Mark 8:1–21

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand—Matthew 15:32–39

¹About that time there was once again a large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them, ²“I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat. ³If I send them home before they’ve eaten, they will become exhausted on the road. Some of them have come a long distance.” 

⁴His disciples asked him, “Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people in this place where no one lives?” 

⁵Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” 

They answered, “Seven.” 

⁶He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples to serve to the people. ⁷They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be served to the people. ⁸The people ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets. ⁹About four thousand people were there. Then he sent the people on their way. 

¹⁰After that, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat and went into the region of Dalmanutha. 

The Pharisees Ask for a Sign from Heaven—Matthew 16:1–4

¹¹The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven. 

¹²With a deep sigh he asked, “Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!” 

¹³Then he left them there. 

The Yeast of the Pharisees—Matthew 16:5–12

He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. ¹⁴The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 

¹⁵Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!” 

¹⁶They had been discussing with one another that they didn’t have any bread. 

¹⁷Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you catch on? Are your minds closed? ¹⁸Are you blind and deaf? Don’t you remember? ¹⁹When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” 

They told him, “Twelve.” 

²⁰“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” 

They answered him, “Seven.” 

²¹He asked them, “Don’t you catch on yet?”