Luca 9:17 Commento

In this chapter we have, I. The commission Christ gave to his twelve apostles to go out for some time to preach the gospel, and confirm it by miracles (Luk 9:1-6). II. Herod's terror at the growing greatness of our Lord Jesus (Luk 9:7-9). III. The apostles' return to Christ, his retirement with them into a place of solitude, the great resort of people to them notwithstanding, and his feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes (Luk 9:10-17). IV. His discourse with his disciples concerning himself and his own sufferings for them, and their for him (Luk 9:18-27). V. Christ's transfiguration (Luk 9:28-36). VI. The cure of a lunatic child (Luk 9:37-42). VII. The repeated notice Christ gave his disciples of his approaching sufferings (Luk 9:43-45). VIII. His check to the ambition of his disciples (Luk 9:46-48), and to their monopolizing the power over devils to themselves (Luk 9:49, Luk 9:50). IX. The rebuke he gave them for an over-due resentment of an affront given him by a village of the Samaritans (Luk 9:51-56). X. The answers he gave to several that were inclined to follow him, but not considerately, or not zealously and heartily, so inclined (Luk 9:57-62).

Then he called his twelve disciples together,.... The Persic version reads, "all his twelve disciples", the other nine, besides the three that were with him, when he raised Jairus's daughter, recorded in the foregoing chapter; the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "the twelve apostles", for so Christ had named his disciples; See Gill on Mat 6:13. The Syriac version only reads, "his own twelve"; and this is agreeably to Luke's way of speaking; see Luk 8:1. And gave them power and authority over all devils; that is, all kinds of devils, particularly to cast them out of the bodies of men, possessed by them: and to cure diseases; of all sorts.

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying,.... To his God and Father, for himself as man, and mediator; for the success of his Gospel, and the increase of his interest; and for his disciples, that they might have a clearer revelation of him; and which they had, as appears in their after confession of him by Peter, as the mouth of them all. The place where he now retired for private devotion, was somewhere in the coasts of Caesarea Philippi; for he was now gone from the desert of Bethsaida, as appears from Mat 16:13 and when he is said to be alone, the meaning is, that he was retired from the multitude, but not from his disciples; for it follows, his disciples were with him, in this solitary place: and he asked them, being with them alone; saying, Whom say the people that I am? what are the sentiments of the common people, or of the people in general concerning me? The Alexandrian copy, and the Arabic version read, "men", as in Mat 16:13. See Gill on Mat 16:13.

(Orat. Catech. Mag. c. 23.) For whom neither the heaven rained manna, nor the earth brought forth corn according to its nature, but from the unspeakable garner of divine power the blessing was poured forth. The bread is supplied in the hands of those who serve, it is even increased through the fulness of those who eat. The sea supplied not their wants with the food of fishes, but He who placed in the sea the race of fishes.

It is clear that the multitude were filled not by a scanty meal, but by a constant and increasing supply of food. You might see in an incomprehensible manner amid the hands of those who distributed, the particles multiplying which they broke not; the fragments too, untouched by the fingers of the breakers, spontaneously mounting up.

Not without meaning are the fragments which remained over and above what the multitudes had eaten, collected by the disciples, since those things which are divine you may more easily find among the elect than among the people. Blessed is he who can collect those which remain over and above even to the learned. But for what reason did Christ fill twelve baskets, except that He might solve that word concerning the Jewish people, His hands served in the basket? (Ps. 81:6.) that is, the people who before collected mud for the pots, now through the cross of Christ gather up the nourishment of the heavenly life. Nor is this the office of few, but all. For by the twelve baskets, as if of each of the tribes, the foundation of the faith is spread abroad.

