Trinity 7| Mark 8:1-9| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| July 19, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, \u201cThe just shall live by faith.\u201d Romans 1:16-17<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christ Jesus came not only for the Jews, but also for the Greeks, that is, for all people. He came first for the lost sheep of the House of Israel, but then He went to gather also His sheep who were scattered among the nations, as He says in John 10, \u201cAnd I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So, there will be one flock, one Shepherd.\u201d (vs. 16) The Greeks will live by faith just as the Jews will live by faith. They are all alike saved by faith apart from works of the Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And this is why Scripture records Jesus\u2019 miraculous feeding of the four thousand. The New Testament records two miraculous feedings by Jesus, first, the feeding of the five thousand, which we heard about a few months ago in church, and then the feeding of the four thousand. But why does Scripture record both miraculous feedings, and why did the ancients deem fit to include both miracles in our lectionary? It is to show that the Gentiles will be saved by faith along with the Jews, that Jesus is the Bread of Life for the Jews and also for the Greeks, that they may both live by faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread, He was ministering in a predominantly Jewish region. Five is the number of the Hebrew Scriptures, because there are five books of Moses in the Torah. There were twelve baskets of bread left over, just as there were twelve tribes of Israel. This miracle proved that Jesus was the Messiah promised to Israel, the second Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18. Yet, now Jesus feeds the four thousand in a region predominantly populated by Greeks and other Gentiles. Four is the number of the earth, because of the four winds which go north, south, east, and west. Seven is a holy number, which represents the Church, because three is the number for God, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and four is the number of the earth. Three plus four equals seven. The Church is where God joins Himself to His creation. And so, as Jesus wrote seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 1-3, so the seven baskets of bread left over represent the Church which is spread out among the nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Jesus gave bread to Israel, so He gives bread to Gentiles. And as Israel is justified by faith, so too will the Gentiles be justified by faith. And the faith of these four thousand is truly exemplary. Jesus tells His disciples, \u201cI have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat.\u201d Jesus tells His disciples that if He sends them away hungry, they will faint on the way, because some have traveled from far away. Now, to worldly eyes, the crowd seems utterly foolish. Who goes out into the wilderness to listen to someone speak for three days without proper provisions to get back? Why would they think food would just appear out of nowhere out there in the desert? This is a clear example of a lack of planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when looked at according to God\u2019s Word and promise, this crowd gives a wonderful example of faith. They know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. They are following what Jesus preaches, \u201cSeek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.\u201d (Matthew 6:33) The crowd sets God\u2019s Word as their greatest need before the need of food for the body. And this is because they have faith. They believe that God will give them their daily bread, just as He promises in His Word. And their faith is not put to shame. Seeking first the Kingdom of God and trusting in God to provide for the needs of their body, they went home satisfied both in body and in soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world looks at these faithful who trust in God for daily bread as foolish. Yet, it is those who do not trust God for daily bread who behave foolishly and bring curses upon themselves. Just consider the multiplication of sin and sorrow that comes upon those who do not trust God for their daily bread. Those who do not trust God for daily bread forsake God\u2019s Word and worship. And so, they neglect the need for the soul and rest for the body to work instead of coming to Church to hear God\u2019s Word, even though we have laws protecting the rights of employees to worship, so that employers cannot force them to miss church. And while God feeds and clothes those who attend worship, those who do not trust God for daily bread forsake needed rest and the greater need of spiritual food for the soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who do not trust in God for daily bread are also ungrateful toward God and often stingy toward their neighbor. While God commanded that the people of Israel pay a tithe, that is, one tenth of their income to support the priests and Levites whom God chose to serve the temple, to teach, preach, and carry out sacrifices, in the New Testament God has left this to the freedom of the Christian heart, as St. Paul notes, \u201cEach one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver<\/em>.\u201d (2 Corinthians 9:7) And Scripture also teaches that those who preach the Gospel should receive their living from the Gospel and not to muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain (1 Corinthians 9:14, 9), for a laborer deserves his wages (1 Timothy 5:18). Yet, those who do not trust God for their daily bread do not give willingly, but sparingly, worrying that if they are generous to the Lord, He will be stingy back to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St. John warns, \u201cBut if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?\u201d (1 John 3:17) And indeed, those who do not trust God to give them their daily bread also refuse to share their daily bread with those in need. They do not help the poor or their neighbor in his hour of need. And when they do, they expect something back in return. They reject Jesus\u2019 words, \u201cIt is more blessed to give than to receive.