Scripture Daily

Context No. 4126 of 4322 · Matthew

Context · Reflection

Matthew 14:14-21: in context

14Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.” 16But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.” 18He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19He 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, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. 21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

Seeing a great, hungry crowd in a deserted place as evening comes, the disciples urge Jesus to send them away to buy food. But Jesus gives them a startling command: they need not go away; you give them something to eat. The disciples protest that they have only five loaves and two fish, hopelessly inadequate for thousands.

But Jesus tells them to bring what they have to him, and taking the loaves and fish, he blesses, breaks, and multiplies them, until all are fed and twelve baskets of leftovers remain. Two things stand out. Jesus began with the disciples' impossible-sounding responsibility, you give them something to eat, and with their meager resources. He did not require them to have enough; he required them to bring what little they had to him. And then Jesus multiplied it. The small offering, placed in his hands, became more than enough. Jesus does not ask us to meet the need in our own strength; he asks us to bring what we have, however little, to him.

When I face a need far larger than my resources, do I bring what little I have to Jesus, trusting that in his hands my five loaves can be multiplied, rather than concluding that my small offering is too little to matter?

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