Matthew 14:13-21

Aug 28, 2011 10:36 PM Done

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-13.htm" >13</a>When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

Guzic:

<ul>

<li>this was not from cowardice but from an understanding of the Father’s timing, and also of prophetic timing.</li>

<li> When the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot: Jesus could escape the potential violence of Herod, but He could not escape the attention of the multitudes. Though both the religious and now the political leaders opposed Jesus, He was still popular with the multitudes.

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >i. The Puritan commentator John Trapp admired the diligence of these multitudes: “Whose diligence and devotion is check to our dullness and devotion: if Christ would set up a pulpit at the alehouse door, some would hear him oftener.” (Trapp)</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >A full narrative of the feeding the five thousand is given in each of the other evangelists: in <a href="brain://yy3rxENldFiYjKZvdmgs-A/" class="thought-link"> </a><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/mark/6-32.htm" >Mark 6:30-44</a>; in <a href="brain://XGMovE9REV2d9lcs0LPdSg/" class="thought-link"> </a><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/luke/9-10.htm" >Luke 9:10-17</a>; in <a href="brain://w9zBBZQxq1-ECiJlCSXiAg/" class="thought-link"> </a><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/6-1.htm" >John 6:1-14</a>.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >By a ship into a desert place - That is, he crossed the Sea of Galilee. He went to the country east of the sea, into a place little inhabited. Luke says<a href="http://bible.cc/luke/9-10.htm" >Luke 9:10</a> he went to a place called Bethsaida. See the notes at <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/11-21.htm" >Matthew 11:21</a>. "A desert place" means a place little cultivated, where there were few or no inhabitants. On the east of the Sea of Galilee there was a large tract of country of this description rough, uncultivated, and chiefly used to pasture flocks.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence - Had the blessed Jesus continued in that place, it is probable the hand of this impure female murderer would have been stretched out against him also: he withdrew, therefore, not through fear, but to teach his messengers rather to yield to the storm than expose themselves to destruction, where, from circumstances, the case is evidently hopeless.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >The people - followed him on foot - πεζη, or, by land, which is a common acceptation of the word in the best Greek writers. See many examples in Kypke.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >but because his time was not yet come: which may teach us, that it is lawful to shun dangers, when there is an opportunity; which may be done, without betraying truth, or sacrificing a good conscience.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >the place whither he went, was "a desert place"; and, as Luke says, "belonging to the city called Bethsaida", the city of Andrew and Peter, which lay on the other side of the sea of Galilee, or Tiberias; over which he went by ship,<a href="http://bible.cc/john/6-1.htm" >John 6:1</a>.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >they followed him on foot out of their cities; such as Nazareth, Capernaum, Tiberias, and others; and passing the bridge at Jordan, as Dr. Lightfoot observes, they outwent the ship, and got thither before them, as Mark relates. This showed their great affection and zeal for Christ, and their diligence in attending on him.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://vws.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Vincent's Word Studies</a>

<ul>

<li>On foot (πεζῇ) Rev., by land in margin, which is better; for the contrast is between Jesus' journey by ship and that of the multitude by land.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li>It was a busy time. The twelve had just returned from a highly successful ministry and his own popularity was at its greatest height. The crowds, anxious to see, converse with him, or to be healed, pressed on him so as to give no leisure for reflection, or even to eat (Mr 6:31). It was but natural that he should wish a quiet season on receiving the tidings of the death of one related to him like John.</li>

<li>Into a desert place. Not a sandy, barren spot, but one uninhabited and lonely. They crossed the Sea of Galilee (Joh 6:1), and proceeded in the direction of Bethsaida-Julias, as its northeastern corner (Lu 9:10), just above the entrance of the Jordan into it. To the south of it was the green and narrow plain of El-Batihah, with abundant grass, and abundant space for the multitude to have sat down.</li>

<li>They followed him on foot out of the cities. The multitudes, seeing the course of the boat that bore the Savior and the twelve from Capernaum, rushed along the shore in order to reach its landing place in advance. The country west of the Sea of Galilee was, at that period, according to Josephus, wonderfully populous. Capernaum alone had 30,000 inhabitants, and there were twelve other cities upon or near its shores.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://mhcw.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>Here, as often, the scripture was fulfilled, that unto him shall the gathering of the people be. It should seem, there was more crowding to Christ after John's martyrdom than before. </li>

