Jesus Feeds the Multitude With Loaves and Fishby CBPepper
9:17Luke 9:17
And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
After a day spent teaching and healing a weary, hungry multitude in a wilderness place far from homes, Jesus fed five thousand men besides women and children from only five barley loaves and two small fishes until all were satisfied, and had His disciples gather the leftovers into twelve baskets full. The food did not diminish in the giving but multiplied in His hands and in the very act of imparting, with fresh supply furnished as often as the distributors emptied what they had and returned to Him. The abundance produced from so little proved Him to be the Messiah, the world's Redeemer, possessing divine, omnipotent, miracle-working power that no human power could exert. The twelve baskets show the Lord can make a meager supply all-sufficient and more than sufficient when used in faith and dependence on the Father who has infinite resources to spread a table in the wilderness. His command to gather the fragments so nothing would be lost teaches care, thrift and economy with no waste, while His giving through the disciples teaches that what is received from Him increases as it is shared to feed the hungry in body and soul.
Setting and Circumstances
The feeding took place after Jesus had withdrawn with His disciples to a secluded place for quiet rest. The multitude missed Him, learned the direction He had gone, and followed Him by land and by boat across the water. Their number was increased by bands of pilgrims from far and near who were on their way to Jerusalem because the Passover was at hand. Having landed unobserved, He spent a little time apart with the disciples while the multitude waited for Him on shore.
He then spent the day teaching them and healing them until the day was far spent and evening and night approached. The place was a wilderness far from human habitations, and the people were weary, faint and hungry, in danger of trampling one another. Some were fainting, for they had been with Him three days until their own food was used up. In that condition the disciples urged Him to send them away.
The only food at hand was five barley loaves and two small fishes. That was the humble daily food of Galilean fishers. At His direction it was brought to Him.
After bidding the crowd to sit down and singing a hymn, He had the people seated in order and in companies on the grass on a grassy plot. He blessed and broke the bread and placed pieces of fish in the disciples' hands. He gave to the disciples to give to the multitude, and they gave to the hungry and returned for more.
The feeding happened on a barren shore where Jesus remained after the multitude left Him there, with no boat left by which He could depart, watching their departure with compassionate eyes. News of the miracle spread far and near. On the following morning crowds returned early in large numbers to the spot where they had last seen Him, coming by land and water.
Miracle of Multiplication
From the small supply of five barley loaves and two small fishes five thousand men besides women and children all ate until satisfied and filled. The meal was simple, the humble daily food of Galilean fishers far from human habitations, yet after a long day of weariness, faintness and hunger it was enjoyed more than luxurious feasts for perverted taste. The food did not run out or diminish as it was distributed through the disciples to the people seated in order on the grass. It multiplied in Christ's hands and in the very act of imparting, a fresh supply being furnished as often as the distributors gave out all they had and came back to Him for more. Thus a slender store scarcely sufficient for twenty was portioned out to thousands until all appetites were satisfied.
At Christ's command to gather the fragments so that nothing would be lost, there was taken up of what remained twelve baskets full of broken pieces and fishes. The gathering showed the food was abundant and multiplied beyond need, with the leftover greater than what they began with. The Lord thereby made a meager supply sufficient for everyone's needs and more.
Christ's Divine Identity
The feeding shows Jesus possessing divine, omnipotent, miracle-working power by God, by which five loaves and two fish were multiplied until five thousand were satisfied with food left over. It was the same power He could have used to ease His daily toil on the shores of Galilee, yet He chose not to use it to lessen the burdens of His daily labor. The twelve baskets of fragments show the Lord can make a meager supply sufficient for everyone's needs and more.
Together with His teaching and healing, the abundance produced from so little convinced the people that He was the Messiah and confirmed their belief in His divine power. The small supply of five loaves and two fish did not run out as it was distributed, but kept being supplied until everyone was satisfied, and at His direction the disciples gathered the remaining pieces into twelve baskets so none would be lost. Since no human power could produce enough food for thousands from so little, the meal strengthened their conviction that Jesus was divine, the promised Messiah and the world's Redeemer.
