(30) And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. (31) And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. (32) And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. (33) And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. (34) And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward, them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (35) And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came, unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: (36) Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. (37) He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat, and they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? (38) He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. (39) And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. (40) And they sat down in ranks by hundreds, and by fifties. (41) And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. (42) And they did all eat, and were filled. (43) And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes: (44) And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. (45) And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. (46) And when he had sent them away, he de parted into a mountain to pray.
I shall only hint at one or two improvements, as they arise from this passage before us, having already noticed some of the principal things which are found in our LORD's miracle of feeding the multitude in the wilderness, in the similar relation of it. Matthew 14:1, etc. And first, it will be profitable to observe, what is said here of the Apostles, whom JESUS had sent forth to preach, returning with an account of their ministry: not by way of informing CHRIST what he already knew, but by way of praising him for the success of their labors. So should all ministers of JESUS. And what can be more engaging than the view of a faithful laborer in the Gospel, who hath gone forth in the LORD's strength in the day, returning to the LORD's praise in the night, and laying both himself and labors before the Lot for a blessing?
And let not the Reader overlook, as another interesting improvement, which ariseth from what is here said of CHRIST, compassion in beholding the fainting multitude. There is somewhat particularly striking in the manner in which it is related; JESUS was moved with compassion toward them. Reader! I know not what your feelings are, but I must confess that I receive a more than ordinary pleasure in such views of JESUS, as represent him touched with our feelings; for they certainly mean the feelings of JESUS in our nature, joined with the GODHEAD. Paul calls it the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. Philippians 1:8. Mercies and Compassions; not only GOD-mercies, but mercies in such a way, as are the mercies of the man also; and without the SON of GOD, having taken human nature into union with the GODHEAD, as GOD alone, he could not have felt. Reader! think what a view doth this apprehension of Jesus, in his two-fold nature, open to our everlasting joy, in a thousand instances which arise?
If I venture to hint at a third improvement from this passage, (many more might, but for swelling the pages), it shall be only to observe, that if from a few loaves and fishes the LORD CHRIST made such a supply for so great a multitude, and left such an overplus, think, what infinite resources are with our GOD, for every occasion, to both the spiritual, and temporal necessities of his chosen? Very blessed is the Apostle's conclusion on this point, when he saith But my GOD shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by CHRIST JESUS. Philippians 4:19. See Matthew 14:22-23.