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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 8:14 - 8:21
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_8:14-21
14And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 16They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, 19when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." 20"When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven." 21And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
Mar_8:14 This is obviously an eyewitness detail from Peter.
Mar_8:15 "He was giving orders to them" This is an imperfect middle indicative from a strong term "to order with authority" (cf. Mar_5:43; Mar_7:36; Mar_8:15; Mar_9:9). This term is characteristic of Mark (i.e., often related to the "Messianic Secret").
NASB, NRSV "Watch out!"
NKJV "Take heed"
TEV "Take care"
NJB "Keep your eyes open"
This is literally "see" (i.e., horaô). It is a present active imperative, which implies continuing diligence to maintain proper vigilance.
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV "Beware"
TEV "be on your guard against"
NJB "look out for"
This is also a present active imperative. Both of these sharp commands are from different Greek words meaning "to see" (i.e., horaô and blepô), implying that believers must be constantly on guard (cf. Mar_4:24; Mar_12:38; Mar_13:5; Mar_13:9; Mar_13:23; Mar_13:33) against self-righteous legalism and institutionalism.
▣ "'of Herod'" Early scribes tended to standardize the sayings of Jesus. In Mar_3:6; Mar_12:13 Jesus says "Herodians"; therefore, the Greek manuscripts P45, G, and W, as well as some versions of the Vulgate, and Coptic translations, changed this genitive form. The overwhelming Greek manuscript attestation is genitive (cf. MSS à , A, B, C, D, and L). See Special Topic on the family of Herod at Mar_1:14.
▣ "leaven" This was usually a symbol of corruption, as it is in this text (cf. 1Co_5:6-8; Gal_5:9). This may be a word play in Aramaic because the terms "leaven" and "word" are very similar. The disciples' problem was the same as the Pharisees, that is spiritual dullness or blindness. They must constantly be on guard against it. The Herods represented the opposite problem—the worldliness, the status quo at any cost!
Mar_8:16 "began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread" This is an imperfect tense. The disciples had not learned the lesson yet. Jesus will supply all needs! Jesus is talking about corrupting influences and they think He's talking about food!
The NKJV adds the word "saying" into this abbreviated sentence (as do many later minuscule Greek manuscripts) following Mat_16:7. The NASB accomplished the same purpose by the addition of italicized words (i.e., "began" and "the fact").
Mar_8:17 "Jesus, aware of this" It is not always obvious as to how Jesus knew things. Sometimes it is supernatural knowledge and other times knowing peoples' behavior and characteristics.
▣ "'Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread'" This is the first in a series of six or seven questions in which Jesus expresses His disappointment that His own disciples do not yet understand! This entire context of Mark reveals how hard it was for "friend and foe" to comprehend Jesus' radically new message. His disciples, His family, His hometown, the crowds, and the religious leaders all did not have spiritual eyes or ears!
▣ "'Do you not yet see or understand'" This is a recurrent theme (cf. Mar_8:21; Mar_6:52). Jesus' family, hometown, own disciples, townspeople, and religious leaders do not understand Him. Possibly this is a way to show the spiritual climate before the fullness of the Spirit comes at Pentecost (or the Messianic Secret is revealed in the crucified, risen Lord).
▣ "'Do you have a hardened heart'" This is a perfect passive participle implying a settled spiritual condition brought about by an outside agent (cf. Mar_4:13; Mar_4:40; Mar_6:52; Mar_7:18; Mar_8:17; Mar_8:21; Mar_8:33; Mar_9:10; Mar_9:32). This is exactly what will happen to Judas Iscariot. See hyperlink at Mar_2:6.
Mar_8:18 This is an OT quote from Eze_12:2 (cf. Jer_5:21), which theologically parallels Isa_6:9-10 (cf. Mar_4:12). The OT prophets spoke the word of God, but were misunderstood because of the spiritual condition of their hearers. These OT quotes are in a grammatical form which expects a "yes" answer.
▣ "'And do you not remember'" Jesus is chiding them for their lack of spiritual understanding related to the miraculous feedings (cf. Mar_8:17-21). This phrase also has an OT orientation (cf. Deu_4:9-10; Deu_8:11; Deu_8:19). God's people must retain and act on God's truths.
Mar_8:19 "baskets" This is a different term from Mar_8:8. This is the term used in Mar_6:43 (i.e., smaller baskets). He is reminding them of the previous miraculous feeding. They had not made the connection (cf. Mar_8:32-33; Mar_9:32-34; Mar_10:35-37).
Mar_8:20 Mar_8:19 refers to the feeding in Mark 6, but Mar_8:20 refers to the current feeding in Mark 8.