August 5, 2026 | Five Thousand Fed & Four Thousand Fed | Lesson 349

MATT. 14:13-21; MARK 6:30-44; LUKE 9:10-17; JOHN 6:1-14; MATT. 15:32-38; MARK 8:1-9

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FIVE THOUSAND FED: This miracle of Jesus, feeding the 5000, is the only miracle recorded by all four gospel writers. (Although the incident regarding Malchus' ear is found in the four gospel accounts, only Luke relates the healing). According to Mark and Luke, the disciples had just returned from the mission upon which Jesus had sent them. They related to Jesus all things, both what they had done and what they had taught (Mark 6:12-13, 30; Luke 9:6, 10).

Mark continues by stating that Jesus bid the disciples to go to a desert place where they might rest and eat apart from the crowds (Mark 6:31). Then according to Matthew, Mark, and John, they departed by ship to a desert place which Luke states was near Bethsaida (Matt. 14:13; Mark 6:32; Luke 9:10; John 6:1). However, the people saw them leaving and followed by land, running by foot out of the cities along the shore and arriving ahead of the boat carrying Jesus and his disciples (Mark 6:33). John states that the multitude followed because of the miracles Jesus performed on those that were diseased (John 6:2). Jesus then taught many things to the people about the kingdom of God, and healed those in need (Matt. 14:14; Mark 6:34; Luke 9:11).

FOUR THOUSAND FED: In this story Jesus and his disciples had gone to the area known as Decapolis which is east of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 7:31). The region was called Decapolis (Gr. deka–ten, polis–city) as ten cities of the area had formed an alliance to guard their frontier that was exposed to open and unprotected desert area. The region was part of the tetrarchy ruled by Herod Antipas although most of the people were Gentiles.

While Jesus was in Decapolis, the multitudes brought many lame, blind, mute (dumb), and others to him to heal (Matt. 15:30; Mark 7:32-35). Jesus had compassion on the multitude, for He feared if He sent them away with nothing to eat, they would faint along the way.