And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
Jesus blessed the few small fishes and directed the disciples to set them also before the seated crowd for distribution. The act belonged to His tender care for physical needs, for after the people had listened to His teaching for three days He provided food for them miraculously so they would not be sent away hungry to faint on the way. Together with the loaves the fish were broken into small pieces and passed to the multitude through the disciples, and Christ made the little that was available sufficient.
By this food four thousand men, besides women and children, were fed. Seven baskets of leftover pieces remained, which were gathered so that none would be lost. The disciples' failure to trust Jesus' power on this occasion recalled their earlier experience of His feeding a multitude at Bethsaida. The feeding of the four thousand is an example of the Lord's methods to be studied in food work, showing that simple, inexpensive preparations can be used without requiring a large investment.
Jesus blessed the few small fishes and directed the disciples to set them also before the seated crowd for distribution. The act belonged to His tender care for physical needs, for after the people had listened to His teaching for three days He provided food for them miraculously so they would not be sent away hungry to faint on the way. Together with the loaves the fish were broken into small pieces and passed to the multitude through the disciples, and Christ made the little that was available sufficient.
By this food four thousand men, besides women and children, were fed. Seven baskets of leftover pieces remained, which were gathered so that none would be lost. The disciples' failure to trust Jesus' power on this occasion recalled their earlier experience of His feeding a multitude at Bethsaida. The feeding of the four thousand is an example of the Lord's methods to be studied in food work, showing that simple, inexpensive preparations can be used without requiring a large investment.