But what was the result of the miracle? It was the satisfying of a large multitude with food. There were as many as five thousand men besides women and children, according to what another of the holy Evangelists has added to the narrative. Nor did the miracle end here. There were also gathered twelve baskets of fragments. And what do we infer from this? A plain assurance that hospitality receives a rich recompense from God. The disciples offered five loaves. After a multitude this large had been satisfied, there was gathered for each one of them a basketful of fragments. Let nothing, therefore, prevent willing people from receiving strangers, no matter what there may be likely to blunt the will and readiness of men. Let no one say, “I do not possess suitable means. What I can do is altogether trifling and insufficient for many.” Receive strangers, my beloved. Overcome that reluctance which wins no reward. The Savior will multiply the little you have many times beyond expectation. Although you give but little, you will receive much. For he that sows blessings shall also reap blessings, according to the blessed Paul’s words.

Nor was this all that the miracle came to; but it follows, And there was taken up of the fragments that remained, twelve baskets, that this might be a manifest proof that a work of love to our neighbour will claim a rich reward from God.

[Jesus] offers himself as the bread of life to those who believe in him. It is he who came down from heaven and gave life to the world.

“Place,” he said, “in these twelve baskets all the fragments that remain.” Thousands at that feast reclining, with abundance had been fed On the five loaves they had eaten and two fishes multiplied. You, our bread, our true refection, never-failing sweetness are. He can nevermore know hunger, who is at your banquet fed, Nourishing not our fleshly nature, but imparting lasting life.

God has broken five loaves and two fishes and fed the five thousand With these foods that satisfy to the fullest their hunger. Then twice six baskets are filled with the fragments that are left over: Such is the bounty dispensed from the heavenly table forever.

“Place,” he said, “in these twelve baskets all the fragments that remain.” Thousands at that feast reclining, with abundance had been fed On the five loaves they had eaten and two fishes multiplied. You, our bread, our true refection, neverfailing sweetness are. He can nevermore know hunger, who is at your banquet fed, Nourishing not our fleshly nature, but imparting lasting life. -.

God has broken five loaves and two fishes and fed the five thousand With these foods that satisfy to the fullest their hunger. Then twice six baskets are filled with the fragments that are left over: Such is the bounty dispensed from the heavenly table forever.

Twelve baskets of fragments were taken up that were left over. What was left over by the crowds is gathered by the disciples, because the more sacred mysteries, which the unrefined cannot grasp, should not be neglected but sought by the perfect. For by the twelve baskets, the apostles are symbolized, and through the apostles, all the subsequent choirs of teachers, who, though outwardly despised by men, are inwardly filled with the remnants of the saving food to nurture the hearts of the humble. For it is known that service works are commonly carried out with baskets, but it was he who filled the baskets with fragments of bread, who chose the weak things of this world to confound the strong.

Or by the twelve baskets the twelve Apostles are figured, and all succeeding teachers, despised indeed by men without, but within loaded with the fragments of saving food.

And that we might learn the value of hospitality, and how much our own store is increased when we help those that need.

Christ sends his apostles to preach and work miracles, Luk 9:1-6. Herod, hearing of the fame of Jesus, is perplexed; some suppose that John Baptist is risen from the dead; others, that Elijah or one of the old prophets was come to life, Luk 9:7-9. The apostles return and relate the success of their mission. He goes to a retired place, and the people follow him, Luk 9:10, Luk 9:11. He feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, Luk 9:12-17. He asks his disciples what the public think of him, Luk 9:18-21. Foretells his passion, Luk 9:22. Shows the necessity of self-denial, and the importance of salvation, Luk 9:23-25. Threatens those who deny him before men, Luk 9:26. The transfiguration, Luk 9:27-36. Cures a demoniac, Luk 9:37-43. Again foretells his passion, Luk 9:44, Luk 9:45. The disciples contend who shall be greatest, Luk 9:46-48. Of the person who cast out devils in Christ's name, but did not associate with the disciples, Luk 9:49, Luk 9:50. Of the Samaritans who would not receive him, Luk 9:51-56. Of the man who wished to follow Jesus, Luk 9:57, Luk 9:58. He calls another disciple who asks permission first to bury his father, Luk 9:59. Our Lord's answer Luk 9:60-62.

MISSION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. (Luk 9:1-6) power and authority--He both qualified and authorized them.