Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand on the HillsideBible World
9:15Luke 9:15
And they did so, and made them all sit down.
He directed the crowd to sit on the grass in groups of fifty and a hundred, and the disciples carried it out until every person was seated in obedience before Him. The orderly arrangement kept the multitude in order, made them ready to be served, and let all witness what He was about to do. As the small supply of bread and fish passed from hand to hand it was multiplied by divine power until all ate and were filled, with baskets of fragments left over. His followers are thus to receive from Him and pass on to others, eating themselves and continually imparting what they receive until the need is met. The sitting itself teaches dependence on God in strait places and careful preparation to receive His provision, trusting and obeying His directions while gathering and using all He gives so that nothing is wasted.
Setting Before Seating
Jesus had withdrawn with His disciples to a secluded place for peaceful quiet and rest where they thought they would not be disturbed. The multitude missed Him, some noticing the direction He had gone, and sought Him, many going by land and others following by boat across the water, so that they were waiting before He reached the shore. Though interrupted and robbed of rest He was not impatient, because He saw a greater necessity demanding His attention and His heart was stirred with sympathy. He landed unobserved and spent a little time apart with the disciples before leaving His retreat to find a convenient place where He could minister to them.
The Passover was at hand, and bands of pilgrims from far and near on their way to Jerusalem joined to see Him. Until five thousand men besides women and children were assembled, gathered in the fields to hear Him.
They came without invitation or command, and stayed through the day listening long to His instruction about the way of salvation while the healing waters of life flowed and they received healing. They were far from home and night was close at hand at nightfall, many without means to purchase food, and after listening so long they would feel hungry and faint, with some already fainting and the day far spent. He was one with them in their need of food and knew their need, and He was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd. They received no help from the priests and rulers, but He who for their sake had fasted forty days in the wilderness would not suffer them to return fasting to their homes and would not send them fasting home.
When He asked what food there was, the disciples said there was nothing to feed them except five barley loaves and two small fishes, only five loaves and a few small fishes at hand. They were in the wilderness on a barren shore where food was not nigh at hand and He apparently had no means at His command. But the providence of God had placed Him where He was, and He depended on His heavenly Father for the means to relieve the necessity.
After being fed, the multitude left Him on that barren shore knowing no boat was left by which He could depart. On the following morning they returned to the spot where He had watched their departure with compassionate eyes, while news of the miracle of feeding had spread far and near and people began arriving early in large numbers by land and water.
Orderly Seating Command
He directed the people to sit down on the grass and on the ground in companies of fifty and one hundred, leading the five thousand to a grassy plot in a retired place where men and women sat down together. The place was apart from the cities, and the command came after He asked what food there was and learned there were only five barley loaves and a few small fishes at hand. The disciples carried out His direction, and the people sat down in obedience in His presence until all were seated in the order He had required. All were seated before the Savior before any food was distributed.
That orderly arrangement preserved order and prepared the crowd to receive the meal and to be served. It enabled everyone to witness the miracle He was about to do, and all sat in order before Him wondering what was to be done. The seating was at evening, because they had listened to His teaching all day and were weary and needed rest and food. They had followed Him through many places for three days until their food was used up, fainting and hungry with nothing to eat.
While they sat a hymn was sung, then He blessed the loaves and fishes, broke them, and placed the pieces in the disciples' hands. The disciples put them in the hands of the hungry and came back for more, continually imparting what they received, with the supply increasing every time they returned until all ate and were filled and satisfied. The meal for five thousand men besides women and children came from five loaves and two small fishes, and the food increased in the distributors' hands as it passed from hand to hand. Then twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes were gathered, so that nothing was lost.
Divine Power Displayed
The seated multitude was five thousand men besides women and children gathered in the fields to hear Him, and when the day was far spent they had nothing to eat and some were fainting. When asked what food there was, there were only five barley loaves and two small fishes, with a few small fishes at hand, which He ordered brought to Him, then He broke the loaves and gave to His disciples and the disciples to the multitude seated in order. As the blessed food passed from hand to hand through the disciples to the people, a miracle multiplied the small supply and continually imparted it until all ate and were filled and satisfied, with as much remaining as at the start. Then twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes were gathered, so that nothing was lost.
The feeding illustrates God's continual creative power in providing food, for the same power that multiplied the loaves works continually in the growth of grain and the provision of the harvest. People cooperate in caring for the grain and making bread, but this can lead them to overlook God's agency and to misuse His gifts for selfish ends. He who fed them was one with the Father in creation, having laid off His royal robes and crown and clothed divinity with humanity to wrestle with darkness for human salvation.
