fishes. In the former case there were "twelve (lunch) baskets" full of frag- ments, and in the lâtter seven hampers, (a man could sleep in one of t h em). Surely the Lord "can save whether by many or few." "Giving does not im- poverish Him." "Always more to fol- low." The greater wonder is to follow; and the best wine comes in the eternal "now" (Jn. 2:10). I. SIGNS. 1. Wh a t? Signs—wonder works (1 > as credentials, or evidences of divine au- thority; (2) as symbols of ethical and spiritual significance. To the spiritual- ally minded the latter, " ( 2 ) " is suffi- cient, and most valued; the non-spirit- ual are insensible to their celestial im- port, and demand mere marvels of phy- sical demonstrations, stupendous por- tents in the heavens above, or the earth beneath. But the latter if given, and they had .been, would not have changed their minds, because they could not change their hearts. 2. The Demand. (1) "The Ph a r i- sees"—recall their character, their per- sistent opposition, their characterization by the Lord, "hypocrites." (2) "caine f o r t h" their deliberate assault. Jesus'' "signs wilfully rejected, enraged them, (3) "Question," the word means that they conspired together to put Him in "the sweat box." (4) "Seeking a sign" What provocation! (Hb. 3:8-10), He had: given sign on sign. Infinite patience! Why did He not give the sign of Korah? (Nu. 16:31, 32). "Tempting H i m"— How devilish! (Mt. 4:5-7). Men stil ask for signs. More evidence than is already given is not possible (in qual- ity). Men are Pharisees at heart. They are without excuse (Ro. 2.1) countless professed believers, too, have lurking doubts, and wish for '.'signs" from, heaven. 3. The Refusal. (1) "He sighed"— Shameful to grieve Him! (Ep. 4:30) He feels not wrath but grief at the hard- ness of man's heart. (2) "This Gener- a t i o n "—( a) The Jews of that day; (b) The Jewish race (Mt. 24:34; 3 : 7 ); (c) The whole generation of Adam (Ro. 5:12). (3) "Shall no sign be given,"— The Greek implies an oath, "If a sign," etc. (see Hb. 4:3). Jesus did not mean no sign should come to pass (Mt. 12:39), for many did, but none such as they demanded, none that would move them (Lk. 16:31). The raising of Lazarus only fanned the flames of hell in their SIGNS—LEAVEN—SIGHT LESSON V. Mk. 8:11-28. November 3d.
rival political parties is to reduce that cost. Thy will not do it. (4) If Jesus were President, Congress, and Judi- ciary, we should, and shall then, need MjL no miracle to cause that all should have enough and to spare. -Jh) V. 2. "I have compassion."—Did you ever feel a sensation of sympathy, of ^ t j fellow suffering, thrill the nerves of your body? So Jesus felt. "With Me three days"—Jesus forgot to eat for the sake of others (Jn. 4:31-34), and these forgot to eat for the sake of Jesus. Thy esteemed His word above their food (Jb. 23.12). That was a true »>*•; fast, and a feast followed. V. 3, "If I send them away fasting." The Lord may try His people by letting them hunger a while, but He has a feast in store. (Meditate on Dt. 8:3.) Jesus' followers shall not long go hungry. He'll spread a feast before they faint. V. 4, " F r om whence?" They forgot the five loaves and the five thousand (Mk. 8:18, 19). It is the way with us. We are always asking "whence?" Fac- ing impossibilities in despair, though the Lord has wrought the impossibie for us over and over. He delivered came to me the message, "You can trust from Pharaoh and the deep sea; yet we say He will "Kill us with hunger" (Ex. 16:3). He fed us with manna, but now He'll kill us and our children with thirst (Ex. 17:3). Oh, we of little faith! V. 5, "How many loaves have ye," it made no difference to Him, but He works miracles only where nature ends. "Seven," that is the perfect number and g y enough to feed the world; three fo'r the Triune God, and four for His terrestrial 2 providence. r V. 5, "Gave thanks,"—so little among , so many! and yet thankful. But thanks w" grow, into loaves. "Brake and gave," literally, brake and continued giving (distributing). So He gave the Word, the Bread of Life in the beginning and r y continues to distribute it through His disciples. t V. 6. "A few small fishes," and these with His "blessed" became a bountiful banquet. V. 7. "They did eat and: were filled]," i. e. completely satisfied, satiated. "He hath filled the hungry with good things" (Lk. 1:53). It is no fault of the Lord's that all, "just and unjust," are not satisfied day by day. "Seven bas- kets," or hampers. V. 8. " Fo ur thousand,"—Matthew says, "besides women and children." The five thousand were fed with five loaves and two fishes; the four thousand with seven loaves, and a few small K y ^ " ^ •"T y j * t r f ~
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