Mark 8:11–21

The Pharisees Ask for a Miracle

^11*Some Pharisees came to Jesus and started to argue with him. They wanted to trap him, so they asked him to perform a miracle to show that God approved of him. ^12*But Jesus gave a deep groan and said, “Why do the people of this day ask for a miracle? No, I tell you! No such proof will be given to these people!”

¹³He left them, got back into the boat, and started across to the other side of the lake.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod

¹⁴The disciples had forgotten to bring enough bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. ^15*“Take care,” Jesus warned them, “and be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”

¹⁶They started discussing among themselves: “He says this because we haven’t any bread.”

¹⁷Jesus knew what they were saying, so he asked them, “Why are you discussing about not having any bread? Don’t you know or understand yet? Are your minds so dull? ^18*You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear? Don’t you remember ¹⁹when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand people? How many baskets full of leftover pieces did you take up?”

“Twelve,” they answered.

²⁰“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand people,” asked Jesus, “how many baskets full of leftover pieces did you take up?”

“Seven,” they answered.

²¹“And you still don’t understand?” he asked them.