His command to the disciples to give the hungry multitude food carried in itself the power to supply what they lacked, and they were to trust and obey rather than hold back from serving others. Seeing thousands fed, the people took the meal as a sign of divine power and grew convinced He was the Messiah, the promised Deliverer and rightful King of Israel. The feeding recalls Elisha's provision of bread for one hundred men and Israel's provision of bread and water in the wilderness, showing Christ as the Coming One who guided and provided for His people, the I AM greater than Moses. The miracle was part of His mission and showed His love for people and His generous care and power.
Pattern for Ministry
The seating comes before the distribution, when the multitude is made to sit down in order and the meal from five loaves and two small fishes is placed in the disciples' hands to carry to the hungry. Christ's followers receive from Him what they are to pass on to others, and in the distribution the gift is increased in their hands as they impart what they receive. The disciples themselves eat from what is provided, and His command to give carries in itself the power to supply what they lack, so they are to trust and obey rather than hold back from serving. The lesson is to share with the needy what is received from the Master, meeting physical needs with practical provision for the body as well as teaching spiritual truth.
The food given to the disciples is blessed and multiplied, and God can bless and increase resources used to meet people's needs, including sharing the bread of life with those who are spiritually hungry. Christ leads the five thousand besides women and children to a grassy plot and has them all seated so they can be fed, attentive to needy followers from place to place, some fainting, when He Himself is their sanctuary, helper and great Physician. He asks what food there is, is given five loaves and a few small fishes, commands them to sit down, divides the loaves with His disciples and tells them to distribute to the multitude until there is enough for all. The lesson is to share what is had and to care for those who lack the truth, and disciples must compassionately help people seeking salvation so they are not left hungry, weary or discouraged. He can also provide by imparting knowledge for obtaining food.
What seems meager and insufficient can become enough for oneself and something to share with others, for though five loaves and two fishes seem meager for the crowd, all are satisfied and twelve baskets of fragments remain. When His people give and work with unselfishness He can bless and multiply a small provision until it is sufficient for many and supply what is needed to carry His work forward. The miracle is an object lesson that God can do great things for His people today and can provide abundantly from a small supply. When the scattered, small supply is placed in missionary work, God multiplies it as it is imparted to others so that all eat and are filled. The advance of the work is not to be measured by the means at hand, and whether means are large or small God's agents are to go forward, plan and work in faith and diffuse the gospel with responsibility, for success comes as faith lays hold on God, and stopping work for lack of means shows very limited faith.
The feeding offers a pattern for practical work to use simple, economical means and follow the Lord's methods without allowing selfish private interests to hinder the work. If people dedicate themselves to the Lord God of heaven He will give His Holy Spirit so they can communicate to those in necessity as the disciples did. He gives tact, skill and understanding to those who come into line with Him. Making them sit down and distributing food pictures feeding eager listeners who stay through the day to hear truth and will not leave until the meetings close, a great company kept through the day and provided bread by divine power out of compassion.
Practical Life Lessons
The feeding of the five thousand men besides women and children gathered in the fields teaches care, thrift and economy, for after all ate and were satisfied from five barley loaves and two small fishes, twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes were gathered so that nothing was lost. This lesson applies with special force in difficult circumstances when close economy is necessary, requiring that both material resources and spiritual opportunities be carefully used to benefit others. What God gives is to be freely imparted to others and nothing wasted, and no one has a right to gamble or to gain by robbing another. The orderly sitting itself was preparation to receive His provision, as the fainting, weary, hungry multitude sat down in companies in obedience while He asked God's blessing on the food and multiplied it by passing it through the disciples until all were filled with as much remaining as at the start.
Though the same divine power that provided food for the crowd was His own, He did not use it to lessen His own daily labor or the burdens of His daily work. His example shows that useful work is honorable and its burdens remain.
The verse means dependence upon God in strait places, for Jesus stood in the wilderness with the multitude far from home at nightfall, with food not nigh at hand and apparently no means at His command to relieve those who had come without invitation and would feel hungry and faint after listening so long, many without means to purchase food. The providence of God had placed Him where He was, and He who for their sake had fasted forty days in the wilderness would not suffer them to return fasting, but depended on His heavenly Father for the means to relieve the necessity. In every emergency help must be sought from Him who has infinite resources at His command, with fullest confidence that He will deliver and keep every soul brought into perplexity through trying to keep the way of the Lord. Wisdom and judgment must be exercised in every action, reckless movements that place self in trial must not be made, the means God has provided and the faculties He has given must not be neglected or misused, His instructions must be obeyed implicitly and His plans followed, self cannot be made a center or receive honor, and planning according to human ideas must give way to discouragement-free trust after following His directions.
Directing the disciples to seat the crowd in orderly groups before feeding them shows making practical provision for physical needs as well as teaching spiritual truth. His disciples must compassionately help people seeking salvation, including meeting their bodily needs so they are not left hungry, weary or discouraged, for He meets bodily needs and can provide for His people by imparting knowledge for obtaining food. All the works of Christ manifested in the present day by message or in any way of helpfulness are to be held as a credit.
