Christ Feeds the Four Thousand.
1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing
to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2 I have
compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days,
and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own
houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4
And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men
with bread here in the wilderness? 5 And he asked them, How many loaves
have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down
on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake,
and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before
the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded
to set them also before them. 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they
took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that
had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
We had the story of a miracle very like this before, in this gospel
(ch. vi. 35), and of this same miracle (Matt. xv. 32), and here is little
or no addition or alternation as to the circumstances. Yet observe,
1. That our Lord Jesus was greatly followed; The multitude was very
great (v. 1); notwithstanding the wicked arts of the scribes and Pharisees
to blemish him, and to blast his interest, the common people, who had more
honesty, and therefore more true wisdom, than their leaders, kept up their
high thoughts of him. We may suppose that this multitude were generally
of the meaner sort of people, with such Christ conversed, and was familiar;
for thus he humbled himself, and made himself of no reputation, and thus
encouraged the meanest to come to him for life and grace.
2. Those that followed him, underwent a great deal of difficulty in
following him; They were with him three days, and had nothing to eat, that
was hard service. Never let the Pharisee say, that Christ's disciples fast
not. There were those, probably, that brought some food with them from
home; but by this time it was all spent, and they had a great way home;
and yet they continued with Christ, and did not speak of leaving him till
he spoke of dismissing them. Note, True zeal makes nothing of hardships
in the way of duty. They that have a full feast for their souls may be
content with slender provision for their bodies. It was an old saying among
the Puritans, Grown bread and the gospel are good fare.
3. As Christ has a compassion for all that are in wants and straits,
so he has a special concern for those that are reduced to straits by their
zeal and diligence in attending on him. Christ said, I have compassion
on the multitude. Whom the proud Pharisees looked upon with disdain, the
humble Jesus looked upon with pity and tenderness; and thus must we honour
all men. But that which he chiefly considers, is, They have been with me
three days, and have nothing to eat. Whatever losses we sustain, or hardships
we go through, for Christ's sake, and in love to him, he will take care
that they shall be made up to us one way or other. They that seek the Lord,
shall not long want any good thing, Ps. xxxiv. 10. Observe with what sympathy
Christ saith (v. 3), If I send them away fasting to their own houses, they
will faint by the way, for hunger. Christ knows and considers our frame;
and he is for the body, if we glorify him, verily we shall be fed. He considered
that many of them came from afar, and had a great way home. When we see
multitudes attending upon the word preached, it is comfortable to think
that Christ knows whence they all come, though we do not. I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest, Rev. ii. 13. Christ would by no means have them
go home fasting, for it is not his manner to send those empty way from
him, that in a right manner attend on him.
4. The doubts of Christians are sometimes made to work for the magnifying
of the power of Christ. The disciples could not imagine whence so many
men should be satisfied with bread here in the wilderness, v. 4. That therefore
must needs be wonderful, and appear so much the more so, which the disciples
looked upon as impossible.
5. Christ's time to act for the relief of his people, is, when things
are brought to the last extremity; when they were ready to faint, Christ
provided for them. That he might not invite them to follow him for the
loaves, he did not supply them but when they were utterly reduced, and
then he sent them away.
6. The bounty of Christ is inexhaustible, and, to evidence that, Christ
repeated this miracle, to show that he is still the same for the succour
and supply of his people that attend upon him. His favours are renewed,
as our wants and necessities are. In the former miracle, Christ used all
the bread he had, which was five loaves, and fed all the guests he had,
which were five thousand, and so he did now; though he might have said,
"If five loaves would feed five thousand, four may feed four thousand;"
he took all the seven loaves, and fed with them the four thousand; for
he would teach us to take things as they are, and accommodate ourselves
to them; to use what we have, and make the best of that which is. Here
it was, as in the dispensing of manna, He that gathered much had nothing
over, and he that gathered little had no lack.
7. In our Father's house, in our Master's house, there is bread enough,
and to spare; there is a fulness in Christ, which he communicates to all
that passes through his hands; so that from it we receive, and grace for
grace, John i. 16. Those need not fear wanting, that have Christ to live
upon.
8. It is good for those that follow Christ, to keep together; these
followers of Christ continued in a body, four thousand of them together,
and Christ fed them all. Christ's sheep must abide by the flock, and go
forth by their footsteps, and verily they shall be fed.
