Luke 9:10-17; Mark 7:31-37: Yeshua’s lessons in feeding 5,000 and 4,000 men

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There are profound similarities in these texts and the texts of the wilderness wanderings of Israel when God would move them into a “desolate” place and God supernaturally intervened to feed them and give them water. 

Other texts: Matthew 14:13-21;15:29-30; Mark 6:32-44; 7:31-37

Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded Yeshua’s feeding of the 5,000 near Beit Saida, which means “House of Fishing” on the north shore of the Lake of Galilee. Yeshua used five loaves of bread and two fish to feed 5,000 men plus women and children. 

There is a separate feeding on the southeast side of the lake where Yeshua feed 4,000 people. 

The number 2 show up in scripture as being two halves of a whole or black and white choices.

• One man and one woman become one in marriage.
• In a court of law, there must be a minimum of two witnesses to confirm testimony.
• Mankind must choose between life and death. There’s no such thing as a “little bit of death.” You either have God or you don’t. 

The number 5 also shows up frequently in scripture as an even division of 10, which shows up related to God’s judgement.

• Yeshua told a parable of five wise virgins and five foolish virgins.
• Some say the number 5 represents Israel with the four corners of the planet united under God. 

The number 12 shows up often in scripture related to God’s government.

• There are 12 tribes of Israel and Yeshua appointed 12 apostles.
• The number 12 was so important to Yeshua’s discipes that then Yehuda Ishkariot committed suicide, the remaining disciples quickly set out to replace him and find a righteous disciple to replace him.
• The 12 gates of the New Jerusalem will have the apostles names written on them and there are 24 elders (12 times 2) at the center of the kingdom of heaven. 

God’s Bread of Life (John 6:1-59) would go to the people in covenant with God and there would be a division in the people as a result. Yet a remnant of the people would be collected into a government for God’s people. This isn’t replacement theology. The 12 remained part of Israel (Rom. 10-11) but the covenant with Israel at Sinai became the “new covenant” of God’s law implanted in the heart. 

Yeshua’s feeding of 4,000 in the Decapolis is only recorded in Matthew and Mark. The Decapolis was dominated by cities permeated with Greek idolatry, so these who had come seeking Yeshua, were most likely goyim (non-Jews). However, those cities did have significant Jewish quarters or areas, so the ones fed could have included a sizable number of Hellenized Jews.

From seven loaves of bread and “a few fish,” Yeshua feeds 4,000 men and the number four and seven have a rich meaning here. 

The number 4 shows up in Scripture refers to the four corners of the earth, all over the earth. The Bible recorded that there were four rivers which flowed out from Eden to the whole earth. 

• There are four creatures around God’s throne that have four faces. 
• The number four is easily seen as communicating completion or completeness. 

The number 7 appears in Scripture about things being made complete.

• The seventh day of the week memorializes the seventh day of creation, when God ceased from His work. There are 70 leaders of the major people groups of the earth described in Genesis represent the nations. 
• Seven and 70 show up in the appointed times of God related to His works reaching completion, including the gathering of all the nations into His kingdom on that day. 

God is appealing to the world to come to Him for the Bread of Life and wants to gather the nations into His people, Israel. He is going to take back the Earth from rebellion of haSatan. This message is going out throughout the world and the entire world will have to choose sides. Although, many have chosen Yeshua’s way over the centuries, there are many who will reject Yeshua all the way to the end. 

Speaker: Jeff Quackenbush. Summary: Tammy Quackenbush.