Luke 9:13

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

But {G1161} he said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846}, Give {G1325} ye {G5210} them {G846} to eat {G5315}. And {G1161} they said {G2036}, We {G2254} have no {G3756}{G1526} more {G4119} but {G2228} five {G4002} loaves {G740} and {G2532} two {G1417} fishes {G2486}; except {G1509} we {G2249} should go {G4198} and buy {G59} meat {G1033} for {G1519} all {G3956} this {G5126} people {G2992}.

But he said to them, “Give them something to eat, yourselves!” They said, “We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish — unless we ourselves are supposed to go and buy food for all these people!”

But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy food for all this people.

Commentary

Context of Luke 9:13

Luke 9:13 occurs at a pivotal moment, immediately preceding one of Jesus's most famous miracles: the feeding of the five thousand. After a busy day of teaching the crowds about the kingdom of God and healing the sick (Luke 9:11), the disciples, seeing the vast multitude and the approaching evening, suggested sending the people away to find food in the surrounding villages. This verse captures Jesus's surprising response to their practical, yet limited, solution.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Command and Human Limitation: Jesus's command, "Give ye them to eat," directly challenges the disciples' assessment of their resources. Their reply, "We have no more but five loaves and two fishes," highlights the stark contrast between human scarcity and divine potential. This interaction sets the stage for a demonstration of God's power to provide beyond human capacity.
  • Compassion and Provision: Jesus's instruction stems from His deep compassion for the hungry crowd. He doesn't dismiss their physical need but intends to meet it supernaturally. This prefigures the spiritual sustenance He offers, as seen in the "Bread of Life" discourse in John 6.
  • Faith and Obedience: The disciples' initial response reflects a lack of faith in Jesus's ability to provide for so many with so little. However, their subsequent obedience in bringing what they had, though seemingly insignificant, was crucial for the miracle to unfold. It teaches that God often uses our meager offerings when coupled with obedience.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Give ye them to eat" (Greek: dotate autois phagein) is a direct, imperative command. It implies a responsibility placed upon the disciples, even if they felt utterly incapable. The disciples' response, "We have no more but five loaves and two fishes," underscores their pragmatic assessment of the situation, using the Greek word plēn (except/but) to emphasize their extreme lack of resources.

Practical Application

Luke 9:13 serves as a powerful reminder that God often calls us to participate in His work even when we feel entirely inadequate or when the task seems overwhelming. Like the disciples, we might look at our "five loaves and two fishes" – our limited time, talent, or resources – and conclude that it's not enough to meet a great need. However, Jesus's response encourages us to bring what little we have to Him. When we offer our insufficiency to Christ, He can multiply it and use it to accomplish far more than we could ever imagine, demonstrating His boundless power and provision. It's a call to trust in divine abundance over perceived human scarcity, reminding us that God will supply all our needs.

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Cross-References

  • Proverbs 11:24 (8 votes)

    ¶ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to poverty.

  • Proverbs 11:25 (8 votes)

    ¶ The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

  • John 6:5 (5 votes)

    When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

  • John 6:9 (5 votes)

    There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

  • 2 Kings 4:42 (5 votes)

    And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

  • 2 Kings 4:43 (5 votes)

    And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave [thereof].

  • Mark 6:37 (4 votes)

    He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?