Mark8
King James Version · Public Domain
1In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
3And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
8So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
9And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
10And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
14Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
16And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
17And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
19When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
20And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
21And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
23And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
27And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
28And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
29And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
30And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Four thousand fed by a miracle. (1–10). Christ cautions against the Pharisees and Herodians. (11–21). A blind man healed. (22–26). Peter's testimony to Christ. (27–33). Christ must be followed. (34–38).
vv1-10
Our Lord Jesus encouraged the meanest to come to him for life and grace. Christ knows and considers our frames. The bounty of Christ is always ready; to show that, he repeated this miracle. His favours are renewed, as our wants and necessities are. And those need not fear want, who have Christ to live upon by faith, and do so with thanksgiving.
vv11-21
Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?
vv22-26
Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends. Therein appeared the faith of those that brought him. If those who are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their friends and relations should pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord's miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but, like the light of the morning, it shines more and more to the perfect day, and then they see all things clearly. Slighting Christ's favours is forfeiting them; and he will make those who do so know the worth of privileges by the want of them.
Key Words
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
ἐκεῖνος (ekeînos): that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
ἡμέρα (hēméra): day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
ὤν (ṓn): being
πάμπολυς (pámpolys): full many, i.e. immense
ὄχλος (óchlos): a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
φάγω (phágō): to eat (literally or figuratively)
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
Cross References
Mark 8The parallel account of the feeding of the four thousand in Matthew's Gospel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The parallel account of the Pharisees demanding a sign from heaven.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The parallel account of Peter's confession of Christ and the subsequent rebuke.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The parallel account of the disciples forgetting to take bread in the boat.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of Jesus rebuking Peter with 'Get thee behind me, Satan'.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel instruction on self-denial, taking up the cross, and following Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Highlights Christ's deep compassion, previously shown in feeding the five thousand.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the disciples' unbelieving question, 'Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus later contrasts the twelve baskets of the five thousand with the seven here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus explicitly defines the leaven of the Pharisees as hypocrisy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Alludes to the prophetic judgment of having eyes but not seeing, and ears but not hearing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel question regarding the worthlessness of gaining the world at the cost of one's soul.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel warning about being ashamed of Christ and His words before His coming glory.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Old Testament type where Elisha miraculously multiplies twenty loaves to feed one hundred men.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic parallel to the gradual healing of the blind man, shining brighter and brighter.
Supported by Matthew Henry