Satisfied
Read This Week: Matthew 15
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were leftover. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. – Matthew 15:35-38 NIV
Matthew 15 contains one of the most famous and widely read stories of Jesus’ ministry and life on earth – the account and miracle of Him feeding the masses of over four thousand people with just seven loaves and a few small fish. It is a transcendent and practical illustration of how God cares for our needs and is an example of how He tends to the little things in our lives and moves to meet our foundational provisions in spectacular ways. This story also shows us the power of God and His love for people and their well-being.
If we read this passage in its context, the feeding of the four thousand is not a surprise. Jesus was continuing his ministry and performing divine miracles throughout the chapter. He already healed the demon-possessed daughter of a Canaanite woman, and as he traveled, verse 30 tells us that great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. God’s power was on full display already in this section of Scripture, so what He does in feeding the crowds comes as no shock in light of His divine might through the person of Jesus.
Yet, the disciples still struggle with their faith in God’s ability to do unexplainable things among them. After Jesus says he doesn’t want to send the crowd away hungry, the disciples are skeptical of how they will feed everyone despite witnessing all of His previous miracles. They say back to him in verse 33, where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?
It is difficult to be hard on the disciples here because we have the same tendencies in our lives. We watch as God meets our needs and performs miracles on a grand stage, yet we still struggle to have faith and believe that He will provide for us day-to-day. But if he can heal the sick and make the blind see and make a disabled person walk, surely He can make sure we have enough food to eat.
Jesus shows them and us once again of His capacity. Verses 36-37 say:
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.
Not only did Jesus assess the situation, consider the need, and provide the food, the Bible tells us that the people had enough and were satisfied. Isn’t that just like God? He loves us so much that He cares for the small details of our lives, and He knows what we need at all times. But, He responds in His grace and mercy to our situations in such a way that not only does He give His provision, but we are also satisfied. In our life with God, when He provides, we don’t need anything else. He is our ultimate satisfaction.
I got a word from Matthew chapter 15 verse 9:
I hear God’s love, and tolerance, and being in a life worth living.
But, what I don’t hear these days anymore is the repentance of sin lest it causes an uproar.
I hear about God’s love, and stewardship I hear about the greed among the leadership.
But what I don’t hear, is about sin’s liberation for the scriptures now have too many mutations.
I hear all about God’s love but never about His wrath,
For few leaders these days want to go down this path.
What that means to me is that most doctrines of churches are produced out of the minds of men. God says He gets displeased and separates people. All Jesus wants is our worship and our love.
This is a tremendous word, Jeri. This line stood out to me:
I hear about God’s love, and stewardship I hear about the greed among the leadership.
But what I don’t hear, is about sin’s liberation for the scriptures now have too many mutations.
It is quite an interesting thing, especially in the context of Jesus being enough and being satisfied in Him, for Christians to talk about God’s love and stewardship then express greed, avarice, and a life liberated from the power of sin. May we live in a way that is more indicative of God’s salvation.
I love this chapter It shows Jesus’ heart so full of love, kindness, understanding, and compassion. He is teaching His disciples and He is teaching us today, for those who want to hear Him.
The most important lesson is for us is to see what Jesus sees. I see Jesus having a heart of compassion. He sees people’s hearts, He sees their hunger for more in life, their broken, some have major issues, people are suffering, I see people following Him because they know in their heart He can help them, They can see He cares, they want to be healed.
I know in my heart I am blessed because Father God has helped me and continues to help, Loves me and guides me has healed me in many areas, and He continues to. It’s all about doing life with Him every day. I love Jesus’ heart full of compassion because He feels and knows what we’re going through and He does it with us. He is with us always because He loves us.
To be compassionate is to feel deeply for another person as they experience the ups and downs associated with life. To be compassionate is to not just tell someone that you care, but also to show them that you care by being there before they even ask for it. It’s when you have concern for others.
Ask Jesus today to become more and more like Him, to see how He sees, to be a helper, get really good at blessing others for Him, pray for people to respond to His voice, hear His voice, to want to be a part of the family Of our Father God. Enjoy life, be like the Canaanite woman and be desperate for those you love to be healed Spiritually and physically, ask God for what His will is for others.
