Christ's Disciples slow to understand His Miracles. 717 XV. days; so that even if they came having any, it is all spent. MATT. For therefore He Himself did not this on the first and 33. second day, but when all had been consumed by them, in order that having first been in want, they might more eagerly accept His work. Therefore He saith, Lest they faint in the way; implying both their distance to be great, and that they had nothing left. 66 Then, if thou art not willing to send them away fasting, wherefore dost thou not work the miracle?" That by this question and by their answer He might make the disciples more heedful, and that they might shew forth their faith, coming unto Him, and saying, "Make loaves." But not even so did they understand the motive of His question; wherefore afterwards He saith to them, as Mark relates, Are your hearts so hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not1? 1Mark8, Since, if this were not so, wherefore doth He speak to the 17. 18. disciples, and signify the multitude's worthiness to receive a benefit, and add also the pity He Himself feels? But Matthew saith, that after this He also rebuked them, saying, O ye of little faith, do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?? So completely 2 Matt. do the Evangelists harmonize one with another. What then say the disciples? Still they creep on the ground, although He had done so very many things in order that that miracle might be kept in memory; as by His question, and by the answer, and by making them minister herein, and by distributing the baskets; but their state of mind was yet rather imperfect. 16,8-10. Wherefore also they say to Him, Whence should we have v. 33. so many loaves in the wilderness? Both before this, and now, they make mention of the wilderness; themselves in a weak way of argument so speaking, yet even hereby putting the miracle above suspicion. That is, lest any should affirm, (as I have indeed already said,) that they obtained it from some neighbouring village, the place is acknowledged, that the miracle may be 718 Indications of Progress in the Disciples. LIII. 1, 2. HOMIL. believed. With this view, both the former miracle and this He works in a wilderness, at a great distance from the villages. The disciples, considering none of all this, said, Whence should we have so many loaves in a wilderness? For they thought verily He had said it as purposing next to enjoin them to feed the people; most foolishly; since with this 1 Matt. intent He had said, and that lately, Give ye them to eat1, that 14, 16. He might bring them to an urgent need of entreating Him. But now He saith not this, Give ye them to eat, but what? I have compassion on them, and will not send them away fasting; bringing the disciples nearer, and provoking them more, and granting them clearer sight, to ask these things of Him. For in truth they were the words of One signifying that He hath power not to send them away fasting; of One manifesting His authority. For the expression, I will not, implies such a purpose in Him. [2.] Since however they still spake of the multitude merely, and the place, and the wilderness; (for whence, it is said, should we have in a wilderness so many loaves, as to feed so great a multitude?) and not even so understood what He said, He proceeds to contribute His own part, and saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they say, Seven, and a few little fishes. And they no more say, But what are these among so many?? as they had said before. So that although they reached not His whole meaning, yet nevertheless they became higher by degrees. For so He too, arousing their mind hereby, puts the question much as He had done before, that by the very form of the inquiry He might remind them of the works already done. But as thou hast seen their imperfection hereby, so do thou observe the severity of their spirit, and admire their love of truth, how, writing themselves, they conceal not their own defects, great as they were. For it was no small blame to have presently forgotten this miracle, which had so recently taken place; wherefore they are also rebuked. And herewith consider also their strictness in another matter, how they were conquerors of their appetite; how 719 On the Remainders of the Five and Seven Loaves. disciplined to make little account of their diet. For being MATT. in the wilderness and abiding there three days, they had seven loaves. Now all the rest He doth as on the former occasion; thus He both makes them sit down on the ground, and He makes the loaves multiply themselves in the hands of the disciples. XV. 35-38. For He commanded, it is said, the multitude to sit down on v.35.36. the ground. And He took the seven loaves, and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. But when we come to the end, there is a difference. For they did all eat, so it is said, and were filled, and they v.37.38. took up of the broken meat that was left, seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children. But why at the former time, when there were five thousand, did twelve baskets full remain over and above, whereas here, when there were four thousand, it was seven baskets full? For what purpose, I say, and by what cause, were the remnants less, the guests not being so many? a Either then one may say this, that the baskets on this last