And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have ye?
The miracle of the loaves and fishes; or, continuity and economy
Want in men moves Christ’s whole nature. His help leaves no injury. Here generosity and frugality meet. Observe in this miracle two principles.
I. Continuity. That which is comes out of that which has been.
II. Frugality. There is no waste.
1. These two principles are exhibited in nature. Mere spontaneity nature disowns. The field says, “Give me seed, and I will give you back harvest.” Nature disowns waste, all things are utilized.
2. These principles are found in history. God does not fling loaves from the sky; they are growths. Not one life is lost.
3. These principles are seen in the moral world. There is no dropping of truths than of great men from heaven. Hence out of the few loaves grow the feast. He who holds in sincerity a little truth has the promise of all.
In applying the truth of the text we learn-
1. To hope. The less will become more.
2. The effect of this law upon character. Your future must come out of your past.
3. A lesson in helping others. We help by bringing the better out of some good in men. How many loaves have you? One has a feeble resolution; that, with the blessing of God, may be sufficient. (P. Brooks, D. D.)
The miraculous feeding of four thousand
I. The features by which this miracle was distinguished.
1. It was a miracle of mercy.
2. Its publicity is another feature worthy of notice.
3. The scale on which it was wrought was most extensive.
4. It was the result of no previous arrangement, but was done in order to meet a pressing emergency.
5. The consciousness He evinced that His resources were adequate to the occasion.
II. The lessons which this miracle enforces.
1. Reliance.
2. Gratitude.
3. Charity.
4. Economy. (Expository Outlines.)
The necessities of man and the all-sufficiency of Christ
I. That circumstances are continually reminding man of his necessitous condition. Man can go but a short way into life’s wilderness without feeling that his is a craving nature. Life-long dependence should teach life-long humility.
II. That man’s necessitous condition is fully met by Christ’s sufficiency. Christ knows the necessities of our human constitution. In Christ dwells all fulness. Man needs pardon, purity, freedom, peace.
III. That if man will not avail himself of Christ’s sufficiency he will be chargeable with the ruin of his own soul. These men did not refuse to eat because they could not understand the mystery by which the bread was multiplied, Refuse to eat and they die. (J. Parker.)