In Matthew 15:32–39, we read the familiar account of Jesus feeding the four thousand. It comes just one chapter after He fed the five thousand, so it shouldn’t surprise us how the story unfolds. And yet, every time we read it carefully, it exposes something deeper about our own hearts.

Matthew 15:32

“Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.’” 

The people in this passage had followed Jesus for three days. Three days, without food, just to be near Him, to hear His words, and to witness His work. Their physical hunger revealed a deeper spiritual hunger.

That verse convicted me deeply.
I had to ask myself a hard question: Why don’t I want it that badly?

The people in this story are so hungry for the word of God that they're going to sit there and starve their bodies to death just to be closer to him, just to have chance to hear his words. I got to the point where I was sitting there so calloused and stale in my walk that I couldn't hardly even get through the morning service without checking my watch, tapping my foot, and wondering when it would be over so I could move on with my day. Shame on me, but if we’re honest, many of us drift into that mindset from time to time.

Spiritual apathy doesn’t usually arrive all at once. It creeps in quietly. We get distracted, by work, hobbies, schedules, responsibilities. Satan doesn’t always need to pull us into obvious sin; sometimes he just fills our lives so full that there’s no room left for hunger for God.

We begin treating Jesus like He’s on a schedule:

• One hour on Sunday morning
• Maybe Sunday night
• Rarely Wednesday

And forbid things go longer than expected.

What if the pastor got up here, whoever it is, and preached for 5 hours? I'd have been mad, I would get hungry and grouchy. But that's not the outlook to have.

But Scripture says these people continued with Him.
That phrase matters.

In the King James Version, Matthew 15:32 says they “continued with me now three days.” Jesus can tell when we truly want to continue with Him and He can tell when we’ve checked out. We all know what a half-hearted conversation feels like. Do we really think Jesus can’t tell when our faith is half-invested?

Throughout Scripture, God consistently emphasizes obedience.

“...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...” (1 Samuel 15:22)

God isn’t impressed by religious activity that lacks obedience.
He desires hearts that listen and respond.
 Hebrews 10:25 reinforces this:

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…”

If we say we want to obey God, we cannot treat gathering with His people as optional or disengage mentally when we are present.

We must ask ourselves:

• Have I grown stale in my walk?
• Am I merely going through the motions?
• If I’m not on fire, have I become lukewarm?

Lukewarm faith is dangerous. It never gets hot enough to be refined. As believers, we should want to place ourselves where God can work on us, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

First, not after work, not after hobbies, not after schedules and responsibilities.
Everything else must come second.

Paul echoes this in Titus 2:13–14, reminding us that we are a people who belong to Christ, called to be zealous for good works. If we belong to Him, does our passion reflect that?
Most of us have never gone three days without food just to hear someone preach, but these people did.

When the disciples saw the hungry crowd, they asked:

“Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” (Matthew 15:33)

Jesus had just fed the five thousand, yet doubt still crept in. How often does that happen to us? God provides again and again, yet when the next challenge comes, anxiety replaces trust.

Jesus asked a simple question: “How many loaves do you have?”
Seven loaves. A few small fish.
And Jesus did the rest.

This wasn’t a parable or a symbolic lesson, it was a real, historical miracle. Four thousand men, plus women and children, were fed and satisfied, with seven baskets left over.
The same Jesus who multiplied bread still works powerfully today. We often say, “If only I could see a miracle.” But Scripture reminds us that one lost sinner being saved is no less miraculous than Lazarus being raised from the dead.

God’s Word still has that kind of power.

I once heard a testimony about a prison guard who regularly dealt with an uncontrollable inmate. One day, the guard read him a single line of Scripture from a pocket Bible. The man calmed down and begged him to come back and read more.
Over time, that inmate’s heart changed.

Years later, that same man, once violent and unmanageable, knocked on the guard’s door. He had planted a church and wanted to invite him to attend.

All of that from one line of Scripture.
Even the guard couldn’t remember which verse he read.
God’s Word does the work.

• Are you lost and in need of a Savior?
• Are you saved but spiritually stale?
• Are you half-invested?
• Are you continuing daily with the Lord?
• Are you anxious about the future?
• Do you desire a deeper walk with Jesus?

Only you can answer those questions.

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you… as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1)

May we be people who hunger for Christ, not out of routine, but out of genuine desire. May we continue with Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, and allowing His Word to transform us day by day.

This article is based on a sermon delivered by Deacon Lee Chronister and has been adapted for written format.