The miracle reveals His beneficence, omnipotent power, compassion, care and love for the children of men. As part of His mission He had compassion on the large multitude that stayed to hear truth and provided bread for them by His divine power when He was present. In working this wonder for five thousand besides women and children He expressed His love and showed Himself the world's Redeemer.
As a man preaching the gospel He worked the same wonder He had worked in Old Testament times for one hundred men. This proves Him to be the Coming One who guided Israel and the I AM before Abraham, greater than Moses, who in the wilderness supplied His people with bread and clear flowing streams. The grace of God on the small portion made it all-sufficient, for by the touch of His hand scanty provision is increased a hundredfold and made sufficient for all, and from His resources He can spread a table in the wilderness for more than a million people.
The feeding draws aside the veil from nature and reveals the creative energy constantly exercised for human good. The One who multiplied the loaves multiplies the seed cast into the ground every day, and by a miracle constantly feeds millions from earth's harvest fields. Because men are called to cooperate with Him in the care of the grain and preparation of the loaf, they lose sight of the divine agency, ascribing His work to natural causes or human instrumentality, and too often pervert His gifts to selfish uses until they become a curse instead of a blessing. Dull senses are to be quickened to discern His merciful kindness so His gifts may be the blessing He intended.
The miracle shows His benevolent care can provide for His people, meeting bodily need by increasing the food supply for five thousand hungry men besides women and children until they ate their fill. He can give them knowledge to find food in different places and ways. It shows God can give tact, skill and understanding to those who come into line with Him.
Economy Without Waste
After all had eaten and were satisfied from the small store of five barley loaves and two small fishes, He directed the disciples to gather up the remaining broken pieces and fishes so that nothing would be lost, and they were gathered rather than wasted. The food did not run out or diminish as it was passed from hand to hand through the disciples to the great multitude of five thousand men besides women and children. At His command the fragments that remained were taken up, filling twelve baskets full. The abundance of the miracle did not excuse waste, for even when everyone had eaten until satisfied the leftovers were still to be carefully saved.
That careful gathering was as essential as the creation of the food, showing that God's gifts are not to be wasted because there was use for what remained. It teaches care and thrift and economy with no extravagance, that useful things should not be wasted. This is especially needful in times of difficulty when close economy is required.
The gathering is a lasting lesson of economy to be woven into experience. Those in right relation to God stand in right relation to principles of economy, know by experience what self-denial means, and willingly sacrifice for others to supply the wants and necessities of the needy and suffering. The fragments were shared with others, so that nothing was lost.
The command to save the fragments means more than saving leftover food. It teaches plain simplicity in work such as building sanitariums, while still providing room to care for and impress people. Every such act is to make a lasting impression on human minds so that the impression of truth remains. What God gives is to be imparted to others, not gambled away or taken from another by scheming or robbery. The bread Christ blessed also taught the people to pass on spiritual truth, and all the works of Christ manifested in the present day by message or by any helpfulness are to be kept as a credit, so that nothing beneficial would be lost.
Trusting God's Provision
Christ met a real bodily need with the same care He gave to spiritual need, feeding a weary, faint and hungry crowd far from human habitations where no food was at hand. All ate until satisfied and twelve baskets of fragments remained, the small supply multiplied by His blessing until what was left over was greater than what they began with. It was not done to gratify appetite, which He could have met with a rich repast, but the simple meal from five barley loaves and two small fishes, the humble daily food of Galilean fishers, was enjoyed more than luxurious feasts for perverted taste. It taught that God's natural provisions for man had been perverted, and led the people to the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.
The abundance came through Christ's dependence on His Father for provision when food and ordinary means were lacking in the wilderness as night approached. When people follow God's direction and face needs beyond their own means, they are to seek help from Him who has infinite resources, and in genuine difficulty this is the lesson of dependence on God.
