Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-05-09
.ul..G THE MULTITUDE.
- en- VI, SECOND QUARTER, IN.
TERNATlONAL SERIES, MAY II.

35-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per-
mission Of II. 8. Hoffman, publisher, Dhiladel-
phial
The sending forth of the twelve, and the
beheading Of John the Baptist, briefly refer
red to in the opening verses Of this chapter,
are more fully recorded by Matthew and
Mark. In connection with the first, it is
worthy of note that He had just taught them
TO pray that the Lord of the harvest would
send forth laborers into His harvest; then
He called the twelve and sent them forth to
answer their own prayers. When we pray
let us remember that God expects us to be
willing to be used by Him In answering our
prayers.
10. "And the apostles, when they were re-
turned, told Him all that they had done"
And He took them, and went aside private
ly." There were so many coming and going
! that they had no leisure even to en-, and He
took them aside to rest awhile Mark vi 81.
While we continue in these mortal bodies we
cannot work increasingly, but the time will
come when we shall be able to serve unwea-
riedly REV. vii, 49,. To be often alone with
Jesus is another essential to faithful service,
for He Himself spent whole nights in prayer
to God
II. "And the people, when they knew it,
followed Him." John says that Jesus crossed
the Sea of Galilee, and the people followed
because they saw His miracles. Matthew
and Mark say that Jesus went by ship and
that the people followed on foot and outwent
Him. In the boat He would be an hour or
two alone with His disciples, and they would
have little rest; but what "a busy life He
lived; it was true of Him "The zeal of thine
house hath eaten me up" FPS Xix, 0; John
il, ~.
"And He received them" Matthew and
Mark both say that He was moved with COM
passion toward them. No pity for Himself,
but full of pity for these sheep without a
shepherd, even though he knew their motives
in following Him. How unwilling we are to
be intruded upon by thoughtless people, our
time is precious. Oh, how unlike our
Master!
"And spake unto them of the kingdom of
God aud healed them that had need Of heal
ingn Both body and soul He attended to,
for He is "A Saviour for both, and the time
will come when every saved soul shall have
redeemed body in which to dwell.
H. 'Send the multitude away" So said
the twelve the day began to wear away,
and as they, weary and hungry, saw no
prospect of rest, and not much prospect Of
even a bite for themselves from their few
loaves and fishes, if that hungry crowd re-
manned. Not all the glorious things of the
kingdom, of which Jesus had been speaking,
could make even the twelve forget that they
were hungry men. They had seen Him still
the storm and raise the dead but they SEEM
ed not to consider that the same power could
feed these hungry thousands. Their wisdom
was to let them scatter where they might,
and find food and shelter as they were able
in the towns and country round about. The
old question still lived, "Can God furnish
table in the wildernessr (Ps. xviii, 19.
10 But He said unto them, Give ye them
to eat" He had asked Philip, "Whence shall
we buy bread that these may eat2' and Philip
had replied that they would need about two
hundred pennyworth to give every one a little
1--WE have no more but five loaves and two
fishes" When He asked Philip, He did it to
prove him, for He Himself knew what He
would do John vi, O., just as He so often lets
us get into strait place to prove us while
all the time He knows the way out and Just
what He will do.
H. Is. And He said to His disciples, Make
them sit down by fifties i'll IA company. And
they did so, and made them all sit down" "
Mark says: Upon the green grass" John
says: "There was much grass in the place"
Mark vi, 50; John vi, l0. The thousands
were all now orderly arranged and seated in
companies upon the green grass. Matthew
says there were 5000 men besides women and
children Matt. xiv, 2lJ ; SO there may have
been l2J companies of 80 EACH or ten COM
panies to each of the twelve disciples. But
observe the order, and remember the plecept,
LET all things be done decently and in or
der :" for God is not the author of confusion
At H.,
room or wardrobe or bureau drawer or office
or store is no credit to Christian. Confu-
sion, disorder, tumult unquietness are none
of the doiugs of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies
are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and the
life of Christ is to be manifest in u.s. Let us
lay it to heart.
l6. Then He took the five loaves and the
two fishes, and looking up to Heaven, He
blessed them, and brake, and gave to the dis
ciples to set before the multitude" He took
just what they had and used it, He took the
rod that was in Moses hand and wrought
wonders with it, He took the widows pot of
oil and multiplied it.
II. And they did eat, and We're all filed 8
Philip thought that two hundred penny
worth might be enough to give every one a
little, but Jesus does not give that way HI,
invitation is, Eat, O friends: drink yea
drink abundantly, O beloved" Song of Sol
v, y. And even these poor shepherdles,
sheep He delights to fill. AS the disciple,
pass around from company to company
pressing more food upon them the answer
comes from all directions Satisfied, abun
dainty satisfied.
And there was taken up of fragment:
that remained to them twelve baskets" In
; stead of a little for each disciple which would
have been all that twelve men could obtain
) from five loaves and two fishes, here is 6
basketful for each. Had they selfshly kept
what they had for themselves, how little they
would have had but by giving it away what
D abundance becomes theirs. Afraid to give
to God lest we have not enough for ourselves
we continue poor; but when we cheerfully
give Him that which is all His own any way
then He makes us to enjoy His fullness, anc
D our cup runneth over. 'The blessing of tn,
Lord, it maketh rich; and He addeth ne
sorrow with it" prov. X, 22l. He gave
Himself 10 he broken and poured forth fol
us why should we hesitate to place our