<li>The presence of Christ and his gospel makes a desert place not only tolerable, but desirable; it makes the wilderness an Eden, Isa. 51:3; 41:19, 20.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-14.htm" >14</a>And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Guzik</a>

<ul>

<li>“Jesus had come to find peace and quiet and loneliness; instead he found a vast crowd eagerly demanding what he could give. He might so easily have resented them. What right had they to invade his privacy with their continual demands?” (Barclay)</li>

<li> His compassion was great: “The original word is very expressive; his whole being was stirred to its lowest depth, and therefore he proceeded at once to work miracles of mercy among them.” (Spurgeon)</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://bible.cc/mark/6-34.htm" >Mark 6:34</a> says he was moved with compassion because they were as sheep having no shepherd. A shepherd is one who takes care of a flock. It was his duty to feed it; to defend it from wolves and other wild beasts; to take care of the young and feeble; to lead it by green pastures and still waters, <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/psalms/23-1.htm" >Psalm 23:1-6</a>.</li>

<li>When Christ says the people were as sheep without a shepherd, he means that they had no teachers and guides who cared for them and took pains to instruct them. </li>

<li>They therefore came in great multitudes to him who preached the gospel to the poor<a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/matthew/11-5.htm" >Matthew 11:5</a>, and who was thus the good shepherd, <a href="http://bible.cc/john/10-14.htm" >John 10:14</a>.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>Jesus - was moved with compassion - Εσπλαγχνισθε, he was moved with tender compassion, so I think the word should in general be translated: see the note on <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/9-36.htm" >Matthew 9:36</a>. As a verb, it does not appear to have been used by any but ecclesiastical writers. It always intimates that motion of the bowels, accompanied with extreme tenderness and concern, which is felt at the sight of the miseries of another.</li>

<li>These pics are what a crowd of 5000 might look like.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-15.htm" >15</a>And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>And when it was evening,.... Mark says, "when the day was now far spent"; and Luke, "when the day began to wear away"; it was upon the decline of the day.</li>

<li>The Jews, as Grotius rightly observes, had two evenings; the one began when the sun declined at noon, and the other at sun setting: now it was the former of these, and not the latter, that was now come; for after this, you read of another evening that was come,<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-23.htm" >Matthew 14:23</a> between which two evenings Christ made the multitude to sit down, and he fed them in a miraculous manner; and the disciples reason for the dismission of the multitude, that might go into the neighbouring villages, and buy provisions, shows that it could not be the last, but the first of these evenings, that is here meant.</li>

<li>

Jewish doctors thus dispute (f).

"The first hour, is the time of eating for the Lydians, or Cannibals; the second for thieves, the third for heirs, the fourth for workmen, and the fifth for every man: but does not R. Papa say, that the fourth is the time of dining for every man? But if so, if the fourth is the time for every man, the fifth is for workmen, and the sixth for the disciples of the wise men.''

</li>

<li>"the first hour is the time of eating for Lydians; the second, for thieves; the third, for heirs; the fourth, for workmen; the fifth, for scholars; and the sixth, for every man: but does not R. Papa say, &c.''</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://vws.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Vincent's Word Studies</a>

<ul>

<li>Desert (ἔρημος)

<ul>

<li>In the Greek order standing first as emphatic. The dominant thought of the disciples is remoteness from supplies of food. The first meaning of the word is solitary; from which develops the idea of void, bereft, barren.</li>

<li>Both meanings may well be included here. Note the two points of emphasis. The disciples say, Barren is the place. Christ answers, No need have they to go away.</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li>

Give (δότε)

The disciples had said, "Send them away to buy for themselves." Christ replies, Give ye.

</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li>This is a desert place. And hence there would be no hamlets dotting it, in which the multitudes could get provisions for themselves. There are no farm houses in Palestine. The whole population lives in towns or villages, and often the farmers go many miles to their fields.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-16.htm" >16</a>But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

Guzik

<ul>

<li>With this, Jesus challenged both thecompassion and the faith of the disciples. Yet He did not ask them to do anything to meet the need without also guiding them in through the job.</li>

<li>“If they remembered the miracle of the wine in Cana (John 2:1-11), they should have asked Jesus to meet the need, not send the people away.” (Carson)</li>

<li>Both Jesus and the disciples were aware of thegreat multitude and aware of their needs. Yet it was thecompassion of Jesus and His awareness of the power of God that led Him to go about feeding the multitude.</li>

<li>Spurgeon used the words,they do not need to go away(they need not depart in the KJV) as the basis of a sermon. The theme of the sermon was that if there was no need for these mostly casual hearers of Jesus to depart, there is even less reason for the follower of Jesus to go away from continual communion and fellowship with Jesus</li>

<li>Circumstances don’t need to make you go away. You won’t have things so hard or so easy that you don’t need Jesus.

