Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand With Loaves and FishBible World
6:42Mark 6:42
And they did all eat, and were filled.
They all ate until satisfied from only five barley loaves and two small fishes, a store scarcely sufficient for twenty persons, with enough for appetite and need and not merely a small portion for each. The food did not diminish but kept increasing as Jesus gave it to the disciples and they gave to the hungry and came back for more until all had a sufficiency, after which twelve baskets full of fragments were gathered so nothing would be lost. The abundant meal from the small supply in the desert place revealed his divine power and beneficence and his tender care for genuine bodily need as well as spiritual need, for he had compassion on the hungry, weary multitude and would not send them home hungry and faint. It teaches dependence on God, that when people follow his directions and are brought into strait places they can depend wholly on him who has infinite resources to provide and satisfy from his unlimited resources. The gift increased as it was distributed, showing that those who share with the needy what they receive may also share in the provision, while his care over the leftovers taught order and economy that nothing of God's gifts should be wasted or lost.
The Miracle Described
The whole store on hand was only five loaves, barley loaves, and two fishes, two small fishes, a few small fishes, a meager supply scarcely sufficient for twenty persons with no more to be had in the desert. The lad who had them was found by Andrew after Philip had answered that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not give each even a little. That scanty portion in his hands became by grace and miraculous increase all-sufficient for many.
They all ate and were filled, the whole multitude eating until satisfied and having enough, with sufficiency for appetite and need, not merely a small portion for each person. The provision met genuine bodily need as fully as teaching met spiritual need, while giving the weary a chance to rest and comfort. The food multiplied as it was distributed and did not diminish, but was furnished afresh and kept increasing as Jesus gave to the disciples and they gave to the hungry and came back for more, imparting what they received until all had a sufficiency. It became enough as it passed from hand to hand, to the boundless amazement of the people that food for that vast assembly came from the slender store. After all were satisfied the fragments were gathered so nothing would be lost and nothing wasted, filling twelve baskets full on this occasion, while on another occasion seven baskets were filled.
The feeding happened in a desert or wilderness place beyond the sea from Capernaum, on the shore of Galilee, on a grassy plot, toward sunset and evening after Jesus had spent all day teaching from a grassy eminence and healing all the sick and afflicted brought to him, when the people had been all day without food. It took place the day before the people returned to find Jesus. Five thousand men besides women and children followed him on foot from place to place and came without invitation or command, with food not near at hand, hungry, weary, fainting and needing attention.
When the disciples urged sending the people away to buy bread because they had nothing to eat, Jesus asked Philip about obtaining bread so they would not return home unrefreshed or faint by the way, to test the disciples though he already knew how he would provide. Jesus commanded the meager store to be brought to him and directed the multitude to sit down on the grass or ground in orderly ranks by hundreds and by fifties and in companies of fifty and one hundred in long lines, to preserve order, to give rest, and that all might witness the miracle. Jesus looked up to heaven to his Father, gave thanks and asked blessing on the supply, blessed and broke the loaves and divided the fishes into small pieces, placed them in the disciples' hands, and the disciples distributed to the multitudes and themselves ate with him; on one occasion a hymn was sung before the blessing. The same kind of miracle was done three times in different localities so people in different parts might learn the lessons he would teach thereby.
Christ's Power and Care
Mark 6:42 shows tender care for genuine bodily need as well as spiritual need, for after spending all day teaching and healing, Jesus fed the vast crowd that had followed Him on foot from place to place, five thousand men besides women and children, because He had made Himself one with the people to reach them. He acted as their sanctuary, helper and great leading Physician, having compassion upon them, healing the sick and afflicted, teaching them, and nourishing their souls with the bread of life while also meeting their hunger, weariness and need for rest and comfort with a simple meal. When the disciples urged sending the people away to buy bread because they had nothing to eat, He had only five loaves and two fishes, commanded all to sit down in orderly ranks by hundreds and by fifties upon the green grass, looked up to heaven to His Father, gave thanks and asked blessing, blessed and broke the loaves and divided the fishes into small pieces through the disciples, and all ate and were filled with sufficiency for appetite and need, with twelve baskets of fragments remaining. The same kind of miracle was done three times in different localities so that people in different parts might learn the lessons He would teach thereby.
