And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
The saying belongs to the feeding of the four thousand, when a great crowd had remained with Jesus for three days listening to His teaching until all the food they had brought was gone. He knew that to send them away fasting and hungry to their own houses would leave them too weak to reach home, for many would faint by the way. This was because divers of them had come from far, and the long journey home without strength would overcome them. In this His tender concern and compassion are seen, that they should not be dismissed hungry but should have their bodily needs met. Having Himself fainted after long fasting in the wilderness, He was mindful of their weakness and felt for their physical want.
He therefore called upon the disciples to feed the multitude rather than send them away empty. The provision He made for the hungry crowd came through the disciples as His appointed means of distribution. Though the disciples doubted how so many could be fed, He wrought a miracle and supplied their need. Those thus fed were Gentiles, and they went away grateful for what had been done for them. That feeding gives His methods for food work, which is to be carried forward economically and kept free from selfish private interests that would block progress in the right way. Its preparations are to be simple and inexpensive, made to greater advantage without large investment.
The saying belongs to the feeding of the four thousand, when a great crowd had remained with Jesus for three days listening to His teaching until all the food they had brought was gone. He knew that to send them away fasting and hungry to their own houses would leave them too weak to reach home, for many would faint by the way. This was because divers of them had come from far, and the long journey home without strength would overcome them. In this His tender concern and compassion are seen, that they should not be dismissed hungry but should have their bodily needs met. Having Himself fainted after long fasting in the wilderness, He was mindful of their weakness and felt for their physical want.
He therefore called upon the disciples to feed the multitude rather than send them away empty. The provision He made for the hungry crowd came through the disciples as His appointed means of distribution. Though the disciples doubted how so many could be fed, He wrought a miracle and supplied their need. Those thus fed were Gentiles, and they went away grateful for what had been done for them. That feeding gives His methods for food work, which is to be carried forward economically and kept free from selfish private interests that would block progress in the right way. Its preparations are to be simple and inexpensive, made to greater advantage without large investment.