He directed the crowd to sit on the grass in groups of fifty and a hundred, and the disciples carried it out until every person was seated in obedience before Him. The orderly arrangement kept the multitude in order, made them ready to be served, and let all witness what He was about to do. As the small supply of bread and fish passed from hand to hand it was multiplied by divine power until all ate and were filled, with baskets of fragments left over. His followers are thus to receive from Him and pass on to others, eating themselves and continually imparting what they receive until the need is met. The sitting itself teaches dependence on God in strait places and careful preparation to receive His provision, trusting and obeying His directions while gathering and using all He gives so that nothing is wasted.
Setting Before Seating
Jesus had withdrawn with His disciples to a secluded place for peaceful quiet and rest where they thought they would not be disturbed. The multitude missed Him, some noticing the direction He had gone, and sought Him, many going by land and others following by boat across the water, so that they were waiting before He reached the shore. Though interrupted and robbed of rest He was not impatient, because He saw a greater necessity demanding His attention and His heart was stirred with sympathy. He landed unobserved and spent a little time apart with the disciples before leaving His retreat to find a convenient place where He could minister to them.
The Passover was at hand, and bands of pilgrims from far and near on their way to Jerusalem joined to see Him. Until five thousand men besides women and children were assembled, gathered in the fields to hear Him.
They came without invitation or command, and stayed through the day listening long to His instruction about the way of salvation while the healing waters of life flowed and they received healing. They were far from home and night was close at hand at nightfall, many without means to purchase food, and after listening so long they would feel hungry and faint, with some already fainting and the day far spent. He was one with them in their need of food and knew their need, and He was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd. They received no help from the priests and rulers, but He who for their sake had fasted forty days in the wilderness would not suffer them to return fasting to their homes and would not send them fasting home.
When He asked what food there was, the disciples said there was nothing to feed them except five barley loaves and two small fishes, only five loaves and a few small fishes at hand. They were in the wilderness on a barren shore where food was not nigh at hand and He apparently had no means at His command. But the providence of God had placed Him where He was, and He depended on His heavenly Father for the means to relieve the necessity.
After being fed, the multitude left Him on that barren shore knowing no boat was left by which He could depart. On the following morning they returned to the spot where He had watched their departure with compassionate eyes, while news of the miracle of feeding had spread far and near and people began arriving early in large numbers by land and water.
Orderly Seating Command
He directed the people to sit down on the grass and on the ground in companies of fifty and one hundred, leading the five thousand to a grassy plot in a retired place where men and women sat down together. The place was apart from the cities, and the command came after He asked what food there was and learned there were only five barley loaves and a few small fishes at hand. The disciples carried out His direction, and the people sat down in obedience in His presence until all were seated in the order He had required. All were seated before the Savior before any food was distributed.
That orderly arrangement preserved order and prepared the crowd to receive the meal and to be served. It enabled everyone to witness the miracle He was about to do, and all sat in order before Him wondering what was to be done. The seating was at evening, because they had listened to His teaching all day and were weary and needed rest and food. They had followed Him through many places for three days until their food was used up, fainting and hungry with nothing to eat.
While they sat a hymn was sung, then He blessed the loaves and fishes, broke them, and placed the pieces in the disciples' hands. The disciples put them in the hands of the hungry and came back for more, continually imparting what they received, with the supply increasing every time they returned until all ate and were filled and satisfied. The meal for five thousand men besides women and children came from five loaves and two small fishes, and the food increased in the distributors' hands as it passed from hand to hand. Then twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes were gathered, so that nothing was lost.
Divine Power Displayed
The seated multitude was five thousand men besides women and children gathered in the fields to hear Him, and when the day was far spent they had nothing to eat and some were fainting. When asked what food there was, there were only five barley loaves and two small fishes, with a few small fishes at hand, which He ordered brought to Him, then He broke the loaves and gave to His disciples and the disciples to the multitude seated in order. As the blessed food passed from hand to hand through the disciples to the people, a miracle multiplied the small supply and continually imparted it until all ate and were filled and satisfied, with as much remaining as at the start. Then twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes were gathered, so that nothing was lost.
The feeding illustrates God's continual creative power in providing food, for the same power that multiplied the loaves works continually in the growth of grain and the provision of the harvest. People cooperate in caring for the grain and making bread, but this can lead them to overlook God's agency and to misuse His gifts for selfish ends. He who fed them was one with the Father in creation, having laid off His royal robes and crown and clothed divinity with humanity to wrestle with darkness for human salvation.
His command to the disciples to give the hungry multitude food carried in itself the power to supply what they lacked, and they were to trust and obey rather than hold back from serving others. Seeing thousands fed, the people took the meal as a sign of divine power and grew convinced He was the Messiah, the promised Deliverer and rightful King of Israel. The feeding recalls Elisha's provision of bread for one hundred men and Israel's provision of bread and water in the wilderness, showing Christ as the Coming One who guided and provided for His people, the I AM greater than Moses. The miracle was part of His mission and showed His love for people and His generous care and power.
