07.28.26 - Jesus Feeds 5000 & Dead Sea Scrolls Part II

tmaley
Jul 29
12 min read

👉Watch the class recording here.👈

Catholic Understanding & Biblical Defense Class 7/28/26

Each meeting is (roughly) as follows:

15 min Apologetic Reflection

15 min Upcoming Gospel Reading

30 min Weekly topic/theme

1 hour

Week 1: Gospel Week – we study several Gospel stories, especially the tough ones.

Week 2: Bible Week – we are working our way through the Bible. We are studying the New Testament.

Weeks 3 & 4: Survey Topics chosen by Members (explanations of our faith & apologetics):

1. Prison Ministry Stories 2. Plenary Indulgences 3. Gen 1-3 (Creation Story, Adam & Eve, the Fall of Man)

4. Faith vs Doubts – does having doubts make us bad Christians? 5. Explanation of the Mass & Eucharist

6. Dead Sea Scrolls 7. Catholicism vs modern cosmology 8. Gifts/Fruits of the HS, 7 Deadly Sins

9. How to experience the Love of God 10. The Communion of Saints

11. Comparative Religions 12. Catholic vs Protestant beliefs

· Don’t forget to RSVP.

· Taylor will send a link to everyone with today’s notes.

· The class is recorded if you want to listen to it anytime.

· I will occasionally ask for volunteer readers…

Opening Prayer:

Bless us Father as we study Your plan of salvation and redemption for humanity –

a plan in which each of us has a role to play and a journey to make.

And as Jesus taught us to pray …

Our Father

Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily Bread;

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Major holy days: The Assumption of Mary: August 15

www.masstimes.org Mass or Confession anywhere/anytime in the world!

Today’s Agenda

1. Weekly Reflection – Do Catholics worship Mary?

2. Gospel reading for the 18^th Sun in Ord Time (8/2): Feeding the Five Thousand, Matthew 14:13-21

3. Member Topic – The Dead Sea Scrolls, Part II

Quote of the Week

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” -St. Francis de Sales

Reflection – The Hail Mary

Do Catholics pray to Mary like she is divine?

Of course not. She intercedes for us, just as Mary interceded for the wedding party at Cana; and just as we intercede for one another when we pray for them. In the ‘Hail Mary’ prayer, it even asks her to “pray for us.”

Is the “Hail Mary” prayer Biblical?

Yes.

Jesus, the New Elisha and the Feeding the Five Thousand, Matthew 14:13-21

Context:

Last week, referring to our need to study the Old and New Covenants together, Jesus tells his listeners and scribes to “bring out the old and new” so that we can properly understand the fullness of God’s Word. During his ministry on Earth, Jesus continually mentions Old Testament passages and prophesies as he was fulfilling them. Then on the Road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday, he explains to the two disciples he was walking with how the Scriptures (Old Testament) pointed to his suffering and death so that mankind might attain Heaven. As the great St. Augustine said in the fifth century…

“The New is concealed in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New.” – St. Augustine

Our reading for this Sunday – the feeding of 5000 – does not exist in a vacuum. Jesus is again completing a story from the Old Testament while simultaneously transcending it, just like he did with the Fall, the Exodus, and the Passover meal.

Today, we hearken back to the prophet Elisha who lived around 850 BC. Note, this is not Elijah, but Elisha.

Who knows the relationship between these two prophets?

Elijah (ending “zha”) was a very great and famous prophet who came before Elisha. At the end of his time, Elijah was taken up in a fiery chariot to Heaven. His disciple and successor was Elisha (ending “shah”) who went on to be an even greater prophet. This story about Elisha is taken from 2 Kings 4:42-44:

A man came from Baal-Shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first harvest along with some heads of new grain. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.”

But his servant said, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’”

So he set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Now this miracle was well-known to every Jew, so when Jesus performs his miracle, everyone would have understood the incredible comparison.

Notice also how John preceded Jesus just as Elijah preceded Elisha. Jesus was not only a New Adam (reversed the Fall) and a New Moses (new Exodus) but now also a new Elisha.

Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,he had compassion for them, and he cured their sick.