The simple meal was not offered to gratify luxury or appetite, but supplied a genuine need and gave the weary crowd rest. The abundant meal from the small supply of five loaves and two fishes, and on one account five barley loaves and two small fishes, revealed His divine power and beneficence and His power to provide with tender care for the hungry people. That full satisfying of the whole multitude until everyone had eaten and had enough convinced the people that He had divine power and was the promised Deliverer.
He who would not work a miracle to satisfy His own hunger in the wilderness would not let the multitude suffer for lack of food or return home unrefreshed and hungry and faint by the way. The same divine power that fed the crowd was His while He worked as a carpenter, but He did not use that power to lessen His own daily burdens and toil. The full satisfying of the hungry left those who were healed and saw the miracle with an impression of truth that always remains in their minds.
Trust in Divine Provision
They all ate and were filled because when those who follow His directions are brought into strait places and perplexity through trying to keep His way, being one with Him in need and placed there by providence, they can depend wholly on Him, seek wisdom from Him who has infinite resources, and trust Him to deliver and keep and provide and satisfy from His unlimited resources. The multitude in the wilderness had come without invitation or command, food was not near at hand, long teaching had left them hungry and faint, and there was apparently no means at hand to relieve their necessity, yet He depended on His heavenly Father for means to meet it. Dependence of this kind does not mean acting recklessly or neglecting the means and abilities God has given, but means using wisdom, obeying His instructions, and trusting Him in difficulties.
The same power that multiplied the loaves also multiplies the seed and continually feeds people through the earth's crops. God sustains life through both extraordinary miracles and the provisions of nature, and daily food is a gift of His power and kindness to be recognized with gratitude and used as a blessing, not credited to human effort alone or turned to selfish purposes. The simple food that met a genuine physical need showed His compassionate care, while human work in caring for grain and making bread can obscure His agency behind the harvest.
What seems like a meager, scanty supply, far too small by human measure, can in His hands become abundant and all-sufficient by His grace and miraculous increase. Five loaves and two fishes, and two small fishes, fed five thousand men besides women and children until everyone was satisfied, remained undiminished as it was shared, and left twelve baskets of fragments remaining. His grace makes the scanty portion all-sufficient, satisfying those who receive it and leaving them something to share with others, and He can bless and multiply scant resources given and used on pure, unselfish principles to meet the needs of a large work. People should therefore give and act in faith rather than be discouraged by limited means, and those who rely on Him can be sustained in difficult work and enabled to give others the bread of life.
The same benevolent care that met bodily need can provide for people now, including through knowledge given to them. He knew they were hungry, had them sit down on a grassy spot, broke the food into small pieces, and gave it through His disciples until all ate and had enough and were filled, then commanded to gather the fragments that nothing be lost, leaving twelve baskets full on this occasion and seven on another. This shows what He can do to minister and teach and guide into truth and help in all wrestling and trials, and to give tact and skill and understanding to those who come into line with Him, and to give everlasting life in the kingdom of glory to the overcomer, calling for more faith in Him.
Sharing With Needy Souls
The food grew as it passed from hand to hand, for Christ blessed the loaves and fishes, placed them in the disciples' hands, and they gave to the hungry and came back for more, imparting and imparting what they received until all five thousand besides women and children were satisfied, with the disciples themselves eating with Him from the same supply. Each time the distributors gave out all they had the supply was still there and kept increasing, so that He had constantly a fresh supply for His servants and there was as much left after all ate, showing a co-operation in which those who share with the needy what they receive may also share in the provision. His command to give to others carries in itself the power to meet the need, so that in His hands the small store remained undiminished as it was shared and was enough to satisfy the famished multitude. Those who rely on Him can therefore be sustained in difficult work and enabled to give others the bread of life even when their means seem small.
Being filled is a lesson in spiritual experience to come out from worldly influences, sit down with Him in heart communion, cease unbelieving worry, and trust in God. It is to come to Jesus in humble faith and prayer, receive what He bestows, be educated to receive truth from one's own shepherds, pray over it and practice it, and eat and drink the word of life as eating and drinking His flesh and blood, digesting it to grow in faith and intelligent knowledge. Those who receive from God must impart what God has given, especially the truth and the bread of life to needy souls, so that others may be satisfied. This sharing is not to be replaced by sending to another place for revival and food, holding long councils, inventing methods, getting up entertainments, gambling, or robbing another of means by conniving.
