(July 5, 2015 at 12:32 pm)Pyrrho Wrote:The two stories about the loaves and fish are about the power of sharing and hospitality. Each person in the crowds had their own food but it was bad manners to eat without offering food to others even if it meant that you didn't have any left over for yourself.(July 4, 2015 at 11:35 pm)Wyrd of Gawd Wrote: Jesus never gave the poor anything. When he had the opportunity to do so he told his disciples that he needed it more than the poor did. So he kept it for himself.
He also said that he would toss people into the fire for not believing in him. So he comes across as a cheapskate meanie.
That is not quite true, as he supposedly fed the multitude with the bread and fish that he magically generated. But your point is well taken, in that there is also the story of the perfume or oil that was used on him. I guess Jesus liked to primp and preen.
Jesus had his minions walk out into the crowds with their stinky fish and stale bread and offer it to the people. Since each person had his own eats tucked away in his dusty robe he couldn't take their so he pulled his own food out and joined the minions in offering it to others. The process spread through the crowd and once people saw what was happening they all pulled out their eats. When it was over everyone had enough to eat and there was some left over.
No one was going to go out into the wilds to listen to some guy flap his jaws without taking something to eat. They just didn't want to share it with the dummy who didn't bring his own food. But everyone packed his own lunch.
There are numerous stories in the Bible about food and the rules of hospitality. The stories about the fish and loaves illustrate the principle.
