Matthew 14:13-21

People were hungry and Jesus cared Matthew 14:13-21: "When Jesus heard of it" He went to a "deserted place by Himself." (Matthew 14:13) It is not clear whether Matthew intended us to understand that Jesus had just heard about the death of John the Baptist or of was it that He heard about Herod's opinion that he was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Likely the second is true!

The popularity of Jesus was so great that the word of His movement spread and before he arrived people were already waiting for Him there. He cared about their needs and was very touched with their situation. "He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14) Jesus cared so much that He did not want the multitude to be sent away hungry. He told the disciples, "You give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:16) The disciples could only see the five loaves and two fish. They could not see the power of God's Son. (Matthew 14:17) "He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled." (Matthew 14:19-20) Even after 5,000 men, plus women and children had eaten their fill twelve baskets of fragments still remained. Jesus cared when people were hungry and so should we.

The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle mentioned in all four gospels. In the Old Testament God fed the people with manna. Now in the ministry of Jesus He multiplied the food and fed thousands. The compassion of Jesus motivated His actions. God cares about people and supplies their needs. This miracle, along with the other miracles of Jesus, proves that He is the Messiah.