The twelve baskets of fragments show the Lord can make a meager supply sufficient for everyone's needs and more, for five thousand ate from five loaves and two fishes and were satisfied with food left over. The grace of God on a small portion makes it all-sufficient, and by the touch of His hand scanty provision is increased a hundredfold and made sufficient for all. From His resources He can spread a table in the wilderness for more than a million people. What is offered and used on unselfish principles God can bless and increase, making scant resources sufficient for the needs of a much wider work. What seems a meager supply can become abundance, leaving people satisfied and with something to give to others, and God can make meager offerings fruitful for a great work and a small supply more than sufficient for the needs of His people.
The small supply in the hand of Christ remained undiminished until the famished multitude were satisfied, increasing in the very act of imparting. Means that do not seem sufficient for the work become abundant when used wisely and economically in the service of the Lord of heaven in faith in the all-sufficient power of God. If the work is of God He Himself provides the means for its accomplishment and rewards honest, simple reliance upon Him with abundant resources opened up. Going to the Source of all strength with hands of faith outstretched to receive sustains workers even under the most forbidding circumstances and enables them to give to others the bread of life.
When need is great and means in hand are small, like five loaves and two fishes among so many, hearts are not to sink and faith is not to fail, nor are believers to hesitate and hold back for fear of spending and being spent for others. They are not to stop work or measure advance by the means at hand, since that shows very limited faith. Whether means are large or small, they are to plan and work in faith, impart what they have, lay hold upon God by faith and expect success, and go forward. God multiplies a small and scattered supply when it is placed in missionary work and given out to others.
The One who multiplied the loaves multiplies the seed cast into the ground every day, and by a miracle constantly feeds millions from earth's harvest fields. Because men are called to cooperate with Him in the care of the grain and the preparation of the loaf, they lose sight of the divine agency, ascribing His work to natural causes or human instrumentality. Too often they pervert His gifts to selfish uses until they become a curse instead of a blessing. Dull senses are to be quickened to discern His merciful kindness, so His gifts may be the blessing He intended.
Sharing What Is Received
Christ's disciples receive from Him what they need to give to others, and as they continue imparting what they receive they continue to receive. The food increased as the disciples distributed it, a fresh supply being furnished as they gave out all they had and returned for more until all were satisfied, and they also ate from the provision He supplied. The command to save the fragments means more than saving leftover food, teaching economy with no extravagance and plain simplicity in work while still providing room to care for and impress people, so that every such act makes a lasting impression on human minds and the impression of truth remains. As the disciples received bread from Jesus and distributed it to the people, so those serving with God receive divine grace to share with people in need, and the gift increases as it is given. When His followers dedicate themselves to the Lord God of heaven He will give them of His Holy Spirit so they can pass on supply to those in necessity.
Christ's command, Give ye them to eat, is a promise backed by the same power that fed the multitude beside the sea. It applies both to dealing bread to the hungry and satisfying the afflicted soul and to going into all the world to preach the gospel, giving all that is had in full dependence on God for multiplication. What people have should be shared, especially so those who lack the truth may receive it. God blesses and increases what is offered and used on unselfish principles, making scant resources sufficient for the needs of a much wider work.
The food given to the disciples serves as an example of gifts the Lord can multiply and bless. Used faithfully, available means and the best use of means can help feed many who hunger for the bread of life and who are starving for it. God can make meager offerings fruitful for a great work. He multiplies a small and scattered supply when it is placed in missionary work and given out to others, as His human agents lay hold upon God by faith, impart what they have, plan and work in faith whether means are large or small, and go forward to spread the gospel over the whole earth without stopping work or measuring advance by the means at hand.
Christ's way of feeding the multitude provides a lesson for food work: His methods are to be studied, and selfish private interests must not hinder the work. The feeding teaches His disciples to show compassion and active concern for people seeking salvation, as He as sanctuary, helper and great leading Physician was attentive to all who came for help when there were no sanitariums. They are to provide opportunities to hear the word of life, not neglect people when weary or hungry, find ways to help them and remove obstacles that make the way to Christ wearisome or unwelcome, so that no one leaves faint, weary or discouraged. His benevolent care can provide for His people, giving them knowledge to find food in different places and ways.
