Matthew 16:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?

NIV: Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

NASB: Do you not yet understand nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up?

CSB: Don't you understand yet? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected?

NLT: Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?

KJV: Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

NKJV: Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?

Jesus asks the disciples a question which could easily be translated as "don't you get it, yet?" They have been so preoccupied with food that when Jesus warned them about false teaching, they decided He must be upset about their failure to pack bread. In response, Jesus called them men of little faith. His concern is that they're distracted by something which their own experience clearly says is no big deal. He recently rebuked critics for ignoring miracles when they questioned Him (Matthew 16:1–4). The disciples aren't being stubborn, but their distraction is also based in forgetting what they've already seen.

And so, Christ reminds them of events they were present for. These men saw Him feed five thousand men, plus women and children, from just five loaves of bread. Matthew records this event in Matthew 14:13–21. It had taken place recently. Jesus had told the disciples to feed the crowd. Their response had been that they had only a tiny amount of food. From those meager supplies, Jesus distributed to the disciples enough bread for all those thousands of people. He reminds them now of the twelve baskets of leftovers they gathered up after every person had eaten his or her fill.

The implication is crystal clear. Why would the disciples be worrying about bread when they have seen Him feed thousands in this way? More importantly, why would anxiety about bread override understanding what He was trying to teach them right now about the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:5–8)?

Matthew 16:5–12 follows His confrontation with critics demanding yet another miracle as proof of His authority. The disciples mention they have forgotten to pack bread, to which Jesus responds they need to watch out for "the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." They think He is talking about the missing bread. Jesus challenges their faith. They were present when He fed thousands from a few loaves. Why are they talking about literal bread? He warns them again about the Pharisees and Sadducees, indicating that their teachings are false.

A group of Pharisees and Sadducees demand a miracle from Jesus, though He has already performed many. Jesus refuses and warns the disciples to beware of the teachings of these religious leaders. Jesus asks the disciples who the people say He is, as well as their own opinion. Peter says Jesus is the Christ, and is commended for that statement. Jesus begins to reveal that He must suffer and be killed before being raised on the third day. Peter's attempt to scold Jesus results in a devastating rebuke. Jesus then says all who would follow Him must take up crosses of self-denial.

Matthew 16 finds Jesus returned from the Gentile regions, only to be immediately confronted by another group of Jewish religious leaders. Yet again, these men prove they are insincere: no amount of evidence will ever be enough for them. After a dramatic discussion about Jesus' role as Messiah, Jesus indicates that those who would come after Him must take up their crosses and follow Him. His references to some seeing the Son of Man coming in His kingdom will be fulfilled at the beginning of chapter 17, in an event known as the transfiguration.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.