JESUS FEEDS THE FOUR THOUSAND

1 IN those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

THE PHARISEES DEMAND A SIGN
11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND OF HEROD

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

JESUS HEALS A BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

PETER'S DECLARATION THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cæsarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

1In those dayes the multitude being very great, and hauing nothing to eat. Iesus called his disciples vnto him, & saith vnto them,

2I haue compassion on the multitude, because they haue now bene with me three daies, and haue nothing to eat:

3And if I send them away fasting to their owne houses, they will faint by the way: for diuers of them came from farre.

4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfie these men with bread here in the wildernes?

5And hee asked them, How many loaues haue ye? And they said, Seuen.

6And he commanded the people to sit downe on the ground: and he tooke the seuen loaues, and gaue thanks, and brake, and gaue to his disciples to set before them: and they did set them before the people.

7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commaunded to set them also before them.

8So they did eate, and were filled: and they tooke vp, of the broken meate that was left, seuen baskets.

9And they that had eaten were about foure thousand, and he sent them away.

10 And straightway he entred into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11And the Pharisees came foorth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a signe from heauen, tempting him.

12And he sighed deepely in his spirit, and saith, Why doeth this generation seeke after a signe? Uerely I say vnto you, There shall no signe be giuen vnto this generation.

13And he left them, & entring into the ship againe, departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more then one loafe.

15And hee charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leauen of the Pharisees, and of the leauen of Herode.

16And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is, because we haue no bread.

17And when Iesus knew it, he saith vnto them, Why reason ye, because yee haue no bread? Perceiue ye not yet, neither vnderstand? Haue yee your heart yet hardened?

18Hauing eyes, see ye not? and hauing eares heare ye not? And doe ye not remember?

19When I brake the fiue loaues among fiue thousand, how many baskets full of fragments tooke yee vp? They say vnto him, Twelue.

20And when the seuen among foure thousand: how many baskets full of fragments tooke ye vp? And they said, Seuen.

21And he said vnto them, How is it that ye doe not vnderstand?

22 And he commeth to Bethsaida, and they bring a blind man vnto him, and besought him to touch him:

23And he tooke the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the towne, and when he had spit on his eyes, & put his hands vpon him, he asked him, if hee saw ought.

24And he looked vp, and saide, I see men as trees, walking.

25After that hee put his handes againe vpon his eies, and made him look vp: and he was restored, and saw euery man clearely.

26And hee sent him away to his house, saying, Neither goe into the towne, nor tell it to any in the towne.

27 And Iesus went out, and his disciples, into the townes of Cesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying vnto them, Whom doe men say that I am?

28And they answered, Iohn the Baptist: but some say, Elias: & others, one of the Prophets.

29And hee saith vnto them, But whom say yee that I am? And Peter answereth and saith vnto him, Thou art the Christ.

30And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31And hee beganne to teach them, that the Sonne of man must suffer many things, and be reiected of the Elders, and of the chiefe Priests, & Scribes, and be killed, & after three dayes rise againe.

32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter tooke him, and beganne to rebuke him.

33But when he had turned about, and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou sauourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

34 And when he had called the people vnto him, with his disciples also, he said vnto them, Whosoeuer will come after me, let him denie himselfe, and take vp his crosse and follow mee.

35For whosoeuer will saue his life shall lose it, but whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels, the same shall saue it.

36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gaine the whole world, and lose his owne soule?

37Or what shall a man giue in exchange for his soule?

38Whosoeuer therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinfull generation, of him also shall the Sonne of man bee ashamed, when he commeth in the glory of his Father, with the holy Angels.

I == Matt 15:32

V == Matt 15:34 ; Mark 6:38

VII == Matt 14:19 ; Mark 6:41

X == Matt 15:39

XI == Matt 12:38 ; 16:1 ; John 6:30

XIV == Matt 16:5

XV == Matt 16:6 ; Luke 12:1

XVI Matt 16:7

XVII == Mark 6:52

XIX == Matt 14:20 ; Mark 6:43 ; Luke 8:17 ; JOhn 6:13

XX == Matt 15:37 ; Mark 8:6

XXI == Mark 6:52 ; 8:17

XXIII ==Mark 7:33

XXVI == Matt 5:43 ; 8:4

XXVII == Matt 16:13 ; Luke 9:18

XXVIII == Matt 14:2

XXIX == Matt 16:16 ; JOhn 6:69 ; 11:27

XXX == Matt 16:20

XXXI == Matt 16:21 ; 17:22 ; Luke 9:22

XXXIV == Matt 10:38 ; 16:24 ; Luke 9:23 ; 14:27

XXXV == John 12:25

XXXVIII == Matt 10:33 ; Luke 9:26 ; 12:9 ; Rom 1:16 ; 2nd Tim 1:8 ; 2:12

1 In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, he summoned the disciples and said, 2 "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance." 4 His disciples answered him, "Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?" 5 Still he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" "Seven," they replied. 6 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. 7 They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. 8 They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over - seven baskets. 9 There were about four thousand people. He dismissed them 10 and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha. 11 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." 13 Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. 14 They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 He enjoined them, "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, "Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?" They answered him, "Twelve." 20 "When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?" They answered (him), "Seven." 21 He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" 22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, they brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, "Do you see anything?" 24 Looking up he replied, "I see people looking like trees and walking." 25 Then he laid hands on his eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. 26 Then he sent him home and said, "Do not even go into the village." 27 Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." 29 And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah." 30 Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. 32 He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." 34 He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. 36 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 What could one give in exchange for his life? 38 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

