ACC ~ Matthew 14 v13 - 21

OVERVIEW:

When Jesus heard of John’s death, he withdrew to a lonely place. This was not for fear of death but to spare his enemies from compounding one murder with another or to defer his death to the day of Passover (JEROME). He withdrew because he did not want to make his identity known at this point (CHRYSOSTOM). They had only five loaves and two fish, namely, the five books of the law and the prophets and John (HILARY OF POITIERS). Even at this point the disciples are not yet awakened but still reason as if with a man (CHRYSOSTOM). Although this was a deserted place, he that is here is ready to feed the world (EUSEBIUS OF EMESA). The one who is speaking is not subject to time, even though it was said to be late in the day (CHRYSOSTOM). Jesus looked up to heaven that he might teach them to keep their eyes focused there. And he broke the bread. If the bread had been left intact and not broken into pieces, they would have been unable to feed the great crowds of men, women and children (JEROME). By the word of God coming from the law and the prophets, the multitude was satisfied and an abundance of divine power, reserved for the Gentiles from the ministry of the eternal food, was left over for the twelve apostles (HILARY OF POITIERS).

14:13-14 | Jesus Has Compassion on the Throng

TO A LONELY PLACE APART

CHRYSOSTOM: We see him on many occasions “departing.” We see this when John was imprisoned [1] and killed and when the Jews heard that he was making more disciples. [2] For it was his will to live his life in an ordinary rhythm of interaction and solitude. The time had not yet come for him to reveal his divine glory plainly. This is why Jesus told his disciples to “tell no one that he is the Christ.” [3] His will was that this should be better known after his resurrection. During this time he was not very severe with those who were obstinate in their unbelief. Rather, he was prone to be indulgent with them.

On retiring, he departs not into a city but into a wilderness. He leaves in a boat so that no one would follow him.

But note how the disciples of John had by now become more attached to Jesus. For it was they who told him of the event. They in fact had left everything and taken refuge in John. In their calamity Jesus makes provision for them, and in doing so he does them no small benevolence.

But why did he not withdraw before they brought the news to him? Didn’t Jesus know the fact of John’s death even before they reported it to him? He did not want to make his identity known at this point. The divine economy did not require it. For it was not by his appearance only but by his actions that Jesus would have his identity confirmed. He knew the devil’s craft and that he would leave nothing undone to destroy Christ’s revelation.

This is why Jesus withdrew. But the crowds do not withdraw from him. They try to follow him, as if riveted to him. Not even John’s tragic end diverted or frightened them. So great a thing is earnest desire, so great a thing is love, that it overcomes and dispels all dangers. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 49. [4]

[1] Mt 4:12.

[2] Jn 4:1-3.

[3] Mt 16:20.

[4] PG 58:495-97; NPNF 1 10:303-4.

HE WITHDREW

JEROME: They announced the death of the Baptist to the Savior. When Jesus heard this, he withdrew to a lonely place apart, but not, as some people think, for fear of death. He withdrew to spare his enemies from compounding one murder with another or to defer his death to the day of Passover on which a lamb is ritually offered up and doorposts are sprinkled with the blood of the faithful. Or else he withdrew in order to give us an example of avoiding the foolhardiness of those who betrayed him, because not everyone perseveres amid torments with the same constancy they had when they offered themselves to be tortured. For this reason in another place he gave this admonition: “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another.” [1] It was also fitting that the Evangelist did not say “he fled to a lonely place” but “he withdrew,” so that he avoided his persecutors rather than feared them. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.14.13. [2]

[1] Mt 10:23.

[2] CCL 77:119-20.

14:15-16 | You Give Them Something to Eat

YOU GIVE THEM

CHRYSOSTOM: Note carefully the Teacher’s skill. Observe with what discretion he draws them toward believing. Observe how deliberately this unfolds. For he did not simply say, “I will feed them.” The deeper significance of that would have not been easily understood. So what does he say? “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

He did not say “I give them” but “you give them.” For at this point their regard for him was essentially as to a man. They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” At this point Mark adds, “They did not understand the saying, for their heart was hardened.” [1] For they were continuing to crawl like babies. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 49. [2]

[1] Mk 6:52.

