Mar 8:16-21 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord observes how they discuss His warning. He asks them three questions. The first question makes it clear that He does not mean by His warning the lack of loaves, but exposes their lack of trust in Him. In the second question He reproaches them for their lack of understanding and awareness of the spiritual dangers that threaten them and for which He has warned them. They did not consider things in the light of Who He is and therefore came to the wrong conclusion. In the third question He points out the cause of their lack of understanding. That cause is their hardened heart. They haven’t yet learned to trust Him completely because they still have a high regard for religious and worldly status. They do have eyes, but they don’t look well because they don’t look the way He does. They are not completely blind, but they cannot see clearly either. The Pharisees and Herod are completely blind, but the disciples cannot see well either because they also have something of the Pharisees’ and Herod’s leaven. They do not use their spiritual ability to judge the deeds of the Lord they have seen. In the same way they misjudge His words. They do have ears, but still listen too much to people who are religiously esteemed. To awaken them and reach their hearts, the Lord reminds them of the first wondrous feeding. He asks what was left. They remember. A vivid and accurate reminder of what the Lord has done or said is an important factor in spiritual life. This “reminding” is used by Peter in his second letter ( ). Therefore, the Supper is a meal of remembrance ( ). See also Psalms 38 and 70, which are ‘memorial’ psalms ( ). To teach them the lesson well, He also reminds them of the second wondrous feeding. Here, too, He asks the question of what was left. They also remember that. Then He asks the question if they don’t understand it yet. There is no answer to this last question. They have understood. The Lord does not give answers, He only asks questions.

‏ Mark 8:16-21

Teaching About the Leaven

The Lord observes how they discuss His warning. He asks them three questions. The first question makes it clear that He does not mean by His warning the lack of loaves, but exposes their lack of trust in Him. In the second question He reproaches them for their lack of understanding and awareness of the spiritual dangers that threaten them and for which He has warned them. They did not consider things in the light of Who He is and therefore came to the wrong conclusion. In the third question He points out the cause of their lack of understanding. That cause is their hardened heart. They haven’t yet learned to trust Him completely because they still have a high regard for religious and worldly status.

They do have eyes, but they don’t look well because they don’t look the way He does. They are not completely blind, but they cannot see clearly either. The Pharisees and Herod are completely blind, but the disciples cannot see well either because they also have something of the Pharisees’ and Herod’s leaven. They do not use their spiritual ability to judge the deeds of the Lord they have seen. In the same way they misjudge His words. They do have ears, but still listen too much to people who are religiously esteemed.

To awaken them and reach their hearts, the Lord reminds them of the first wondrous feeding. He asks what was left. They remember. A vivid and accurate reminder of what the Lord has done or said is an important factor in spiritual life. This “reminding” is used by Peter in his second letter (2Pet 1:12-13 ; 15 ; 2Pet 3:1). Therefore, the Supper is a meal of remembrance (1Cor 11:24-25). See also Psalms 38 and 70, which are ‘memorial’ psalms (Psa 38:1 ; Psa 70:1).

To teach them the lesson well, He also reminds them of the second wondrous feeding. Here, too, He asks the question of what was left. They also remember that. Then He asks the question if they don’t understand it yet. There is no answer to this last question. They have understood. The Lord does not give answers, He only asks questions.