Matthew
What is the Deal with Food
In Matthew 14,15, and 16 Jesus is talking about more than food
There are some great treasures we will miss,
If we just get caught up in the miracle of multiplying loaves and fishes
Jesus is not trying to teach us how to multiply food,
There are greater lessons to learn as we look into the feeding of the multitudes
Behind every miracle are treasures unseen,
By those who are just looking at the surface
Behind every miracle are treasures God wants you to discover
So get ready to go beyond the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes
To see what treasures God has for you
Matthew
What is the Deal with Food
Chapters 14, 15 and 16 of Matthew deal with food.
Food is a big deal…
If you don’t eat, you will die.
Food, and its use of it,
can bring health or sickness.
Most of us have food on our minds all day long.
I have heard some at night have tried
to eat their pillow, dreaming it was a marshmallow.
In the Book of Romans…
We see a relationship of eating and drinking
to the Kingdom of God…
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.
Romans 14:17-20
Food can get in the way of God’s Word,
both naturally and spiritually.
In Matthew 16…
Jesus sums up the stories of food in Chapters 14 and 15.
Matthew 16:5-12…
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread.
6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them.
"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
7 They discussed this among themselves and said,
"It is because we didn't bring any bread."
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked,
"You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?
Jesus asked a question in verse 9…
Do you still not understand?
Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand,
and how many basketfuls you gathered?
10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Other than Jesus’ own resurrection…
The feeding of the 5000 is the only other miracle
recorded in all four gospels…
(see, Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–19; John 6:1–14)
The feeding of the 5000 took place near Bethsaida
in contrast to the feeing of the 4000
in the region of the Gerasenes.
Our showroom is filled with
estate items from hundreds of estates.
What that means is hundreds of people
have collected treasures in their lifetime…
And we now have those things
they treasured in our showroom.
Some treasures are sentimental
and have not value to others.
Some are highly sought-after treasures
and grow in value.
As more people look for those items,
they are becoming harder to find.
Then there are common treasures
like a screwdriver you have used hundreds of times.
They don’t cost much…
But when you misplace it,
you wish you had a spare.
The Bible, God’s love letter to us,
is full of treasures, like our showroom.
Most people look through our showroom
in less than 15 minutes…
They see hundreds of items, but miss the treasures.
The other day a couple came in
and were looking for treasures.
After some time, the wife came to me
and asked me about a glass candy dish on a high shelf.
She could see the price tag and thought it said $50.
I got the dish down and read the price to her, $20.
She said, I will take it and put it by the cash register.
Then went on looking for more treasures.
For the next 20 minutes, I looked at this glass dish.
The longer I looked at it,
the more beauty I could see in it.
I said to Sandy, this dish must be worth $100.
When the people came to pay for their treasures,
I asked what they thought the dish was worth.
The woman did not want to tell me
but the husband said…
It is a piece from Italy and is worth about $90.
Even though there was no manufacture sticker
or identifying markings,
they knew because they understood glass.
You and I need to be like this couple,
who understands God and
look for the treasures in God’s Word.
Jesus is talking about more than food.
There are some great treasures we will miss
if we just get caught up in the miracle
of multiplying loaves and fishes.
Jesus is not trying to teach us how to multiply food.
There are greater lessons to learn as we
look into the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000.
Behind every miracle are treasures unseen
by those who are just looking at the surface.
Behind every miracle are treasures
God wants you to discover.
So, get ready to go beyond
the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes…
To see what treasures God has for you.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 16:1-12 NIV
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread."
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
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