Who said to them: Bring them hither to me.
ο δε ειπεν φερετε μοι αυτους ωδε
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In light of their ongoing presence on the earth, the Lord takes action, declaring, “Bring them to me today. Although the location may be void, here stands He who sustains all creation; despite the hour having passed, the Eternal One speaks to you.” John also notes that the bread was made from barley (John 6:9), and he does so with intention, aiming to teach us not to take pride in extravagant foods. This was also the sustenance of the prophets.
Bring the loaves to Me, for even though it is late, I am the Lord of time; even though the location may be barren, I am the Provider for all living beings. This teaches us that even with a small amount, we should extend generosity, just as the apostles did with their limited resources when they shared with the crowd. Just as that small offering was multiplied, so too will your own offering be multiplied.
Hear the words of Marcion and Manichaeus! The Lord instructs that five barley loaves and two small fish be presented to Him, so that He may bless them and increase their abundance.
He instructed them to provide loaves and fish, demonstrating that they ought to share even this small amount with those in need, prioritizing others over themselves. The disciples, despite their own hunger and lack of resources, complied without protest.
Consider the wealth of teachings contained within the words of Jesus Christ. First, He invites, “Bring them to Me,” and follows with, “and receive five loaves and two fish.” The Compassionate One desired not only to witness, but to physically handle the bread meant for the needy, illustrating the care and diligence necessary in the act of charity. Through this gesture, the Lord communicates that you should see and physically engage with the offerings, such as food or clothing, that you present to those in need. If you rely solely on a servant or another person, they may, should they lack goodwill, provide either meagerly or ineffectually to the poor.
Secondly, “And having commanded,” the Evangelist records that the people were to sit upon the grass. Marco the Evangelist elaborates that Jesus instructed all to recline on the lush grass, organizing them into groups of fifty, preparing for a shared meal, akin to those seated at various tables yet within the same setting. He commanded them to settle among the greener fields, and they arranged themselves in groups of fifty at a time (Mark 6:39-40). This organization not only produced a visible miracle for the witnesses but also facilitated an orderly distribution of food, preventing chaos so that everyone could partake in peace, grace, and harmony. Therefore, recognizing that a well-ordered approach pleases God and benefits you, strive to conduct your endeavors not in chaos or clamor, but with order and tranquility, adhering to the instruction of Paul, our heavenly guide, who advises, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Thirdly, “and looking up to heaven.” His upward gaze serves to remind us that He descended from heaven, affirming His unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit rather than presenting Himself as contrary. Fourthly, He blesses the loaves and fishes, as articulated by the inspired Luke: “But when He took the five loaves and the two fish, looking up to heaven, He blessed them” (Luke 9:16). Reflecting this practice, as noted by the Divine Chrysostom, we also bless our food before partaking, emulating Jesus’ example.
Fifthly, He breaks the loaves and entrusts them to His disciples. Just as God multiplied flour and oil through Elijah for the widow of Sarepta, so too did Jesus multiply five loaves and two fish in the apostles’ hands. Miraculously, just as water flowed from a spring, the loaves and fishes poured from their hands into the hands of thousands. From this, we glean that our gifts to the poor originate from what God has bestowed upon us, and importantly, that acts of charity enhance the wealth of the giver. Thus, Jesus entrusted the loaves to His disciples, who then distributed them, as noted by the holy Marko (Mark 6:41).
He instructed, "Bring them to Me here." Although "the location is desolate," here stands He who sustains all creation; though "the hour is advanced," still He who transcends time is addressing you.
The Lord displayed His mercy: with just five loaves and two fish, He provided for five thousand listeners through His abundant blessing—each of the apostles gathered baskets of leftovers. This act echoed the provision of manna in the wilderness and other miracles found in the Old Testament. The crowd, astounded by this wonder, recognized Him as the prophet foretold by Moses and sought to make Jesus their king. However, He retreated alone to the mountains to pray and instructed His disciples to return across the water without Him, leaving the people longing for the fulfillment of their aspiration.
The extraordinary event of providing sustenance for over five thousand individuals with just five loaves and two fish took place when the apostles found themselves at an isolated lakeside. There was no place for the multitude waiting for Jesus to rest or secure nourishment. As night approached, the apostles urged Jesus to dismiss the people: ‘The location is desolate, and the hour is late; send the crowd away so they can go into the nearby villages and purchase food for themselves.’ However, Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.’ He then ascended the mountain with the apostles and settled there as the crowd followed Him.
Observing the throng advancing towards them, Jesus sought to test the faith of His disciple Philip by asking, ‘Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?’ Philip responded, ‘We do not possess enough to provide for such a large gathering, as it would take more than two hundred denarii to give each of them even a little.’ Lacking awareness that the one who resurrected the dead and healed the blind, mute, and crippled could also satisfy the hungry, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, informed Jesus: ‘There is a lad here with five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?’ (John 6:7).
Yet, in His mercy, Christ had previously alerted them to their anxieties and directly communicated the challenge to Philip. A brief discussion ensued. It would take no less than two hundred denarii to purchase even a minimal amount of bread for the multitude; however, even if such funds were available in their collective treasury, there was neither time nor means to procure what was needed. At this point, Andrew pointed out that a boy had five barley loaves and two fish, but clearly, this meager provision was deemed insignificant. “Have them sit down,” Christ responded with composure.
"Bring them": even in this desolate place, He who sustains all creation is present; though the hour may have passed, He who transcends time is addressing you.
The Lord has the ability to satisfy hunger even in the absence of bread, but then the disciples would miss witnessing His power firsthand. After hearing from Andrew about the five loaves and two fish, He instructed, ‘Bring them to Me this day,’ ‘Create men beside you.’
Greek text, 7 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS