14:13–21 After Jesus learns of Herod’s unwanted interest, he withdraws “to a desolate place by himself” (v. 13a). Jesus wants solitude, but the crowds want him. They follow him “on foot” and arrive at his destination before he does (v. 13b).243 When he goes ashore, he sees a “great crowd.” The sick are there, and he feels “compassion” for them and heals them (v. 14).

If Matthew names a motive for a miracle, that motive is most likely to be compassion. When Jesus sees needs, he empathizes, and the feeling of compassion leads to action, whether sufferers have a claim on him or not. In Jesus’ miracles, mercy drives action. Compassion moves him to heal crowds (9:36), feed hungry followers (15:32), restore sight to the blind (20:34), and raise a widow’s only son (Luke 7:11–15).

When evening comes, the disciples intrude and tell Jesus, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves” (Matt. 14:15). The reflexive pronoun “themselves” is telling: the disciples think the crowds should go buy themselves some food. In their judgment, Jesus has done enough for the crowds. It is time for them to take care of themselves.

Jesus hears this and contradicts them: “They need not go away.” The following command is emphatic in the Greek: “You give them something to eat” (v. 16). John 6:6 adds that Jesus “said this to test” them. They judge that Jesus demands the impossible: “We have only five loaves here and two fish” (Matt. 14:17). What is so little among so many?

The loaves and fish probably represent their personal supply, and a meager one at that. John 6:9 reports that they have small fish and loaves of barley, a poorer grain. John 6:9 also mentions a boy (Gk. paidarion, a child or young slave) with the loaves and fish, but the boy could be one they already know, a part of their entourage.244 The Synoptics certainly sound as if this is the disciples’ food. Jesus says, “You give them something to eat,” and in both Matthew 14:17 and Luke 9:13 they say, “We have only five loaves.”245 That is, they do not have enough. Mark 6:37 and John 6:7 both add that two hundred denarii, over eight months’ wages, might not purchase enough food.

Five loaves and two fish cannot feed a multitude. Still, in Jesus’ hands it will be enough. “Bring them here to me,” he says (Matt. 14:18). He arrays the people on the grass (v. 19; “green grass” Mark notes in 6:39) and they “sit down,” or recline (anaklinō), taking the posture of someone at a banquet.

In actions that would be normal in a Jewish family, Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, “broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (Matt. 14:19). In their hands the disciples feel the proof that a little is enough if Jesus makes it so. The disciples wanted the crowd to fend for themselves, but Jesus feeds them all.246

But is the crowd satisfied? The disciples feed everyone and collect “twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over” (v. 20). The term for “baskets” (kophinos) denotes a large, heavy container—the leftovers are extensive. Other than the resurrection, this is the sole miracle recorded in all four Gospels. The scale of the event dazzles, but the lack of reaction puzzles. After a miracle, the witnesses commonly marvel, call Jesus a prophet, or praise God. But Matthew records no comment (v. 21). Do they simply eat and move on? Within the narrative, the function of the silence is to indicate that they say nothing significant, nothing especially enlightened or foolish. Chapters 11–13 often record flawed responses to Jesus’ words or deeds (11:16–24; 12:33–45; 13:11–17, 53–58). Here there is nothing, but in John’s complementary account the crowds decide Jesus is the Messiah and attempt to crown him by force (John 6:14–15). John 6:22–34 describes their persistent attempt to persuade him to make more bread. So the Gospels agree that the people misconstrue the significance of the event.

Matthew teaches the ideal reader several things about Jesus. First, he sees human need. Second, he has compassion for humanity. Third, he can meet human need. In his hands, meager resources will suffice. In Matthew 14, Jesus supplies bread, which, in that day, was the essential human food. Fourth, men should at least thank Jesus for his provision. Ideally, they should do more and assess the significance of his acts. By juxtaposing the meals of Herod and Jesus, Matthew compares ordinary kings to Jesus. While Herod hosted a drunken debauch in the palace, Jesus feeds hungry commoners in the fields. Herod’s party lurched from sensuality to murder. Jesus moves from teaching to healing to nourishment. A twisted interest in honor motivated Herod. Compassion motivates Jesus. All this should stir loyalty to him.