Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 15:32-38

Albert Barnes Commentary

Matthew 15:32-38

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Matthew 15:32-38

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"And Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I would not send them away fasting, lest haply they faint on the way. And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves and the fishes; and he gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children." — Matthew 15:32-38 (ASV)

The miracle recorded here, the feeding of the four thousand, took place on a mountain, near the Sea of Galilee. The same account is recorded in Mark 8:1-10. The circumstances of the miracle are so similar to the one recorded in Matthew 14:14-21 as to need no particular explanation.

Three days and have nothing to eat. This is not, perhaps, to be taken literally, but only that during that time they had been deprived of their ordinary, regular food. They had had only a very scanty supply, and on the third day even that began to fail.