And this he said to prove him
Or "tempting him", trying his faith, and not only his, but the
rest of the disciples; not as ignorant of it himself, but in
order to discover it to him and them, and to prepare them for the
following miracle; and that it might appear the more illustrious
and marvellous:
for he himself knew what he would do;
Christ had determined to work a miracle, and feed the large
number of people that were with him, with that small provision
they had among them; and being God omniscient, he knew that he
was able to do it, and that he was determined to do it, and it
would be done; but he was willing first to try the faith of his
apostles.