social and economic backgrounds. Yet, Jesus didn't show partiality. His compassion was for everyone. He didn't turn anyone away. He welcomed them all and met their needs. This teaches us that true compassion does not discriminate. It sees everyone as equally deserving of love and care.
Sacrificial: When Jesus saw the multitude, He was actually trying to get away to a solitary place. He had just heard of the beheading of John the Baptist, and He wanted some time alone. But when He saw the multitude, He put aside His own needs and ministered to them. This shows us that true compassion often involves sacrifice. It's about putting the needs of others before our own.
When Jesus was faced with a crowd of thousands of people, His disciples saw only scarcity - a mere five loaves of bread and two fish ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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