A.T. Robertson Commentary Matthew 14:18

"And he said, Bring them hither to me." — Matthew 14:18 (ASV)

And he said (ο δε ειπεν). Here is the contrast between the helpless doubt of the disciples and the confident courage of Jesus. He used "the five loaves and two fishes" which they had mentioned as a reason for doing nothing. "Bring them hither unto me." They had overlooked the power of Jesus in this emergency.