Matthew 15:36

36 And he took the seven loaves and five fishes, and did thankings, and brake them, and gave to his disciples; and the disciples gave to the people.

Matthew 15:36 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 15:36

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes
Into his hands, and lifted them up, that it might be seen, and observed, that there were no other food than these, that so the miracle might appear in its true light:

and gave thanks;
to God for the provision, though it was so small, in the name of the whole company, according to the usage of the Jewish nation; who, if there were ten thousand ^F18, one for the rest used to say,

``let us bless the Lord our God, the God of Israel, the God of hosts, that sitteth between the cherubim:''

teaching us to do so likewise, and to be thankful for, and content with our portion, be it more or less:

and brake them;
which also was the custom of the master of the family to do:

and gave to his disciples:
as a fresh trial of their faith, to reprove their unbelief, to put them in mind of the former miracle, and that they might be witnesses of this, and, in order to distribute to the people, which they accordingly did:

and the disciples to the multitude;
in doing which they obeyed their master's orders, though before they could not persuade themselves, that such a multitude of people could be filled with so small a quantity.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Misn. Beracot, c. 7. sect. 3.

Matthew 15:36 In-Context

34 And Jesus said to them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes. [+And Jesus saith to them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.]

35 And he commanded the people, to sit to meat on the earth. [And he commanded the company, that they should sit to the meat on the earth.]

36 And he took the seven loaves and five fishes, and did thankings, and brake them, and gave to his disciples; and the disciples gave to the people.

37 And all ate, and were fulfilled, and they took that that was left of remnants, seven baskets full. [And all ate, and were filled, and they took that that was over of the reliefs, seven baskets full.]

38 And they that ate were four thousand of men, without little children and women.