v 1-9 FEEDING THE 4000 (Matthew 15:29-39) They believe this was a few weeks after feeding the 5000. In Galilee after this massive three days of preaching and healing, people were fasting, weak and food supplies were down to seven loaves and a few small fish. Like in the feeding of 5000, Jesus had compassion on them, had them sit down, blessed the food and had the disciples distribute it to them. This time there were 4000 men plus women and children and 7 baskets full of fragments were left over. In the first feeding, the baskets were wicker and of the size to carry some personal belongings. In this one, the original word is such that they were rope or mat baskets, sometimes large enough to carry a man, so there was more left over this time. Since this was east of the sea, there may have been many Gentiles among them. After the multitude was sent away they got in a boat and went to the west side near Magadan near Tiberias, or as in Mk. 8:10, Dalmanutha.

V. 10-21 LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES: also in (Matthew 16:1-12) The location was in a city in a region called Dalmanutha on the central west coast of the Lake. In Matthew 15:39 says Magdala or Magadan. This was the home of Mary Magdalent. Every one wanted "sign" After two years Jesus was troubled by the slowness of his disciples to understanding the significance of His miracles. He rebuked them for their worry about food while they were with him. Jesus condemned their being good readers of weather signs but not of the signs relating to Him. He had given them the sign of Jonah, Matt. 12:38-42. They would get no more signs. When Jesus told the disciples to beware of the leaven etc., they thought it was because they had neglected to bring bread. (The seven baskets full had probably been given away.) He reminded them of the feeding miracles and in Mark asked them in each case how many baskets full were left over. So they were not to be concerned about bread, but the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood.

v 22-26 A BLIND MAN HEADED: At Bethsaida, where he had fed the 5000 (Matthew 11:21) many other miracles. Jesus told him not to tell anyone. The reason was that the number of people demanding him to become King and over throw the Government.

This is the only miracle recorded in Mark alone, and the only recorded two stage miracle Jesus performed. Christ had abandoned Bethsaida to judgment, Matt. 11:21-24, so he led the man outside the town, showing that He still accepted an individual believer. Incomplete healing at first may have been to show the disciples their incomplete understanding, but if they continued in faith, it could be complete. The man probably lived elsewhere, so Jesus was avoiding publicity in that rejected town.

v 27-30 As they approached Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked his disciples who men thought He was. Some thought John the Baptist (resurrected), Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. When He asked their opinion, Peter quickly called Him the Christ, the Son of the living God, that is Messiah. In Mk 8:30 and Lk. 19:21 He told them not to tell anyone that. Comment in verse 20 below.
Prediction of the Savior concerning the Church Mt 16:18-19

v 31-33 This is Jesus’ first mention of His death and resurrection in Matthew, but Peter rebuked Him, thinking that couldn’t happen to Messiah. Jesus turned to Peter and rebuked Satan directly for using Peter as an instrument to have Him avoid the cross. Peter was led by his own emotion and had not been able to see God’s plan. V 23 SATAN: Jesus rebukes Satan in contrast to the blessing of Peter in 16:17 Peter's confession in 16:16 was inspired by the Father. Peter's natural instincts object to a suffering messiah, with out the Father and on his own he cannot see the spiritual necessity of Jesus' passion for sinners.

AND PETER TAKING HIM: Out of a tender love, took him aside, and out of tender love, respect and zeal for his Lord and Master's honor, began to expostulate with him, as it were to rebuke him, saying Lord, far be it from thee to suffer death; The Lord then spoke to Peter, Ver 23 Get behind me Satan. These words may signify, Away from me, or follow me; and with these words the Lord would have Peter to follow him in his suffering, and not to oppose the divine will by contradiction; in Hebrew Satan means an adversary, or one that opposes.

v 34-38 TAKE UP HIS CROSS: Jesus' challenge (16:21) indicates that suffering and self denial are central to the Christians life (Rom 8:17 Col 1:24 Mt 10:38)v 25-28. The cost of discipleship is giving up all one’s own ambitions, even losing his life, because he will gain a better life. All the possessions of the world would be meaningless if it meant we lost our soul.
Jesus spoke prophetically of His second coming in the glory given by the Father and with angels. Those ashamed to unite with Christ will have judgment at that time. Actually the rewards will be at the first stage of His coming when He catches Church Age believers up to be with Him. Three would not see death before seeing Christ in glory. That is explained by the Transfiguration in chapter 17.