John Calvin Commentary Matthew 14:16

"But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat." — Matthew 14:16 (ASV)

You give them something to eat. As a fuller exposition of this miracle will be found in John chapter 6, instead of troubling my readers with a repetition of what I have said, I would rather send them to that exposition. However, rather than pass over this passage entirely, I will offer a brief recapitulation. Until now, Christ had bestowed his whole attention on feeding souls, but now he includes within his duties as a shepherd the care even of their bodies. In this way he confirms his own saying, that to those who seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, all other things will be added (Matthew 6:33).

We have no right, indeed, to expect that Christ will always follow this method of supplying the hungry and thirsty with food. However, it is certain that he will never permit his own people to lack the necessities of life, but will stretch out his hand from heaven whenever he sees it to be necessary to relieve their needs. Those who wish to have Christ for their provider must first learn not to long for refined luxuries, but to be satisfied with barley-bread.

Christ commanded that the people were to sit down in companies. He did so for several reasons:

1. So that by this arrangement of the ranks the miracle might be more manifest.
2. So that the number of the men might be more easily ascertained, and that, while they looked at each other, they might in their turn bear witness to this heavenly favor.
3. Perceiving that his disciples were anxious, he intended to test their obedience by giving them an instruction which at first appeared absurd; for, as no provisions were at hand, it was reasonable to wonder why Christ was making arrangements that resembled a feast.

What follows serves the same purpose: he gave them the loaves, so that the astonishing increase might take place in their hands, and that they might thus be the ministers of Christ’s divine power. For, as if it were of small importance that they should be eyewitnesses, Christ determined that his power should be handled by them.

³⁷⁸Two hundred pence, according to the computation of Budaeus, are worth about thirty-four French livres;³⁷⁹ and so when the disciples speak of what is sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little, they calculate at the rate of a farthing for each individual. Forming so high an estimate of the sum of money that would be required to purchase bread barely sufficient for procuring a morsel for the people, they are entitled to no small praise for their obedience, when they implicitly comply with the command of Christ and leave the result to his disposal.

³⁷⁸ “Car Christ ne se contentant point de leur faire voir de leurs propres yeux sa vertu, a voulu mesme qu’elle passast par leurs mains, et qu’ils la touchassent;”— “for Christ, not satisfied with making them see his power with their own eyes, determined even that it should pass through their hands, and that they should touch it.”;”— “for Christ, not satisfied with making them see his power with their own eyes, determined even that it should pass through their hands, and that they should touch it.”

³⁷⁹ The value of a The value of a livre was so much affected both by time and by place, that it is not easy to determine with exactness how it was rated by Budaeus or Calvin. Most probably, the reference is to was so much affected both by time and by place, that it is not easy to determine with exactness how it was rated by Budaeus or Calvin. Most probably, the reference is to la livre Parisis, which was three times the value of a which was three times the value of a franc, or about two shillings and sixpence sterling; and thirty-four of these would amount to or about two shillings and sixpence sterling; and thirty-four of these would amount to four pounds, five shillings, sterling. Now reckoning the Roman Now reckoning the Roman denarius, or the eighth part of an ounce of silver, to be worth sevenpence halfpenny of our own money, or the eighth part of an ounce of silver, to be worth sevenpence halfpenny of our own money, une livre Parisis must have been equal to four must have been equal to four denarii, and therefore and therefore two hundred denarii must have been worth—not must have been worth—not thirty-four but but fifty livres Parisis, or or six pounds, five shillings, sterling.——Ed.