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Explanation for:
Matthew
15
:
34
And Jesus said to them: How many loaves have you? But they said: Seven, and a few little fishes.
10
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{"arr":[{"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":"They no longer question, “But what is this for such a multitude?” (John 6:9) as they once did. Although their understanding did not come all at once, they gradually gained a deeper insight. He, engaging their thoughts, posed the question similarly as before to evoke a recollection of the previous miracle through the very form of His inquiry. Yet, you, who observe their shortcomings, also recognize their discerning intellect and admire their quest for truth, as they candidly acknowledge their own significant failings in their writings. It is indeed a considerable error to quickly forget a recent miracle; the Lord admonishes them for this lapse. Additionally, acknowledge their wisdom in another way: they seemed to care little for bodily needs and seldom focused on sustenance. Even in the wilderness, having spent three days there, they had only seven loaves. The Lord consistently performs as He did before: He lays them out on the ground and enables the loaves in the hands of the disciples to multiply without diminishing."},{"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":"We have previously discussed this sign, so rather than reiterate our earlier points, let's focus solely on the discrepancies between these two occurrences. In the earlier passage, we read that when evening came, His disciples approached Him saying, \\"This place is deserted\\" (Mt 14:15). In contrast, the Lord, after calling His disciples, expresses His compassion for the crowd, stating, \\"I am sorry for the people, because for three days they have been with Me.\\" Notably, in one instance, five loaves and two fish were present, while here, there are seven loaves and some fish. Additionally, in the former scenario, the multitude reclined on the grass, whereas in this one, they sit on the ground. The previous gathering numbered five thousand based on the loaves consumed, but here, there are four thousand. In the earlier account, twelve baskets were filled with leftover pieces, but here, there are seven. In the prior event, it is not the Lord who reminds the disciples, but rather the disciples themselves, who remained tied to their physical senses and were not fully liberated from the allure of the external world. They remind Him during the evening, as darkness approaches. In this account, however, it is the Lord who offers a reminder, expressing His concern for the crowd, noting that they have been with Him for three days without a break, and He does not wish for them to depart without nourishment, fearing weakness on their journey. The individuals who partook of the seven loaves—symbolic of sanctification and completion—numbered not five thousand, but four. This last number is always connoted with a sense of commendation. Just as a quadrilateral stone remains firm and stable, so too are the Gospels esteemed as sacred in this quadruple sense."},{"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":"In light of the miracle involving the five loaves, I inquired as well (Mark 6:38); yet they failed to grasp its significance. If you lament their lack of understanding, noting how quickly they overlooked the recent miracle, let us also appreciate their profound love for the truth, as they openly acknowledge their own failings in recounting the event. Observe the authority they had over the physical realm. They were in the desolate place for the third day, carrying with them seven loaves of bread."},{"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":"The account of the second multiplication of the loaves and the subsequent feeding of the multitude echoes the first miracle (Matthew 14:14-21) and does not necessitate extensive elaboration. Jesus remarked, \\"For three days now they have been with Me.\\" He wanted to clarify that if anyone suggested the crowd had brought their own food, such a claim would be unfounded; He observed they had been with Him for three days, indicating that if they had come prepared, their provisions would have run out. Thus, He did not perform the miracle on the first or second day but chose the moment when their supplies were depleted, allowing them to receive the miracle with heightened anticipation. He also noted, \\"lest they become weak on the road,\\" which illustrates the long journey back to the village and their lack of sustenance. To prevent anyone from claiming that the bread came from a nearby settlement, He emphasizes the desolate location (in the wilderness - Matthew 15:33), ensuring they were fully persuaded of the miracle. Consequently, both the first miracle and this one were manifested in the desert."},{"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":"The Lord addressed the disciples, who failed to understand, with a fresh inquiry: 'JESUS asked them, How many loaves do you possess? AND THEY RESPONDED, SEVEN, ALONG WITH SOME FISH. St. John Chrysostom comments on this, noting that it is indeed a significant flaw to quickly overlook a recent miracle, for this is what the Lord admonishes them for."},{"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":"The confusion experienced by the apostles was swiftly alleviated when Jesus enacted the miraculous multiplication of bread once more, enabling Him to nourish a crowd of four thousand, not including women and children. Following this miracle, seven baskets of scraps were gathered."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"This wondrous event drew a large crowd to the Savior, who were eager to listen to His teachings and to witness His miracles. Once again, by the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Christ performed the miraculous act of nourishing the multitudes, feeding four thousand men, in addition to women and children, with seven loaves and five small fish."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In order to reinforce the memory of the earlier miracle, Jesus Christ posed the same question to His disciples as He had during the initial feeding of the multitude: “How much bread do you have?” This inquiry required the disciples to reflect on their own resources and acknowledge their inadequacy to feed the large crowd. They replied, \\"Seven loaves and a few fish.\\""},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Clearly denote two fish, whereas in the latter account it is stated somewhat vaguely as a few fish (Mt. 34; Mk. 7). Moreover, during the first miracle, there were 12 baskets of leftovers collected, while in the second instance, there were 7. The Gospel of Matthew distinctly notes that 4,000 men were fed, not including their wives and children."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"At the end of His time with them, after providing numerous lessons that the audience attentively absorbed for several days, the Lord presented them with physical sustenance. Through His blessing, seven loaves and a few fish were multiplied to feed around four thousand individuals, not including women and children, and the disciples collected additional leftovers that filled seven baskets, corresponding to the number of loaves."}]}
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