Matthew 15:36
in Matthew 15Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and he took the seven loaves and the fishes; and he gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
KJV
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
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This verse in Matthew 15
Commentary
12 notes on this verseAnd taking the seven loaves: in which is signified that whatever spiritual things have been administered to others was first in Christ; hence Acts 1:1: Jesus began to do and to teach. All spiritual things were in him. Hence John 3:34: God doth not give …
This site's exposition
sit down on the ground
on Matthew 15:35-38
Four thousand men were fed, with seven basketfuls of broken pieces left over. Clarke points out that the Greek word for these baskets, spyrides, differs from the kophinoi of chapter 14, a large hamper. The numbers, five loaves against seven, twelve basketfuls against seven, mark two distinct events.
This site's exposition
He gave thanks and broke them
John Wesley, writing on verse 32, explains that giving thanks means praising God for the food and asking his blessing on it. John Chrysostom, on verse 35, notes that the loaves multiplied in the hands of the disciples as at the first feeding. The same order holds at both meals.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
(Verse 33 and following) And His disciples said to Him, "Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?" And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few small fish." And He directed the people to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them, and He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied.
The Lord wanted to provide by means of this food a miraculous work for the sake of their faith. This was his will and they perceived it. This is seen even in their questioning him: "Where are we to get bread enough"? Jesus wanted his …
(Sup. c. 14:15.) As we have spoken of this above, it would be tedious to repeat what has been already said; we shall therefore only dwell on those particulars in which this differs from the former. For these are not five, but four thousand; the number four being one always used in a good sense, and a four-sided stone is firm and rocks not, for which reason the Gospels also have been sacredly bestowed in this number. Also in the former miracle, because the people were neighbours unto the five senseso, it is the disciples, and not the Lord, that calls to mind their condition; but here the Lord Himself says, that He has compassion upon them, because they continue now three days with Him, that is, they believed on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Now all the rest He doth as on the former occasion; thus He both makes them sit down on the ground, and He makes the loaves multiply themselves in the hands of the disciples. For, "He commanded," it is said, "the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves, and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."
The Medieval Church1 voice
He teaches frugality by having them sit on the ground; and He teaches us to give thanks before eating by Himself giving thanks. Do you ask why it is that when there were five loaves and five thousand being fed, twelve baskets remained, but here …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
(ord.) The seven loaves are the Scripture of the New Testament, in which the grace of the Holy Spirit is revealed and given.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The beginning of this passage contains three points which deserve our special attention. For the present let us dwell exclusively on them. In the first place, let us remark how much more pains people take about the relief of their bodily diseases than about their souls. We read that “ great multitudes came to Jesus having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed and many others.” Many of them, no doubt, had journeyed many miles, andgone through great fatigues. Nothing is so difficult and troublesome as to move sick people.
The beginning of this passage contains three points which deserve our special attention. For the present let us dwell exclusively on them. In the first place, let us remark how much more pains people take about the relief of their bodily diseases than about their souls. We read that “ great multitudes came to Jesus having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed and many others.” Many of them, no doubt, had journeyed many miles, andgone through great fatigues. Nothing is so difficult and troublesome as to move sick people. But the hope of being healed was in sight: such hope is everything to a sick man. We know little of human nature if we wonder at the conduct of these people. We need not wonder at all. They felt that health was the greatest of earthly blessings; they felt that pain was the hardest of all trials to bear. There is no arguing against sense. A man feels his strength failing; he sees his body wasting and his face becoming pale; he is sensible that his appetite is leaving him: he knows, in short, that he is ill, and needs a physician. Show him a physician within reach, who is said never to fail in working cures, and he will go to him without delay. Let us, however, not forget that our souls are far more diseased than our bodies, and let us learn a lesson from the conduct of these people. Our souls are afflicted with a malady far more deep-seated, far more complicated, far more hard to cure than any ailment that flesh is heir to. They are in fact plague-stricken by sin. They must be healed, and healed effectually, or perish everlastingly. Do we really know this? Do we feel it? Are we alive to our spiritual disease? Alas, there is but one answer to these questions! The bulk of mankind do not feel it at all. Their eyes are blinded. They are utterly insensible to their danger.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἔλαβεν | elaben | having taken | G2983 → | 257 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑπτὰ | hepta | seven | G2033 → | 86 times |
| ἄρτους | artous | loaves | G740 → | 97 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰχθύας, | ichthuas | fish, | G2486 → | 20 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εὐχαριστήσας | eucharistesas | having given thanks | G2168 → | |
| ἔκλασεν | eklasen | He broke [them] | G2806 → | 14 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐδίδου | edidou | was giving | G1325 → | 412 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μαθηταῖς | mathetais | disciples | G3101 → | 260 times |
| οἱ | hoi | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | and | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μαθηταὶ | mathetai | the disciples | G3101 → | 260 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄχλοις. | ochlois | crowds. | G3793 → | 175 times |
ἔλαβενhaving taken
elabenG2983 →257 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἑπτὰseven
heptaG2033 →86 times
ἄρτουςloaves
artousG740 →97 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἰχθύας,fish,
ichthuasG2486 →20 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εὐχαριστήσαςhaving given thanks
eucharistesasG2168 →
ἔκλασενHe broke [them]
eklasenG2806 →14 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐδίδουwas giving
edidouG1325 →412 times
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
μαθηταῖςdisciples
mathetaisG3101 →260 times
οἱ<the>
hoiG3588 →19766 times
δὲand
deG1161 →2765 times
μαθηταὶthe disciples
mathetaiG3101 →260 times
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
ὄχλοις.crowds.
ochloisG3793 →175 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 22:19And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
- 1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
- Mark 14:22–24
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
- Luke 22:20
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
- Matthew 26:26–28
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29
Through
Romans 14:6He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 10:30–31
If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 14:19
And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 10:30–31
Through
John 6:11Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Matthew
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Glossa Ordinaria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Theodore of Mopsuestia, FRAGMENTS 86, 87; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.