After a day spent teaching and healing a weary, hungry multitude in a wilderness place far from homes, Jesus fed five thousand men besides women and children from only five barley loaves and two small fishes until all were satisfied, and had His disciples gather the leftovers into twelve baskets full. The food did not diminish in the giving but multiplied in His hands and in the very act of imparting, with fresh supply furnished as often as the distributors emptied what they had and returned to Him. The abundance produced from so little proved Him to be the Messiah, the world's Redeemer, possessing divine, omnipotent, miracle-working power that no human power could exert. The twelve baskets show the Lord can make a meager supply all-sufficient and more than sufficient when used in faith and dependence on the Father who has infinite resources to spread a table in the wilderness. His command to gather the fragments so nothing would be lost teaches care, thrift and economy with no waste, while His giving through the disciples teaches that what is received from Him increases as it is shared to feed the hungry in body and soul.
Setting and Circumstances
The feeding took place after Jesus had withdrawn with His disciples to a secluded place for quiet rest. The multitude missed Him, learned the direction He had gone, and followed Him by land and by boat across the water. Their number was increased by bands of pilgrims from far and near who were on their way to Jerusalem because the Passover was at hand. Having landed unobserved, He spent a little time apart with the disciples while the multitude waited for Him on shore.
He then spent the day teaching them and healing them until the day was far spent and evening and night approached. The place was a wilderness far from human habitations, and the people were weary, faint and hungry, in danger of trampling one another. Some were fainting, for they had been with Him three days until their own food was used up. In that condition the disciples urged Him to send them away.
The only food at hand was five barley loaves and two small fishes. That was the humble daily food of Galilean fishers. At His direction it was brought to Him.
After bidding the crowd to sit down and singing a hymn, He had the people seated in order and in companies on the grass on a grassy plot. He blessed and broke the bread and placed pieces of fish in the disciples' hands. He gave to the disciples to give to the multitude, and they gave to the hungry and returned for more.
The feeding happened on a barren shore where Jesus remained after the multitude left Him there, with no boat left by which He could depart, watching their departure with compassionate eyes. News of the miracle spread far and near. On the following morning crowds returned early in large numbers to the spot where they had last seen Him, coming by land and water.
Miracle of Multiplication
From the small supply of five barley loaves and two small fishes five thousand men besides women and children all ate until satisfied and filled. The meal was simple, the humble daily food of Galilean fishers far from human habitations, yet after a long day of weariness, faintness and hunger it was enjoyed more than luxurious feasts for perverted taste. The food did not run out or diminish as it was distributed through the disciples to the people seated in order on the grass. It multiplied in Christ's hands and in the very act of imparting, a fresh supply being furnished as often as the distributors gave out all they had and came back to Him for more. Thus a slender store scarcely sufficient for twenty was portioned out to thousands until all appetites were satisfied.
At Christ's command to gather the fragments so that nothing would be lost, there was taken up of what remained twelve baskets full of broken pieces and fishes. The gathering showed the food was abundant and multiplied beyond need, with the leftover greater than what they began with. The Lord thereby made a meager supply sufficient for everyone's needs and more.
Christ's Divine Identity
The feeding shows Jesus possessing divine, omnipotent, miracle-working power by God, by which five loaves and two fish were multiplied until five thousand were satisfied with food left over. It was the same power He could have used to ease His daily toil on the shores of Galilee, yet He chose not to use it to lessen the burdens of His daily labor. The twelve baskets of fragments show the Lord can make a meager supply sufficient for everyone's needs and more.
Together with His teaching and healing, the abundance produced from so little convinced the people that He was the Messiah and confirmed their belief in His divine power. The small supply of five loaves and two fish did not run out as it was distributed, but kept being supplied until everyone was satisfied, and at His direction the disciples gathered the remaining pieces into twelve baskets so none would be lost. Since no human power could produce enough food for thousands from so little, the meal strengthened their conviction that Jesus was divine, the promised Messiah and the world's Redeemer.
