Matthew 14:19 - He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

Generated Verse: Matthew 14:19

What does "Matthew 14:19" mean?


This verse, Matthew 14:19, describes a key moment in the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:

"He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass...": This shows Jesus' orderliness and consideration for the crowd. Rather than chaos, he wanted them to be seated and organized before the food was distributed. This also suggests he's preparing them for something significant.

"...and he took the five loaves and the two fish...": This highlights the meager amount of food available. It emphasizes the impossibility of feeding such a large crowd with so little. It sets the stage for the miraculous nature of what's about to happen.

"...and looking up to heaven...": This signifies Jesus' dependence on and communication with God, his Father. He's acknowledging the source of the power that will enable the miracle. It's an act of prayer and dependence.

"...he blessed...": This is a prayer of thanksgiving and consecration. Jesus is blessing the food, thanking God for it, and essentially dedicating it to God's purpose. "Blessing" often implied asking God to provide or to multiply.

"...broke...": This action is significant. Breaking the bread would normally reduce the amount of food available, but here, it's the beginning of the multiplication process. Breaking can also symbolize the breaking of Jesus' own body, a foreshadowing of the sacrifice he will make.

"...and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.": This demonstrates Jesus' method of distribution. He entrusts his disciples to serve the people. This reinforces their role as ministers and helpers and teaches them how to serve. The disciples become the intermediaries, extending the miracle to the multitude.

In essence, the verse means:

Jesus, aware of the immense need of the hungry crowd but faced with a seemingly insufficient amount of food, took what little was available, prayed to God for blessing and provision, and then began to distribute it to the people through his disciples. This small act of faith, accompanied by prayer and distribution, set the stage for a great miracle. The verse emphasizes Jesus' reliance on God, the inadequacy of human resources, and the importance of service and distribution in sharing God's blessings. It highlights the act of faith that precedes the miracle, underscoring the power of God to transform insufficiency into abundance.

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