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Explanation for:
Matthew
14
:
20
And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Clement of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a47f4d84651d9fafd55_Clement%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":2,"exegesis-text":"The leftover pieces of bread, gathered from a vast crowd of satisfied individuals, could serve as a compelling testament to the divinity of Jesus, particularly if acts of generosity hold significant reward from God. In the earlier miracles, we observe a manifestation of the same divine power occurring in the present. In the desert, manna fell from the sky, and once more in a barren place, the Lord provided abundantly for those in need, resembling its descent from heaven. The miraculous expansion of a meager portion to nourish such a large assembly, seemingly from thin air, is akin to the original miracle."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The bread was entrusted to the apostles as a way to convey the gifts of God's grace through them. The crowd was nourished with five loaves and two fish, and they were completely satisfied; the leftover fragments, after they had eaten their fill, filled twelve baskets. By the command of God, rooted in the law and the prophets, the great multitude was provided for; and the overflow of divine strength, meant for the Gentiles from this everlasting feast, was entrusted to the twelve apostles."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Each apostle gathered what remained of the Savior in his basket, either to have provisions to share with the nations or to demonstrate through the leftovers that the multiplied loaves were indeed genuine. Consider how, in such an extensive wilderness and remote location, only five loaves and two fish were on hand, yet twelve baskets appeared so readily."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He broke and shared five loaves, and these never ran out in the hands of the apostles. The miracle continued beyond this initial act. The Lord ensured there was an abundance, but it consisted of pieces rather than whole loaves, illustrating that they were indeed the remnants of the original loaves, allowing those who were absent to recognize that a miracle had occurred. This is why Christ permitted the crowd to experience hunger, so none would mistake the miracle for a mere illusion; and for this purpose, He arranged for twelve baskets of remnants, giving Judas something to carry. The Lord could have easily satisfied their hunger without any bread, but that would not have revealed His power to the disciples, reminiscent of the time of Elijah (3 Kings 17:16). Because of this miracle, many Jews were so astonished that they sought to proclaim Him king, a desire not expressed after other signs. What words can capture how the loaves emerged and were spread across the wilderness? How was there enough for such a vast crowd? Five thousand men were fed, not including their wives and children; it is indeed commendable that both husbands and wives followed Christ. How could there have been any leftovers? This detail holds significance equal to the preceding miracle. The amount of leftovers was so abundant that the number of baskets matched that of the disciples, neither more nor less. The Lord entrusted the pieces to the disciples rather than the multitude, as the latter were not as fully prepared as the former."},{"author-name":"Eusebius of Emesa","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The miracle of the loaves unveiled the One through whom the earth, nurturing the seed, yields a harvest. What was once unseen became apparent, disclosing the One who consistently operates in the background. Jesus’ remarkable deeds extend beyond the provision of five loaves. He was not passive in the world; rather, He was continuously engaged in nourishing all, seeking nothing for Himself. Yet, being unrecognized, He came among us, sharing meals, so that through the tangible, the invisible One might be revealed."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"In order for Christ to be recognized in every aspect as truly divine, He took a small amount of food and looked upward towards heaven (Matt. 14:19), as if seeking the utmost blessing. He performed this act for our benefit, in accordance with the household of God. The One who fills all things is indeed the ultimate blessing from the Father. When we gather for the meal and prepare to break the bread, we ought to present it to God, as if lifting it in our hands with palms turned upward, inviting the highest blessing upon it. He became the origin, model, and path for us in this sacred practice. \\n\\nThat remnants of bread remained after feeding a vast number of satisfied individuals serves as a powerful testament to the divinity of Jesus, especially when we consider that acts of hospitality are richly rewarded by God. In the earlier miracles, we witness the parallel to this event and the manifestation of the same divine power. In the wilderness, manna descended upon the Israelites, and now, once again in a desolate place, the Lord generously provided food for those in need, as though it had come straight from heaven. The multiplication of a meager supply to feed such a large crowd, seemingly from nothing, mirrors the first miraculous sign."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Do not assume that the Lord’s miracles are merely ethereal; the multiplication of loaves serves to illustrate this truth. The twelve baskets were provided so that even Judas might witness and not succumb to betrayal by focusing solely on the miracle. The loaves and fish were expanded to demonstrate that He is the Creator of heaven and earth, affirming that all sustenance we receive daily is by His provision. The miracle performed in the wilderness counters any notion that He procured the loaves from a nearby town, as the location was desolate. This aligns with the overall narrative. Following Herod's execution of John, the prophet, indicating his disbelief in the prophecies concerning Christ, Jesus withdrew to a desolate area among the Gentiles, a place distant from God, where He not only restored the health of the afflicted but also provided for them physically. If He does not forgive our sins and heal our afflictions through baptism, we cannot partake in the Holy Communion of the Most Pure Mysteries, as only those who have been baptized are eligible to receive Communion."