Markchapter 8

A.Four Thousand Fed in a Desert Placevv. 1-10

1 In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said, 2 “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.” 4 His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?” 5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd. 7 They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well. 8 The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 And about four thousand men were present. As soon as Jesus had dismissed the crowd, 10 He got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

B.The Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herodvv. 11-21

11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven. 12 Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And He left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.” 16 So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? 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 basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. 21 Then He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”

C.The Blind Man of Bethsaida Sees in Stagesvv. 22-26

22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked. 24 The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.”

D.You Are the Christ; Get Behind Me, Satanvv. 27-33

27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30 And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him. 31 Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

E.Take Up the Cross and Follow Mevv. 34-38

34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Four thousand fed (seven loaves, seven baskets).

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴

Four thousand fed (seven loaves, seven baskets). Sign denied. Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. Blind man of Bethsaida healed in stages. Mark's unique two-stage healing. Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi: 'thou art the Christ.' Narrative hinge. First passion prediction. Cross-bearing.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · Mark — Mark overview

A. 1–10 Four Thousand Fed in a Desert Place
B. 11–21 The Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod
C. 22–26 The Blind Man of Bethsaida Sees in Stages
D. 27–33 You Are the Christ; Get Behind Me, Satan
E. 34–38 Take Up the Cross and Follow Me

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Matthew 169 verses
- Matthew 16:6“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
- Matthew 16:7They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”
- Matthew 16:10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
- Matthew 16:11How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
- Matthew 16:13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
- Matthew 16:15“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
- Read Matthew 16: 3 more there →
Matthew 155 verses
- Matthew 15:14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- Matthew 15:32Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”
- Matthew 15:33The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?”
- Matthew 15:34“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
- Matthew 15:39After Jesus had dismissed the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
- Read Matthew 15 →
Luke 95 verses
- Luke 9:13But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”
- Luke 9:18One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- Luke 9:21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
- Luke 9:25What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?
- Luke 9:46Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
- Read Luke 9 →
Mark 64 verses
- Mark 6:34When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
- Mark 6:38“Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
- Mark 6:45Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
- Mark 6:52for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
- Read Mark 6 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Matthew 144 verses
- Matthew 14:2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
- Matthew 14:15When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
- Matthew 14:18“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.
- Matthew 14:19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
- Read Matthew 14 →
Mark 83 verses
- Mark 8:1In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,
- Mark 8:19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered.
- Mark 8:23So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.
- Read Mark 8 →
Mark 73 verses
- Mark 7:33So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.
- Mark 7:34And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
- Mark 7:36Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
- Read Mark 7 →
Psalms 1452 verses
- Psalms 145:15The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
- Psalms 145:16You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
- Read Psalms 145 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.