81 In those days , when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing e to eat , Jesus called His disciples and said to them, 2 " I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing e to eat . 3 "If I send them away hungry to their homes , they will faint on the way ; and some of them have come from a great distance ." 4 And His disciples answered Him, "Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people ?" 5 And He was asking them, "How many loaves do you have ?" And they said , "Seven ." 6 And He directed the people to sit down on the ground ; and taking the seven loaves , He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people . 7 They also had a few small fish ; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well . 8 And they ate and were satisfied ; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces . 9 About four thousand were there; and He sent them away .
10 And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha .
11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven , to test Him. 12 Sighing deeply in His spirit , He said , "Why does this generation seek for a sign ? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation ." 13 Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side .
14 And they had forgotten to take bread , and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15 And He was giving orders to them, saying , " Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod ." 16 They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread . 17 And 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 , 19 when 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 ." 21 And He was saying to them, " Do you not yet understand ?"
22 And they came to Bethsaida . And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. 23 Taking the blind man by the hand , He brought him out of the village ; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything ?" 24 And he looked up and said , "I see men , for I see them like trees , walking around ." 25 Then again He laid His hands on his eyes ; and he looked intently and was restored , and began to see everything clearly . 26 And He sent him to his home , saying , "Do not even enter the village ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 8:1-26
Commentary on Mark 8:1-10
(Read Mark 8:1-10)
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.
Commentary on Mark 8:11-21
(Read Mark 8:11-21)
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?
Commentary on Mark 8:22-26
(Read Mark 8:22-26)
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.