Verses 1-3
-
As with Jesus, true compassion will make you care for people's physical needs as well as their spiritual needs.
-
See teaching on Mark 6 and Matthew 14 for more details.
-
Verses 4-10
-
Verses 4-6. It's fascinating that the disciples, right after seeing this miracle done once before, still could not conceive that Jesus could create food out of thin air.
-
This simply reminds us that seeing a miracle does not mean that we will believe for one later.
-
Understand that faith must be taught and strengthened. It is not given upon merely witnessing a miracle.
-
-
Hardness of heart also contributes to difficulty having faith. More about this will be discussed later in the chapter. Also see teaching on Mark 6.
-
Verses 11-12
-
Understand that most of the time, miracles are not given to those who are looking for them. And those who tempt God to do a miracle, especially, will not be given what they seek.
-
It is not wise to talk about miracles with those who repeatedly doubt or slander them.
-
They could ask you to “prove it”. Even you could, you would be letting them tempt God, and God will not be tempted. Avoid these moments.
-
-
Verses 13-21
-
The disciples could not understand or remember what Jesus was trying to teach them, through the miracles of the multiplied loaves, because they were hardened.
-
Signs of a hardened heart:
-
A focus on physical things (verses 16-17),
-
A difficulty to understand lessons from the Word (verses 17b, 21),
-
The failure to remember and obey a lesson, after it's first received (verse 18b).
-
Fear and astonishment with miraculous occurrences (Mark 6:49-52).
-
You do not want to have a hardened heart.
-
-
-
-
When a person is in unbelief or a narrow mind, the heart hardens swiftly.
-
Because the disciples were unbelieving, they could not receive what Jesus wanted to teach them. His miracles were unapproachable and intimidating (multiplying food, walking on water, etc.).
-
-
But through belief and a sound mind (which comes from renewing the mind with the Word) a person is not intimidated by problems or miracles.
-
If you focus on reading the Word daily and obeying it, your heart will soften over time, and you will be able to understand and believe awesome things!
-
Verses 22-26
-
Another unique miracle here!
-
Sometimes you will need to pray for a person multiple times before you will see breakthrough. Pray diligently!
-
At other times and for certain healings, a person has to be removed from a place before the healing will happen.
-
Keep this in mind if you're ever praying for people in a public place.
-
-
Verse 26. There are times when healings must be private. Discretion in miraculous works is especially important.
-
In this case, Jesus knew that the man could not be healed in public, nor could he showed publicly that he was healed. We aren't told why, but we can know for certain that some healings need to be in secret in order for them to happen. Remember this!
-
Verses 27-30
-
It was good that Jesus' disciples knew that He was the Christ.
-
But they could not tell this to anyone else until after Jesus had risen from the dead.
-
The Jews were not ready to hear it openly preached to them that Jesus was the Christ.
-
Be careful who you talk to about Jesus. Not everyone is ready to hear about Him. Be patient and discreet in this way.
-
Verses 31-33
-
Peter, likely out of zeal to protect his Savior, tried to rebuke Jesus; but Jesus responded by bringing an even stronger rebuke against him, even stating that he was being influenced by the devil.
-
See teaching on Matthew 16 for more details.
-
-
Notice how strong Jesus was in rebuking words that came against what He knew was right. Jesus would not only obey God, but He would silence any voice that tried to persuade Him to disobey. He held to His integrity!
-
We should do the same. If you know what is right, and someone tries to tell you to do otherwise, say something! Use the Word to let them know what is wrong, and do not stand for counsel that would cause you to disobey God.
-
Verses 34-38
-
We all come to Christ with an earthly life that we've grown comfortable with, and often a life that we enjoy. Most don't want to give up the life they've built.
-
But to be saved and to follow Christ, we have to give up trying to keep the life of sin we've grown comfortable with.
-
Following Jesus will mean new friends, new habits, and a new lifestyle. You'll have to give up a lot. But what you gain is far better—eternal life with Christ.
-
But if you decide to reject Jesus in order to keep your life on earth, you'll lose your soul to hell when you die; and when that day comes your earthly comfort will have meant nothing.
-
-
And remember not to be ashamed of your faith in front of other people.
-
If you are ashamed, you show that you are more concerned with what people on earth think than you are concerned about the destiny of your soul.
-
-
So, value your soul, decide daily to follow Jesus, and be willing to give up anything for Him. Eternal life is worth the cost!
-
See teaching on Matthew 16 for more details.
-