<ul>

<li>There is nothing in Jesus that would make you want to go away.</li>

<li>There is nothing in the future that will make you need to go away.</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>Jesus said They need not depart; give ye them to eat - John adds <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/6-5.htm" >John 6:5-6</a> that previous to this Jesus had addressed Philip, and asked, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? and that he "said this to prove him; for he himself knew what he would do;" that is, he said this to try his faith; to test the confidence of Philip in himself.</li>

<li>Philip, it seems, had not the kind of confidence which he ought to have had. He immediately began to think of their ability to purchase food for them. Two hundred pennyworth of bread, said he, would not be enough, <a href="http://bible.cc/john/6-7.htm" >John 6:7</a>. In the original it is two hundred denarii. These were Roman coins amounting to about fourteen cents (7d.) each. The whole two hundred, therefore, would have been equal to about twenty-eight dollars. In the view of Philip this was a great sum, a sum which twelve poor fishermen were by no means able to provide. It was this fact, and not any unwillingness to provide for them, which led the disciples to request that they should be sent into the villages around in order to obtain food. Jesus knew how much they had, and he required of them, as he does of all, implicit faith, and told them to give them to eat. He requires us to do what he commands, and we need not doubt that he will give us strength to accomplish it.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>Though the means by which man may help his fellows have failed, we are not to suppose that the bounty of God is exhausted. When we are about to give up all hope of farther supply, the gracious word of Christ still holds good - They need not depart; give ye them to eat.</li>

<li>Give ye them to eat - Should we say, Lord, how shall thy poor, feeble ministering servants feed so many hungry souls as attend thy word! Begin at the command of Jesus - make the attempt - divide what you have - and the bread of God shall be multiplied in your hands, and all shall eat and be satisfied.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li>14:16 Give ye them to eat. We learn from the parallel accounts that the disciples did not understand how this could be done, though they cheerfully obeyed. (See Mr 6:37 Lu 9:13 Joh 6:7,9).</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Matthew Henry</a>

<ul>

<li>The number of the guests was five thousand of men, besides women and children; and it is probable the women and children might be as many as the men, if not more.</li>

<li>We would rather perceive the acceptableness of the word by the conversion, than by the crowds, of its hearers; though that also is a good sight and a good sign.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-17.htm" >17</a>And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>We have here but five loaves ... - These loaves were in the possession of a lad, or young man, who was with them, and were made of barley, <a href="http://bible.cc/john/6-9.htm" >John 6:9</a></li>

<li>Barley was a cheap kind of food, scarcely one-third the value of wheat, and was much used by poor people. A considerable part of the food of the people in that region was probably fish, as they lived on the borders of a lake that abounded in fish.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>God often permits his servants to be brought low, that they may have repeated opportunities of proving the kindness and mercy of their gracious Lord and Master.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>These words seem to be spoken by Andrew, Simon Peter's brother; who added, "but what are they among so many?" see <a href="http://bible.cc/john/6-8.htm" >John 6:8</a> not thinking of the power of Christ, who was able to multiply, and make this provision a sufficiency for the whole company.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-18.htm" >18</a>He said, Bring them hither to me.

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>If thou have but even a handful of meal and a few herbs, bring them to Christ by prayer and faith, and he will make them a sufficiency for thy body, and a sacrament to thy soul.</li>

<li>Let the minister of the Gospel attend also to this - let him bring all his gifts and graces to his Maker - let him ever know that his word can be of no use, unless the blessing of Christ be in it.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>the best way to have an increase of temporal supplies, is to bring what we have, and put it into Christ's hands; whereby not only good is done to others, but that with an overplus is returned to the giver.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-19.htm" >19</a>And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>And he commanded the multitude to sit down - In the original it is "to recline" on the grass, or to lie as they did at their meals.</li>

<li>The Jews never sat, as we do, at meals, but reclined or lay at length. See the notes at<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/23-6.htm" >Matthew 23:6</a>. Mark and Luke add that they reclined in companies, by hundreds and by fifties.</li>

