Feeding of the 5000 and the 4000

Matthew 16: 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

What is the difference between the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000?

a) Feeding the 5000

By who: Yeshua

Quantity: 5 loaves and 2 Fish

Location: On the shores of the Sea of Galilee near Bethsaida – Jewish region

People: Jews - old covenant

Basket type: our Gospel writers use the Greek word koʹphi·nos. This type may have been a relatively small wicker hand basket

Leftovers: 12 baskets – 12 disciples and 12 tribes of Israel

Before the feeding of the 4000, Yeshua responds to a Gentile woman’s appeal for her daughter to be delivered from the demonic spirit. Yeshua sees her faith and grants her the request. This is such a significant verse.

Yeshua had come to save the world - both the people of Israel and the gentiles.

Matthew 15: 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Also significant is Matthew 15:32 - 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.

This reminds me of when Yeshua took bread and said, “This is my body, broken for you.” On the 3rd day He was raised from the dead.

b) Feeding the 4000

By who: Yeshua

Quantity: 7 loaves and a few small fish

Location: He travelled through the region of Decapolis (Ten towns), fed beside the sea – Gentile region

People: Gentiles – new covenant.

Basket type: Greek word, sphy·risʹ (or, spy·risʹ); this denotes a large provision basket or hamper.

Leftovers: 7 large baskets – represents 7 days which is completion and 7 gentile nations

(Deuteronomy 7:1). The Promised Land was occupied by the 12 Tribes of Israel and the competing 7 Nations of the Gentiles.

Old Covenant: The feeding of the 5000 yields the 12 baskets. This is God first establishing the People of Israel (12 tribes) in the Old Testament.

New Covenant: The feeding of the 4000 thereafter (literally “after three days” see Mark 8:2) yields the 7 baskets. This is God establishing the Church – the fullness of the Gentiles (7 nations) in covenant with God.

Yeshua is the Bread of Life - Both miracles show the provision of the Lord, His love for all His people, both Jew and Gentile.