The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 68

their mission (Luke ix. 10) ; they needed rest, " for th~re were m&ny coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." He had also heard of Herod's superstitious fears, and that he was desirous to see him. The Lord would not meet the tyrant; he departed out of bis tetrarchy. He crossed the lake to a place near Bethsaida Julias, in the dominions of Herod Philip. His hour was not yet come; he would not expose himself to the cruelty of Antipas, uor would he satisfy his curiosity, 2. The peoplefollowed him. It seems to have been long before Herod heard of the fame of Jesus. The humble inhabitants of Galilee heard of all his movements; they followed him on foot out of the cities. The poor Galilaiaus were better instructed th&n the wealthy, wicked prince. They followed Christ whithersoever he went; so should we, They went with him into the desert, trusting in him; so should we always trust. While he is with us, we are safe. 3. His compassion. (1) He went forth, perhaps from the ship. He found, not the quiet which the apostles needed so much, but a great multitude. They had looked for retirement, and they found crowds of people; they had looked for rest, and they found more work awaiting them. (2) His forgetfulness of self. He had compassion on the multitude. Wearied as he was, he healed their sick. The Lord is an Example to us here as always. We are apt to repine if work is thrust upon us when we need rest. We must learn of Christ; we must imitate his compassion for the needy and suffering, and take, as he did, every opportunity of doing good to the souls or bodies of our neighbours. He began to teach them many things, the other evangelists tell us; he spake unto them of the kingdom of God. . II. THE HIBACL&. 1. The conversation with the apostles. The mu! titude was great; the place was desert; the hour was late; there were no ordinarr. means of providing for their wants. The disciples were burdened with a deep sense of responsibility. The Lord had himself, earlier in the afternoon, put the question to Philip, "Whence ~hall we buy bread, that these may eat?" (John vi. 5). Then the difficulty w&s only suggested; it was not removed; it became more pressing as the day wore on. Later in the evening the disciples came to Christ, not to ask advice, but to give it; it was late, they said, too late already. "Send the multitude aw&y, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals." There was something of presumption, per- haps, in this advice; certainly there was a want of faith. They did not understand the Lord's majesty, his power, his love. We too often wish to dictate to Almighty God what we think he should do for us. It is best to trust ourselves absolutely to his providence. He doeth all things well. He himself knoweth what he will do. " They need not depart," the Lord replied. It can never be necessary for any needs of ours to depart from Christ. In the greatest tumult of business, in the utmost poverty, in. the most imminent danger, faithful souls will not depart; they will draw nearer to the Lord, as temptations thicken round them. He who has learned to know and love the Lord Jesus will cling closest to him in want, in peril, in distress. "Give ye them to. eat," he added. There is an emphasis on the pronoun, It was good that they should feel their helplessness. They had. but five loaves and two small fishes. •It was nothing for that great multitude. How often we feel our ability, our strength, our means, utterly inadequate to fulfil the work which the Lord has given us to do! Ifwe offer them to him in simple trustfulness, he will multiply them. "Bring them hither to. me," he said. He asks us for what we can give him, what is in our power. Let us bring our offerings in faith. He will accept them, if only we bring that offering which he most desires-our hearts, ourselves. If we give him that, then those little offerings which we thought unworthy of his acceptance shall be honoured, an~: will, it may be, by his grace become the means of working great results. 2. The feast in the wilderness. He bade them sit down in coxppanies. He would have order, not confusion. They must sit in their ranks; they must not press rudely round him; they m~ not try to anticipate one another; they must so sit that the apostles could move freely among them; each must wait till his turn_ came, Mark how, even in these smaller matters of courtesy and order, the Lord gives us an txample for the regulation of our daily life. Re looked up to heaven, teaching us to recognize the great truth that it is our Father in heaven who gives us day by day our ciaily bread, and that we should always look to him in every time of need. Then Le hl-d; he blecsed God, the Giver of all; he blessed the food. As God, in the beginning blessed his creatures, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply," so uow God orr. XIT. 1-36.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 71