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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:20

Verse 20 20.And carried away what was left. The fragments that remained after satisfying so vast a multitude of men were more than twelve times larger in quantity than what was at first put into their hands, and this contributed not a little to the splendor of the miracle. In this way all came to know that the power of Christ had not only created out of nothing the food that was necessary for immediate use, but that, if it should be required, there was also provision for future wants; and, in a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:22

Verse 22 Matthew 14:22.And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples They must have been constrained; for they would never, of their own accord, have left him, and gone to the other side. Now in this they testify their great veneration for him, when, contrary to their own opinions, they yield to his command and obey it. And, indeed, it had an appearance of absurdity, that he should remain alone in a desert place, when night was approaching. But so much the greater commendation is due to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-36

CHRIST 'S POWER TO SUPPLY AND PROTECT AND HEAL , PREFACED BY A STATEMENT OF HEROD 'S RELATION TO HIM . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:13

When Jesus heard of it (cf. Matthew 14:12 , note), he departed. (For the form of the sentence, see Matthew 4:12 ; Matthew 12:15 .) Thence by ship; in a boat (Revised Version); Matthew 8:23 . Into a desert place apart. Defined in John 6:3 as "the mountain;" in Luke 9:10 as "a city called Bethsaida." The spot appears to have been in part of the plain El-Batiha, which is at the northcast corner of the Sea of Galilee on the Gaulonitis side of the Jordan, and in which stood... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:13

The first impulse of the sorrow stricken. There may have been more than one reason for our Lord's retirement on this occasion. He may have designed to secure a time of close personal intercourse with the apostles. They had just returned from their trial mission; they were in a very excited frame of mind, and sorely needed a time of quiet guidance and teaching. He may also have felt that the violent death of John the Baptist, of which very imperfect accounts must have reached him, put his own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:13-21

The feeding of the five thousand. Parallel passages: Mark 6:30-44 ; Luke 9:10-17 ; John 6:1-13 . The miracle was deemed so characteristic of our Lord's work, in his care for men and his power to sustain them, and more especially in its being a parable of his readiness to supply spiritual food, that it was recorded not only by each of the three evangelists who used the framework, but also by the one who depended entirely upon his own materials. But though St. John's account of it is on... read more

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 14:14

The first half of this verse is found verbally in Mark ( Mark 6:34 ); comp. also Matthew 9:36 , note. And Jesus went forth; came forth (Revised Version); i.e. from the more retired place where he had been conversing with his disciples. And saw a great multitude. "The multitudes" of Matthew 9:13 have now become one body. And was moved with compassion toward them; and he had compassion on them (Revised Version). The true reading, ἐπ αὐτοῖς , regards the Lord's pity... read more

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