Olney Hymns · Chapter
But One Loaf explained
The disciples, crossing the lake with only one loaf, misunderstand Jesus' warning about the leaven of the Pharisees, forgetting His miraculous provision.
What happens
The disciples, crossing the lake with only one loaf, misunderstand Jesus' warning about the leaven of the Pharisees, forgetting His miraculous provision. The poem rebukes their unbelief and encourages trust in God's continual care.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Trust in Christ
The poem contrasts the disciples' lack of faith with the call to trust in Christ's provision.
Human Sinfulness and Depravity
The disciples' unbelief and forgetfulness reflect human sinfulness, which the narrator acknowledges in himself.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
The Saviour who warns against the leaven of the Pharisees and miraculously fed the multitude.
- The Narrator
Reflects on the disciples' forgetfulness and applies it to our own unbelief.
Key passages
“When the disciples cross’d the lake With but one loaf on board, How strangely did their hearts mistake The caution of their Lord!”
When the disciples sailed across the lake with only one loaf, they misunderstood the Lord's warning.
The disciples' literal interpretation of Jesus' words about leaven.
“It seems they had forgotten too What their own eyes had view’d— How, with what scarce sufficed for few, He fed a multitude.”
They had forgotten the miracle they witnessed when Jesus fed a great crowd with a few loaves.
The disciples' failure to remember the miraculous feeding.
“How often has he brought relief, And every want supplied! Yet soon, again, our unbelief Says, “Can the Lord provide?””
He has often helped and provided for us, yet our unbelief soon asks if the Lord can provide.
The recurring pattern of human doubt despite God's faithfulness.