14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus and his disciples have left the coastal town where the Pharisees argued with Jesus and sought to the test him. They Mark tells they are going to the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee, its quite the journey even by boat, they would need to eat eventually but they “had forgotten to bring bread” as if to say they “had forgotten to bring enough bread” the second part of the verse makes it clear they have at least one loaf between Jesus, the twelve and other disciples following Jesus around. Some see this as a contradiction but I think it is more plausible that they meant enough bread for them all, there is at least thirteen people here, one loaf is not enough. It seems silly for me to clarify this but you would be surprised at the amount of anti-christian scholars who have attempted to use this, of all things, as a “gotcha” moment.
15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
As Jesus usually does, he uses takes the topic at hand and turns it into a parable, a teaching opportunity. They have bread on the mind so the moment is not squandered and Jesus refers to the leaven, the yeast that makes bread and other baked goods rise as an analogy for the false teachings and influence of the Pharisees and Herod Antipas. This would make the Jewish people a loaf and they should be aware of what causes the Judeans to “rise” in the sense that the Pharisees and Herod want.
Sometimes what is perceived as good in the eyes of the world, is not actually a good thing at all in the eyes of God. Many people perceived the Pharisees as a “good influence” and the political power of Herod and his alliance with the Romans as good as well. Neither is true, beware their influence, very simple.
16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “We have no bread.”
17 And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?
The disciples in their usual manner as well, fail to understand what Jesus was teaching completely. They are still focused on the material desires of food, whilst Jesus was trying to teach them something much more important. They, after discussing the matter, respond to Jesus with “We have no bread.”
Jesus realising that his teaching has not landed at all, going completely over their heads, just cuts to the point of their response. “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread?” They are unable to perceive the higher level of understanding that Jesus was trying to teach, beyond the simple desires of being hungry.
They are limited by their physical senses and Jesus adds on “Are your hearts hardened?” This phrasing should bring to mind that of Pharaoh whose heart was hardened, meaning his will/desire was sharpened at the cost of a soft open heart. The meaning being that when your heart is hardened as Jesus says, you will be limited in your perception. We all have desires and inclinations but something about our hearts being soft and open can negate the domination that our desires have on us and let us see the bigger picture.
He goes on to list their senses, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannon hear. My understanding of this, is that our physical body parts, obviously have a utility but that’s not their only purpose, they, like many things that God makes for us or asks us to make are living signs. Indicators that point to something else. Our sight should point us to the unseen and our ears should remind us of what can’t be heard. They are not perfect perception devices.
He then ends on asking if they remember.
19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”
20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.”
21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
Mark now recounts in summary the two distinct feeding miracles and their unique numerical synbolic components. For anyone else still believing that the Gospel authors “accidentally” wrote down the same story twice, these verses should correct that notion.
For the five thousand Jews, Jesus breaks five loaves, leaving twelve baskets full at the end of it. For the four thousand Gentiles, Jesus breaks seven loaves, leaving seven baskets full and the end. He is trying to explain to them that they are not wanting for food, they shouldn’t ever be worried about food, they have miraculous leader who can literally multiply bread. Their perception limitations are made rigid by an understanding of life in only a natural lens despite the fact that Jesus has demonstrated that the supernatural is very much possible and he has done it multiple times.
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