Luke 9:13
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Luke 9:13
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.
Chapter Context
Luke 9 is a historical gospel chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of worship, grace, wisdom. Written during the late first century CE (c. 80-85 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Written when Christians needed to understand their place in the Roman world.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-62: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it foreshadows Christ's work through typology and prophetic elements. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Luke and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Luke 9:13
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.
Analysis
But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat (εἴπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς· Δότε αὐτοῖς ὑμεῖς φαγεῖν, eipen de pros autous: Dote autois hymeis phagein)—Jesus's command seems impossible. The emphatic pronoun hymeis ("you yourselves") places responsibility squarely on the disciples. This tests their faith and reveals their inadequacy apart from His power.
And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes (οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· Οὐκ εἰσὶν ἡμῖν πλεῖον ἢ ἄρτοι πέντε καὶ ἰχθύες δύο, hoi de eipan: Ouk eisin hēmin pleion ē artoi pente kai ichthyes dyo)—The disciples inventory their meager resources. Five barley loaves (John 6:9 specifies barley—poor man's bread) and two small fish (probably dried or pickled, not fresh). This was likely one person's lunch (John 6:9: "a lad"), utterly insufficient for thousands. Except we should go and buy meat for all this people—The Greek brōmata (food, not specifically meat) indicates their only alternative: purchase provisions. But Philip had already calculated this was financially impossible—200 denarii (8 months' wages) wouldn't be enough (John 6:7). The disciples face absolute impossibility, which is precisely where Christ's power operates most clearly.
Historical Context
Barley bread was the food of the poor; wheat bread was preferred by those who could afford it. The loaves were small, flat rounds, not large modern loaves. The fish were probably sardine-like fish from Galilee, commonly preserved by salting or pickling for travel food. A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer; 200 denarii represented most of a year's income for a working man. The crowd's size (5,000 men, v. 14) made feeding them humanly impossible, setting the stage for a miracle that would recall God's provision of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16).
Reflection
- Why does Jesus command the disciples to do the impossible ("Give ye them to eat") before revealing His provision?
- How does bringing our inadequate resources to Jesus (five loaves, two fish) demonstrate faith even when the need seems overwhelming?
- What does this passage teach about God's use of insufficient human resources for His supernatural purposes?