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and directed the crowds to sit down on the grass.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full.Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

Exegesis (interpretation)

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist…

John the Baptist’s death marked a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, highlighting the growing opposition to the message of repentance and the kingdom of God.

…he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.

Jesus' withdrawal signifies a moment of reflection and mourning for John, his relative and forerunner. The Sea of Galilee, a central location in Jesus' ministry, was surrounded by hills and secluded areas ideal for solitude. Such a solitary place would have provided a setting for prayer and communion with the Father. This action also demonstrates Jesus' humanity, needing time away from the crowds.

The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.

His growing popularity made it difficult to remain alone. Since John was arrested, the people following Jesus increased right away as John’s remaining disciples likely moved to Jesus.

… when he saw the vast crowd, he had compassion for them, and he cured their sick.

Humans normally have difficulty feeling compassion for people they don’t know. Psychologically, the closer we are to people (geographically or relationally), the easier our hearts are moved. A priest from Dominican Republic came to our Church last Sunday and when he told us some incredible stories about the people he was helping, suddenly the wallets came out. That’s because the story made it personal. When Jesus saw the crowds, he didn’t need a story. He knew each one individually when they approached him, and he healed him. Jesus knows each of us this intimately.

When the day grew late, the Apostles tell Jesus to send them into the villages to get food. Jesus uses this to teach them that he is the Bread of Life, which both prefigures the Last Supper Eucharist and will transcend the miracle of Elisha.

They said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have.”

This highlights the limited resources that were available. These were probably small barley loaves, common among the poor, and the fish were likely small, salted fish, typical of the what was found in the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus said, “Bring them here to me,” and then directed the crowds to sit down on the grass.

This setting reflects the pastoral imagery found in Psalm 23, where the Lord makes His people lie down in green pastures, symbolizing provision and rest.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples…

Jesus prefigures the same thing he does at the Last Supper:

“Looking up to heaven he said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples” – Mt 26:26.

…and the disciples gave them to the people.

Jesus is already teaching his disciples to do what he does, just as he will instruct them to do at the Last Supper.

They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full. They are satisfied even when earthly resources were insufficient, because Jesus is the Bread of Life. The transcending of Elisha is not only that 5000 were fed; the “Bread of Life” is to provide forgiveness and access to Heaven.

What do the twelve baskets left over signify?

Multiple meanings. First, it represents the 12 Tribes of Israel which historically represents all God’s chosen people from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses to King David and the prophets. Second, it represents the 12 Apostles who will take over for the 12 Tribes and bring salvation to the entire world. Third, the twelve baskets left-over when none existed in the beginning indicates that Jesus’ bread to the world is endless and forever.

Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting (in addition to) the women and children.

With the women and children, the total number would have likely reached 10 to 15 thousand or more. The woman and children would normally not have even been mentioned in those days. Jesus elevated the status of women and children throughout his ministry as he included them routinely in his miracles and teachings.

Next up: The Dead Sea Scrolls…

How else did the Dead Sea Scrolls support or detract from Christian teaching?

How did the Essenes prepare for the Messiah’s arrival?

The Dead Sea Scrolls – Part II

Recommended: Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls, by John Bergsma

The entire purpose of the community at Qumran was preparing for the Messiah. What does Messiah mean?

It means “anointing with oil.” Messiah (Hebrew), Christos (Greek). Prophets, priests, and kings were all anointed.

So everything the Essenes did at Qumran was about waiting and preparing for the Messiah to come. For them, this event would be the end of the age, the end of history!

How many Messiahs?

1. Royal/Kingly Messiah from the line of King David

2. Priestly Messiah from the line of Aaron

3. A debated interpretation of scroll #4Q541 suggests they may also be waiting for a Suffering Messiah, or that one or both would somehow suffer greatly. This expectation came from the “suffering servant” prophecies. Some examples:

- Isaiah 53: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows; he was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter…

- Zechariah 12-13: He was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver…

- Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Mocked and scorned by the people; they cast lots for my garments…

How did they prepare for the Messiah?

