The Feeding of the Multitudes

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Matthew 14:14–21; 15:32–38. The Feeding of the Multitudes

1. The Savior provided two similar miracles. As a summary of what took place, complete the following chart:

	Matthew 14:14-21	Matthew 15:32-38
How many people were present?	5 thousand men, besides women and children	4 thousand men, besides women and children
What did they need?	Victuals = Food	Food, so they would not faint on their way home
What were they able to offer in an effort to meet that need?	5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes	7 loaves of bread and a few little fishes
What words or phrases describe the Savior’s feeling toward the multitudes in their time of need?	“was moved with compassion toward them”, “give ye them to eat”, “he healed their sick”	“I have compassion on the multitude” ,“I will not send them away fasting”
What words or phrases describe what the Savior was able to provide for the multitudes?	“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full”	“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.”

2. In each story, the available food was insufficient to feed the multitude, yet with the help of the Lord the insufficiency was overcome. Read Romans 3:23 and explain in writing another way human effort is insufficient in receiving the glory of God. According to Ether 12:27, how does the Lord help us overcome this insufficiency?

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all have weaknesses to overcome. Everybody makes mistakes. But we have learned in the scriptures that nothing impure can enter the kingdom of God. That is when Jesus Christ becomes our Savior; because of His atoning sacrifice we are allowed second chances (and thirds, and fourths…). He saved us from death, physical and spiritual. We just need to exercise faith in Him, repent of our sins and do all we can to endure in righteousness. As we read on Ether 12:27 “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”