Category:Feeding the Multitude (subject)

• BACK TO THE EVENTS--INDEX

Feeding the Multitude refers to two Miracles of Jesus. The Feeding the 5000 is recorded in the Gospels of Mark (6:30-44), Matthew (14:13-21), Luke (9:10-17), and John (6:5-15). The Feeding the 4000 is recorded only in the Gospels of Mark (8:1-9), and Matthew (15:32-39).

Overview

The "miracle" of the Feeding of the 5000, recorded by Mark-Matthew-Luke and John, appears to be an invitation to share one's own goods so that everybody could eat. An act of solidarity, which in John is initiated by a "boy," accomplishes what could have not been accomplished by a large sum of money, as the disciples requested.

The original narrative talked of "5000 people" and "twelve baskets" of leftovers--an eschatological symbol of fulfillment, related to the restoration of the "twelve tribes" in the world to come.

Mark and Matthew duplicated the narrative, to involve a crowd a 4000 people and "seven baskets" of leftovers--an eschatological symbol related to the inclusion of Gentiles. The double narrative seems to reflect the practice in the earliest church to have two separate tables for the Eucharist, one for the Jews and one for the non-Jews. Such a practice was later abandoned, as reflected in the Gospels of Luke and John.

In Depth

• Feeding the Multitude (sources) -- survey of ancient sources

• Feeding the Multitude (arts) -- survey of fictional works

External links

• Wikipedia