Comments on: New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson #13

By: Ellie

Ellie — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 15:44:45 +0000

I echo the previous sentiments – you have terrific insights I have completely missed in previous readings. Do you think there is any significance to the 5000 feeding being mentioned in all of the gospels and being for a Jewish audience? I’m trying to figure out how (and if) it relates.

(We’re way behind everyone else, hence just reading this now.)

By: Alison Moore Smith

Alison Moore Smith — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:59:32 +0000

I substituted last Sunday teaching the GD lesson when my husband was out of town. I have enjoyed teaching in the past, but Sam is truly an amazing teacher so I was not confident I could meet the bar.

The first thing I did was have the class fill out the answers in Julie’s suggested chart and compare them. It was so interesting that I actually had people say, “That was so good. Did Sam tell you what to say?” I see the jab in that, but still took it as a compliment and passed on my amazing source.

Julie, public thanks for using your expertise to bless so many. Sincerely, this is such good stuff.

By: Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 03:17:19 +0000

Julie – I forgot to come in here and thank you. Such an interesting point to teach to my class!

By: Julie M. Smith

Julie M. Smith — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 12:50:46 +0000

Sariah, 6:44 has a word that only refers to males to describe the diners (Greek: aner) while chapter 8 does not use a gender-specific word to describe the eaters.

By: Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 02:57:06 +0000

Julie, I’m working on my lesson for tomorrow and I’m curious as to how you arrived at the gender configuration of the two crowds. Is there a scripture or reference that I’m missing? I know if I bring that up in class without anything to back it up, someone will call me on it.

By: jader3rd

jader3rd — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 04:41:24 +0000

Fabulous post. I love the insight. Given how well Mark is pairing these experiences, is starting to get me to feel that Mark was very willing to fudge the actual chronological order of the events, for the purpose of telling a story and teaching a lesson. Yes, it’s possible for Jesus to have had it all pre-worked all of these pairs out, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t.

By: Julie M. Smith

Julie M. Smith — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 13:30:53 +0000

ponderer, I think there is ample evidence that the second was a Gentile feeding. You are right to focus on his incident with the SP woman: that’s a turning point in the narrative, after which his ministry is extended to gentiles as a direct result of their conversation (which is about bread . . . and whether gentiles can eat it . . . and she explains that they can . . . because there’s enough to go around . . . precisely because there are leftovers from the first feeding miracle).

By: ponderer

ponderer — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 04:07:24 +0000

Julie thanks for the insights. I was wondering about the common assumption that the people involved in the feeding of the 4,000 were Gentiles. Although many commentaries suggest that idea, it seems to run counter to Jesus’ words to the Syrophencian woman. Because his mortal ministry was primarily for the Jews, Christ was extremely reluctant to heal this Gentile woman’s daughter, and did so only after her display of great humility and faith. Why would he then go and perform such impressive healings and miracles for a Gentile multitude? He himself said he was sent to the Jews. It seems odd that he would then quickly change his tune by preaching and healing among thousands of Gentiles. I find the verse in Mark 7:31 ambiguous in determining if Jesus was in Decapolis at the time of the feeding of the 4,000 or if he simply had traveled through there. Various Bible translations seem to present it differently.

By: Julie M. Smith

Julie M. Smith — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:31:47 +0000

Thank you, stephenchardy.

By: stephenchardy

stephenchardy — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 02:07:00 +0000

Julie: I have read the scriptures my entire life, mostly on my own. I am astonished at each week you manage to help me see or understand a story that I thought I was familiar with in an entirely new way. I have included your insights into my own lessons already, and they are a basis for some contemplation during the week. Thank you so much.