feeding4

Feeding of the 4,000 and the 5,000

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7. 4,000 Fed With 7 Loaves and (few fishes?) = 11, and Gathered 7 baskets = 18.
5,000 Fed With 5 Loaves and 2 Fishes = 12 and Gathered 12 basket = Two 12:

The 4,000 were fed with 7 loaves of bread and they gathered of the remains, 7 baskets.
The number 4 represents the world system and the number 7 is a dispensational number.
The bread is the gospel which is the Word of God.
The Gospel gives us life.

The Lord Jesus said,

"Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day"
(Joh. 6:34).

The Father gave us Jesus Christ,
His death and His resurrection,
that we may have life, a new beginning.

God gave to the world (4,000 or 4) Word of God (7 loaves of bread).
After they had eaten, they gathered up the fragments in 7 baskets.
It still remains the same number 7.

They remain in the same dispensation under the law (works), and it became larger, puffed up.
The Pharisees and Scribes could not accept Jesus as the fulfillment of the law.
They were proud, insisted on following Moses and believed Jesus came to destroy the old way.

Jesus said that He came not to destroy but to fulfill
(Mat. 5:17).
The amount of bread fragments remained the same but it grew in size from the original size of the loaf of bread and were gathered in large baskets (spuris).
Those who emphasize keeping the law or works point to themselves and become puffed up.

The 5,000 (5) were fed with 5 loaves and 2 fishes which equals 12 and they gathered up 12 baskets which is two 12's.
We do not add the two 12's because 12 is a complete number.
There are two 12's because two is a verification, witness and a testimony. The number 5 and 2 together is the number that is associated with the Christian. 5 is separation and 2 is a testimony.
When these two numbers are together,
the 5 always precedes the 2 because if a Christian is not living a separated life from the ways of the world, he has no testimony for the Lord.

The number 5 and 2 also equals 7 which is a number of dispensation,
and in this case the dispensation of the law.
The 4000 remained in this dispensation for they emphasize works of the law,
and could not increase in number but increased in size instead, being puffed up.

This is the reason the Lord said to the disciples in the feeding of the 4,000,
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.
The leaven of the Pharisees are their doctrines which is based on works or what they must do to be righteous.
This is is a doctrine of pride and hypocrisy. Leaven makes the bread rise just as their doctrines puff up (Mat. 16:12; 1 Cor. 4:18).

The Christian on the other hand increased to 12,

a number of maturity because he was living a separated life and a life of testimony.
The numbers 5 and 2 also equals 7,
thus the Christian was establishing the law through Christ
(Rom. 3:31).
It is amazing how these numbers work together mathematically.

When one tries to be separated (5) from the world and be a testimony (2)
by works of the law, he cannot do it.

He will become puffed up, or religious,
if he thinks he is doing it and will remain in the dispensation of the law, being condemned.
A person who walks by faith produces the 5 and 2 through Christ,
establishes the law, and lives and finds rest in the dispensation of Grace.

The number 11 is the number that depict doubting.
Every time the number 11 is found in scripture it is linked with doubting.
It is found 6 times in the New Testament and the number 6 is the number of man.

[1] Mat. 28:16-17: Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him: But some doubted.

[2] Mar. 16:14: Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen.

[3] Luk. 24:9-11: And returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as the idle tales, and they believed them not.

[4] Luk. 24:33-41: And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you, But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And He said unto them why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. and when He had thus spoken, He showed them his hands and his feet. and while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered...

[5] Acts 1:24: And they prayed and said, Thou Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which of these two thou hast chosen. V. 26 And they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.

Note:
This is not the way to guide the Church of God as many are doing today.
The Church of God is not a democratic organization but a living organism.
Voting is an indication of uncertainty.
Voting is based on majority. In Scripture, majority is not necessarily the way of God.
Noah was a minority.
The Jews were a minority in the world, and among the Jews those who trusted God,
were in the minority.
Only two, Joshua and Caleb, believed among the 12 spies that went into Canaan.
The believers who walked by faith were in the minority.
Of the 2 million Jew that was freed from the bondage of Egypt, only 2 entered into the promised land.