\u201d (Acts 20:35) And this greed and covetousness which is bred from not trusting in God for daily bread also leads to crimes and other shameful sins, cheating on taxes, cheating your neighbor, even outright stealing. And so, those who do not trust in God for daily bread are in the same class as the common thief, for they both alike have abandoned trust in God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture says that children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward (Psalm 127:3), and to such belongs the kingdom of God (Mark 10:14), yet those who do not trust in God for daily bread do not look at children as treasures they can store up in heaven (Matthew 6:20), but as expenses they cannot afford. And so, they deprive themselves of eternal treasures to save those things God already promises to give freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the one who does not trust in God for daily bread is miserable. He is anxious and worries that he never has enough. Though he have money to spare, he withholds charity from his neighbor and those in need, because he fears that it will run out for himself. And so, no matter how rich the one who does not trust in God for daily bread is, he remains poor, never thinking he has enough. Yet, when such a person does become convinced that he has enough, because he has worked enough sabbaths and withheld enough charity, and has saved up enough to last him the rest of his life and more, so that he says to his soul, \u201cSoul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.\u201d, God then says to that person, \u201cFool! This night your soul is required of you!\u201d (Luke 12:19-20) And so, though he scrounged up enough goods on this earth, the one who did not trust in God finally goes to hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, the crowd that forgot about the needs of their body to listen to Jesus\u2019 Word, because they trusted in God for daily bread were not fools, but immensely wise and blessed. And so, it is for everyone who trusts in God for daily bread. The one who trusts in God for daily bread rests from his labor to hear God\u2019s Word, and so receives a greater blessing than any food can give. He receives heavenly wisdom, the forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and certainty that all these things will be added to him (Matthew 6:33). And he does not go hungry. As Jesus had compassion on the crowd who stayed with Him three days to listen to His Word, so does Christ have compassion on all who come and hear His Word and worship Him. He will not give them the Bread of Life from heaven and then fail to give them their daily bread for their bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who trust in God for daily bread are generous to God and to their neighbor. They give freely, as the first Christians did not consider anything their own as recorded in the book of Acts (4:32). So, they support the mission of the Church so that they and others may hear the preaching of the Gospel. Every Christian congregation and mission ever founded was built by the offerings of those who believed that God would give them their daily bread, so they did not need to be afraid to give freely. Those who trust in God for their daily bread are generous to the poor and needy, knowing that it was not their work that gave them their abundance, but God. And though they have no money and they do not know where their next meal will come from, they do not worry about tomorrow, but let tomorrow worry for itself, because they trust that God will answer their petition, \u201cGive us this day our daily bread.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, while those who do not trust in God for daily bread worry and are anxious, those who trust in God for daily bread cast all their anxieties on Him who cares for them. And they do not go without, as King David says in Psalm 37, \u201cI have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.\u201d (vs. 25) And so, those who trust in God for daily bread are immensely rich, as rich as God\u2019s most generous and boundless hand. When they go without, they trust that it is for their own good, for all things work out for good for those who love God, and God would not withhold any good thing from His children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, those who trust in God for daily bread seek first the Bread of Life without doubt that their daily bread will be added to them. The Bread of Life is Christ Jesus, who gave His flesh for the sins of the world, dying on the cross for us and winning for us eternal life. Through His words, our faith in Him is fed and grows stronger, we receive forgiveness and restoration for the soul, and confidence for eternity and for tomorrow. As with the miraculous feeding of the four thousand, this Bread of Life is for the nations as for the Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why we begin each week, taking a break from our labor, and feasting on Christ by hearing His Word and receiving His body and blood in the Sacrament, before we worry about our daily bread for the week. He who feeds us with heavenly food will certainly take care of our lesser needs throughout the week. And though Jesus is a man, He is also God. So, the seven loaves of bread represent Him well. Though Jesus has joined His finite creation, He gives us an infinite meal. Just as He fed the crowd seven loaves of bread, yet they had seven baskets full left over, so Jesus feeds us His body and blood, the same body and blood that was nailed to the cross and poured from His wounds, which rose again from the dead and sits at the Father\u2019s right hand, and though He feed countless mouths, there is always more each week. And though He forgive countless sins, He always has more forgiveness to give.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, our faith is fed on the Bread of Life today. And we will keep coming back to be fed. And our Lord promises that you do not depart without His compassion. But He will also give you your daily bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Trinity 7| Mark 8:1-9| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| July 19, 2026 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God…<\/p>\n