Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom151“who calleth the things that be not as though they were”— Rom. iv. 17 ,) He commanded themas though the table were prepared and ready, straightway to sit down, rousing by this the minds ofHis disciples. And because 1183 they had profited by the questioning, they immediately obeyed, andwere not confounded, nor said, “How is this, why dost Thou bid us sit down, when there is nothingbefore us?” The same men, who at first disbelieved so much as to say, “Whence shall we buybread?” began so far to believe even before they saw the miracle, 1184 that they readily made themultitudes to sit down.[3.] But why when He was about to restore the paralytic did He not pray, nor when He wasraising the dead, or bridling the sea, while He doth so here over the loaves? It was to show thatwhen we begin our meals, we ought to give thanks unto God. Moreover, He doth it especially in alesser matter, that thou mayest learn that He doth it not as having any need; for were this the case,much more would He have done so in greater things; but when He did them by His own authority,it is clear that it was through condescension that He acted as He did in the case of the lesser. Besides,a great multitude was present, and it was necessary that they should be persuaded that He had comeaccording to the will of God. Wherefore, when He doth miracles in the absence of witnesses, Heexhibiteth nothing of the kind; but when He doth them in the presence of many, in order to persuadethem that He is no enemy of God, no adversary of Him who hath begotten Him, He removeth thesuspicion by thanksgiving.“And He gave to them that were set down, and they were filled.” 1185Seest thou how great is the interval between the servants and the Master? They having graceby measure, wrought their miracles accordingly, but God, who acteth with free power, did all mostabundantly.Ver. 12 . “And He said 1186 unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments which remain; 1187 —andthey gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets.”This was not a superfluous show, but in order that the matter might not be deemed a mereillusion; and for this reason He createth 1188 from matter already subsisting. “But why gave He notthe bread to the multitudes to bear, but (only) to His disciples?” Because He was most desirous toinstruct these who were to be the teachers of the world. The multitude would not as yet reap anygreat fruit from the miracles, (at least they straightway forgot this one and asked for another,) whilethese would gain no common profit. And what took place was moreover no ordinary condemnationof Judas, who bore a basket. And that these things were done for their instruction is plain fromwhat is said afterwards, when He reminded them, saying, “Do ye not yet understand—how manybaskets ye took up?” ( Matt. xvi. 9 .) And for the same reason it was that the baskets of fragmentswere equal in number to the disciples; afterwards, when they were instructed, they took not up so1183al. “ when. ”1184al. “ before the miracle. ”1185These words, which are not found in G. T., are quoted in place of v. 10. 11 . “ And Jesus said, Make the men sit down.Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; andwhen He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of thefishes as much as they would. ”1186“ When they were filled, He said. ” N.T.1187“ That nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the fivebarley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. ” N.T.1188δημιουργεῖ232