Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 14:19

"And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes." — Matthew 14:19 (ASV)

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. (See Barnes on Matthew 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 often means to give thanks. It also sometimes means to pray for a blessing—that is, to pray for divine favour and friendship, and to pray that what we do may meet his approval.

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 of 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 satisfies 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 are you, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who have 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.

(See Barnes on Matthew 14:13).