Mark 8:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

NIV: The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.

NASB: And the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.

CSB: The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

NLT: But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat.

KJV: Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

NKJV: Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat.

After feeding four thousand men plus women and children in Decapolis on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and the disciples returned to the west side. There, Pharisees demanded to see an unmistakable sign from heaven that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, come to free God's chosen people from Roman rule. Jesus derides them for wanting another sign when everything He does is in accordance with Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament, then escapes on a boat and sails with the disciples toward Bethsaida.

"Bread" or "loaf" is from the Greek root word artos. The term can mean food in general, but here means flatbread, like pita bread or naan. Some scholars say that the one loaf means Jesus, the bread of life (John 6:35). But it may mean that there is a stray loaf of bread left in a basket from when Jesus fed the crowd in Decapolis, especially since the text specifically says that the disciples forgot to bring any bread.

We don't know what the disciples were doing in Dalmanutha (Mark 8:10). Possibly they thought they had enough time to find food later, or even head north to Capernaum, where some of them had their homes. Jesus' altercation with the Pharisees, however, has led to an abrupt departure.

We are just as likely to make assumptions about our service to God. Perhaps we signed up to teach Sunday school for a year, and we plan to take a couple months off—but then discover there is no one to organize the nursery schedule. When serving Jesus, we should schedule time to rest, but we should also make the most of every moment so we are ready if He calls us when we least expect.

Mark 8:14–21 is the fourth of a series of stories about bread and righteousness, in which the disciples again miss Jesus' point. ''Bread'' represents God's provision, whether that be literal (Mark 6:30–44; 8:1–9), or metaphorical (Mark 7:24–30). The Pharisees are careful to ensure nothing, even themselves, make their literal bread unclean (Mark 7:1–5). But Jesus warns that spiritually, their teaching acts as tainted leaven that permeates God's truth and fundamentally changes its constitution. The disciples get confused and think He's scolding them about forgetting to bring rations. Matthew 16:5–12 also records this account. Luke 12:1–3 speaks of the leaven of the Pharisees as hypocrisy.

This chapter describes another miraculous feeding of thousands by Jesus. He also counters the hard-hearted and selfish hypocrisy of the Pharisees in seeking even more miraculous signs. Speaking to the disciples, Jesus rebukes their short memories and reminds them about God's intent to provide for His followers. After healing a blind man, Jesus accepts Peter's proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah. Almost immediately, though, Jesus rebukes Peter for resisting the idea that the Messiah must suffer and die.

Mark 8 continues Jesus' attempts to teach the disciples God's plan for the Messiah. Jesus has not come for the religious Pharisees but for the meek who willingly respond to Him. He has not yet come as the glorious and victorious champion of Israel, but to die for the whole world. And His followers must also be willing to sacrifice their lives. The chapter marks a turning point in Jesus' ministry as His miracles grow fewer and His teaching increases. Interestingly, Jesus also faces a repeat of the temptations He experienced in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11).

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.