Mark 8:1–26

The Feeding of Four Thousand

8In those days there was^* again a large crowd, and they did not have^* anything they could eat. Summoning the disciples, he said to them, ²“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have remained with me three days already and do not have anything to eat. ³And if I send them away hungry to their homes they will give out on the way, and some of them have come from far away.” ⁴And his disciples answered him, “Where is anyone able to feed these people with bread here in the desert?” ⁵And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” So they said, “Seven.” ⁶And he commanded the crowd to recline for a meal on the ground, and taking the seven loaves, after he^* had given thanks he broke them^* and began giving^a them^* to his disciples so that they could set them^* before them.^* And they set them^* before the crowd. ⁷And they had a few small fish, and after^* giving thanks for them, he said to set these before them also. ⁸And they ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces that were left, seven baskets full. ⁹Now there were about four thousand. And he sent them away. ¹⁰And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and^* went to the district of Dalmanutha.

Pharisees Demand a Sign

¹¹And the Pharisees came and began to argue with him, demanding from him a sign from heaven in order to^* test him. ¹²And sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation!” ¹³And he left them, got into the boat^* again, and^* went to the other side.

Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

¹⁴And they had forgotten to take bread, and except for one loaf, they did not have any^* with them in the boat. ¹⁵And he ordered them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod!” ¹⁶And they began to discuss with one another that they had no bread. ¹⁷And knowing this,^* he said to them, “Why are you discussing that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? ¹⁸Although you^* have eyes, do you not see? And although you^* have ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” ²⁰“When I also^b broke^* the seven loaves^* for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” ²¹And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida

²²And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought to him a blind man and implored him that he would touch him. ²³And he took hold of the blind man’s hand and^* led him outside the village, and after^* spitting in his eyes, he placed his hands on him and^* asked him, “Do you see anything?” ²⁴And looking up he said, “I see people, for I see them^* like trees walking around.” ²⁵Then he placed his^c hands on his eyes again, and he opened his eyes and was cured, and could see everything clearly. ²⁶And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”