The miracle reveals His beneficence, omnipotent power, compassion, care and love for the children of men. As part of His mission He had compassion on the large multitude that stayed to hear truth and provided bread for them by His divine power when He was present. In working this wonder for five thousand besides women and children He expressed His love and showed Himself the world's Redeemer.
As a man preaching the gospel He worked the same wonder He had worked in Old Testament times for one hundred men. This proves Him to be the Coming One who guided Israel and the I AM before Abraham, greater than Moses, who in the wilderness supplied His people with bread and clear flowing streams. The grace of God on the small portion made it all-sufficient, for by the touch of His hand scanty provision is increased a hundredfold and made sufficient for all, and from His resources He can spread a table in the wilderness for more than a million people.
The feeding draws aside the veil from nature and reveals the creative energy constantly exercised for human good. The One who multiplied the loaves multiplies the seed cast into the ground every day, and by a miracle constantly feeds millions from earth's harvest fields. Because men are called to cooperate with Him in the care of the grain and preparation of the loaf, they lose sight of the divine agency, ascribing His work to natural causes or human instrumentality, and too often pervert His gifts to selfish uses until they become a curse instead of a blessing. Dull senses are to be quickened to discern His merciful kindness so His gifts may be the blessing He intended.
The miracle shows His benevolent care can provide for His people, meeting bodily need by increasing the food supply for five thousand hungry men besides women and children until they ate their fill. He can give them knowledge to find food in different places and ways. It shows God can give tact, skill and understanding to those who come into line with Him.
Economy Without Waste
After all had eaten and were satisfied from the small store of five barley loaves and two small fishes, He directed the disciples to gather up the remaining broken pieces and fishes so that nothing would be lost, and they were gathered rather than wasted. The food did not run out or diminish as it was passed from hand to hand through the disciples to the great multitude of five thousand men besides women and children. At His command the fragments that remained were taken up, filling twelve baskets full. The abundance of the miracle did not excuse waste, for even when everyone had eaten until satisfied the leftovers were still to be carefully saved.
That careful gathering was as essential as the creation of the food, showing that God's gifts are not to be wasted because there was use for what remained. It teaches care and thrift and economy with no extravagance, that useful things should not be wasted. This is especially needful in times of difficulty when close economy is required.
The gathering is a lasting lesson of economy to be woven into experience. Those in right relation to God stand in right relation to principles of economy, know by experience what self-denial means, and willingly sacrifice for others to supply the wants and necessities of the needy and suffering. The fragments were shared with others, so that nothing was lost.
The command to save the fragments means more than saving leftover food. It teaches plain simplicity in work such as building sanitariums, while still providing room to care for and impress people. Every such act is to make a lasting impression on human minds so that the impression of truth remains. What God gives is to be imparted to others, not gambled away or taken from another by scheming or robbery. The bread Christ blessed also taught the people to pass on spiritual truth, and all the works of Christ manifested in the present day by message or by any helpfulness are to be kept as a credit, so that nothing beneficial would be lost.
Trusting God's Provision
Christ met a real bodily need with the same care He gave to spiritual need, feeding a weary, faint and hungry crowd far from human habitations where no food was at hand. All ate until satisfied and twelve baskets of fragments remained, the small supply multiplied by His blessing until what was left over was greater than what they began with. It was not done to gratify appetite, which He could have met with a rich repast, but the simple meal from five barley loaves and two small fishes, the humble daily food of Galilean fishers, was enjoyed more than luxurious feasts for perverted taste. It taught that God's natural provisions for man had been perverted, and led the people to the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.
The abundance came through Christ's dependence on His Father for provision when food and ordinary means were lacking in the wilderness as night approached. When people follow God's direction and face needs beyond their own means, they are to seek help from Him who has infinite resources, and in genuine difficulty this is the lesson of dependence on God.
