Insolomonsporch's Blog

Day Six

Fresh Eyes on the Familiar

“ … and having broken the loaves, he gave [them] to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.”  Darby Mt 14:19

In the natural, I am very bad at recognizing new things or change.  I can easily pass a familiar location and not even see the new building that was constructed weeks before!  We must be careful to not be like that with the Word of God!  Our posture of being “familiar” with a particular part will cause us to miss the richness hidden below the surface.  Here is just one small example.

The feeding of the five thousand, Matthew 14:  we all know it well – or do we?  Most translations detail the fact that Jesus took the fishes and the loaves, but broke ONLY the loaves and gave them to the disciples to disperse among the people.  The fish were not broken – an interesting fact. Why were only the loaves broken?

The Greek word used for loaves in this passage is Strong’s #740.  The word is: “artos;” from 142; bread (as raised) or a loaf: — (shew-) bread, loaf.  Feeling like there was a greater insight being conveyed here, especially concerning Jesus (Who is the Bread of Heaven – broken for you and I) I decided to look more deeply.  Going to Strong’s #142 from which artos is derived I found the following:  “airo;” ah-ee-ro; a prim verb; to lift; by impl to take up or away; fig. to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), spec. to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Heb. [comp. 5375] to expiate sin: — away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).

So there it was – all along, a major building in my Scriptural study path that I had failed to discern!  Here was imbedded in the breaking of the loaves another type and shadow of the Christ, Jesus – Who would take away our sins!  How awesome is our God, Who confirms His Word even on subterranean levels for those who will look.  He wants us to search, and excavate, and uncover the richness hidden beyond the obvious.  He wants to bring confidence to us that His Word and His works are deliberate – and they are a sure foundation, forever established in heaven!  How blessed we are – truly!

Now just one other thing: the fish were not broken because they comprised a different type of flesh than Jesus, the Son of Man.  That is explained in 1 Cor 15:39.  So to break the fish would have ruined the forecast of a type and shadow of the loaves.  However, it is also interesting to note that the fishes and loaves were multiplied into a terminal state.  They were both cooked — which is not only miraculous, but very practical.  People didn’t have to wait for bread portions to rise and be baked, nor did they have to light fires to cook the fish!  All was perfectly arranged in a consumable state!  Cause the Lord knows not only what you need, but HOW you need it.  Be-loved!