The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 252

ftlue of the two kinds of bread is given in for they would be, if possible, even more Rev. vi. 6. " A measure of wheat for a eager then the men to see the great Prophet. penny, and three measures of barley for a When all had eaten and were so.tisfled, they penny." The psalmist alludes to the greater took up broken pieoes, twelve basketfuls, <'Xcellence of whent flour : " He would have and also of the 11.ahes. St. John tells us that frd them also with the finest wheat flour" this was done by the• express command of (Ps. lxxxi. 16). Christ (vi. 12); e.nd the existence of these Y or. 89.-All were to sit down by oom- fragments, far more in qucmtity than the panies ( crvµ1rocr,a crvµ1ro,na)-St. Luke (ix. 14) original supply, was a striking testimony to says that the companies were Rbout fifty the reality of the miracle, e.nd that thefe each (ava ..-,vT1)1eov-ra)-upon the green grass. was enough and more than enough for e. I. St. John says (vi. 10) that" there was much It does not become us to pry too curiously !2"1"188 in the place." This indicates the into the method of our Lord's working; but time of the year. The grass was growing, the number of these baskets (,coqhovs), nnd it was green. It would not be green in namely, twelve, seems to suggest that he 1hat district after April. Thus St. l\fark's first broke the loaves, and in breaking mul- nccount of the state of the grass at that tiplied them, and distributed them into these time (nn account evidently repeated from baskets, one for ea.eh apostle, and that the an eye-witness) coincides with the account food, e.s it was distributed by the disciple~, of St. John, who says that "the Passover, a we.s more e.nd more multiplied, e.s needed, feast of the Jews, was at hand" (vi. 4). so that at length they brought baok to Yer. 40.-And they sat down in ranks Christ e.s many bo.sketfuls of fragments as ( a.vor•crov ,rpa.cr,al ..-p.ur,al); literally, they they had first received from him, o.nd mucl1 reclined. The Greek word ..-padia means more than the original supply. Jt is ohvious "a garden plot" or " bed," literally, a bed here to remark that by this stupendous n_i leelu. They were disposed symmetrically. miracle our Lord showed himself to be the Probably the English word "ranks" ex- true Dread of life, by which the spiritual presses the meaning as clearly as e.ny could wants of all hungering souls may be sup- do. This arrangement was probably made, plied. "For," says St. Augustine," be we.s partly the.i the numbers might be better the Word of God, and a.II the acts of the known, partly that all things might be done Word a.re themselves words for us. They in e.n orderly manner, and that each might a.re not e.s pictures, merely, to look at e.nd !,ave his portion. St. Matthew's account admire; but as letters which we must seek (xiv. 21) seems io imply that the "men" to read and nnderste.nd." were separated from the " women and Ver. 45 The other side. It wonld seem, childnm.." as be.s already been stated, that there were Ver. 41.-A.11 the synoptist.s give our two Betbsaidas (or" places of fish "-fisb- Lord's acts in the same words. The ta.king villo.ges~ne to the north-east of the Sea of of the food into the hands wonld seem to Galilee, not far from where the Jordan have been e. formal act before the" blessing," enters it, ea.lied Bethsaida Julie.s; e.nd the or "giving of thanks," for it. Probably other on the western side of the sea itself, our Lord used the ordinary form of bene- near to Capemaum. Again and age.in our diction. This is one amongst other in- Lord crossed this sea io escape the crowds stances showing the fitness snd propriety who followed him a.bout, e.nd now wished of " grace before meat." In considering the •• to take him by force e.nd make him a miraculous action which followed the bene- king." He desired for a time to be in diction, our reason is baffled. It eludes our retirement, in order that he might pray with grasp. It is best simply to behold in this the greater ee.mestness, e.nd freedom from multiplying of the food, both the bread e.nd interruption. He also wished to make the fishes, e.n a.et o! Di vino omnipotence; occasion for the miracle which we.s to follow, not indeed now, e.s e.t the beginninr, 11 namely, the stilling of the tempest. creation ont of nothing, for here there was Vere. 46, 47.-St. Mark is careful, like St. the nucleus of the five loaves e.nd the two Matthew, to tell us that when the even fishes, but an act of creative development of we.a come he was a.lone on the land. Both the food in its best kind; for sll the works the evangelists desire to co.ll attention to the of God a.re perfect. He gave ( ,liiliou) would fa.et tbe.t, when night ea.me on, the disciples be better rendered, he toa1 gi'7i111J, It we.s were a.lone in their boat e.nd Jesus alone on in his bands tbe.t the miracle we.s wrought, the land. It we.s nightfall ; and St. John and the food continually multiplied. informs us that " the sea we.s rising by Vere. 42, 43.-The:, did all eat, and were reason of e. great wind tbo.t blew." Then ii filled Uxop-ra.cr81]~av). It might be rendered, we.s that the Lord left his place of prayer tDere /11.ljilled, according to the old meaning on the mountain, and walked upon the sea, of "fulfil." It is probable that the women that he n1ight succour his disciples now di.s- ud children were a considera.ble number; tressed by the storm. It would appear that cu. v1. 1-56.] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDlNti 'fO ST. MARK. 249