The twelve baskets of fragments show the Lord can make a meager supply sufficient for everyone's needs and more, for five thousand ate from five loaves and two fishes and were satisfied with food left over. The grace of God on a small portion makes it all-sufficient, and by the touch of His hand scanty provision is increased a hundredfold and made sufficient for all. From His resources He can spread a table in the wilderness for more than a million people. What is offered and used on unselfish principles God can bless and increase, making scant resources sufficient for the needs of a much wider work. What seems a meager supply can become abundance, leaving people satisfied and with something to give to others, and God can make meager offerings fruitful for a great work and a small supply more than sufficient for the needs of His people.
The small supply in the hand of Christ remained undiminished until the famished multitude were satisfied, increasing in the very act of imparting. Means that do not seem sufficient for the work become abundant when used wisely and economically in the service of the Lord of heaven in faith in the all-sufficient power of God. If the work is of God He Himself provides the means for its accomplishment and rewards honest, simple reliance upon Him with abundant resources opened up. Going to the Source of all strength with hands of faith outstretched to receive sustains workers even under the most forbidding circumstances and enables them to give to others the bread of life.
When need is great and means in hand are small, like five loaves and two fishes among so many, hearts are not to sink and faith is not to fail, nor are believers to hesitate and hold back for fear of spending and being spent for others. They are not to stop work or measure advance by the means at hand, since that shows very limited faith. Whether means are large or small, they are to plan and work in faith, impart what they have, lay hold upon God by faith and expect success, and go forward. God multiplies a small and scattered supply when it is placed in missionary work and given out to others.
The One who multiplied the loaves multiplies the seed cast into the ground every day, and by a miracle constantly feeds millions from earth's harvest fields. Because men are called to cooperate with Him in the care of the grain and the preparation of the loaf, they lose sight of the divine agency, ascribing His work to natural causes or human instrumentality. Too often they pervert His gifts to selfish uses until they become a curse instead of a blessing. Dull senses are to be quickened to discern His merciful kindness, so His gifts may be the blessing He intended.
Sharing What Is Received
Christ's disciples receive from Him what they need to give to others, and as they continue imparting what they receive they continue to receive. The food increased as the disciples distributed it, a fresh supply being furnished as they gave out all they had and returned for more until all were satisfied, and they also ate from the provision He supplied. The command to save the fragments means more than saving leftover food, teaching economy with no extravagance and plain simplicity in work while still providing room to care for and impress people, so that every such act makes a lasting impression on human minds and the impression of truth remains. As the disciples received bread from Jesus and distributed it to the people, so those serving with God receive divine grace to share with people in need, and the gift increases as it is given. When His followers dedicate themselves to the Lord God of heaven He will give them of His Holy Spirit so they can pass on supply to those in necessity.
Christ's command, Give ye them to eat, is a promise backed by the same power that fed the multitude beside the sea. It applies both to dealing bread to the hungry and satisfying the afflicted soul and to going into all the world to preach the gospel, giving all that is had in full dependence on God for multiplication. What people have should be shared, especially so those who lack the truth may receive it. God blesses and increases what is offered and used on unselfish principles, making scant resources sufficient for the needs of a much wider work.
The food given to the disciples serves as an example of gifts the Lord can multiply and bless. Used faithfully, available means and the best use of means can help feed many who hunger for the bread of life and who are starving for it. God can make meager offerings fruitful for a great work. He multiplies a small and scattered supply when it is placed in missionary work and given out to others, as His human agents lay hold upon God by faith, impart what they have, plan and work in faith whether means are large or small, and go forward to spread the gospel over the whole earth without stopping work or measuring advance by the means at hand.
Christ's way of feeding the multitude provides a lesson for food work: His methods are to be studied, and selfish private interests must not hinder the work. The feeding teaches His disciples to show compassion and active concern for people seeking salvation, as He as sanctuary, helper and great leading Physician was attentive to all who came for help when there were no sanitariums. They are to provide opportunities to hear the word of life, not neglect people when weary or hungry, find ways to help them and remove obstacles that make the way to Christ wearisome or unwelcome, so that no one leaves faint, weary or discouraged. His benevolent care can provide for His people, giving them knowledge to find food in different places and ways.