ACC ~ Matthew 15 v35

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NARRATIVES OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES

ORIGEN: Be attentive to the difference between those things that are written in the various places in regard to the loaves. [1] I think that this passage belongs to a different order than the others. Note the differences. Those were fed on a mountain, these in a desert place. These were fed after they had continued three days with Jesus, but those one day, on the evening of which they were fed. Is there an implication that those to whom Jesus shows kindness are superior when he fed them on the spot to demonstrate his kindness? And according to John, the twelve baskets contained leftovers of barley loaves, [2] but nothing of this kind is said here. Is one preferred to another? In the one case he healed the sick, but in this case he is healing, along with the multitudes, those who are blind, lame, deaf and maimed. Note that the four thousand marveled, but no such thing is said about the sick. And I think we can distinguish those who ate of the seven loaves, for which thanks were given, from those who ate of the five loaves, which were blessed. These who ate the few little fishes are distinguished from those who ate of the two. Those who sat down upon the ground are distinguished from those who sat down on the grass. Note that those from fewer loaves left twelve baskets, but these from a greater number left seven baskets. Perhaps they were able more fully to receive. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.19. [3]

[1] Cf. Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:30-44; 8:1-10; Lk 9:10-17; Jn 6:1-13. Origen interprets in an allegorical manner the two accounts of the multiplication of the loaves, finding in the seven thousand beneficiaries of the second account a superior level of perfection to the five thousand of the first; the number seven is the symbol of perfection, whereas five is the symbol of the senses (see Matthew 1-13 [ACCS], p. 260 n. 4). To this he adds other details, which confirm this superiority.

[2] Jn 6:13.

[3] GCS 40:68; ANF 9:449.