John Calvin Commentary Matthew 15:32

"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." — Matthew 15:32 (ASV)

I have compassion on the multitude. Here a miracle is related not unlike another which we have lately explained. The only difference is that on the former occasion Christ satisfied five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, while, on the present occasion, four thousand men are fed with seven loaves and a few small fishes; and that twelve baskets were then filled with fragments, while out of a greater abundance a smaller portion is left.

Let us learn from this that the power of God is not restricted to means or outward assistance, and that it is all the same to Him whether there is much or little, as Jonathan⁴²⁵ said when speaking of his own moderate army and the vast multitude of enemies:

there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few,
(1 Samuel 14:6).

As the blessing of God can make one loaf suffice as well as twenty for satisfying a great multitude, so, if that is lacking, a hundred loaves will not be a sufficient meal for ten men; for when the staff of bread is broken (Leviticus 26:26), though the flour should come in full weight from the mill, and the bread from the oven, it will serve no purpose to stuff the belly.

The three days’ fasting, of which Christ speaks, must not be understood to mean that they had eaten nothing for three days, but that in desert places they had few conveniences, and must have lacked their ordinary food.

Besides, in those warm countries, hunger is less keen than in our thick and cold atmosphere; and, therefore, we do not need to wonder that they should abstain longer from food.

⁴²⁵ Instead of Jonathan, the French copy mentions , the French copy mentions Asa, whose words are similar, and were uttered on a similar occasion: , whose words are similar, and were uttered on a similar occasion: Lord,, it is nothing with thee to help,, whether with many,, or with them that have no power, (, (2 Chronicles 14:11.) — .) — Ed.