Matthew 15:34

34 Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."

Matthew 15:34 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 15:34

And Jesus saith unto them
In a very mild and gentle manner, taking no notice of their stupidity, nor upbraiding them with their forgetfulness of the late miracle, and willing to exercise their patience, and try their faith, asks,

how many loaves have ye?
meaning in the common stock, and which they brought along with them, for their own supply:

and they said seven, and a few little fishes;
which they mention as so small a provision, that it was as nothing for such multitudes; their loaves of bread were but seven, and their fishes, which were ready dressed, dried, or boiled were few in number, and small, as to quantity and size.

Matthew 15:34 In-Context

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way."

33 The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?"

34 Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."

35 Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground,

36 he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.