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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:13-21

The feeding effective thousand. I. THE LORD 'S DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE . 1 . He went by ship into a desert place. His apostles had returned from their mission ( Luke 9:10 ); they needed rest, "for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." He had also heard of Herod's superstitious fears, and that he was desirous to see him. The Lord would not meet the tyrant; he departed out of his tetrarchy. He crossed the lake to a place near Bethsaida... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:13-21

.— The sacrament miracle. Distinguish this miracle of the feeding the five thousand, so glorious in all its incidents, and with its full fourfold narration, from that of the feeding the four thousand, recorded by Matthew ( Matthew 15:32-39 ) and Mark ( Mark 8:1-9 ) only. Lead to the consideration of this miracle by dwelling briefly on— I. THE MOTIVES OF THIS MIRACLE , There was one leading motive—a kind human compassion, a condescending memory of the bodily want of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:13-21

The table in the wilderness. Jesus had several reasons for his crossing the lake to the desert of Bethsaida. 1 . He was there out of the jurisdiction of Herod. 2 . He avoided the pressure of the people and gained some leisure to converse with his disciples newly returned from their progress. 3 . He intended to spread before the multitude a table in the wilderness. He knew that the people would follow him. Note: Jesus sometimes leaves us that we may follow him. He lures us into... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:15-21

Jesus feeding the multitude. On the death of John the Baptist Jesus retired to the eastern side of the lake, oppressed with grief and longing for a time of seclusion. But it was one of his trials that he was forbidden the rest of privacy when he most craved it. The crowds followed him with such enthusiasm that they quite forgot to provide themselves with needful food, and therefore when the evening was come they were out among the lonely mountains faint and hurry. Jesus had not brought about... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:20

And they did all eat, and were filled ( ἐχορτάσθησαν , Matthew 5:6 , note). And they. Undefined, but seen from Matthew 16:9 ; John 6:12 , to have been the disciples. Took up of the fragments that remained; that which remained over of the broken pieces (Revised Version); i.e. of the pieces broken by our Lord for distribution ( John 6:19 ). Twelve baskets full. The disciples personally lost nothing by the miracle ( John 6:15 , note), the provision basket that each... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:21

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children . Only Matthew mentions the presence of other than men. We may assume that no great number of women and children were there; and this, considering the distance that most had been obliged to go (verse 13), is what we should expect. "Observe here the diminutive παιδίων , little children, whom their mothers either carried in their arms or led by the hand" (Meyer). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 14:13-21

A full narrative of the feeding the five thousand is given in each of the other evangelists: in Mark 6:32-44; in Luke 9:10-17; in John 6:1-14.Matthew 14:13And when Jesus heard of it, he departed - He went to a place of safety.He never threw himself unnecessarily into danger. It was proper that he should secure his life until the appointed time had come for him to die.By a ship into a desert place - That is, he crossed the Sea of Galilee. He went to the country east of the sea, into a place... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 14:19-21

Matthew 14:19-21. He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass Mark says, by companies, as we render the phrase συμποσια , συμποσια , which is literally, companies, companies, that is, in separate companies. These, as appears by comparing Mar 6:39 with Luke 9:14, consisted some of fifty persons, some of a hundred, according as the ground would admit. Our Lord probably ordered them to be ranged in this manner that they might sit compactly, that their numbers might appear, that... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:13-21

65. Feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14)When the apostles returned from their first tour around the country areas, they met Jesus in Galilee and tried to have a quiet time alone with him (Mark 6:30-32; John 6:1). Jesus also was in need of a rest, but he was filled with pity when he saw the crowds of people flocking to him in their need. They appeared to him as a flock of spiritually starved sheep that had no food because there was no shepherd to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 14:20

filled = satisfied. baskets. Greek. kophinos. A small wicker hand-basket. read more

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