One of the community rituals the Essenes partook in was a daily communal meal of primarily bread and wine that they began and ended with songs of praise. Their expectation was that when the Messiah came, he was going to lead them in this communal meal.

Their foremost expectation was that the Kingly Messiah would then help them crush the enemies of God and usher in an age of peace for the devout and the holy.

Finally, they took very literally the passage from Isaiah 40:3 that said:

“The voice of one calling in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert plain a highway for our God.” – Isaiah 40:3

This is why when they left Jerusalem, they headed where? Out into the Judean wilderness, the barren desert area near the Dead Sea, which was also where the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land after Exodus 1400 years earlier. There they set up their community to literally prepare the way of the Lord. Now, they didn’t think the LORD was coming personally, which seemed too unimaginable, but rather his representatives – the Messiah(s).

The Essenes considered one possibility that the Priestly and Kingly Messiah might be one person – if it was Melchizedek.

Who remembers Melchizedek?

In Gen 14, Abraham meets with this mysterious Lord of Salem (the future Jerusalem) who gave Abraham a special blessing over a meal of bread and wine. Melchizedek was considered a priest and king (some say he was Shem, the son of Noah), and Abraham was so taken with him he gave him 10% of everything he had (this is where the idea of tithes comes from). As priest and king, Melchizedek is seen as a prefigurement of Christ, which is why you may have noticed that he is mentioned in the Mass during the Liturgy of the Eucharist). In any event, the Essenes considered this the only possibility of the Priestly and Kingly Messiahs being the same person.

John the Baptist

Why do we pay so much attention to John the Baptist, especially in the Gospel of Luke. His father is a Levite priest at the Temple; his mother Elizabeth is from the line of Aaron (making John both a priest and from the line of Aaron); John is raised in the wilderness; and then Luke applies the Isaiah 40:3 quote to him: “The voice of one calling in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert plain a highway for our God”? Bergsma says it that perhaps instead of a priestly Messiah, maybe the prophesy was calling for “priestly prophet” – and that person was John!

Did the Essenes recognize something was up when John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing not far from them?

How could they not? Bergsma says it is likely that John spent some of his early years in Qumran. It is also likely that John’s first disciples were Essenes.

Did John know of his calling?

John would likely have known his calling from his parents. Consider the following:

1) The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah while he was in the Temple doing his priestly rounds and said to him:

Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord... even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit... With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before the Lord him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” – Luke 1:13-17.

2) When John was born, Zechariah – filed with the Holy Spirit – prophesied that John “will go before the Lord to prepare his ways” and bring salvation “by the forgiveness of their sins” – Luke 1:57-78).

3) Luke says further of John, “The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.” (Luke 1:80). See map on where the “Judean wilderness” is.

Does Jesus contribute anything to the Essene connection?

Yes, let’s look at Jesus’ first sermon in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:18-19). He starts by getting up and reading the following from the prophet Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Isaiah 61:1-2

There is a text in the Dead Sea Scrolls where the Essenes associated this exact Isaiah prophecy with the “Melchizedek Messiah.”

What did this “year of the Lord’s favor” mean from a Messianic prophecy standpoint?

It meant that the Messianic Age would bring about the elimination of sins and their being set free from Satan.

What did Jesus do on the cross?

He died for the forgiveness of our sins and to set us free from Satan (open the gates of Heaven).

After Jesus read the passage from Isaiah in the synagogue, he sat down. Remember, sitting down was the tradition for teaching, including homilies/sermons. That’s why it says next, “all eyes of everyone in the synagogue were upon him” – they were waiting for him to start his sermon.

What did Jesus say?

Jesus said, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4:21

This would have been a “drop the mic” moment for all Jews present.

For the Essenes, it would mean he was the “Melchizedek Messiah.”

Next Up with the DSS:

Essenes in every town. Essene Quarter in Jerusalem.

What were the areas of disagreement between Jesus’ teachings and the Essenes?

What happened to Qumran and where did the Essenes go?

What do the Jews think of the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Closing Prayer

From the Thanksgiving Hymns scroll:

I thank You, O Lord, for your eye is awake and watches over my soul.