Theophylact Bulgarian. Interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 15:32. But Jesus, calling His disciples, said to them: I am sorry for the people, that they have been with Me for three days already, and they have nothing to eat; I don’t want to let them go hungry, lest they become weak on the way.
The people do not dare to ask for bread, because they have come for healing. He, being philanthropic, takes care of himself. So that someone could not say: they have food, the Lord says: if they did have, they have wasted it, for they have been with Me three days already. In words: 'so that they do not get weak on the road' shows that they came fr om afar. He says this to his disciples, wishing to induce them to say to Him: You can nourish these, as well as five thousand. But they were still unreasonable.
Matthew 15:33. And His disciples say to Him: Wh ere can we get so much bread in the wilderness to feed so many people?
Although they should have known that the Lord had fed a large number of people in the wilderness before, they were insensitive. Therefore, when after you see them filled with such great wisdom, marvel at the grace of Christ.
Matthew 15:34. Jesus says to them: How many loaves do you have? They said, seven, and some fish.
Matthew 15:35. Then he ordered the people to lie down on the ground.
Matthew 15:36. And taking the seven loaves and fish, he gave thanks, broke and gave to his disciples, but the disciples to the people.
Matthew 15:37. And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up the remaining pieces seven baskets full,
Matthew 15:38. And those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children.
Teaching humility, he places the people on the earth. Teaching before food to thank God, He himself gives thanks. You will ask how there, although there were five loaves of bread and five thousand were full, there were twelve baskets left, but here, although the number of loaves was greater, and the number of those who were fed less, only seven remained? We can say that these baskets were larger than the baskets or that this was done so that the same miracle would not induce them, the disciples, to forget, because if there were twelve baskets left now, they could, due to the equality of the miracle, forget that the Lord another time he performed a miracle on loaves. You should also know that four thousand, that is, having completely four virtues, feed on seven loaves, that is, spiritual and perfect sayings, for the number seven is a symbol of seven spiritual gifts. They lie on the ground, believing everything earthly below themselves and despising it, just as those five thousand lay on the grass, that is, they put flesh and glory below themselves. For all flesh is grass, and all human glory is a field flower. Seven baskets were left here in the remnant, for the spiritual and perfect was that which they could not eat. What remains is that fit in seven baskets, that is, what one Holy Spirit knows; 'For the Spirit penetrates all and the depths of God' (1 Cor. 2:10).
Matthew 15:39. And, having dismissed the people, He got into the boat and arrived in the Magdalene region.
Jesus withdraws because no miracle gave Him more followers than a miracle over the loaves, so they intended to make Him a king, as John says. So, He leaves to avoid suspicion of seeking royal power.
