Mar 6:30-44 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 6:30-44: 6:30-44 The disciples’ mission concludes (6:6-13 , 30-34 ), followed by the account of the feeding of the 5,000 (6:35-44 ; see also Matt 14:13-21 ; Luke 9:10-17 ; John 6:1-15 ). The feeding of the 4,000 is sufficiently different to indicate that these were two separate occasions (see Mark 8:1-10 ). 6:30 Mark calls Jesus’ disciples apostles here to indicate their new status as those who had been sent out (see study note on 3:14-15) and to avoid possible confusion between them and John the Baptist’s disciples. • The apostles reported the success of what they had done and taught .

Summary for Mark 6:30-44: 6:30-44 ^a The disciples’ mission concludes (6:6-13 ^b, 30-34 ^c), followed by the account of the feeding of the 5,000 (6:35-44 ^d; see also Matt 14:13-21 ^e; Luke 9:10-17 ^f; John 6:1-15 ^g). The feeding of the 4,000 is sufficiently different to indicate that these were two separate occasions (see Mark 8:1-10 ^h). 6:30 ⁱ Mark calls Jesus’ disciples apostles here to indicate their new status as those who had been sent out (see study note on 3:14-15) and to avoid possible confusion between them and John the Baptist’s disciples.

• The apostles reported the success of what they had done and taught.
Summary for Mark 6:31-33: 6:31-33 ^j Let’s go: Jesus and the disciples probably proceeded northward along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee toward Bethsaida (Luke 9:10 ^k), in sight of the crowds along the shore.

• so many people: The great crowds demonstrate the success of the apostolic mission and the greatness of Jesus, whom the apostles represented.
6:34 ^l they were like sheep without a shepherd: God’s people need a shepherd (Num 27:16-17 ^m; 1 Kgs 22:17 ⁿ; 2 Chr 18:16 ^o; see Jer 13:10 ^p; Ezek 34:23 ^q). Teaching people God’s word is compared to feeding sheep in Jewish literature (e.g., Ezek 34:1-24 ^r; 2 Baruch 77:13-15).
Summary for Mark 6:35-36: 6:35-36 ^s The place where Jesus taught was remote,, but it still had farms and villages ... nearby where the people could buy something to eat.
6:37 ^t Jesus suggests that, just as the disciples were able to cast out demons and heal through his power (6:7 ^u, 13 ^v, 30 ^w), they should be able to feed the crowd. Their reply considered only what they themselves were capable of doing. They did not consider Jesus’ power.
6:41 ^x The words took, blessed, breaking, and giving echo Jesus’ words at the Last Supper (14:22-25 ^y). Both events envision the final messianic banquet in which believers will eat and drink with Jesus in the Kingdom of God (14:25 ^z; Matt 5:6 ^aa; 22:1-10 ^ab; see Rev 2:7 ^ac; 19:7-9 ^ad; 22:1-2 ^ae, 14 ^af, 17-19 ^ag).
Summary for Mark 6:42-44: 6:42-44 ^ah This miracle makes Elisha’s great miracle of feeding 100 people with twenty loaves (2 Kgs 4:42-44 ^ai) seem trivial by comparison. Readers of the Gospel must ask themselves, “Who is this man who does such things?” (Mark 4:41 ^aj). He is the Messiah, the Son of God (1:1 ^ak).