John 6:11

And when he had given thanks,— St. Matthew and St. Mark say simply that he blessed, ευλογησε, which most commentators refer to the loaves and fishes, because St. Luke says expressly, ευλογησε αυτους; he blessed them. Some, however, put a different sense upon the words. They apprehend, that our Lord's looking up to heaven, when he blessed, mentioned by St. Luke himself, shews that this blessing was directed to God the Father, and that it imported a thanksgiving for his great goodness. The reader, however, will remember, that the word in dispute has a sense which favours the common interpretation of this passage, Psalms 65:10 thou blessest the springing thereof, that is to say, of the corn. It is not to be supposed, that twelve persons could put first a piece of bread, and then a piece of fish into the hands of 5000 men, besides women and children, who were all fed with such expedition, that notwithstanding the thing was not so much as proposed to the disciples till about three, all appears to have been over by five in the afternoon. See on John 6:10. Wherefore it is natural to conclude, that in distributing the meat the disciples used the most expeditious method, putting by their Master's directions, the bread first, and after that the fish, into the hands of those only who sat at the ends of the ranks; with orders to give it to their companions. On this supposition the food must have extended its dimensions, not in our Lord's hands only, but in the hands of his disciples, and of the multitude likewise; continuing to swell till there was a greater quantity than they who held it, could make use of; so that breaking off what was sufficient for themselves, they gave the remainder to the persons next to them, who in like manner saw the bread and fish swell in their hands, till they also had enough and to spare. See particularly the note on Mark 6:39.