I love how you pointed out Jesus’ compassion in this chapter and how that paved the way for His miracle. His love and compassion on the people who were following Him. This was such a great point and line:
To be compassionate is to feel deeply for another person as they experience the ups and downs associated with life. To be compassionate is to not just tell someone that you care, but also to show them that you care by being there before they even ask for it. It’s when you have concern for others.
This is a tremendous definition and unpacking of compassion. The thing I really like about it is how you built in the connotations and implications of lasting and long-term care and concern. True compassion is not based on a burst of momentary care or warm glow altruism. It is a consistent caring and love of people like Christ demonstrated.
This week, I have a song from Matthew 15 called “We Worship You”:
We worship you, we worship you, we worship you, our Lord
As we worship you, we can’t help but feel joy and kindness
We want to seek you and get closer to you
Our hearts are wide open as we help others bringing them to you
Thank you, our Father for always having your doors wide open
Never turning away.
We worship you, we worship you, we worship you
Becoming closer to you, we love you our Father God.
I love having a relationship with my Father God. Thank you, Lord, for all you do.
A beautiful offering this week, Alma. These lyrics really touched me today and hope they have impacted others that read them as we all need to know this wonderful truth:
Thank you, our Father for always having your doors wide open
Never turning away.
I am so thankful that God like Jesus did with his followers who were tired and hungry, doesn’t turn away from us when we need Him. His door is always open and I am thankful for that love and access to Him in my life.
I have another poem from Matthew 15 verses 22-23:
A while ago, I said a prayer asking God to help me with one of my cares.
I waited patiently, for Him to reply but, I heard not a word as time went by.
At first, I was grieved by God’s silence
That I so needed Him to give me guidance.
But, as the days went on, my faith grew stronger
My doubt in Him deterred me no longer.
Then one day I saw much to my surprise
His answer was always right before my eyes.
What that means to me is God is always there. Sometimes He is quiet to test our faith. It is proper that the strength of faith should be fully tried.
This is such a hopeful message of exhortation, Jeri. I think we all need this because we all experience the seeming silence of God. Yet, as you point out in your poem, it is not silence at all. It is the testing of our faith in the One who can ultimately satisfy us and bring us to the place of trust and confidence in Him. These two stanzas ministered to me today:
At first, I was grieved by God’s silence
That I so needed Him to give me guidance.
Then one day I saw much to my surprise
His answer was always right before my eyes.
In church today, God gave me a word out of Matthew 15 verse 28:
The Lord does not turn away, in the face of our needs but if at times, He seems insensitive, to our requests for help, it is in order to put to the test and to strengthen our faith. We must continue to cry out, like this woman, “Lord, help me! Lord, help me!”
What that means to me is having faith, trust, and confidence in God. And one thing that really gets results from God is our faith in Jesus and His ability to perform miracles. God needs to know that we are serious about our prayers.
Wonderful encouragement here. May we continue to seek God in faith even as we face challenges and difficulties that seem like He is distant and uninvolved in our lives and circumstances. He is faithful even still. We can trust Him.
This is what I got from God in Matthew 15: “You must take care that your relationship with Me is not merely external and an image of being close to Me. Your heart needs to be close to Me. Worship Me with all your heart. Evil things come from your innermost nature. They reveal how corrupt you are in your fallen nature. Your heart is the source of your true character.
Don’t worry so much about external habits, but worry more about what words come out of your mouth. Your heart needs to be rooted and grounded in Me so that your words will build up and not tear down. Sometimes all you have to say is Lord help me in all situations and circumstances. I always want to help you; you just need to ask. Continue to worship My son Jesus, while you are waiting for an answer from Him. It shows great faith.”
What this said to me is I need to be rooted deeply in Him. For that to happen I need to make it a priority to worship Him, give Him thanks, and I need to spend time with Him, studying His word. I need to think before I react and use my words to build up others.
This is wonderful, Kathy, and deeply convicting. I had to read it twice just to absorb the gravity of your words and how true they are. I was struck from the beginning of your post by these lines:
You must take care that your relationship with Me is not merely external and an image of being close to Me. Your heart needs to be close to Me. Worship Me with all your heart… Your heart is the source of your true character.
This is so true and vital for all of us. To constantly check the condition of our heart and to tend to it with true worship of God. That pursuit and experience is what ultimately satisfies the heart, and heals it, and makes it whole.
The truth of Proverbs 4:23 kept ringing in my mind as I read your post. This is some of the most powerful and existential wisdom to the vitality of our lives in the whole of the Bible: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”