Mar 6:32-44, Luk 9:10-17, Joh 6:1-14 | Barnes | STEP | Verses 32-44. and Verse 32. By ship . By a boat, a small vessel. Privately . Without making their plan known. They intended to go privately. It appears, however, that their intention became known, and multitudes followed them.

Mark 6:32-44

Verse 32. By ship. By a boat, a small vessel.

Privately. Without making their plan known. They intended to go privately. It appears, however, that their intention became known, and multitudes followed them. Verse 33. Afoot thither. On foot to the place where they saw them going.

Out of all cities. All cities or large towns in the neighbourhood. Verse 34. Much people--as sheep, etc. They had no one to teach them, and guide them. The priests and scribes were proud, corrupt, and despised the common people and neglected them.

(r) "because they were" 1Kgs 22:17 Verse 35. The time is far passed. The day is almost gone. It is drawing near night.

(s) "And when the day" Mt 14:15, Lk 9:12, Jn 6:5 Verse 37. Two hundred pennyworth of bread. About 27 dollars, [or �6 sterling.] As the disciples had a common purse in which they carried their little property, consisting of the donations of their friends, and money to be given to the poor, (compare Jn 12:6; Mt 26:8,9; Lk 8:30 it is not improbable that they had, at this time, about this sum in their possession. Philip--for it was he who asked the question, (Jn 6:7)--asked, with a mixture of wonder and agitation, whether they should take all their little property, and spend it on a single meal? And even if we should, said he, it would not be sufficient to satisfy such a multitude. It was implied in this, that in his view they could not provide for them if they wished to, and that it would be better to send them away than to attempt it.

(t) "Shall we go" Nu 11:13,22, 2Kgs 4:43 (1) "two hundred" Mt 18:28 Verse 39.

(u) "commanded" Mt 15:35, Mk 8:6 Verse 40. In ranks. Literally, in the form of square beds in a garden. By square, regularly formed companies.

By hundreds, and by fifties. Some companies had a hundred in, and some fifty. We need not suppose that these were exactly formed, or arranged; but that this was about the number. The expression indicates a multitude. There were so many, that they sat down, by hundreds and by fifties, in separate companies, on the green grass. Verse 41.

(v) "and blessed" 1Sam 9:13, Mt 26:26, Lk 24:30 Verse 42.

(w) "And they did" De 8:3 Verse 43. Twelve baskets. Baskets belonging to the disciples, in which they carried their provisions, or, perhaps, belonging to some of the multitude.

Fragments. Broken pieces of the bread that remained.

Luke 9:10-17

Verses 10-17. Mt 14:13, also Mt 14:14-21.

Verse 10. Verse 11.

(f) "when they knew it" Rom 10:14,17 (g) "he received them" Jn 6:37 (h) "kingdom of God" Acts 28:31 Verse 12.

(k) "And when the day" Mt 14:15 (l) "desert place" Ps 78:19,20, Eze 34:25, Hos 13:5 Verse 14.

(m) "Make them sit down" 1Cor 14:40 Verse 17.

(n) "were all filled" Ps 107:9

John 6:1-14

Verse 1. Jesus went over. Went to the east side of the sea. The place to which he went was Bethsaida, Lk 9:10. The account of this miracle of feeding the five thousand is recorded also in Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:32-44, Lk 9:10-17. John has added a few circumstances omitted by the other evangelists.

(a) "after these things" Mt 14:15, Mk 6:34, Lk 9:12 Verse 2. Because they saw his miracles, &c. They saw that he had the power to supply their wants, and they therefore followed him. See Jn 6:26. Comp. also Mt 14:14. Verse 4. The passover. Mt 26:2, 17.

A feast of the Jews. This is one of the circumstances of explanation thrown in by John which show that he wrote for those who were unacquainted with Jewish customs. Verse 6. To prove him. To try him; to see if he had faith, or if he would show that he believed that Jesus had power to supply them. Verse 7.

(b) "Two hundred pennyworth" Nu 11:21,22, 2Kgs 4:43 Verse 12. Gather up the fragments. This command is omitted by the other evangelists. It shows the care of Jesus that there should be no waste. Though he had power to provide any quantity of God, yet he has here taught us that the bounties of Providence are not to be squandered. In all things the Saviour set us an example of frugality, though he had an infinite supply at his disposal; he was himself economical, though he was Lord of all. If he was thus saving, it becomes us dependent creatures not to waste the bounties of a beneficent Providence. And it especially becomes the rich not to squander the bounties of Providence. They often feel that they are rich. They have enough. They have no fear of want, and they do not feel the necessity of studying economy. Yet let them remember that what they have is the gift of God--just as certainly as the loaves and fishes created by the Saviour were his gift. It is not given them to waste, nor to spend in riot, nor to be the means of injuring their health or of shortening life. It is given to sustain life, to excite gratitude, to fit for the active service of God. Everything should be applied to its appropriate end, and nothing should be squandered or lost.

(c) "When the were filled" Neh 9:25 (d) "that nothing be lost" Neh 8:10 Verse 14. That Prophet, &c. The Messiah. The power to work the miracle, and the benevolence manifested in it, showed that he was the long- expected Messiah.

(e) "that Prophet" Gen 49:10, De 18:15-18