The
disciples said to him, “Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.
Matthew 15:33-39
Matthew 15 [32.] Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.”
Matthew 15 [33.] The disciples said to him, “Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?”
Matthew 15 [34.] Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Matthew 15 [35.] He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.
Matthew 16 [1.] The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times! An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them, and departed.
Meaning:
The crowd had been with Jesus for three days on the mountainside by the Sea of Galilee, watching him heal the lame, blind and mute (Matthew 15:29-31). Now their food was gone. Jesus told his disciples, “I have compassion on the multitude… I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way” (Matthew 15:32). What follows is the feeding of the four thousand, recorded by Matthew and Mark (Mark 8:6-9).
- “Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place?”
The disciples’ question is surprising. Not long before, they had seen Jesus feed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:14-21). Yet they still asked how such a crowd could be fed. Their question echoes Israel in the wilderness, who asked, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?” (Psalm 78:19). Even Moses asked how meat could be found for so many people, and God replied, “Has Yahweh’s hand grown short?” (Numbers 11:23). People forget quickly what God has already done.
- “How many loaves do you have?”
As before, Jesus began with what the disciples had. They had seven loaves and a few small fish (Mark 8:5). He did not create the meal out of nothing, but took their small supply and multiplied it. He still works through what his people place in his hands.
- “He gave thanks and broke them”
Jesus had the crowd sit on the ground, gave thanks, broke the bread and gave it to the disciples to distribute. Giving thanks before a meal was a normal Jewish practice, but here it also teaches that every provision comes from the Father: “You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). Once again the disciples served the crowd.
- “They took up seven baskets full”
Everyone ate and was satisfied, and seven baskets of leftovers remained. The word Matthew uses here for “basket” is different from the one in the feeding of the five thousand. It usually refers to a larger basket. Jesus later asked his disciples to remember both miracles: “Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?” (Matthew 16:10).
Many readers have noted that this second feeding took place after Jesus had been among Gentiles, and the crowd that “glorified the God of Israel” may have included many Gentiles. If the twelve baskets of the first feeding recall the twelve tribes of Israel, the seven baskets may suggest completeness and the wider world. The bread of life is for all.
- “He came into the borders of Magdala”
Magdala was a fishing town on the western shore of the lake. It was the home of Mary Magdalene, “from whom seven demons had gone out” (Luke 8:2). Mark calls the area Dalmanutha (Mark 8:10). There the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus by demanding a sign (Matthew 16:1-4).
The Significance of Matthew 15:33-39
- Remembering God’s faithfulness
The disciples forgot the first miracle when they faced a second need. Remembering what God has already done strengthens faith for the next challenge.
- God provides
Jesus cared about the physical hunger of the crowd. “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Cross-References:
Matthew 15:32: "I have compassion on the multitude," The compassion behind the miracle.
Numbers 11:23: "Has Yahweh’s hand grown short?" God’s answer to doubt in the wilderness.
Matthew 16:10: "Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?" Jesus recalls the miracle.
Conclusion: When the crowd had been with Jesus three days without food, the disciples asked where they could find bread in a deserted place. Jesus took their seven loaves and a few fish, gave thanks, and fed four thousand men, besides women and children, with seven large baskets left over. Then he crossed to Magdala. The passage shows the compassion and power of Jesus, warns against forgetting his past faithfulness, and points to the bread of life offered to all.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible