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Observation and Analysis: Mark 8:13-21

Scripture Focus
Mark 8: 13 - Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. 14
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15
“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of
their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not
see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but
fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke
the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They
answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (NIV)
Outline and Observation of Mark 8:13-21
I. The Prelude (8:13-16)
a. V. 13 – Jesus goes to the other side
b. V. 14 – Disciples Forget Bread
c. V. 15 – Be Careful: Jesus’ Warning Against The Yeast of Pharisees and
Herodians.
d. V. 16 - The Confused Disciples Discussion
II. The Rhetorical Rebuke (8:17-18a)
a. V. 17- 18a – Do you not have: bread, understanding or compassion? Do you not
have: eyes and ears to see and hear?
III. Jogging The Memory of the Disciples (8:18b-21)
a. Vv. 18b -20 – How much left over after feeding 5000? 12 basketfuls. How much
left over after feeding 4000? 7 basketfuls.
b. V. 21 – Do you still not understand?
Observations Questions
I. The Prelude (8:13-16)
Vv. 13-16 seems to act as an introduction to
the later questioning of; and the reminding of
the disciples concerning the feeding miracles.
a. V. 13 - This verse connects with Mark 8:10 Definitional – Look on map and find
where Jesus left the crowds and, with His Dalmanutha to help understand what it means

disciples, goes to the “region of Dalmanutha”
where He is put to the “test” by the Pharisees
to show a sign. After rebuking the Pharisees
Jesus leaves and gets back into the boat and
crosses to the “other side.”
b. V. 14 - sets up the cause for Jesus’ teaching
concerning the “yeast” of the Pharisees. It also
relates back to the miracle of feeding 4000 in
that it shows how quickly the disciples had
forgotten about the need of bread.
- Here we also see the beginning of a
recurrence of numbers: 1 (v. 14); 5000, 12 (v.
19); 4000, 7 (v. 20). This may also be viewed
as a comparison and contrasting relationship,
that is, the small number, which the disciples
easily forget, relates to the large numbers of
Vv. 19-20.
c. V. 15- Yeast seems to be connected to the
earlier confrontation with the Pharisees where
they put Jesus to the “test” to show them a
“miraculous sign” (8:11-12).
- Connecting with 8:11-12 may act as the
causation to which the substantiation of Jesus’
is the warning to “be careful.”
d. V. 16 – The disciples are confused by the
statement of V. 15 and begin to discuss among
themselves. The disciples appear to be very
confused and thus a group meeting is called.
II. The Rhetorical Rebuke (8:17-18a)
Vv. 17-18 is a series of correcting rhetorical
questions by Jesus to the disciples caused by
their misunderstanding of V. 15 and the
subsequent discussion and conclusion of V. 16.
a. V. 17 -18a– Four rhetorical questions from
Jesus.
1) Why are you talking about having no bread?
2) Do you still not see or understand?
3) Are your hearts hardened?
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to “cross to the other side.” Define
Dalmanutha.
Rational – Why is Jesus so averse to showing a
sign?
Implicational – What are my expectations of
Jesus? Do I see him more as a man of miracles
benefiting me personally or the embodiment of
the miraculous that benefits the Kingdom?
Definitional – Define the following terms:
bread and forgotten.
Rational – Why had the disciples so soon
forgotten about bread on the heals of the
miracle of feeding 4000?
Implicational – What does this imply about
our ability to forget Jesus’ ability to provide
the small things as well as the big things? Is
there an implication toward our understanding
of “our daily bread” (Mt. 6:11; Lk. 11:3)?
Definitional – Define the following terms:
Pharisee, Herod and yeast.
Rational – Why is Jesus connecting “yeast”
with the Pharisees and Herodians? Why was
Jesus opposed to their teachings?
Implicational – What are the implications for
believers and non-believers who demand a sign
from God? What are the “yeast” teachings
modern believers should “be careful” of?
Definitional –
Rational –
Implicational – What does this verse imply
about our human tendency to concentrate on
the natural and miss the spiritual?
Definitional – Define: understand
Rational – Why is Jesus comparing them to the
religious sects by using this vocabulary? What
point is he trying to get them to recognize?
Implicational – Does this imply that we can
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4) Do you have eyes and ears but fail to see believe and even spend time with Jesus but still
and hear. harbor doubt in our hearts about Jesus’ ability
-Each of these questions to the disciples carry to provide or His true authority?
similar vocabulary Jesus used in His rebuke of
the religious sects.
- Jesus’ use of this vocabulary serves as a
contrast and comparison to the Jewish leaders.
- We also see the beginning of a recurrence of
the word “understand.”
III. Jogging The Memory of the Disciples
(8:18b-21)
- In this section Jesus attempts to bring to
remembrance the miracles of provision and
lead the disciples toward understanding the
purpose of them.
a. 18b-20 Jesus begins by saying, “And don’t Definitional –
you remember” (18b)? Rational – Why do the disciples need
- His first point of reference was the miracle of reminding? These events happened in the
feeding 5000 and the 12 baskets of leftovers. recent past but they forgot already.
- His second point of reference was the recent Implicational – What does this say about our
miracle of feeding 4000 and the 7 baskets of dependence of self and not on Christ? Do we
leftovers. trust God for the events (i.e. church service,
- It might be Jesus is trying to link in the minds crusades) but distrust Him with our daily
of the disciples a very simple truth: He is able survival? Is there an implication towards
to provide for their daily need of bread just as evangelism?
easily as feeding the large masses.
- Possibly the disciples had become so oriented
to the “event” they had failed to see God’s
want to dwell with us and provide on a “daily”
basis.
- This may connect with the back to Mark 6:8-
9, where Jesus instructs His disciples to go and
preach, taking nothing with them. If He is able
to supply the masses then is not able to supply
the Disciples?
- Again, we see the use of numbers used as
contrasts and comparisons.
b. V. 21 – DO YOU STILL NOT Definitional – Define: understand (is it used
UNDERSTAND? the same here as before?)
- Jesus is summarizing all the questions asked Rational – Do we understand? If not, why not?
earlier, whether rhetorical or not, by asking one Implicational -
final rhetorical question.
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Analysis, Application and Intention To Original Hearers.

Before we enter into our selected verses for study we must first set the context. Jesus had

recently performed a miracle whereby four thousand people had been fed by the multiplication of

seven loaves of bread (Mk. 8:4-7). After everyone was fed Jesus ordered the disciples to collect

the remaining fragments resulting in filling up seven baskets (Mk. 8:8). After sending the crowd

away satisfied Jesus and the disciples get into a boat bound for the “region of Dalmanutha” (Mk.

8:10), which lie on the western side of the Sea of Galilee.

Upon arriving at Dalmanutha Jesus is confronted by a group of Pharisees demanding

Jesus perform a “sign” (Mk. 8:11). Jesus rebukes them and questions why this generation

requires a sign (Mk. 8:12). Then He and the Disciples get back into the boat and cross to the

northeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. During the boat ride the Disciples realize they had

forgotten to bring bread but only had one loaf (Mk. 8:14). If is at this point Jesus makes this

declaration, “Be careful. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees ad that of Herod” (Mk. 8:15).

Historically it is understood Mark was writing to a largely Greco-Roman audience. This

knowledge informs us as to why Mark would choose, in our selected scriptures, to make

reference to the teachings of the “Pharisees” as well as “Herod.” Matthew’s account of this

narrative uses the term “Sadducees” instead of “Herod” (Mt. 16:6). Mark’s audience would not

have been greatly aware of the Jewish sects as would Matthew’s, thus, Mark chooses this term

because of the Sadducees close alliance with Herod the King (Life Application Bible, 1995, p.

1627).

Jesus warns against the “yeast” of the two groups, which leads to seek understanding of

the term. The NIV uses the term “yeast” while the KJV, ESV and NASB use the word “leaven”.

Thayer defines the use of this word within the context of Mark 8:15 is, “viewed in its tendency to
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infect others” (Blue Letter Bible). As a result of Thayer’s definition it might be implied Jesus is

connecting the attitude and actions of the Pharisees and Herodians to an infectious, deadly

disease. The Pauline epistles use the term “leaven” in much to the same way as Mark. Paul

reckons the small compromise to believe the teachings of the Judaizers concerning circumcision

as an infectious disease spreading and corrupting the purity of the Gospel message (1 Cor. 5:6-8;

Gal. 5:9). With this view in mind we may infer Jesus is warning the disciples to not allow the

attitude of the Pharisees and Herodians to infect them leading them to doubt His miracles.

Jesus’ statement concerning the “yeast” of the Pharisees catches the Disciples off guard

and they form a discussion group wherein they decide Jesus is talking about bread (Mk. 8:16).

Their conclusion leads Jesus into a series of rhetorical questions toward the disciples as to

whether or not they have seen and understood what Jesus is trying to show them by His

statement (Mk. 8:15). It is in these questions we discover a recurring word used by Mark:

“understand.” The Greek συνίημι transliterated as, syniemi, has a dual meaning (Blue Letter

Bible). The first meaning of syniemi is an antagonistic term meaning to bring together two

combatants (Blue Letter Bible). The second definition looks more at the pervasive use syniemi,

which means, “to set or join together in mind” (Blue Letter Bible). In effect Jesus is asking the

disciples to “join together” the things He has taught them with those things they know about the

Pharisees and Herodians then compare them in the context of miraculous signs. In other words,

do the Disciples understand the sign demanded by the Pharisees has already been demonstrated

by the feeding miracles but the Pharisees choose not to see or believe? Do the disciples

understand they are then being infected with this doubtful attitude of the Pharisees?

One might imply Jesus is referring to the miracles and bread as a way to point to His

ability to provide both by natural and miraculous means. Jesus’ use of Herod (or Sadducees)
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might further inform this implication. Darby states the Herodians were, “the servile votaries of

the spirit of the world, who, to please the emperor, set God entirely aside.” The

Herodians/Sadducees were loyal to the king, which would mean they were dependent upon that

king and his administration of the kingdom for the daily necessities of life or, better put, their

reliance was upon government not God. If this implication is correct Jesus may be attempting to

help the Disciples understand how He is not just the Master of the event where thousands are fed

but He can also be depended upon to supply their “daily bread” (Mt. 6:11; Lk. 11:3).

Furthermore, this implication connects Jesus’ teaching in Mark 6:8-9 where the Disciples are

commanded to go and preach but not to take “no bread” or other possessions with them. They

were admonished to trust God would work through people to care for their daily needs.

After pointing toward the miracles and jogging the memories of the Disciples, Jesus

finish his discourse with a final question, “Do you still not understand” (Mk. 8:21)? The

Disciples offer no answer and we are not privy to the rest of the conversation. However, this

question certainly has implication not only to the original reader but also the modern.

Has today’s believer become enthralled with the event of Christianity more than the

lifestyle of dependence on God? Given the “believing” hoards flocking to stadiums, seminars

and evangelistic crusades to get their latest Gospel fix we might conclude our dependence on a

Christian system not God. The “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees has been replaced with

the leaven of the prosperity gospel, the self-help gospel and a myriad of other pseudo-Christian

systems selfishly designed to build a dependence on the latest book, fad or personality and not on

God’s daily supply.

The Disciples were being challenged to set aside their doubts as to whether they would be

looked after and encouraged to trust. Today, we are being challenged in much the same way.
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Will the modern Christian lay aside his or her dependence on self, government and faulty

systems and rather pick up a cross and follow Him.

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References

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for zymē (Strong's 2219)". Blue Letter Bible.
1996-2009. 4 Jun 2009. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
Strongs=G2219&t=KJV >

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for syniēmi (Strong's 4920)". Blue Letter Bible.
1996-2009. 4 Jun 2009. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
Strongs=G4920&t=KJV >

Darby, John. "Commentary on Mark 8". "John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament".
<http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/DarbysSynopsisofNewTestament/
dby.cgi?book=mr&chapter=008>