Feeding a multitude with a small amount of food is an event described repeatedly in the Gospel. Perhaps it is repeated precisely to emphasize that this is not merely an episode or some isolated miracle: there is a certain pattern here, a distinctive feature of the Kingdom that...
Feeding a multitude with a small amount of food is an event described repeatedly in the Gospel. Perhaps it is repeated precisely to emphasize that this is not merely an episode or some isolated miracle: there is a certain pattern here, a distinctive feature of the Kingdom that the Savior brought into the world. This feature is connected with what the nature of our world becomes in the Kingdom. We are accustomed to nature not being very obedient to us: it yields to our physical influence, but certainly not to our will.
Given our fallen condition, this is for the best. It is difficult even to imagine what the world would become if its elements responded to every deliberate and involuntary movement of our will. Originally, however, nature was meant to obey not only God's will but the human will as well, subject to one condition: the human will was to act in the world together with God's. The union of the two wills opens every possibility, including what we commonly call a miracle.
Yet we call phenomena of this kind miracles because in our world they remain exceptions. In the Kingdom, the exception becomes the rule: there, nature's complete submission to the will not only of God but also of the human person is the norm. In the Kingdom, at a given moment and place, there is not some fixed quantity of food, but exactly as much as is needed by everyone who wants to eat.
This is not some external influence on the food of the fallen world, artificially changing its nature so that a small quantity will suffice for a multitude. It is a change in the food as such, a transformation of its very substance that opens to it the possibility of existing differently, not as it does in the fallen world. We perceive as a miracle this different mode of existence of the same entirely earthly food in a new quality, and the manifestation of the properties connected with that quality. The Evangelist repeats the same event several times in order to show us that this is not a miracle but a new norm, the norm of the Kingdom.
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1:7 By whom we - Who believe. Have - From the moment we believe.Redemption - From the guilt and power of sin.Through his blood - Through what he hath done and suffered for us.According to the riches of his grace - According to the abundant overflowings of his free mercy and favour.
1:8 In all wisdom - Manifested by God in the whole scheme of our salvation. And prudence - Which be hath wrought in us, that we may know and do all his acceptable and perfect will.
1:9 Having made known to us - By his word and by his Spirit.The mystery of his will - The gracious scheme of salvation by faith, which depends on his own sovereign will alone. This was but darkly discovered under the law; is now totally hid from unbelievers; and has heights and depths which surpass all the knowledge even of true believers.
1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times - In this last administration of God's fullest grace, which took place when the time appointed was fully come. He might gather together into one in Christ - Might recapitulate, re - unite, and place in order again under Christ, their common Head. All things which are in heaven, and on earth - All angels and men, whether living or dead, in the Lord.
1:11 Through whom we - Jews. Also have obtained an inheritance - The glorious inheritance of the heavenly Canaan, to which, when believers, we were predestinated according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the counsel of his own will - The unalterable decree, "He that believeth shall be delivered;" which will is not an arbitrary will, but flowing from the rectitude of his nature, else, what security would there be that it would be his will to keep his word even with the elect?
1:12 That we - Jews. Who first believed - Before the gentiles.So did some of them in every place. Here is another branch of the true gospel predestination: he that believes is not only elected to salvation, (if he endures to the end,) but is fore - appointed of God to walk inholiness, to the praise of his glory.
1:13 In whom ye - Gentiles. Likewise believed, after ye had heard the gospel - Which God made the means of your salvation; in whom after ye had believed - Probably some time after their first believing.Ye were sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise - Holy both in his nature and in his operations, and promised to all the children of God.The sealing seems to imply,
1:14 Who, thus sealing us, is an earnest - Both a pledge and a foretaste of our inheritance. Till the redemption of the purchased possession - Till the church, which he has purchased with his own blood, shall be fully delivered from all sin and sorrow, and advanced to everlasting glory. To the praise of his glory - Of his glorious wisdom, power, and mercy.
1:15 Since I heard of your faith and love - That is, of their perseverance and increase therein.
1:16 I cease not - In all my solemn addresses to God. To give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers - So he did of all the churches, Col 1:9.
1:17 That the Father of that infinite glory which shines in the face of Christ, from whom also we receive the glorious inheritance, Eph 1:18, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation - The same who is the Spirit of promise is also, in the progress of the faithful, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation; making them wise unto salvation, and revealing to them the deep things of God. He is here speaking of that wisdom and revelation which are common to all real Christians.