Matthew 14:19
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Matthew 14:19 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse, Jesus performs one of his most famous miracles - the feeding of the five thousand. By taking just five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus demonstrates his divine power by multiplying the food to feed a multitude of people. This miracle is a powerful example of Jesus' compassion and ability to provide for the needs of his followers. The act of blessing, breaking, and distributing the food symbolizes Jesus' role as a provider and sustainer for all who believe in him. By looking up to heaven before performing the miracle, Jesus acknowledges God's role in the provision of food and demonstrates his reliance on God's power. This verse serves as a reminder of Jesus' ability to meet the physical needs of his followers and shows that with faith, even the seemingly impossible can be achieved.
Theological Overview
One theological interpretation of this verse is that it demonstrates Jesus' power to provide abundantly for His people. By taking the five loaves and two fishes, blessing them, and distributing them to the multitude, Jesus performs a miracle that showcases His ability to meet the physical needs of those who follow Him. This act of feeding the multitude also foreshadows the Last Supper, where Jesus again takes bread, blesses it, and distributes it to His disciples. This event points to the sacrificial nature of Jesus' ministry, as He offers Himself as the ultimate sustenance for His followers. Additionally, the act of looking up to heaven before blessing and breaking the loaves signifies Jesus' connection to God the Father and His dependence on Him for the provision of all good things. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to trust in His ability to provide for us, both physically and spiritually, knowing that He is the source of all blessings.
Matthew 14:19 in other translations
American Standard Version
And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
World English Bible
He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Douay-Rheims
And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And hee commanded the multitude to sit downe on the grasse, and tooke the fiue loaues and the two fishes, and looked vp to heauen and blessed, and brake, and gaue the loaues to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.