Matthew 14:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Despite this, they remained lacking in insight, responding naively with, “We have only five loaves and two fish.” Consequently, Mark the Evangelist notes their failure to comprehend the situation, as their hearts had become hardened.

In another Gospel, it is written: Here is a lad with five barley loaves Jn. 6:9. I believe this refers to Moses. The two fishes can be interpreted as representing the two Testaments or the number two, alluding to the law and the prophets. Thus, prior to the Savior's suffering and the illuminating power of the Gospel, the apostles had merely five loaves and two fishes, which were tossed about in the salty seas and waves.

In the Gospel of John, Andrew points out that there is a boy among them with five barley loaves and two fish, but he questions how such a small amount could possibly suffice for so many. It is understood that the boy provided these items to the disciples, who spoke as if they owned them, responding that they had nothing beyond this. This illustrates the disregard for material concerns by those fully committed to spiritual matters, as twelve men were to be nourished with merely five loaves of barley bread.

They responded, stating that in this desolate place, they possessed only five loaves and two fish. This indicates that the Divine Apostles had previously assessed whether anyone in the crowd had brought provisions. The Evangelist John provides a clearer account, noting that Apostle Andrew replied to Jesus by saying, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9). This detailed response reveals that the Apostles not only carefully examined the crowd beforehand but also showed pastoral concern and a fatherly commitment to the needs of the hungry. In response, Jesus said:

The apostle Andrew replied, “There is a lad present who possesses five small barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?” The apostles were evidently showing concern, inquiring if the crowd had any provisions. They likely acquired the boy's modest offerings and conveyed to the Lord, “We have only five loaves and two fish.” While their closeness to the Savior had begun to ignite a flame of gospel love for those around them, their hearts, as noted by Mark the evangelist, were at that moment hardened.

The Lord showed mercy by using five loaves and two fish to nourish five thousand listeners from His abundant gift, resulting in each of the apostles gathering a basketful of leftovers. This event echoed the manna provided in the wilderness and other significant miracles from the Old Testament. Amazed by such a display of divine power, the people recognized Him as the prophet foretold by Moses and sought to crown Jesus as their king. However, He withdrew to the mountains to pray alone and instructed His disciples to return to the other side without Him. Consequently, the crowd was left unfulfilled in their desires.

The extraordinary miracle of feeding over five thousand individuals with just five loaves and two fish took place when the apostles reached a deserted stretch of the lakeshore, devoid of any shelter. The throngs awaiting Jesus had no place to stay or food to eat, and as night approached, they urged Him to dismiss the crowd. They said, “The place is desolate and the hour is late; send the people away so they can go to the nearby villages and procure food for themselves.” However, Jesus replied, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” He then ascended the mountain alongside His apostles and sat down there, while the multitude followed Him.

Yet, in His mercy, Christ had already cautioned them regarding their anxieties and directly conveyed to Philip the challenge they faced. A brief discussion ensued. It would have taken no less than two hundred denarii to purchase even a small amount of bread for such a large crowd; and even if they had possessed that much in their communal funds, there was neither the time nor the opportunity to procure the needed supplies. At that moment, Andrew pointed out that a boy in their midst had five barley loaves and two fish, although it was clear that this meager provision was hardly worth mentioning. “Have them recline,” Christ responded with composure.

The Lord inquired of His disciples, “How much bread do you have? Go and check.” It was equally within His power to create a multitude of loaves from either few or many, as He was not reliant on existing materials for such a miracle, yet this inquiry served to instill greater confidence in the miraculous act. So, “when the two disciples found themselves at a loss, He had already initiated a miracle: being aware of the challenge beforehand, they were to perceive the might of God even more profoundly.”