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 He and His disciples did for the weary, hungry, fainting multitude whom He served as sanctuary, helper and great leading Physician on the grassy plot. Gifts sent in with thanksgiving and prayer for soul-saving medical missionary work are multiplied and blessed in the same way when the best use is made of the means at hand. By that blessing God enables His workers to feed the multitudes who are starving for the bread of life. His works are still manifested today by the message and by every act of helpfulness and are to be held as a credit to Him.
God multiplies a small scattered supply when it is placed in missionary work and imparted to others, so that all eat and are filled from a very meager store. Work should therefore not stop nor advance be measured by means at hand, for that shows very limited faith. Workers should lay hold upon God by faith and expect success, go forward as God commanded Moses, and plan and work in faith to diffuse the gospel over the whole earth whether means are large or small, fulfilling responsibility as His human agents. His followers should care for people seeking salvation by ensuring that those who are hungry and weary can hear the word of life without being neglected or discouraged.
Economy and Daily Living
And they did all eat, and were filled, yet even with power to provide so abundantly He gave attention to what remained and commanded the fragments to be gathered so nothing would be lost, teaching order and economy and thrift for times of need and especially for those managing institutions. The abundance was not to be wasted, for God's gifts are to be used carefully and what is saved can meet the needs of others. Divine provision does not excuse waste or dependence on others, but requires industry and economy, living within means, faithful stewardship of strength to place the family above want and dependence, and owing no man anything.
The lessons of that feeding are to guide the food work, which is to use the Lord's methods, favor simple and inexpensive preparations, and avoid selfish private interests that hinder its progress. Meals are to be kept simple, without preparing and transporting a variety of dishes, following His example in seating the multitude on the ground and supplying their need. He had led about five thousand away from the cities to a retired grassy place, and with only five loaves and a few small fishes He had the men and women sit down, broke the food into small pieces, and gave it to be distributed until the whole multitude had eaten and were satisfied, the supply still being there and kept increasing each time the distributors gave out all they had and came back for more. His works are still manifested today by the message and by every act of helpfulness and are to be held as a credit to Him.
They all ate until satisfied from only five barley loaves and two small fishes, a store scarcely sufficient for twenty persons, with enough for appetite and need and not merely a small portion for each. The food did not diminish but kept increasing as Jesus gave it to the disciples and they gave to the hungry and came back for more until all had a sufficiency, after which twelve baskets full of fragments were gathered so nothing would be lost. The abundant meal from the small supply in the desert place revealed his divine power and beneficence and his tender care for genuine bodily need as well as spiritual need, for he had compassion on the hungry, weary multitude and would not send them home hungry and faint. It teaches dependence on God, that when people follow his directions and are brought into strait places they can depend wholly on him who has infinite resources to provide and satisfy from his unlimited resources. The gift increased as it was distributed, showing that those who share with the needy what they receive may also share in the provision, while his care over the leftovers taught order and economy that nothing of God's gifts should be wasted or lost.
The Miracle Described
The whole store on hand was only five loaves, barley loaves, and two fishes, two small fishes, a few small fishes, a meager supply scarcely sufficient for twenty persons with no more to be had in the desert. The lad who had them was found by Andrew after Philip had answered that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not give each even a little. That scanty portion in his hands became by grace and miraculous increase all-sufficient for many.
They all ate and were filled, the whole multitude eating until satisfied and having enough, with sufficiency for appetite and need, not merely a small portion for each person. The provision met genuine bodily need as fully as teaching met spiritual need, while giving the weary a chance to rest and comfort. The food multiplied as it was distributed and did not diminish, but was furnished afresh and kept increasing as Jesus gave to the disciples and they gave to the hungry and came back for more, imparting what they received until all had a sufficiency. It became enough as it passed from hand to hand, to the boundless amazement of the people that food for that vast assembly came from the slender store. After all were satisfied the fragments were gathered so nothing would be lost and nothing wasted, filling twelve baskets full on this occasion, while on another occasion seven baskets were filled.
