The Feeding of the 4000 and 5000:
Mission to All Israel
Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr
Feeding of the 5000
And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. – Mark 6:30-52
Ministry
to the Jews
Place = “his own country” (Mark 6:1) =
Nazareth = “Shoot, Sprout, Watchtower, Guardian”
5000 = Eternal and Complete Worldwide Law
and Grace
100’s and 50’s = Divided them as Moses
divided Israel among the Elders (Exd. 18:21, 25) to be ruled.
Loaves = 5 = Torah (Law) and Grace
Fish = 2 = Division, Difference, Contrast.
Judah and Levi the Southern Kingdom of Judah
5+2=7 = Completion, Perfection
Fragments = 12 baskets = Government, Order,
Tribes, Apostles
Feeding
of the 4000
In those days the multitude being very
great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and
saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because
they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And
if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way:
for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered
him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And
he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. And
he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven
loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before
them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a
few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So
they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was
left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four
thousand: and he sent them away. And straightway he entered
into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him,
seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed
deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?
verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. And
he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. Now
the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with
them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, Take
heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And
they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. And
when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread?
perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having
eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When
I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments
took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among
four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said,
Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not
understand? – Mark 8:1-21
Ministry
to the Israelites (10 Tribes)
Place = Decapolis = “Ten Cities” = Heavily
Gentile Influence. Symbolic of the 10 Tribes among the Gentile Nations
4000 = Four corners of the Earth, Where the
Lost Tribes have been scattered
No Division of the people into Groups.
Symbolic of desire to unify the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel back into one
nation again.
Loaves = 7 = Completion and Perfection
Fish = “a few” = Undetermined amount, more
than one and possibly three. The Greek for “few” also means “puny” 3 = Godhead.
Symbolic of desire to unify the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel
7+3=10 = Torah (Law), Order, 10 Lost Tribes
of Israel
Fragments = 7 baskets = Perfection,
Completion
The
Leaven of Herod and the Pharisees
Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of
the leaven of Herod….When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many
baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And
when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye
up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that
ye do not understand? – Mark 8:15, 19-21Pharisees = 70 = Judgment and Rule
Herod = 1 = Implies Divine Appointed Rule. In this case man taking the place of God
71 = Perverted Rule, Reign and Judgment over the Jews
Yeshua the Bread of
Life
In John 6:35, 48 and 51 Yeshua declares Himself the Bread of
Life.
Makes sense because Yeshua was born Bethlehem (Beit Lechem)
meaning the “House of Bread.” He was laid in a manger, which is a feeding troth
for animals, usually filled with grain which is used to make bread!
Yeshua and the Fish
Ichthus Greek for Fish, Acronym for “Jesus Christ, God’s
Son, Saviour.”
In Luke 24:42-43 Yeshua ate fish after the resurrection to
prove he had resurrected and was not a spirit or a ghost.
Mark 1:17 Yeshua called the Disciples/Apostles to be fishers
of men. The Prophets said God would send men to fish for the Lost Tribes (Jer.
16:16).
Fish and Bread
Both considered staples of the ancient life and are symbols
of life. Both symbols of the Written and Living Word. Fish also represent Israel;
the Jewish Prayer Books in the Bedtime Prayer quotes Genesis 48:16 and likens
the Jewish people to multiply like fish.
Conclusion
Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of
the leaven of Herod….When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many
baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And
when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye
up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that
ye do not understand? – Mark 8:15, 19-21
Yeshua is summarizing to His Disciples His ability to
sustain them as they, in purity, are sent to find, bring back and reunite the
12 Tribes of Israel under the Messianic Banner and Kingdom of Torah and
Messiah.
