Mat 14:19, Luk 18:13 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 19. And he commanded the multitude to sit down . In the original it is to recline on the grass, or to lie as they did at their meals. The Jews never sat, as we do at meals, but reclined , or lay at length. . Mark and Luke add, that they reclined in companies, by hundreds, and by fifties. And looking up to heaven, he blessed . Luke adds, he blessed them ; that is, the loaves. The word to bless means, often, to give thanks; sometimes to pray for blessing; that is, to pray for the Divine favour and friendship; to pray that what we do may meet his approbation. In seeking a blessing on our food it means, to pray that it may be made nourishing to our bodies; that we may have proper gratitude to God, the Giver, for providing for our wants; and that we may remember the Creator, while we partake the bounties of his providence. Our Saviour always sought a blessing on his food. In this he was an example for us. What he did, we should do. It is right thus to seek the blessing of God. He provides for us; he daily opens his hand, and satisfieth our wants; and it is proper that we should render suitable acknowledgments for his goodness. The custom, among the Jews, was universal. The form of prayer which they used in the time of Christ has been preserved by their writers, the Talmudists. It is this: "Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who hast produced this food and this drink, from the earth and the vine." And brake . The loaves of Bread, among the Jews, were made thin and brittle, and were therefore broken and not cut.

Matthew 14:19

Verse 19. And he commanded the multitude to sit down. In the original it is to recline on the grass, or to lie as they did at their meals. The Jews never sat, as we do at meals, but reclined, or lay at length. Mt 23:6. Mark and Luke add, that they reclined in companies, by hundreds, and by fifties.

And looking up to heaven, he blessed. Luke adds, he blessed them; that is, the loaves. The word to bless means, often, to give thanks; sometimes to pray for blessing; that is, to pray for the Divine favour and friendship; to pray that what we do may meet his approbation. In seeking a blessing on our food it means, to pray that it may be made nourishing to our bodies; that we may have proper gratitude to God, the Giver, for providing for our wants; and that we may remember the Creator, while we partake the bounties of his providence. Our Saviour always sought a blessing on his food. In this he was an example for us. What he did, we should do. It is right thus to seek the blessing of God. He provides for us; he daily opens his hand, and satisfieth our wants; and it is proper that we should render suitable acknowledgments for his goodness.

The custom, among the Jews, was universal. The form of prayer which they used in the time of Christ has been preserved by their writers, the Talmudists. It is this: "Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who hast produced this food and this drink, from the earth and the vine."

And brake. The loaves of Bread, among the Jews, were made thin and brittle, and were therefore broken and not cut.

Mt 14:13

Luke 18:13

Verse 13. Standing afar off. Afar off from the temple. The place where prayer was offered in the temple was the court of women. The Pharisee advanced to the side of the court nearest to the temple, or near as he could; the publican stood on the other side of the same court if he was a Jew, or in the court of the Gentiles if he was a pagan, as far as possible from the temple, being conscious of his unworthiness to approach the sacred place where God had his holy habitation.

So much as his eyes, &c. Conscious of his guilt. He felt that he was a sinner, and shame and sorrow prevented his looking up. Men who are conscious of guilt always fix their eyes on the ground.

Smote upon his breast. An expression of grief and anguish in view of his sins. It is a sign of grief among almost all nations.

God be merciful, &c. The prayer of the publican was totally different from that of the Pharisee. He made no boast of his own righteousness toward God or man. He felt that he was a sinner, and, feeling it, was willing to acknowledge it. This is the kind of prayer that will be acceptable to God. When we are willing to confess and forsake our sins, we shall find mercy, Prov 28:13. The publican was willing to do this in any place; in the presence of any persons; amid the multitudes of the temple, or alone. He felt most that God was a witness of his actions, and he was willing, therefore, to confess his sins before him. While we should not seek to do this publicly, yet we should be willing at all times "to confess our manifold transgressions, to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same by God's infinite goodness and mercy." It is not dishonourable to make acknowledgment when we have done wrong. No man is so much dishonoured as he who is a sinner and is not willing to confess it; as he who has done wrong and yet attempts to conceal the fault, thus adding hypocrisy to his other crimes.

(g) "smote upon his breast" Jer 31:19