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Everyone will partake and be satisfied. After providing them first with spiritual nourishment through His teachings and discussions about the Kingdom of God, He also satisfies their physical hunger. Furthermore, He imparts many lessons: by resting on the grass, He exemplifies humility; by offering them only bread and fish, He demonstrates moderation; by distributing everything equally, He illustrates fairness. They gathered the excess of the baskets, totaling two dozen. Jesus took the five loaves and, after breaking them, distributed them; remarkably, the fragments grew in the disciples' hands. It was an extraordinary miracle! Not only did it suffice to feed the crowd, but there was also an abundance left over—twelve full baskets remained. The twelve apostles carried these baskets, serving as witnesses to such an incredible event, where their hands and their spirits were filled. Mark states that Christ also divided the two fish, and there were portions remaining from them as well."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"O Lord, You are greatly revered, and Your deeds are wondrous; no words can adequately express the magnitude of Your marvels! Even if the five loaves and two fish were fragmented into the tiniest, nearly imperceptible pieces, there would scarcely be one for each of the five thousand individuals present. Yet, each person, along with their wives and children, received abundantly, enough to not only satisfy their hunger but also to leave twelve baskets overflowing. The leftovers of bread and fish were preserved to confirm that this miracle was no mere illusion: twelve baskets were collected so that each of the apostles could carry one. The fragments, not the entirety of the loaves and fishes, remained to signify that they stemmed from the blessed and broken offerings. What human intellect can fathom, or what expression can adequately capture, the manner in which the five loaves and two fishes were multiplied and distributed by the hands of the Apostles? Moreover, why was there precisely twelve baskets filled, neither more nor less? Only God knows the nature of this act, for He is the one who accomplished it. As soon as the miracle took place,"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"They all enjoyed their meal and were satisfied, receiving as much as they desired. Though simple, it proved to be ample nourishment, and for the hungry and weary travelers, it was a truly delightful feast. In this way, the Lord validated His promise to the people: ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6:33). Sainted Chrysostom poses the question: \\"Why does Christ not create the loaves anew?\\" He responds: \\"To illustrate through His actions that all visible creation is by His hand, affirming that He is the One who proclaimed at the beginning: ‘Let the earth bring forth grass’ and ‘let the waters bring forth creatures having life’ (Gen. 1:11, 20). The miracle of multiplying five loaves and two fish holds equal significance to that of bringing forth fruit from the ground or creating living beings from the waters. Previously, He had performed miracles only for the sick, but now He extends His grace to the masses so that they may not merely witness what occurred for others but also partake in the gift themselves. What was once astounding to the Jews in the wilderness (Psalms 77:20) was now demonstrated by the Lord in action. He led them into the wilderness to ensure that the miracle could not be doubted. This is reflected in the moderation of the disciples, who numbered twelve and possessed only five loaves and two fish, showing their indifference to worldly possessions. They did not withhold even this small amount. From this, we learn that even with little, we must be willing to share with those in need. He distributed through His disciples to honor them and to prevent them from remaining in disbelief, ensuring they would remember the miracle through their own experience. The Lord provided only loaves and fishes to teach everyone the value of temperance. When the miraculous meal concluded, He instructed that the leftovers be collected so that nothing would be wasted, teaching us the importance of stewardship over God’s gifts. They gathered the remnants into two hundred and twelve baskets, one for each apostle, so that, having participated in the miracle, they themselves could eat, and those who were absent could benefit from the surplus of this extraordinary meal. Thus, the laborer deserves their sustenance, and those who serve at the altar must be nourished from it. St. Chrysostom notes: ‘For this reason, Christ allowed the people to experience hunger; He wanted no one to mistake a miracle for an illusion. Hence, He made the remaining pieces twelve baskets, so that even Judas might carry something. The Lord could satisfy hunger without bread, but then the disciples would not have recognized His power. The wonder of this miracle left the Jews in such astonishment that they wished to make Him king, honoring Him as the Messiah - the Christ.’"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"And they all ate, and were filled\\": approximately five thousand individuals consumed the food, not accounting for women and children (Matthew 14:21); thus, this nourishment was a miraculous event. The loaves were supernaturally multiplied and remained abundant in the disciples' hands, and the miracle extended beyond just the mere quantity. The Lord ensured that a surplus was left over, not only in loaves but also in fragments, demonstrating that these were the remnants of the same loaves. This served as a sign for those who did not witness the miracle, allowing them to understand its significance (Chrysostom). - \\"And they gathered\\": the apostles, who had distributed the bread, collected the leftover pieces from this miraculous feast into \\"twelve baskets,\\" reflecting the number of the twelve apostles. These were likely typical baskets used by the Jews while traveling, instead of bags (Matthew 10:10), which were not as commonly employed. These baskets housed the provisions they had brought for their journey. It was customary for Jews not to expect or accept food from Gentiles and Samaritans; public places offering complete provisions were rare, with few caravanserais available for lodging that did not provide food. Consequently, it was natural for travelers to prepare by bringing food in baskets carried over their shoulders or arms."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"All four Gospel writers affirm that everyone partook of the meal, indicating that the number of those present exceeded five thousand, and all who participated were satisfied (Mark 6:42; Luke 9:17; John 6:11-12). The Apostle John further notes that the disciples of Jesus served as much bread and fish as the seated guests desired. Following Jesus' instruction, they began to collect the remaining bread and filled twelve baskets with it. These baskets, used by Jews during their travels instead of bags for storing food, may have been small, yet it is evident that filling twelve of them with just five loaves of bread broken into pieces would be impossible without a miraculous multiplication of the fragments."}]}
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