Matthew 14:16

"When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”"

Key Reflection

In Matthew 14:16, the disciples' request to send the crowd away for food highlights the practical concerns of the original audience, who were familiar with the daily routines and needs of people in that era. The place being deserted indicates a remote location where provisions would be scarce, making it urgent to find food before nightfall, as late hours meant limited options and potential dangers.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 16. Jesus said--They need not depart; give ye them to eat. John adds, that previous to this, Jesus had addressed Philip, and asked, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? This he said to prove him; that is, to try his faith; to test the confidence of Philip in himself. Philip, it seems, had not the kind of confidence which he ought to have had. He immediately began to think of their ability to purchase food for them. Two hundred pennyworth of bread, said he, would not be enough. In the original it is two hundred denarii.

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