Pattern for Ministry
The seating comes before the distribution, when the multitude is made to sit down in order and the meal from five loaves and two small fishes is placed in the disciples' hands to carry to the hungry. Christ's followers receive from Him what they are to pass on to others, and in the distribution the gift is increased in their hands as they impart what they receive. The disciples themselves eat from what is provided, and His command to give carries in itself the power to supply what they lack, so they are to trust and obey rather than hold back from serving. The lesson is to share with the needy what is received from the Master, meeting physical needs with practical provision for the body as well as teaching spiritual truth.
The food given to the disciples is blessed and multiplied, and God can bless and increase resources used to meet people's needs, including sharing the bread of life with those who are spiritually hungry. Christ leads the five thousand besides women and children to a grassy plot and has them all seated so they can be fed, attentive to needy followers from place to place, some fainting, when He Himself is their sanctuary, helper and great Physician. He asks what food there is, is given five loaves and a few small fishes, commands them to sit down, divides the loaves with His disciples and tells them to distribute to the multitude until there is enough for all. The lesson is to share what is had and to care for those who lack the truth, and disciples must compassionately help people seeking salvation so they are not left hungry, weary or discouraged. He can also provide by imparting knowledge for obtaining food.
What seems meager and insufficient can become enough for oneself and something to share with others, for though five loaves and two fishes seem meager for the crowd, all are satisfied and twelve baskets of fragments remain. When His people give and work with unselfishness He can bless and multiply a small provision until it is sufficient for many and supply what is needed to carry His work forward. The miracle is an object lesson that God can do great things for His people today and can provide abundantly from a small supply. When the scattered, small supply is placed in missionary work, God multiplies it as it is imparted to others so that all eat and are filled. The advance of the work is not to be measured by the means at hand, and whether means are large or small God's agents are to go forward, plan and work in faith and diffuse the gospel with responsibility, for success comes as faith lays hold on God, and stopping work for lack of means shows very limited faith.
The feeding offers a pattern for practical work to use simple, economical means and follow the Lord's methods without allowing selfish private interests to hinder the work. If people dedicate themselves to the Lord God of heaven He will give His Holy Spirit so they can communicate to those in necessity as the disciples did. He gives tact, skill and understanding to those who come into line with Him. Making them sit down and distributing food pictures feeding eager listeners who stay through the day to hear truth and will not leave until the meetings close, a great company kept through the day and provided bread by divine power out of compassion.
Practical Life Lessons
The feeding of the five thousand men besides women and children gathered in the fields teaches care, thrift and economy, for after all ate and were satisfied from five barley loaves and two small fishes, twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes were gathered so that nothing was lost. This lesson applies with special force in difficult circumstances when close economy is necessary, requiring that both material resources and spiritual opportunities be carefully used to benefit others. What God gives is to be freely imparted to others and nothing wasted, and no one has a right to gamble or to gain by robbing another. The orderly sitting itself was preparation to receive His provision, as the fainting, weary, hungry multitude sat down in companies in obedience while He asked God's blessing on the food and multiplied it by passing it through the disciples until all were filled with as much remaining as at the start.
Though the same divine power that provided food for the crowd was His own, He did not use it to lessen His own daily labor or the burdens of His daily work. His example shows that useful work is honorable and its burdens remain.
The verse means dependence upon God in strait places, for Jesus stood in the wilderness with the multitude far from home at nightfall, with food not nigh at hand and apparently no means at His command to relieve those who had come without invitation and would feel hungry and faint after listening so long, many without means to purchase food. The providence of God had placed Him where He was, and He who for their sake had fasted forty days in the wilderness would not suffer them to return fasting, but depended on His heavenly Father for the means to relieve the necessity. In every emergency help must be sought from Him who has infinite resources at His command, with fullest confidence that He will deliver and keep every soul brought into perplexity through trying to keep the way of the Lord. Wisdom and judgment must be exercised in every action, reckless movements that place self in trial must not be made, the means God has provided and the faculties He has given must not be neglected or misused, His instructions must be obeyed implicitly and His plans followed, self cannot be made a center or receive honor, and planning according to human ideas must give way to discouragement-free trust after following His directions.
Directing the disciples to seat the crowd in orderly groups before feeding them shows making practical provision for physical needs as well as teaching spiritual truth. His disciples must compassionately help people seeking salvation, including meeting their bodily needs so they are not left hungry, weary or discouraged, for He meets bodily needs and can provide for His people by imparting knowledge for obtaining food. All the works of Christ manifested in the present day by message or in any way of helpfulness are to be held as a credit.