Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Mark 8
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Mark 8
"In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them," — Mark 8:1 (ASV)
Remaining in the Decapolis, Jesus taught a large crowd gathered there. After three days Jesus (not the disciples, as in 6:35–36) recognized the physical needs of the crowds. He was moved with compassion for them because they had not had anything to eat for three days, and he immediately dismissed the idea that the crowd should be sent away for food for fear they would collapse on the way.
"I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat:" — Mark 8:2 (ASV)
Remaining in the Decapolis, Jesus taught a large crowd gathered there. After three days Jesus (not the disciples, as in 6:35–36) recognized the physical needs of the crowds. He was moved with compassion for them because they had not had anything to eat for three days, and he immediately dismissed the idea that the crowd should be sent away for food for fear they would collapse on the way.
"and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them are come from far." — Mark 8:3 (ASV)
Remaining in the Decapolis, Jesus taught a large crowd gathered there. After three days Jesus (not the disciples, as in 6:35–36) recognized the physical needs of the crowds. He was moved with compassion for them because they had not had anything to eat for three days, and he immediately dismissed the idea that the crowd should be sent away for food for fear they would collapse on the way.
"And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?" — Mark 8:4 (ASV)
The disciples’ reply suggests they had completely forgotten the feeding of the five thousand. This is perhaps the strongest argument against the view that there were two separate feedings (would they have forgotten such an astounding event?). But the argument is not as strong as it appears.
(1) A considerable period of time may have elapsed between the two events.
(2) Even mature Christians (which the disciples were not), having experienced God’s power and provision, have subsequently acted in unbelief.
(3) The reluctance of Jesus to perform miracles must have so impressed itself on the disciples that they did not expect him to meet every crisis in that fashion. (4) The disciples responded by indicating the difficulty of finding enough food for such a huge crowd.
"And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven." — Mark 8:5 (ASV)
Only seven loaves (cf. 6:38) were available to feed the crowd of four thousand (v.9). The people were not ordered into groups, but simply were on the ground. Jesus gave thanks separately for the bread and the fish, and after each prayer the disciples distributed the food to the people.
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