And Jesus knowing it, said: Why do you think within yourselves, O ye of little faith, for that you have no bread?
γνους δε ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις τι διαλογιζεσθε εν εαυτοις ολιγοπιστοι οτι αρτους ουκ ελαβετε
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Can you perceive the fervent ire? He has not addressed them with such rebuke in any other instance. What is the reason for this? It is to dismiss their biased views about food once again. Why, then, did He merely state, “Do you not yet understand” (Matthew 15:16)? In this context, however, He speaks with notable reproach, labeling them as having little faith.
Initially, he rebukes them for their concern over sustenance, asking, ‘Why do you worry about not having acquired bread from other sources?’ He refers to them once more as lacking faith, as they did not trust that He could provide for them and prioritized their own needs.
Consequently, the Lord disciplines them rigorously for their lack of faith: And JESUS asked them, WHY do you reason within yourselves, O you of little faith, that you have not received the loaves? Is your heart still unresponsive? Having eyes, do you not perceive? Having ears, do you not comprehend? (Mark 8:17-18). St. Chrysostom points out, Do you observe a profound indignation? For never before has He reproached them in such a manner. Why does He do this? To challenge their misguided perceptions about sustenance. For humility is not always fitting.
As he prepared to leave, Jesus spoke to his disciples in a veiled manner regarding their inquiry, warning them to be cautious of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, alluding to their teachings and duplicity (Mt. 16:12; Mk. 8:15; Lk. 12:1).
Following a confrontation with the Pharisees and Sadducees in the regions of Dalmanuf and Magdala, Christ journeys once more to the opposite side of the sea, specifically the eastern shore, to escape the hostility of His adversaries. Upon arrival, He addresses His disciples, cautioning them: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6), “of the Pharisees and Herod” (Mark 8:15), and “of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees” (Luke 12:1). He alerts them to the secularism and materialism of the Sadducees, as well as the tendency of the Herodians to prioritize political motives over spiritual matters.
The disciples had forgotten to bring sufficient loaves of bread with them, and “except one loaf they had not bread with them in the boat” (Mark 8:14). This oversight caused them distress, and when Christ warned them about the leaven associated with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians, they misinterpreted His words as a caution about procuring bread from those hostile groups. With a heavy heart, Jesus began to admonish His disciples for their lack of understanding, asking, “Are your hearts still hardened, and your eyes do not see, and your ears do not hear?” (Mark 8:17-18). He questioned how they could fail to grasp the miracle of how He fed thousands with just a few loaves. How could they not comprehend His message?
"Do you believe that I, who nourished five thousand individuals with five loaves and four thousand with seven loaves, am unable to provide for you, my twelve followers? Why do you not see, despite having eyes? Why do you not hear, though you possess ears? Why do you fail to recall what has unfolded before you? Do you still not grasp and perceive all that is occurring in your presence? Is your heart as unyielding as stone? How is it that you do not realize I was not referring to bread when I warned you: take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?"
Jesus discerned from the conversation among His disciples that they did not grasp His message, and He admonished them for their lack of faith, understanding, and remembrance. He reminded them of the recent miracles where He had fed thousands with just a few loaves of bread (Matt. 14:14-21, Matt. 15:32-38). As witnesses to these signs and wonders, they should not have been overly concerned with their physical needs, interpreting His teachings as a rebuke for their negligence regarding their earthly necessities. If they believed this, it reflected their deficient trust, understanding, and recollection (cf. Theophilus). Following this correction, the disciples came to realize that His words needed to be interpreted symbolically, specifically that He was cautioning them against the ‘doctrine’ of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
The Lord, aware of their inner thoughts, reproached them for their lack of understanding and faith. As Blessed Theophylact notes, they displayed irrationality because they failed to recall how He had fed the multitude with just a few loaves, and they exhibited disbelief by doubting His ability to provide for them, even though they had not obtained bread from the Jewish people. He questioned them, saying, "What are you reasoning among yourselves, O ye of little faith, that you will not accept the loaves? Do you not feel, do you not perceive, do you not understand? Is your heart still hardened? Do you not see with your eyes, and do you not hear with your ears? Can you not remember?
When I broke the five loaves to feed five thousand men, how many baskets full did you gather?" They replied, "Twenty." "And when I broke seven loaves for four thousand, how many baskets of leftovers did you collect?" They answered, "Seven." "Why do you not comprehend that I was not speaking about bread, but about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?"
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 14 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS