Matthew - Week 45

Attempted Solitude 

READ 

Matthew 14:13-14 

13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 

After Jesus learned of the death of John the Baptist—and likely some of the details—He went alone to a remote area. Even when He wanted to be alone, the crowds followed Him. As He stepped from the boat He saw the crowd and had compassion on them. While grieving over the death of John the Baptist, He healed the sick among them. 

REFLECT 

What has it been like for you when you lost a close loved one to death? Did you want to be alone? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about different responses at the time of death of a loved one. Did your other responsibilities cause you to think about others even while grieving over a friend’s death? 

Feed the Crowd 

READ 

Matthew 14:15-16 

15 That evening 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 food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 

The disciples urged Jesus to send the huge crowd away so they could buy food before the day’s end. To their surprise, Jesus told them, “You feed them.” That must have been a shock to the disciples that Jesus would say such a thing. How did He expect them to do that? 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes felt the Lord was urging you to do something that you saw no possibility of doing? How did your experience turn out? 

RESPOND 

Read Mark 10:23-27 to see that what is impossible for humans to accomplish, God can. God is only limited by what He desires to do.  

Divine Multiplication 

READ 

Matthew 14:17-19 

17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 

Notice that although Jesus, the creator of the universe, did not need their small amount of food, He asked them to bring it to Him. He told the people to sit down on the grass and offered thanks to the heavenly Father. Then He broke the loaves into pieces and gave them to the disciples to distribute.  

REFLECT 

Do you realize that even though God does not need what you have, He wants to use whatever you have in ministering to others? Dedicating to Him what you have will bring blessing into your life. 

RESPOND 

As seen in this passage in Matthew, talk with a friend about how God uses people to accomplish His will. In what way is He using each of you today? 

Leftovers 

READ 

Matthew 14:20-21 

20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! 

Although the disciples had only five loaves and two fish, the Lord multiplied those to feed 5,000 hungry men, not counting women and children. By the time one would add women and children to the group, some estimate the total crowd would be over 15,000. The disciples must have been marveling about this great miracle as they walked around feeding the people. Notice there were 12 baskets of leftovers after the people had eaten all they wanted. Was each disciple holding one? If so, their small faith was rebuked by this incident. 

REFLECT 

What has God done in your life that has been used to rebuke your small faith? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Judges 7:1-9 to see how God had Gideon reduce his army so he would know the victory would come from the Lord and not from the power of his army. 

Alone in the Hills 

READ 

Matthew 14:22-23 

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 

After He had learned about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus went to a remote area to be left alone. His day was interrupted, however, by the large crowd He did not ignore. Once their needs were cared for, He sent His disciples away and went into the hills by Himself to pray. He continued there alone until evening came. 

REFLECT 

Does this impress on you how much Jesus wanted to be alone with His heavenly Father? Is that your desire even after you have had a busy day after hearing some bad news?  

RESPOND 

Spend time with a friend talking about responding to grief and how you can encourage others when they are going through such a time. Others may be encouraged just by knowing you have gone through something similar. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 to see what the apostle Paul wrote about comforting others.