I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
The words belong to the account of the feeding of the four thousand. The multitude had remained with Him for three days and had nothing to eat. Though the crowd was made up of Gentiles, He cared for them and provided for them.
The people had listened intently to His teaching, and His concern for their physical need accompanied His teaching and message of salvation. He would not send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. His concern reflects His own experience of hunger and weakness after fasting in the wilderness.
In compassion He miraculously fed the people by multiplying a few loaves and fish, distributing through His disciples, and having the remainder gathered so none was lost. The miracle shows that He can meet great needs with what seems insufficient and calls for faith in His power. His example of feeding the multitude is to be studied as a lesson in carrying forward food work.
The words belong to the account of the feeding of the four thousand. The multitude had remained with Him for three days and had nothing to eat. Though the crowd was made up of Gentiles, He cared for them and provided for them.
The people had listened intently to His teaching, and His concern for their physical need accompanied His teaching and message of salvation. He would not send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. His concern reflects His own experience of hunger and weakness after fasting in the wilderness.
In compassion He miraculously fed the people by multiplying a few loaves and fish, distributing through His disciples, and having the remainder gathered so none was lost. The miracle shows that He can meet great needs with what seems insufficient and calls for faith in His power. His example of feeding the multitude is to be studied as a lesson in carrying forward food work.