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Matthew 14

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

He said, Bring them hither to me.

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

What does Matthew 14:17 mean?

Explanation

In the verse Matthew 14:17, the disciples of Jesus report to Him that they only have five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a large crowd.

This occurs after Jesus has spent a significant amount of time teaching and healing the people who had followed Him to a remote place.

When evening approaches, the disciples suggest that Jesus send the crowds away to buy food for themselves.

However, Jesus challenges the disciples to give the crowd something to eat. Their response highlights the disparity between the human assessment of the situation (limited resources) and Jesus’ capability to transcend such limitations.

This verse sets the stage for the subsequent miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, in which Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes to satisfy the entire crowd.

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Historical Context

This event in the Gospel of Matthew happens after John the Baptist’s execution and at a time when Jesus’ popularity was growing.

The location is described as a "desert place," which suggests a sparsely populated area near the Sea of Galilee.

It's likely this was a Jewish area, supported by the Gospel of Matthew's primary audience consisting of Jewish Christians.

The people had flocked to Jesus in remote locations, often bringing their sick for healing and to hear His teachings.

The concept of sharing food, and specifically bread, held deep significance in Jewish culture and religion, symbolizing hospitality and divine provision, as in the manna provided to the Israelites in the desert.

Theological Insights

The feeding of the five thousand is rich in theological significance. Here are some varying viewpoints:

Provision: The miracle is a testament to God's provision, reminding believers of Jehovah Jireh, a name for God meaning "The Lord Will Provide."
Eucharistic Overtones: Many Christian theologians associate this event with the Last Supper due to the actions of Jesus breaking the bread and giving thanks, which also occurs during the Eucharist or Communion.
Jesus as the New Moses: Scholars often note the parallels between Moses and Jesus, with this event reinforcing Jesus as a provider and miracle worker, much like Moses in the wilderness.
Symbol of the Kingdom of God: The plentiful nature of God's kingdom is symbolized through the abundant food provided from such a small offering.
Divine Compassion: Jesus' reluctance to send the hungry crowd away reflects God's compassion and care for physical needs.

Practical Applications

The story of the five loaves and two fishes can be applied in several practical ways:

Trust in Provision: It encourages individuals to trust in God’s provision even when resources seem insufficient.
Sharing and Generosity: By giving what little they had, the disciples set an example of sharing, suggesting that generosity can lead to miraculous outcomes.
Gratitude: The act of giving thanks before the distribution underscores the importance of being grateful for what one has, no matter how small it seems.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:19-21: The verses immediately following, describing the actual miracle and its result.
John 6:5-14: John’s account of the same miracle, adding the detail that a boy provided the five loaves and two fishes.
Mark 6:35-44 and Luke 9:12-17: Mark and Luke’s accounts of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, which parallel Matthew's narrative.
2 Kings 4:42-44: Elisha multiplies loaves of barley to feed a hundred men, foreshadowing Jesus’ miracle.

Language Study

The original language nuances are vital for understanding this verse:

Loaves (ἄρτος - artos): Refers typically to a small loaf or cake of bread, which in Jewish context would likely be made of barley.
Fishes (ἰχθύς - ichthys): In the ancient world, fish was a common part of the diet, particularly around the Sea of Galilee.
Five (πέντε - pente) and Two (δύο - duo): The specific mention of numbers may have symbolic value, connecting to Jewish numerology or simply emphasizing the miraculous nature of the event.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, offerings of bread and fish were common and symbolized sustenance and life. The multiplication miracle in Matthew echoes creation motifs found in various religious traditions where the divine provides for humanity in extraordinary ways.

Additionally, the motif of a feast in the wilderness reminds us of the sacred meals and sacrificial rites from other traditions, where the gods often provide food from the heavens or from minimal resources.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, there is no natural explanation for the multiplication of food as it is described in the Bible.

The account is considered a miracle precisely because it defies the known laws of nature and physics.

Modern science might explore the psychological and sociological phenomena related to shared meals and collective experiences which can create a heightened sense of community and perceived abundance.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varied interpretations of Matthew 14:17:

William Barclay notes the simplicity of the disciples' inventory and the subsequent demonstration of Jesus’ power to provide.
Matthew Henry highlights the disciple's despair juxtaposed with Christ's compassion and sufficiency in meeting the people's needs.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament discusses the Eucharistic connections and foreshadowing of Jesus’ continuing provision for His followers.
John Calvin sees in this verse an example of how God often allows us to reach the end of our resources to teach us to rely on divine providence.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 14:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?