The church of God should be moved by people who are matured in the Word of God.
The Elders are the ones who guide the church in spiritual matters,
and the Deacons,
are those who guide in material matters as they confide with the Elders.
Both must be spiritually matured.
The qualifications of elders and deacons are in the letters to Timothy and Titus.
We must remember that this is an office (function) and not a title.
It is a work (of faith) and not a position.

There should unity in all decisions. If there is any disagreement to an issue after much discussion according to the Word of God, then the church must wait. Waiting is trusting in God and His word and the Lord will eventually reveal His will.

Many churches operate on common sense, logic and intellect.
If we operate in this manner, we do not need spiritual men,
but intelligent people to guide the church.
Indecision and bad decisions arise because the spiritually immature and babes are involved.

Peter acted when he was told to wait for the Holy Spirit Who was not yet sent down.
By not waiting on God, Peter acted without God’s guidance.
Peter prayed and they selected Matthias according to the majority.

Many churches are doing the same thing: praying, voting and allowing the majority to rule.

[6] Acts 2:12, 14 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, what meaneth this? And Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Note:
Peter is preaching after the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost.
Peter is preaching to the doubting crowd.
After the resurrection the Apostles now believe but notice how this verse (v.14) is written.
"Peter standing up with the eleven".....

This verse is using the number eleven in association with the unbelief of the people.
The verse could have being written in this manner:
Peter being one of the twelve standing or the twelve standing and Peter began to speak...
but because this has to do with doubting, the number eleven is used instead of the number 12.
This is the last time the number 11 is used in the New Testament.

Now notice in 1 Cor. 15:5, "And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve.”

The number 12 is used here for it has to do with faith and maturity,
in reference to Peter witnessing the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Another interesting thing is, because the disciples doubted His Resurrection,
Jesus appeared 11 times to them.

In the feeding of the 4,000, the 4 (4,000) + 7 (loaves) were added to make 11
and the 7 remaining baskets were added to make a total of 18.
Is it a coincidence that the number 11 is mentioned in the Old Testament 18 times?
Eighteen is the number of the Beast or 666 (Rev. 13:18).
See comments on this at the end of this section.

In the feeding of the 5,000, the 5 (5,000) + 5 (loaves) + 2 (fishes) were added to make 12.
However, the remaining 12 baskets is not added to the 12 because the number 12 is a complete number. Thus, we have 2 twelve's which signify testimony and maturity.

8. Gathered Up 7; Gathered Up 12:

The 4,000 gathered 7 baskets of bread fragments,
which was the same number of loaves of bread at the beginning of the feeding.
The baskets of bread fragments grew in size which indicates being puffed up.
Mixing the Word of God, the doctrines of God, the Gospel of God with the doctrines of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod, is mixing Grace with Works.

This is like the parable of the woman who mixed leaven into the flour till all became leavened
(Mat. 13:33).
In the Parable of the Talents, the man with the one talent hid it in the earth.
This is hiding the gospel with the world's religions so that the Gospel of Grace becomes indistinguishable. This is the same as mixing the Gospel or the Word of God with doctrines of Works.
It becomes the gospel of grace + works.

The Apostle Paul warns of this in
Gal. 1:6-9.

Twelve is the number that signifies maturity and completeness.
There were 12 tribes of Israel and Jesus chose 12 to follow Him as His disciples.
There are 12 Apostle's name on the foundation of the city in heaven.
When Jesus was 12 years old he began to be about His Father's business.
He raised Jairus’ daughter when she was 12 years old, etc.

The gathering of the 12 remaining baskets signify the Christians maturity,
faith and rest in the Word of God

9. Not Losing The Fragments, Gather Up The Fragments:

The phrases "not losing the fragments" and "gather up the fragments" is not mentioned in the feeding of the 4,000. These two phrases are mentioned in the feeding of the 5,000 for the 5,000 represent the believers. None should be lost and all should be gathered.