[2] PG 58:497; NPNF 1 10:304.

SEND THEM AWAY?

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Let us examine carefully what this sending away of the crowds is all about. Some of those who followed Christ were afflicted by evil spirits and begged to be delivered from them. Others were afflicted with various sicknesses from which they sought relief. Therefore, because the disciples knew that Jesus had only to consider what those who were suffering longed for and it would be accomplished, “they sent them away.” They did this not so much because they thought Jesus’ time was too valuable but because they had a love for the crowds and, as though already having an understanding of pastoral care, they began to care for the people. FRAGMENT 175. [1]

[1] MKGK 210.

14:17 | Five Loaves and Two Fish

THE FIVE LOAVES OF THE FIVE BOOKS OF THE LAW

HILARY OF POITIERS: When the disciples advised that the crowds be sent away into the neighboring villages to buy food, he answered, “They do not need to go away.” This signaled that these people whom he healed with the food of teaching, teaching that was not for sale, had no need to go back to Judea and buy food. He ordered the apostles to give them something to eat.

But was Jesus unaware there was nothing to give? Did he not know the disciples possessed a limited amount of food? He could read their minds, so he knew. We are invited to explain things by reasoning according to types. It was not yet granted to the apostles to make and administer heavenly bread for the food of eternal life. Yet their response reflected an ordered reasoning about types: they had only five loaves and two fish. This means that up to then they depended on five loaves—that is, the five books of the law. And two fish nourished them—that is, the preaching of the prophets and of John. For in the works of the law there was life just as there is life from bread, but the preaching of John and the prophets restored hope to human life by virtue of water. [1] Therefore the apostles offered these things first, because that was the level of their understanding at the time. From these modest beginnings the preaching of the gospel has proceeded from them, from these same apostles, until it has grown into an immense power. ON MATTHEW 14.10. [2]

[1] The water of baptism.

[2] SC 258:20-22.

14:18 | Bring Them

FEEDING THE WORLD IN A DESERTED PLACE

CHRYSOSTOM: Finally he said to them, “Bring them here to me.” Although this was a deserted place, he that is here is ready to feed the world. The one who is speaking to you is not subject to time, even though “the day is now over.”

In John’s Gospel it is further related that these were loaves of barley. [1] This is not mentioned accidentally but with the object of teaching us to trample under foot [2] the pride of costly living. Such was also the diet of the prophets. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 49.1. [3]

[1] Jn 6:9.

[2] As barley is crushed.

[3] PG 58:497; NPNF 1 10:304.

14:19 | Blessing and Breaking the Loaves

EVANGELICAL FOOD

HILARY OF POITIERS: Having taken the bread and the fish, the Lord looked up to heaven, then blessed and broke them. He gave thanks to the Father that, after the time of the law and the prophets, he himself was soon to be changed into evangelical food. After this the people were ordered to sit on the grass but not to lie down. Supported by the law, each one was covered as it were with the fruit of his works as with the grass on the ground. ON MATTHEW 4.11. [1]

[1] SC 258:22.

HE LOOKED TO HEAVEN

JEROME: They are ordered to sit down on the grass and, according to another Evangelist, to recline in groups of hundreds and of fifties. In this way from the repentance of the fifty, [1] they ascended toward the perfect summit of one hundred. [2]

He looked up to heaven that he might teach them to keep their eyes focused there. He then took in hand five loaves of bread and two fish; he broke the loaves and gave the food to the disciples. By the breaking of the bread, he makes it into a seedbed of food—for if the bread had been left intact and not pulled apart and broken into pieces, they would have been unable to feed the great crowds of men, women and children. The law with the prophets are therefore pulled apart and broken into pieces. Mysteries are made manifest, so that what did not feed the multitude of people in its original whole and unbroken state now feeds them in its divided state. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.14.19. [3]

[1] A number symbolizing repentance, in reference to the Hebrew jubilee year, which recurred every fifty years and during which all debts were remitted.

[2] A number signifying perfection.

[3] CCL 77:122.

