The Feeding of the Multitudes

Matthew 14:14-21

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 

He said, Bring them hither to me. 

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to hisdisciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Matthew 15:32-38

Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

How many people were present? 
5,000 & 4,000


What did they need? 
They needed food because they had been following the Savior for three days & They needed food because they also had been with the Lord three days


What were they able to offer in an effort to meet that need? 
5 loaves of bread, 2 fishes & 7 loaves of bread, a few fishes


What words or phrases describe the Savior's feeling toward the multitude in their time of need? 
The Savior was "moved with compassion" & He had "compassion on the multitude."


What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for the multitudes? 
Everyone ate and "was full," and then 12 baskets full remained & They all ate and "were full," and then 7 baskets full remained


In each instance, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome. 


Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.


What is another way human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God?
Without Christ, we would not be able to use the atonement to repent of our sins. Our efforts are insufficient in this way because we cannot receive the glory of God without being able to repent and become perfected in Christ. In order to obtain His glory, we must follow Him and allow Him to take care of the part we are incapable of filling for ourselves. 


Ether 12:27
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.


How does the Lord help us overcome this insufficiency?
The Lord desires that our sins will humble us so that we will require His grace to become strong. We must have faith that the Lord knows our insufficiencies and He knows our limits. He will not push us harder than we can handle but will lift us when the burden seems to become too much. He will strengthen us through and despite our weaknesses because He loves us each so much.