The Collect
O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Readings:
Psalm 61; 62
Ecclesiastes 8:14–9:10
Gospel: Matthew 15:29–39
29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.
Commentary:
Here we see what appears to be a repeat of a prior story, but yet this story is unique in its own way. The King James version uses a sub header to set this passage apart, using the title; Jesus Feeds The Four Thousand, which we should not confuse with the story titled The feeding of the Five Thousand. While the story of the feeding of the 5000 appears in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:1–14), this story only appears in Mark 8:1–10 and Matthew 15:29-39.
In John’s account of the feeding of the 5000, we get the impression—from the I Am The Bread Of Life discourse—just a few verses later, that in the feeding of the 5000, the people had followed Jesus, for more worldly reasons, e.g. they wanted to see a miracle, or was more interested in physical healing than they were in a spiritual healing. In John 6:26, Jesus said; “Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” Which is to say that some followed him just to eat of the food he produced through a miracle. This seems to precipitate the teaching known as I Am The Bread Of Life as Jesus wanted them to realize that to believe in his teachings would give them spiritual sustenance which would last throughout eternity.
The feeding of the five thousand seems to be only a one day event. Jesus had determined to take the disciples away to a place where they could rest, but the crowd followed. At the end of the day he fed them then sent them away.
We don’t see that in this story; as Matthew Henry the 17th century theologian would say; Observe:
“In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.” (vs, 32) The Pharisees complained that Jesus’ disciples were reluctant to fast; but here we see people who had been with Jesus for three days, and were without food. They had gone through a great deal of difficultly and hardship just to hear Jesus teach.
The tone of voice Jesus uses here, is indicative of—not only his compassion for the multitude—this crowd seems more inclined to actually hearing what Jesus had to say unlike those in the previous story that only seemed to be there for purposes more aligned with entertainment and curiosity.
“That phrase “have been with me” (other translations say “remain”) means more than just attendance. It means they’ve been paying great attention to him. Commentator R. Allen Cole said, “they had not merely sought him for the food that he would give…This audience had proved their sense of spiritual values by three days of eager listening to the preaching of Jesus.” (McLemore)
“I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.” Jesus is concerned for their well being, they have not ate and in such a weakened state they might faint as they walk home.
While Mark makes no mention of multiple healings and associated miracles performed by Jesus with this multitude, Mathew does state in verse 30: “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them.”
“And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.” (v. 34 ) “ The provision that was at hand; seven loaves, and a few fishes: the fish not proportionable to the bread, for bread is the staff of life. It is probable that the fish was such as they had themselves taken; for they were fishers, and were now near the sea. Note, It is comfortable to eat the labour of our hands (Ps. 128:2), and to enjoy that which is any way the product of our own industry, Prov. 12:27. And what we have got by God’s blessing on our labour we should be free of; for therefore we must labour, that we may have to give, Eph. 4:28.” (Henry)
“And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.” (v. 35) “The putting of the people in a posture to receive it (v. 35); He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. They saw but very little provision, yet they must sit down, in faith that they should have a meal’s meat out of it. They who would have spiritual food from Christ, must sit down at his feet, to hear his word, and expect it to come in an unseen way.”(Ibid)
“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, ” (v. 36a) “He first gave thanks—eucharisteµsas. The word used in the former miracle was eulogeµse—he blessed. It comes all to one; giving thanks to God is a proper way of craving a blessing from God. And when we come to ask and receive further mercy, we ought to give thanks for the mercies we have received.” (Ibid)
“and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” (v. 36b) “He then broke the loaves (for it was in the breaking that the bread multiplied) and gave to his disciples, and they to the multitude. Though the disciples had distrusted Christ’s power, yet he made use of them now as before; he is not provoked, as he might be, by the weakness and infirmities of his ministers, to lay them aside; but still he gives to them, and they to his people, of the word of life.” (Ibid)
“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” (v. 37) Perhaps Matthew was writing with an intent of demonstrating the significance of this miracle, by adding that there was not only enough food to feed the multitude, but he states that there were left overs as well, then in verse 38 he demonstrates the enormity of this miracle; “And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.” In that not only was there 4000 thousand men, but women and children as well, making the multitude possibly 5000 or more in size.
“To show that they had all enough, there was a great deal left—seven baskets full of broken meat; not so much as there was before, because they did not gather after so many eaters, but enough to show that with Christ there is bread enough, and to spare; supplies of grace for more than seek it, and for those that seek more.” (Ibid)
“And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.” (v. 39) “ He sent away the people. Though he had fed them twice, they must not expect miracles to be their daily bread. Let them now go home to their callings, and to their own tables. And he himself departed by ship to another place; for, being the Light of the world, he must be still in motion, and go about to do good.” (Ibid)
Benediction
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thought for the Day:
The problem isn’t that Johnny can’t read. The problem isn’t even that Johnny can’t think. The problem is that Johnny doesn’t know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.
Thomas Sowell
Announcements:
Christian churches that observe liturgical traditions observe June 11 as the Feast of St. Barnabas, or day that commemorates the life of this apostle of the early church.
Originally named Joseph, the apostles gave him the Aramaic surname Barnabas, which means “son of consolation” or “son of encouragement.” He introduced St. Paul to the apostles after Paul’s conversion, and he worked with Paul as a missionary. At the Council of Jerusalem, he defended the rights of the Gentile Christians and argued that they did not have to be circumcised. He and Paul separated after they disagreed about the role of John Mark as a missionary. Barnabas continued as a missionary on his own. He is the traditional founder of the church in Cyprus. Legend claims that he was martyred at Salamis in Cyprus, in 61, during the persecution of Nero.
Bible Studies From The Daily Office, is an outreach ministry designed to encourage the viewer to read one Old Testament or Epistle, a Psalm, and a Gospel selection everyday. Following each Gospel reading is a commentary designed to help the reader understand the traditional meaning of God’s Holy Word.
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