What does Mark 8:20 mean?

Explanation

Mark 8:20 refers to a discourse between Jesus Christ and His disciples, echoing a theme of spiritual forgetfulness and reminding them of past miracles.

This verse is part of a discussion where Jesus cautions His disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod" (Mark 8:15). The disciples, misunderstanding His warning, thought Jesus was speaking about literal bread because they did not bring enough on their journey.

To refute their misunderstanding and to teach them a lesson on spiritual awareness, Jesus references the miracles He had performed when He fed thousands with just a few loaves of bread and fish.

In this specific verse, He is reminding them of the time when He fed 4,000 men (not counting women and children) with seven loaves of bread.

After everyone had eaten and was satisfied, they collected seven baskets full of leftovers.

The literal meaning of this verse is clear as a historical record of the event.

The deeper meaning reminds the disciples of Christ's divine provision and the spiritual nourishment that He provides, which is more important than the physical leaven they were concerned about.

Historical Context

The verse in question is set during the life of Jesus Christ and was written by John Mark, presumed to be the same Mark mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as a companion of Paul and Barnabas.

The Gospel of Mark is typically dated to around 66-70 CE.

This era was a time of great social and religious upheaval in Judea, with tensions between Jewish religious factions and Roman occupiers.

The feeding of the 4,000 occurred in a predominantly Gentile region, which is significant as it reflects the extension of Jesus' ministry to non-Jews. Jesus uses physical miracles like the multiplication of food to signify that His message and salvation were for all humanity.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this event is often seen as an allegory for God's abundant provision. In Christian theology, this act is also symbolic of the spiritual abundance that Jesus offers to His believers, He is able to meet all needs with abundance left over.

The multiplication of the loaves can also represent the word of God being spread to a large multitude, just as a small amount of bread was able to feed thousands.

The number seven is significant in the Bible, often symbolizing completion and divine perfection, which could imply that the teaching of Jesus is perfect and complete for spiritual sustenance.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can inspire individuals to trust in divine provision even in situations where resources seem scarce.

It also encourages believers to reflect on the spiritual nourishment that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than solely focusing on material needs.

The lesson of remembrance is also applicable; people can often forget past blessings and assistance during times of doubt or need. There is a call to remember and have faith based on the evidence of past experiences of help and provision.

Cross-References

• Matthew 15:34-38 (The feeding of the 4,000 in Matthew's Gospel)
• Mark 6:41-44 (The feeding of the 5,000)
• Luke 9:12-17 (The feeding of the 5,000 in Luke's Gospel)
• John 6:9-13 (The feeding of the 5,000 in John's Gospel)
• 2 Kings 4:42-44 (Elisha feeds 100 men with 20 barley loaves and has leftovers)

Language Study

In the original Greek manuscript, key words of interest include:

• "Baskets" (σπυρίδας, spuridas): This refers to a type of basket used at the time.

Notably, the Greek word used for the baskets in the feeding of the 5,000 is different, which might suggest different shapes, sizes, or cultural contexts.

• "Fragments" (κλασμάτων, klasmaton): These are the broken pieces, signifying that the bread was more than enough to sustain the crowd.
• "Took ye up" (ήρατε, erate): This phrase indicates the act of collecting after the meal, highlighting the abundance and the care taken to gather the remaining food, which in turn, emphasizes no wastefulness.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other ancient myths and religious interpretations, miracle stories involving food are not unique to the Christian faith.

Various cultures have myths of divine beings providing food from little to nothing.

For example, in Greek mythology, gods such as Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, could multiply crops.

Additionally, the concept of divine provision is seen in other religious traditions. In Judaism, the miracle of manna provided by God to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16) is a direct parallel to the idea of being sustained by divine power.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the multiplication of loaves would be considered a violation of physical laws, specifically the conservation of mass.

However, miracles, by their definition in religious contexts, are supernatural events that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws.

Attempts to explain the event within scientific frameworks are speculative and generally regarded as missing the intended spiritual or theological meaning of the miracle.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer differing interpretations of Mark 8:20.

Some like William Barclay suggest that the miracle of feeding the multitudes is meant to show that in God's kingdom, there is sufficiency and abundance, even in seeming scarcity.

John Calvin interprets this as a rebuke to the disciples for their lack of understanding and faith in Jesus despite witnessing His miracles firsthand.

Other commentators might view the numeric specifics as important symbolically and not just details of the event.