The feeding happened in a desert or wilderness place beyond the sea from Capernaum, on the shore of Galilee, on a grassy plot, toward sunset and evening after Jesus had spent all day teaching from a grassy eminence and healing all the sick and afflicted brought to him, when the people had been all day without food. It took place the day before the people returned to find Jesus. Five thousand men besides women and children followed him on foot from place to place and came without invitation or command, with food not near at hand, hungry, weary, fainting and needing attention.
When the disciples urged sending the people away to buy bread because they had nothing to eat, Jesus asked Philip about obtaining bread so they would not return home unrefreshed or faint by the way, to test the disciples though he already knew how he would provide. Jesus commanded the meager store to be brought to him and directed the multitude to sit down on the grass or ground in orderly ranks by hundreds and by fifties and in companies of fifty and one hundred in long lines, to preserve order, to give rest, and that all might witness the miracle. Jesus looked up to heaven to his Father, gave thanks and asked blessing on the supply, blessed and broke the loaves and divided the fishes into small pieces, placed them in the disciples' hands, and the disciples distributed to the multitudes and themselves ate with him; on one occasion a hymn was sung before the blessing. The same kind of miracle was done three times in different localities so people in different parts might learn the lessons he would teach thereby.
Christ's Power and Care
Mark 6:42 shows tender care for genuine bodily need as well as spiritual need, for after spending all day teaching and healing, Jesus fed the vast crowd that had followed Him on foot from place to place, five thousand men besides women and children, because He had made Himself one with the people to reach them. He acted as their sanctuary, helper and great leading Physician, having compassion upon them, healing the sick and afflicted, teaching them, and nourishing their souls with the bread of life while also meeting their hunger, weariness and need for rest and comfort with a simple meal. When the disciples urged sending the people away to buy bread because they had nothing to eat, He had only five loaves and two fishes, commanded all to sit down in orderly ranks by hundreds and by fifties upon the green grass, looked up to heaven to His Father, gave thanks and asked blessing, blessed and broke the loaves and divided the fishes into small pieces through the disciples, and all ate and were filled with sufficiency for appetite and need, with twelve baskets of fragments remaining. The same kind of miracle was done three times in different localities so that people in different parts might learn the lessons He would teach thereby.
The simple meal was not offered to gratify luxury or appetite, but supplied a genuine need and gave the weary crowd rest. The abundant meal from the small supply of five loaves and two fishes, and on one account five barley loaves and two small fishes, revealed His divine power and beneficence and His power to provide with tender care for the hungry people. That full satisfying of the whole multitude until everyone had eaten and had enough convinced the people that He had divine power and was the promised Deliverer.
He who would not work a miracle to satisfy His own hunger in the wilderness would not let the multitude suffer for lack of food or return home unrefreshed and hungry and faint by the way. The same divine power that fed the crowd was His while He worked as a carpenter, but He did not use that power to lessen His own daily burdens and toil. The full satisfying of the hungry left those who were healed and saw the miracle with an impression of truth that always remains in their minds.
Trust in Divine Provision
They all ate and were filled because when those who follow His directions are brought into strait places and perplexity through trying to keep His way, being one with Him in need and placed there by providence, they can depend wholly on Him, seek wisdom from Him who has infinite resources, and trust Him to deliver and keep and provide and satisfy from His unlimited resources. The multitude in the wilderness had come without invitation or command, food was not near at hand, long teaching had left them hungry and faint, and there was apparently no means at hand to relieve their necessity, yet He depended on His heavenly Father for means to meet it. Dependence of this kind does not mean acting recklessly or neglecting the means and abilities God has given, but means using wisdom, obeying His instructions, and trusting Him in difficulties.
The same power that multiplied the loaves also multiplies the seed and continually feeds people through the earth's crops. God sustains life through both extraordinary miracles and the provisions of nature, and daily food is a gift of His power and kindness to be recognized with gratitude and used as a blessing, not credited to human effort alone or turned to selfish purposes. The simple food that met a genuine physical need showed His compassionate care, while human work in caring for grain and making bread can obscure His agency behind the harvest.
What seems like a meager, scanty supply, far too small by human measure, can in His hands become abundant and all-sufficient by His grace and miraculous increase. Five loaves and two fishes, and two small fishes, fed five thousand men besides women and children until everyone was satisfied, remained undiminished as it was shared, and left twelve baskets of fragments remaining. His grace makes the scanty portion all-sufficient, satisfying those who receive it and leaving them something to share with others, and He can bless and multiply scant resources given and used on pure, unselfish principles to meet the needs of a large work. People should therefore give and act in faith rather than be discouraged by limited means, and those who rely on Him can be sustained in difficult work and enabled to give others the bread of life.