<li>Our Saviour always sought a blessing on his food. In this he was an example for us. What he did we should do. It is right thus to seek the blessing of God. He provides for us; he daily opens his hand and satisfies our wants, and it is proper that we should render suitable acknowledgments for his goodness.</li>

<li>And brake - The loaves of bread, among the Jews, were made thin and brittle, and were therefore broken and not cut.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass,.... The other evangelists say, that he ordered the disciples to cause the people to sit down; both no doubt were done: the multitude were commanded to sit down by Christ, which, without his orders, they would never have done; and the disciples were enjoined to place them in form, by companies, in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties, that their number might be the better taken, and the food more orderly distributed by the apostles:</li>

<li>to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitude; who were the ministers and servants of Christ, employed by him in this manner, for the more orderly and quick dispatch of this business: and which was an emblem of their spiritual work and office: who received all their food from Christ, which they distributed to the churches, and fed them with.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://mhcw.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>God's good creatures must be received with thanksgiving, 1 Tim. 4:4. Samuel blessed the feast, 1 Sa. 9:13; Acts 2:46, 47; 27:34, 35. This is eating and drinking to the glory of God (1 Co. 10:31); giving God thanks (Rom. 14:6); eating before God, as Moses, and his father-in-law, Ex. 18:12, 15.</li>

<li>When Christ blessed, he looked up to heaven, to teach us, in prayer, to eye God as a Father in heaven; and when we receive our creature-comforts to look thitherward, as taking them from God's hand, and depending on him for a blessing.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-20.htm" >20</a>And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Guzik</a>

<ul>

<li>They all ate and were filled: Not only was God’s provision abundant, but God also did not want the leftovers to go to waste. Therefore they took measures to preserve what was left over (and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained).</li>

</ul>

i. “God’s generous giving and our wise using must go hand in hand.” (Barclay)

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >The quantity must have been greatly increased to have supplied so many. He that could increase that small quantity so much had the power of creation; and he that could do that could create the world out of nothing, and had no less than divine power.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >Twelve baskets full - The size of these baskets is unknown. They were probably such as travelers carried their provisions in. They were used commonly by the Jews in their journeys.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >Here was an incontestable miracle - five thousand men, besides women and children, fed with five cakes and two fishes!</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >Here must have been a manifest creation of substance - the parts of the bread were not dilated to make them appear large, nor was there any delusion in the eating - for they all ate, and were all filled.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >They took up - twelve baskets - It was customary for many of the Jews to carry a basket with them at all times: and Mr. Wakefield's conjecture here is very reasonable: - "By the number here particularized, it should seem that each apostle filled his own bread basket."

<ul>

These words of Alcimus Avitus, lib. v. 30, are to the same effect: -"It appears that a basket about the neck, and a bunch of hay, were the general characteristic of this long enslaved and oppressed people in the different countries where they sojourned."

</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >a custom which the Jews (h) had of carrying baskets with hay and straw, in commemoration of what they did in Egypt; when they were obliged to carry bricks in baskets, and to go about and pick up straw in baskets to make bricks;

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >hence the (i) Epigrammatist calls a "Jew", "cistifer", a "basket bearer", or "carrier";</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >and Juvenal (k) laughs at these people, as if all their household goods lay in a basket, and a little hay, or straw: it is said of R. Siraeon, that when he went to the school, , "he carried a basket" on his shoulders</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-21.htm" >21</a> And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Guzik</a>

<ul>

<li>The number of 5,000 men suggests a total perhaps of 15,000 to 20,000 people when women and children are included in the count.</li>

<li>The prominence of this story – recorded in all four gospels – shows that both the Holy Spirit and the early church thought this story was important, and important as more than an example of the miraculous power of Jesus.</li>

<li>It shows that Jesus could feed the people of God, even as Israel was fed in the wilderness. There was a common expectation that the Messiah would restore the provision of manna, and this adds to the messianic credentials of Jesus.</li>

<li>It shows that Jesus had compassion and care for the people of God, even when we might have expected His patience would be exhausted.</li>

<li>It shows that Jesus chose to work through the hands of the disciples, even when it was not essential to the immediate result.</li>

<li>It shows a preview example of the great messianic banquet that the Messiah will enjoy with His people.</li>

<li>The feeding of the 5,000 also gives us three principles regarding God’s provision.

<ul>

<li>Thank God for and wisely use what you have.</li>

<li>Trust God’s unlimited resources.</li>

<li>Don’t waste what He gives you.</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>