Matthew:14:13-21

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rwp @Matthew:14:13 @{In a boat } (\en ploi “i \) "on foot " (\pez ˆi \, some MSS . \pez “i \). Contrast between the lake and the land route . rwp @Matthew:14:14 @{Their sick } (\tous arr “stous aut “n \). "Without strength " (\rh “nnumi \ and \a \ privative ). \Esplagchnisth ˆ\ is a deponent passive . The verb gives the oriental idea of the bowels (\splagchna \) as the seat of compassion . rwp @Matthew:14:15 @{When even was come } (\opsias genomen ˆs \). Genitive absolute . Not sunset about 6 P .M . as in strkjv @8:16 | and as in strkjv @14:23 |, but the first of the two "evenings " beginning at 3 P .M . {The place is desert } (\er ˆmos estin ho topos \). Not a desolate region , simply lonely , comparatively uninhabited with no large towns near . There were "villages " (\k “mas \) where the people could buy food , but they would need time to go to them . Probably this is the idea of the disciples when they add : {The time is already past } (\h ˆ h “ra ˆd ˆ par ˆlthen \). They must hurry . rwp @Matthew:14:16 @{Give ye them to eat } (\dote autois h –meis phagein \). The emphasis is on \h –meis \ in contrast (note position ) with their "send away " (\apoluson \). It is the urgent aorist of instant action (\dote \). It was an astounding command . The disciples were to learn that "no situation appears to Him desperate , no crisis unmanageable " (Bruce ). rwp @Matthew:14:17 @{And they say unto him } (\hoi de legousin aut “i \). The disciples , like us today , are quick with reasons for their inability to perform the task imposed by Jesus . rwp @Matthew:14:18 @{And he said } (\ho de eipen \). Here is the contrast between the helpless doubt of the disciples and the confident courage of Jesus . He used " _the_ five loaves and two fishes " which they had mentioned as a reason for doing nothing . "Bring them hither unto me ." They had overlooked the power of Jesus in this emergency . rwp @Matthew:14:19 @{To sit down on the grass } (\anaklith ˆnai epi tou chortou \). "Recline ," of course , the word means , first aorist passive infinitive . A beautiful picture in the afternoon sun on the grass on the mountain side that sloped westward . The orderly arrangement (Mark ) made it easy to count them and to feed them . Jesus stood where all could see him "break " (\klasas \) the thin Jewish cakes of bread and give to the disciples and they to the multitudes . This is a nature miracle that some men find it hard to believe , but it is recorded by all four Gospels and the only one told by all four . It was impossible for the crowds to misunderstand and to be deceived . If Jesus is in reality Lord of the universe as John tells us (John:1:1-18 |) and Paul holds (Colossians:1:15-20 |), why should we balk at this miracle ? He who created the universe surely has power to go on creating what he wills to do . rwp @Matthew:14:20 @{Were filled } (\echortasth ˆsan \). Effective aorist passive indicative of \chortaz “\. See strkjv @Matthew:5:6 |. From the substantive \chortos \ grass . Cattle were filled with grass and people usually with other food . They all were satisfied . {Broken pieces } (\t “n klasmat “n \). Not the scraps upon the ground , but the pieces broken by Jesus and still in the "twelve baskets " (\d “deka kophinous \) and not eaten . Each of the twelve had a basketful left over (\to perisseuon \). One hopes that the boy (John:6:9 |) who had the five loaves and two fishes to start with got one of the basketsful , if not all of them . Each of the Gospels uses the same word here for baskets (\kophinos \), a wicker-basket , called "coffins " by Wycliff . Juvenal ( _Sat_ . iii . 14 ) says that the grove of Numa near the Capenian gate of Rome was "let out to Jews whose furniture is a basket ( _cophinus_ ) and some hay " (for a bed ). In the feeding of the Four Thousand (Matthew and Mark ) the word \sphuris \ is used which was a sort of hamper or large provisions basket . rwp @Matthew:14:21 @{Beside women and children } (\ch “ris gunaik “n kai paidi “n \). Perhaps on this occasion there were not so many as usual because of the rush of the crowd around the head of the lake . Matthew adds this item and does not mean that the women and children were not fed , but simply that "the eaters " (\hoi esthiontes \) included five thousand men (\andres \) besides the women and children .

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