Mark 8:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?

NIV: Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?

NASB: HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR? And do you not remember,

CSB: Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember?

NLT: ‘You have eyes — can’t you see? You have ears — can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?

KJV: Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

NKJV: Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

After watching the disciples fuss over the fact that they have forgotten to bring bread, Jesus used the Socratic method to open their eyes to the fact that they are being obtuse. Here, He continues His questioning to accuse them of not paying attention.

"Eyes" is from the Greek root word ophthalmos. Although it means someone's literal eyes, it also represents a person's ability to know something. "See" is from the Greek root word blepo and is similar, as it means to see or to be able to understand, contemplate, and examine. "Ears"—ous—and "hear"—akouo—have similar literal and figurative definitions. "Remember" is from the Greek root word mnemoneuo and means "to call to mind."

The disciples have such a rigid idea of who Jesus is that they have not been able to reconcile his actions with their preconceived ideas of Him. In response, their brains have rejected the evidence in front of them. They seem to notice those things that appeal to them, like Jesus rebuking the religious leaders (Mark 2:18–28). They puzzle over events, like Jesus interacting with a Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24–30), that don't make sense. But they miss the nuances of His purpose as it is revealed in the very acts of power they witness and take part in (Mark 6:7–13). And Jesus' use of the words "do you…?" instead of "can you…?" indicates this behavior is at least partially intentional.

We are guilty of the same behavior. It is easier to take the bits of Scripture and of Jesus that agree with what we think of God. It's harder to incorporate His truths with our established worldview. The Old Testament associates such behavior with foolishness and senselessness (Jeremiah 5:21) and rebellion (Ezekiel 12:2). We, like the disciples, have a choice as to whether we trust God's truth or our interpretations.

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.