The fragments that remained is the Word of God. No matter how much we feed on the Word of God, there is always surplus. It will never run out and we shall live by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Mat. 4:4). None shall be lost for all things written shall be accomplished. This phrase is mentioned only in the Gospel of John for only God can say this.

The large baskets of fragments (Word of God) gathered by the 4,000 indicate that it has grown in size because it has been mixed together with the doctrine of the Pharisees. It is not the same and has lost its original form. It became puffed up because they added men's works to it.

To the 5,000, the fragments remained the same original size,
but grew in maturity and completeness as the number twelve indicates that.
Yes, we should be careful not to mix:
grace with works, faith with law, knowing with feelings,
trusting with trying, resting with striving.

Trusting, waiting and resting indicate that the Word of God is complete in us.

It is an indication that we believe and trust in God and rest on His Word,
on our Lord Jesus Christ.

Another interesting note: The number eleven is used 6 times in the New Testament.
Is it a coincidence that the number 11 is used in the Old Testament 18 times,
for 18 is the number of the Beast, 6+6+6= 18
(Rev. 13:18).
The woman in the New Testament was bent over by Satan for 18 years
(Luk. 13:11, 16).

She represents Israel of the Old Testament,
who also was suppressed by the king of Eglon for 18 years,
because they worshipped Baalim
(Jdg. 3:14; 10:8,10).
Satan's work is to make us doubt God's Word and act on our own.

He said to Eve, "Hath God said...."
(Gen. 3:1);
Ye shall be as God...
(Gen. 3:5).
In the book of Judges, there was no king and everyone did which was right in his own eyes
(Jdg. 17:6; 21:25).

Today, we have the same thing happening.
So many different kinds of doctrine have crept in the Christian churches.
Many are disregarding what God has said in the Scriptures,
and are doing what seems right in their own eyes.

You will see in the feeding of the 5,000,
the believers in progressively growing sequence,
from Luke, to Matthew, to Mark and to fuller maturity in Johns gospel.

Luke 9:14; Sit down (salvation).
Mat. 14:19; sit down on the grass (sign of life).
Mar. 6:39; sit down upon the green grass (progressive life).
Joh. 6:10; much grass (abundant life).

Luk. 9:16; He blessed them and brake, and gave to the disciples (no mention of the loaves).

Mat. 14:19; He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples (no mention of the fishes).

Mar. 6:41; and blessed and brake the loaves and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fishes he divided among them all (bread and fishes).

Joh. 6:11; And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks,
He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were sitting down;
and likewise of the fishes as much as they would
(although he made them to sit down in the other gospels, here it is precisely mentioned again; distributed to them that were sitting down, and the fishes as much as they would).
Like Mary, you must be in the sitted position,
to receive the deeper revelation from God and as much as we would.
It is a picture of resting on the Word of God, on Christ.

Luk. 9:17; and there was taken up of fragments that remain to them twelve baskets.

Mat. 14:20; and they took up of the fragments that remain twelve baskets full.

Mar. 6:43; and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

Joh. 6:13; they gathered together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above that which they had eaten.

The phrase “gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”
is mentioned only in this gospel for only God can say that.

Conclusion:

We should be very careful not to emphasize works;
We are saved by faith and we live by faith.
Works result is "nevertheless I live";
Faith is "yet not I, but Christ lives in me,
and the life that I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

Works is the result of faith.
People who emphasize works is always looking from man's point of view.
From me to God, what I must do for God, the physical, the literal.
Work gives praises to the person.

The preacher who emphasize works usually is talking about himself and you.
Emphasize works and there is judgments, fatigue and complaints.

Grace is from God and I receive it by faith.
We see things from God's point of view, of what He has done for us and continue to do.

It is all of Him and not of us.
It is finished. It is all done.

There is joy and rejoicing and Praise to Him. Amen.

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