Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"And He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments which remain;-and they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets." This was not a superfluous show, but in order that the matter might not be deemed a mere illusion; and for this reason He createth from matter already subsisting. "But why gave He not the bread to the multitudes to bear, but only to His disciples?" Because He was most desirous to instruct these who were to be the teachers of the world. …
Cyril of Alexandria
To some one Christ may seem out of sparing of the fragments to have bidden His disciples to gather them together. Yet (I think) every one will fitly imagine, that Christ would not endure to descend to such littleness: and why say I Christ? not even one of us would do so: for what would be supposed to be the remnant of five barley loaves? But the verse has a great economy, and makes the miracle evident to the hearers. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Lord allows a surplus to remain from the loaves not to make a display of Himself, no, but so that the feeding of the men would not be taken as an illusion, and all would see clearly that they were truly satisfied, so much so that a great deal was left over. For the same reason He also commands that the fragments be gathered, so that seeing them, they would better remember the miracle that was performed.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
And what are the fragments, but things which the multitude could not eat? Some secret meanings, then, are to be understood, which the multitude cannot receive; what remains but that they be entrusted to those who are able also to teach others, as were the apostles? For which reason, twelve baskets were filled. A wonderful thing was wrought, and a mighty deed; but if one intently consider it, it is as the works of God. He who out of a few grains multiplies the harvests, multiplied the five loaves in His hands.
Thomas Aquinas
Now we see the leftovers collected (v 12). First, Christ gives the order; secondly, his disciples obey. The Evangelist says that after the people had eaten their fill, Christ said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that are left over. This was not pretentious display on our Lord's part; he did it to show that the miracle he accomplished was not imaginary, since the collected leftovers kept for some time and provided food for others. …
Bonaventure
"When they were filled," that is, satisfied, "he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they perish." For since bread was made for the use of men, fragments perish when they are not taken up for the use of men; Psalm: "That bread may strengthen the heart of man." And the disciples of the Lord carry out the command.
Translation