HE BROKE AND GAVE THE LOAVES

CHRYSOSTOM: In this miracle Jesus was teaching them humility, temperance, charity, to be of like mind toward one another and to share all things in common. He did so in his choice of location, by providing nothing more than loaves and fishes, by setting the same food before all and having them share it in common and by affording no one more than another. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 49.3. [1]

[1] PG 58:499; NPNF 1 10:306.

14:20 | All Were Satisfied, and Food Was Left

THEY WERE SATISFIED

HILARY OF POITIERS: The loaves were given to the apostles, for through them the gifts of divine grace were to be administered. The crowds were then fed with the five loaves and two fish, and they were satisfied. The leftover fragments of bread and fish, after the people had their fill, amounted to twelve baskets. Thus, by the word of God coming from the teaching of the law and the prophets, the multitude was satisfied; and an abundance of divine power, reserved for the Gentiles from the ministry of the eternal food, was left over for the twelve apostles. ON MATTHEW 4.11. [1]

[1] SC 258:22-24.

TWELVE BASKETS FULL OF BROKEN PIECES

CHRYSOSTOM: And not even here does he hold back on the miracle, but it continues as the loaves become fragments. The broken pieces signify that of those loaves, some remained unreceived. This was in order that those who were absent might also learn what had been done.

For this providential purpose, then, Jesus indeed permitted the crowds to get hungry in order that no one might suppose what took place to be as illusion.

For this purpose he also caused just twelve baskets to remain over: That Judas, too, might bear one. He wanted all the disciples to know his power. He fed their hunger. In Elijah’s case something similar also took place. [1] THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 49.3. [2]

[1] 1 Kings 17:16.

[2] PG 58:499; NPNF 1 10:306.

THE DIVINE ECONOMY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: So that by every means the Lord might be known to be God by nature, he multiplies what is little, and he looks up to heaven as though asking for the blessing from above. Now he does this out of the divine economy, for our sakes. For he himself is the one who fills all things, the true blessing from above and from the Father. But, so that we might learn that when we are in charge of the table and are preparing to break the loaves, we ought to bring them to God with hands upraised and bring down upon them the blessing from above, he became for us the beginning and pattern and way. FRAGMENT 177. [1]

[1] MKGK 210-11.

LIKE MANNA

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: It is possible to see these new miracles concurring with more ancient ones and as being activities of one and the same power. The manna once remained in the wilderness for those of Israel. Now, behold, again in the desert he has provided ungrudgingly for those in want of food, as though bringing it down from heaven. For to multiply what is little and to feed such a multitude as though out of nothing would not be out of keeping with the former miracle. At that time Israel was to partake according to need; they had not received food in order to take it away with them, even though many fragments were left. This is, again, a good symbol for measuring use according to need and of not introducing an acquisitiveness that goes beyond what is needful. FRAGMENT 178. [1]

[1] MKGK 211.

THE UNSEEN APPEARS THROUGH WHAT IS SEEN

EUSEBIUS OF EMESA: The miracle of the bread revealed the one through whom the soil, when planted with seed, multiplies. What was done invisibly, once brought to light, proclaimed who it is that always works invisibly. It was not only at that time that Jesus with five loaves does many great things. In the world he was not idle or inactive but was always at work feeding everyone and taking nothing for himself. Because he was unknown, therefore, he came feeding, eating and feeding, so that through those things that are seen, he who was unseen might appear. HOMILY 8.12. [1]

[1] SSL 26:205.

14:21 | Numbering the Multitude

FIVE THOUSAND MEN

HILARY OF POITIERS: The same number of those eating proved to be the number of those who believed. As noted in the book of Acts, out of the countless people of Israel five thousand men believed. [1] Once the people had been satisfied, when they took up the loaves that had been broken into pieces with the fish, there was enough left over to match the number of believers and apostles to be filled with heavenly grace. Thus both the measure suited the number and the number the measure. Within its bounds the calculation was keyed to the proper effect and depended on the guidance of divine power. ON MATTHEW 4.11. [2]

[1] Acts 4:4.

[2] SC 258:24.