The Complete Sayings of Jesus: XXXIX. “Seven Loaves and a Few Little Fishes”

IN those days the multitude being great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples, and saith,

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way.

His disciples say, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? Jesus saith,

I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. How many loaves have ye?

He commanded the people to sit on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before the people. The few small fishes he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

So they did all eat, and were filled. They took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that had eaten were about four thousand, beside women and children. He sent them away.

¶Straightway Jesus entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the coasts of Magdala, into the parts of Dalmanutha.

seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. He sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith,

Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering.

O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

¶Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread; neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. Then Jesus charged them,

Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and of the leaven of Herod.

They reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them,

O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

Do ye not understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

When I brake the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. *

[paragraph continues] He took the man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when Jesus had put his hands upon his eyes, he asked him if he saw aught. The man looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

Jesus again put his hands upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. Jesus sent him away, saying,

Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

Footnotes

55:* For two of the other examples of symbolism turn to the footnotes in XXXVI and in XLV in this book.

XXXIX

SEVEN LOAVES, A FEW FISHES—TEST OF FAITH—LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES—THE BETHSAIDAN'S SIGHT RESTORED

Footnotes