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Mark 8

In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

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

And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

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

When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

What does Mark 8:6 mean?

Explanation

Mark 8:6 depicts a moment from the life of Jesus Christ when he performs the miracle of feeding the multitude with seven loaves of bread.

The verse reports Jesus instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground, after which he gives thanks for the bread, breaks it, and distributes it to his disciples so they may serve the people.

This passage is a literal account of a miraculous event in which food was multiplied to satisfy the hunger of a large crowd.

On a deeper level, the act of Jesus giving thanks, breaking bread, and distributing it to be shared among the people foreshadows the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist in Christian tradition.

It emphasizes the importance of gratitude, the sacredness associated with shared meals, and the providence of God to meet the needs of His followers.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is one of the Synoptic Gospels in the New Testament, generally dated around 70 A.D.

The event narrated in Mark 8:6 took place in a predominantly Jewish context where Jesus preached and performed miracles among the people of Galilee and surrounding regions.

The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves is a significant event that demonstrated Jesus' divine power and his compassion for those who followed him.

The occurrence of such a miracle also served to provide a sign to the Jewish people, who were seeking a Messiah that would deliver them through divine acts.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse holds several layers of meaning:

Divine Providence: The verse underlines the belief in God's providence and His ability to provide for His people in miraculous ways.
Eucharistic Theology: The actions of Jesus in this verse - giving thanks, breaking, and distributing bread - resonate with Christian Eucharistic theology, where bread and wine are consecrated and shared as the body and blood of Christ during Mass or Communion.
Messianic Fulfillment: Jesus' miracle fulfills Old Testament prophecies concerning a Messiah who would perform great signs and wonders, affirming his role and mission.

Practical Applications

The verse encourages believers to trust in God’s provision and care for their physical and spiritual needs.

It also calls the faithful to practice gratitude and share generously with others, fostering community and unity.

When faced with challenges or scarcity, believers might draw strength from this passage, finding comfort in the idea that through faith, their needs will be met.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:35-36: "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."

Matthew 14:19: "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."
Luke 9:16: "Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude."
1 Corinthians 10:16: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Mark 8:6 include:

"ἔκλασεν" (Eklasen - "he broke"): This verb signifies the action of breaking bread, a common practice before distributing it which also carries ritualistic significance in Jewish and Christian settings.
"εὐχαριστήσας" (Eucharistēsas - "having given thanks"): This is the verb form related to "Eucharist," reflecting an act of thanksgiving which became central to Christian worship.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In Greco-Roman culture, shared meals were common and often associated with religious practices.

Likewise, in Jewish tradition, meals were accompanied by blessings and prayers.

The multiplication of bread by a divine figure is not unique to Christianity.

For example, in some ancient cultures, gods were credited with providing harvests or food from the heavens.

The distinctive feature in the Christian narrative is the personal and compassionate nature of Jesus seen in the miracle.

Scientific Perspectives

While the miracle of multiplying food defies current scientific understanding and laws of nature, the principle of sharing and distributing resources to eliminate hunger reflects modern discussions on food sustainability and global resource management.

It highlights the potential for food to be provided to all when resources are managed and shared wisely.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have contributed various perspectives on Mark 8:6:

William Barclay noted that this kind of miracle reveals Jesus as one who is Lord of creation, having power even over the natural elements.
John Calvin emphasized the lesson of divine Providence and how God is faithful in supplying our needs.
Matthew Henry's commentary discusses the humility and service shown by Jesus in attending to the crowd's needs before his own, setting an example for Christian conduct.

Mark 8

Mark 8

What does Mark 8:6 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 8:6 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?