Matthew 14:21 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 14:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.”

And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. The five thousand count is qualified by besides women and children — the actual crowd was larger. The five thousand is the count of men alone; the total crowd including women and children was significantly greater. The addition of women and children to the count communicates the inclusive character of the provision: the kingdom's meal is not for men alone.

Church Fathers on Matthew 14:21

It is a proof of the faith of these multitudes that they endured hunger in waiting for the Lord even till evening; to which purpose it follows, 'And when it was evening, his disciples came unto him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past.'
Chrysostom · 4th century

Wherein He calls the Apostles to breaking of bread, that the greatness of the miracle might be more evident by their testimony that they had none.
Jerome · 4th century

It may perplex some how, if the Lord, according to the relation of John, asked Philip whence bread was to be found for them, that can be true which Matthew here relates, that the disciples first prayed the Lord to send the multitudes away, that they might buy food from the nearest towns. Suppose then that after these words the Lord looked upon the multitude and said what John relates, but Matthew and the others have omitted. And by such cases as this none ought to be…
Augustine · 4th century · De Cons. Ev., ii, 46

Read all 22 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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