Mark 6:41

King James Version (KJV)

And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

And blessed - I think the word God should be inserted here, as in Matthew 14:19. See the note there. The food we receive from God is already blessed, and does not stand in need of being blessed by man; but God, who gives it, deserves our warmest thanksgivings, as frequently as we are called to partake of his bounty.

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Verses 32-44

See this narrative explained in the notes at Matthew 14:13-21.

Mark 6:32

By ship - By a boat or a small vessel.

Privately - Without making their plan known. They intended to go privately. It appears, however, that their intention became known, and multitudes followed them.

Mark 6:33

Afoot thither - On foot to the place where they saw them going.

Out of all cities - All cities or large towns in the neighborhood.

Mark 6:34

Much people … as sheep … - They had no one to teach them and guide them. The priests and scribes were proud and corrupt; they despised the common people and neglected them.

Mark 6:35

The time is far passed - The day is almost gone. It is drawing near night.

Mark 6:37

Two hundred pennyworth of bread - About twenty-eight dollars, or 6 British pounds. See the notes at Matthew 14:16. As the disciples had a common purse in which they carried their little property, consisting of the donations of their friends and money to be given to the poor (compare John 12:6; Matthew 26:8-9; Luke 8:3), it is not improbable that they had at this time about this sum in their possession. Philip - for it was he who asked the question John 6:7 - asked, with a mixture of wonder and agitation, whether they should take all their little property and spend it on a single meal? And even if we should, said he, it would not be sufficient to satisfy such a multitude. It was implied in this that, in his view, they could not provide for them if they wished to, and that it would be better to send them away than to attempt it.

Mark 6:40

In ranks - Literally, in the form of square beds in a garden. By regularly formed companies.

By hundreds and by fifties - Some companies had a hundred in them, and some groupings had fifty in them. We do not need to suppose that these were “exactly” formed or arranged, but that this was approximately the number. The expression indicates a “multitude.” There were so many that they sat down, by “hundreds” and by “fifties,” in separate companies, upon the green grass.

Mark 6:43

twelve baskets - Baskets belonging to the disciples, in which they carried their provisions, or, perhaps, belonging to some of the multitude.

Fragments - Broken pieces of the bread that remained.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Let not ministers do any thing or teach any thing, but what they are willing should be told to their Lord. Christ notices the frights of some, and the toils of others of his disciples, and provides rest for those that are tired, and refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the spiritual food of Christ's word, and then he took care that they should not want bodily food. If Christ and his disciples put up with mean things, surely we may. And this miracle shows that Christ came into the world, not only to restore, but to preserve and nourish spiritual life; in him there is enough for all that come. None are sent empty away from Christ but those who come to him full of themselves. Though Christ had bread enough at command, he teaches us not to waste any of God's bounties, remembering how many are in want. We may, some time, need the fragments that we now throw away.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

41. Blessed. Gr. eulogeÅÂ, “to praise,” or “to invoke blessings.” John uses the word eucharisteÅÂ, “to be thankful,” “to give thanks” (ch. 6:11). There seems to have been something characteristic about the way Christ gave thanks (see Matt. 15:36; 26:26)â€”something the disciples no doubt witnessed daily during their association with Him. At Emmaus, Jesus “was known of them in breaking of bread” (Luke 24:35). Note also that in each instance Jesus took the bread in His hands before giving thanks for it. But the essential part of the “blessing” consisted in the recognition that food is a gift of God, and in thanking Him for it.

Brake. Literally, “to break thoroughly,” or “to break in pieces.”

Loaves. See on v. 38.

Nothing but leaves. Here was promise without performance. Of all vices there was none Jesus found more offensive than that of hypocrisy (see on Matt. 6:2; 23:13). Like the fruitless fig tree, Jewish religion was destitute of fruit. It was replete with form and ceremony but lacked true godliness (see on Mark 7:2, 3; see Vol. IV, pp. 30-33).

Gave. Literally, “kept on giving.” The context suggests that the miracle occurred while the bread was in the hands of Jesus, between the act of breaking it and that of giving it out to the disciples. Jesus never performed a miracle except to meet a genuine need (see p. 209). So long as there was need the food kept on multiplying in His hands (cf. 1 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 4:4-6).

The time of figs. In Palestine the early crop of figs usually matures in June, and the late crop in September. It was now near Passover, probably in April, and thus only a few weeks before the early crop would mature. Although it was unusual to expect to find figs this early in the season, nevertheless, a tree in full leaf might, conceivably, have fruit approaching maturity. It should also be noted that in Oriental lands green or unripe fruit is often relished (see on Isa. 28:4).

To set before. A common expression for serving a meal. Each of the Twelve carried the miracle loaves in his own basket (see on v. 43), and served a certain number of the groups arranged “by companies,” “in ranks” upon the grass (see on v. 40). With empty baskets the disciples returned to Christ for more bread, and each time they returned He kept on giving out loaves and fishes. The orderly arrangement of the groups, the service of the disciples, and the unfailing supply of loaves and fishes provided the men, women, and children with all they could eat and more, within a short time.

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 3, 105.4

April 18—We went to the city [San Francisco] Sunday night. I spoke to quite a large congregation of outsiders with acceptance, taking up the subject of the loaves and fishes with which Jesus, by his miraculous power, fed about ten thousand people ... that were continually collecting, after the Saviour had blessed the small portion of food; Christ walking on the sea, and the Jews requiring a sign that he was the Son of God. The neighbor next to the church near the public garden was there. Cragg, I believe his name is. They all listened with wide-open eyes and some open mouths.... 3SM 105.4

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 3, 106.3

April 24—Mary has just been reading to me two articles—one on the loaves and fishes, Christ walking on the water, and stating to His hearers He was the Bread of life, which caused some of His disciples to turn from Him. This takes fifty pages and comprises many subjects. I do think it the most precious matter I have ever written. Mary is just as enthusiastic over it. She thinks it is of the highest value. I am perfectly satisfied with it. 3SM 106.3

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
Child Guidance, 135

Do not educate your children to think that your love for them must be expressed by indulging their pride, their extravagance, their love of display. There is no time now to invent ways of using money. Your inventive faculties are to be put to the stretch, to see how you can economize.³ CG 135.1

Christ's Lesson in Economy—There is a lesson for us in the feeding of the five thousand, a lesson that has a special application to those times when we are placed in trying circumstances and are compelled to practice close economy. Having worked the miracle and satisfied the hunger of the multitude, Christ was careful that the food that remained should not be wasted.⁴ CG 135.2

He said to the disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” Though He had all the resources of heaven at His command, He would not suffer even a morsel of bread to be wasted.⁵ CG 135.3

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

More Comments

Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Journey to Jerusalem

BibleTools.info

Bible Verse Explanations and Resources

Mark 6:41