Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8:4

"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.