Matthew 15:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In both past and present discussions about the wilderness are frequent; while they may lack discernment in their remarks, they do not doubt the miracle itself. To prevent any assumptions, as I have previously pointed out, that He might have received the loaves from a nearby village, the specific location is highlighted, ensuring the miracle’s authenticity. Both the initial miracle and this one occur in the wilderness, which is distant from populated areas. Nevertheless, the disciples, not grasping this, questioned, “How can we possibly obtain enough bread in this desolate place?” They mistakenly believed that He was instructing them to feed the multitude themselves. Earlier, He had told them, “Ye shall give them food” (Matthew 14:16), which prompted them to seek His help in doing so.

Despite having previous knowledge of how the Lord provided sustenance to a multitude in the desert, they remained unresponsive. Thus, when you later observe them overflowing with remarkable wisdom, be in awe of the grace of Christ.

We have previously discussed this sign, so it is unnecessary to reiterate our earlier points. Instead, let us focus on the discrepancies between these two occurrences. In the earlier passage, we read that as evening approached, His disciples approached Him, expressing concern that the location was desolate (Mt 14:15). Here, the Lord, having gathered His disciples, expresses compassion for the multitude, stating: “I am sorry for the people, because for three days they have been with Me.” The first instance involved five loaves and two fish, whereas here there are seven loaves along with some fish. In the former scenario, the people reclined on the grass, while in the latter, they sit on the ground.

The wilderness can be interpreted as representing human nature or the earthly realm where individuals dwell in the principles of virtue and wisdom, enduring trials for the sake of their faith and the anticipation of future blessings. The three days symbolize the three faculties of the mind that guide them: they seek through their understanding, yearn through their passions, and contend through their anger in pursuit of their desires. Alternatively, the three days may represent three divine laws: the natural law, the Mosaic law, and the gospel law, each illuminating like the light of day and prompting meaningful actions.

All of this stems from earlier occurrences that warrant close examination, particularly regarding the dynamics between Jews and Gentiles. It becomes clear that what was previously promised to the Jews is now to be embraced by the Gentiles. There exists a certain order in the Lord's discourse that is faithfully maintained in the reception of grace. Those who undergo baptism first proclaim their belief in the Son of God, His passion, and His resurrection, and this declaration serves as a confessional emblem. Therefore, a certain truth regarding these matters emerges through the very language of this affirmation. Those who observe constant fasting in remembrance of the Lord's sufferings find themselves joined to Him through a shared bond of compassion.

And lo, it seemed as if they had overlooked everything, for His followers asked Him, “Where can we find enough bread in this desolate place to feed such a multitude?” They believed, like naive children, that the Master intended to assign them the responsibility of providing for the crowd. However, with His decisive command, “I do not wish” for the people to go without nourishment, they understood that He Himself aimed to provide a meal for those who were so eager to listen.

At the end of His time with the people, who attentively listened to His many teachings for several days without departing, the Lord provided a physical meal. The seven loaves and a few fish, which He blessed and multiplied, ultimately nourished about four thousand men, in addition to the women and children. The disciples collected the leftover pieces, filling seven baskets according to the number of loaves that had been broken.

Clearly, in the first instance, there are specified two fish, while in the second account, the scripture refers to a few fish without precise number (Mt. 34; Mk. 7). Moreover, during the initial miracle, twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered, whereas, in the subsequent miracle, seven baskets were collected. Notably, Matthew alone observes that there were 4,000 men present who were fed, not counting the women and children.

The apostles had just observed the astonishing miracle of Jesus providing nourishment to over five thousand individuals with only five loaves and two fish. They themselves participated in distributing the food and gathered twelve baskets of leftover fragments. Yet, despite this miraculous experience, they now appeared to have forgotten it, expressing their confusion rooted in a lack of faith: How can we find enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy such a crowd? The Evangelist Mark recounts the details of this second feeding miracle and captures the apostles’ bewilderment with the question: Where could anyone find bread in the desert to give to these people? Their inquiry—Who could do such a thing?—reveals how distant they were from possessing unwavering faith in the limitless power of Jesus.

This extraordinary event once again attracted a great crowd to the Savior, who were keen to listen to His teachings and benefit from His miraculous works. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Christ performed the miracle of nourishment anew, providing food for four thousand men, excluding women and children, using seven loaves and five small fish.

The account of the second multiplication of the loaves and the subsequent feeding of the crowds closely mirrors the first miracle (Matthew 14:14-21) and doesn’t necessitate an intricate analysis. “For three days now they have been with Me.” To prevent anyone from claiming that the people arrived with provisions, Christ emphasizes, “They have been with Me three days; thus, if they had brought food, it would have been consumed.” He chose not to perform the miracle on the first or second day, but rather at a moment when their supplies were fully depleted, allowing them to recognize their need and receive the miracle with greater joy. This is why He mentions, “lest they faint on the way,” indicating that the journey to the village was extensive and they had exhausted their resources.

The disciples interpreted his words as an indication that they should provide food for the crowd themselves, responding, "How are we supposed to find bread in this wilderness to feed the people?"