The same benevolent care that met bodily need can provide for people now, including through knowledge given to them. He knew they were hungry, had them sit down on a grassy spot, broke the food into small pieces, and gave it through His disciples until all ate and had enough and were filled, then commanded to gather the fragments that nothing be lost, leaving twelve baskets full on this occasion and seven on another. This shows what He can do to minister and teach and guide into truth and help in all wrestling and trials, and to give tact and skill and understanding to those who come into line with Him, and to give everlasting life in the kingdom of glory to the overcomer, calling for more faith in Him.
Sharing With Needy Souls
The food grew as it passed from hand to hand, for Christ blessed the loaves and fishes, placed them in the disciples' hands, and they gave to the hungry and came back for more, imparting and imparting what they received until all five thousand besides women and children were satisfied, with the disciples themselves eating with Him from the same supply. Each time the distributors gave out all they had the supply was still there and kept increasing, so that He had constantly a fresh supply for His servants and there was as much left after all ate, showing a co-operation in which those who share with the needy what they receive may also share in the provision. His command to give to others carries in itself the power to meet the need, so that in His hands the small store remained undiminished as it was shared and was enough to satisfy the famished multitude. Those who rely on Him can therefore be sustained in difficult work and enabled to give others the bread of life even when their means seem small.
Being filled is a lesson in spiritual experience to come out from worldly influences, sit down with Him in heart communion, cease unbelieving worry, and trust in God. It is to come to Jesus in humble faith and prayer, receive what He bestows, be educated to receive truth from one's own shepherds, pray over it and practice it, and eat and drink the word of life as eating and drinking His flesh and blood, digesting it to grow in faith and intelligent knowledge. Those who receive from God must impart what God has given, especially the truth and the bread of life to needy souls, so that others may be satisfied. This sharing is not to be replaced by sending to another place for revival and food, holding long councils, inventing methods, getting up entertainments, gambling, or robbing another of means by conniving.
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 He and His disciples did for the weary, hungry, fainting multitude whom He served as sanctuary, helper and great leading Physician on the grassy plot. Gifts sent in with thanksgiving and prayer for soul-saving medical missionary work are multiplied and blessed in the same way when the best use is made of the means at hand. By that blessing God enables His workers to feed the multitudes who are starving for the bread of life. His works are still manifested today by the message and by every act of helpfulness and are to be held as a credit to Him.
God multiplies a small scattered supply when it is placed in missionary work and imparted to others, so that all eat and are filled from a very meager store. Work should therefore not stop nor advance be measured by means at hand, for that shows very limited faith. Workers should lay hold upon God by faith and expect success, go forward as God commanded Moses, and plan and work in faith to diffuse the gospel over the whole earth whether means are large or small, fulfilling responsibility as His human agents. His followers should care for people seeking salvation by ensuring that those who are hungry and weary can hear the word of life without being neglected or discouraged.
Economy and Daily Living
And they did all eat, and were filled, yet even with power to provide so abundantly He gave attention to what remained and commanded the fragments to be gathered so nothing would be lost, teaching order and economy and thrift for times of need and especially for those managing institutions. The abundance was not to be wasted, for God's gifts are to be used carefully and what is saved can meet the needs of others. Divine provision does not excuse waste or dependence on others, but requires industry and economy, living within means, faithful stewardship of strength to place the family above want and dependence, and owing no man anything.
The lessons of that feeding are to guide the food work, which is to use the Lord's methods, favor simple and inexpensive preparations, and avoid selfish private interests that hinder its progress. Meals are to be kept simple, without preparing and transporting a variety of dishes, following His example in seating the multitude on the ground and supplying their need. He had led about five thousand away from the cities to a retired grassy place, and with only five loaves and a few small fishes He had the men and women sit down, broke the food into small pieces, and gave it to be distributed until the whole multitude had eaten and were satisfied, the supply still being there and kept increasing each time the distributors gave out all they had and came back for more. His works are still manifested today by the message and by every act of helpfulness and are to be held as a credit to Him.