occasion were greater than those used before1; or if this 1ós. were not so, lest the equality of the miracle should again cast them into forgetfulness, He rouses their recollection by the difference, that by the variation they might be reminded of both one and the other. Accordingly, in that case, He makes the baskets full of fragments equal in number to His disciples, in this, the other baskets equal to the loaves; indicating even hereby His unspeakable power, and the ease wherewith He exercised His authority, in that it was possible for Him to work such miracles, both in this way and in the other. For neither was it of small power, to maintain the exact number, both then and now; then when there were five thousand, now when there were four thousand; and not suffer the remnants to be more than the a σπυρίδες. That the σπυρὶς was of large size would appear from Acts 9, 25. where this word is again used. Kópvos is the word commonly used by the LXX. for basket; that it was in common use among the Jews HOMIL. baskets used on the one occasion or on the other, although LIII. 2, 3. the number of the guests was different. And the end again was like the former. For as then He left the multitude and withdrew in a ship, so also now; and 1 John John also saith this. For since no sign did so work upon 6, 17. them to follow Him, as the miracle of the loaves; and they were minded not only to follow Him, but also to make Him 2 ib. 15. a King2; avoiding all suspicion of usurping royalty, He hastens away after this work of wonder: and He doth not even go away afoot, lest they should follow Him, but by entering into a ship. v. 39. c. xvi. 1-4. And He sent away the multitudes, so it saith, and went on board the ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. [3.] And the Pharisees and Sadducees came and desired Him to shew them a sign from Heaven. But He saith, When it is evening, ye say, Fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, Foul weather to day, for the sky is red and lowering. Ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed. But Mark saith, that when they were come unto Him, and were questioning with Him, He sighed deeply in His spirit, 3 Mark and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? 8, 12. And yet surely their inquiry was deserving of anger and great displeasure; yet nevertheless the Benevolent and Provident One is not angry, but pities and bewails them as incurably diseased, and after so full a demonstration of His power, tempting Him. For not in order to believe did they seek, but to lay hold of Him. Since had they come unto Him as ready to believe, He would have given it. For He Who said to the woman, • Matt. It is not meet, and afterwards gave, much more would He 15, 26. have shewn His bounty to these. But since they did not seek to believe, therefore He also calls them hypocrites, because in another place they said one thing, and meant another. Yea, had they believed, they would not even have asked. And from another thing too it is evident that they believed not; that when reproved and Why, and in what sense, He refused a Sign. 721 exposed, they abode not with Him, nor said, "We are MATT. ignorant and seek to learn." But for what sign from Heaven were they asking? Either that He should stay the sun, or curb the moon, or bring down thunderbolts, or work a change in the air, or some other such thing. What then saith He to all this? Ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times? See His meekness and moderation. For not even as before did He refuse merely, and say, There shall none be given them, but He states also the cause why He gives it not, even though they were not asking for information. XVI. 3, 4. What then was the cause?" Much as in the sky," saith He, one thing is a sign of a storm, another of fair weather, and no one when He saw the sign of foul weather would seek for a calm, neither in calm and fair weather for a storm; so should you reckon with regard to Me also. For this present time of My Coming, is different from that which is to come. Now there is need of these signs which are on the earth, but those in Heaven are stored up against that time. Now as a Physician am I come, then I shall be here as a Judge; now to seek that which is gone astray, then to demand an account. Therefore in a hidden manner am I come, but then with much publicity, folding up the Heaven, hiding the sun, not suffering the moon to give her light. Then the very powers of the heavens shall be shaken, and the manifestation of1 Matt. My coming shall imitate lightning that appears at once to 24, 29. all. But not now is the time for these signs; for I am come 2ib.v.27. to die, and to suffer all extremities. Heard ye not the Prophet, saying, He shall not strive nor cry, neither shall His voice be heard without? and another 3Is.42,2. again, He shall come down as rain upon a fleece of wool?" 4 Ps. 72, And if men speak of the signs in Pharaoh's time, there 6. was an enemy then from whom deliverance was needed, and it all took place in due course. But to Him that came friends there was no need of those signs. among "And besides, how shall I give the great signs, when the little are not believed?" Little, I mean, as regards display, since in power these latter were much greater than the former. For what could be equal to remitting sins, and raising the |