Mark 8:20 - “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
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What does "Mark 8:20" mean?
Mark 8:20 refers to Jesus reminding his disciples of a previous miracle, the feeding of the 4,000. Let's break down its meaning:
"When the seven loaves fed the four thousand...": This refers to the miracle described earlier in Mark 8:1-9. Jesus fed a large crowd of 4,000 people with only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.
"...how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?": After everyone had eaten their fill, there were leftovers. Jesus is asking his disciples to recall how many baskets they filled with the leftover fragments.
"They told him, 'Seven.'": The disciples answer that they collected seven baskets of leftover food.
Significance/Meaning:
Reminder of God's Provision: Jesus is reminding the disciples of God's abundant provision, even in seemingly impossible situations. He had already demonstrated his power to multiply food and provide for a large crowd.
Gentiles: The feeding of the 4,000 took place in the Decapolis, a largely Gentile region. The feeding of the 5,000 was in a Jewish area. Therefore, in the story of the feeding of the 4,000, Jesus is providing for the Gentiles, demonstrating his care for them.
Disciples' Lack of Understanding: This question is part of a larger conversation where Jesus is trying to make the disciples understand the spiritual significance of his miracles. They are still focused on the literal lack of bread and not grasping the deeper truth that Jesus can provide for all their needs, both physical and spiritual. It highlights their slow understanding and their preoccupation with earthly concerns.
Number Symbolism: Some scholars suggest symbolic meanings to the numbers. Seven (the number of loaves and baskets) represents completeness or perfection in Jewish tradition. The feeding of the 4,000 can be interpreted to mean that Jesus is able to completely provide for them.
Context is Important: This verse is part of a broader passage (Mark 8:14-21) where Jesus warns his disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." The disciples are preoccupied with the fact that they only have one loaf of bread in the boat. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, rebukes them for their lack of faith and understanding, reminding them of the two feeding miracles. He is trying to teach them to have faith in his ability to provide, both physically and spiritually, and to be wary of the corrupting influence of the religious leaders.
Mark 8:20 - “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
What does "Mark 8:20" mean?
Mark 8:20 refers to Jesus reminding his disciples of a previous miracle, the feeding of the 4,000. Let's break down its meaning:
"When the seven loaves fed the four thousand...": This refers to the miracle described earlier in Mark 8:1-9. Jesus fed a large crowd of 4,000 people with only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.
"...how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?": After everyone had eaten their fill, there were leftovers. Jesus is asking his disciples to recall how many baskets they filled with the leftover fragments.
"They told him, 'Seven.'": The disciples answer that they collected seven baskets of leftover food.
Significance/Meaning:
Reminder of God's Provision: Jesus is reminding the disciples of God's abundant provision, even in seemingly impossible situations. He had already demonstrated his power to multiply food and provide for a large crowd.
Gentiles: The feeding of the 4,000 took place in the Decapolis, a largely Gentile region. The feeding of the 5,000 was in a Jewish area. Therefore, in the story of the feeding of the 4,000, Jesus is providing for the Gentiles, demonstrating his care for them.
Disciples' Lack of Understanding: This question is part of a larger conversation where Jesus is trying to make the disciples understand the spiritual significance of his miracles. They are still focused on the literal lack of bread and not grasping the deeper truth that Jesus can provide for all their needs, both physical and spiritual. It highlights their slow understanding and their preoccupation with earthly concerns.
Number Symbolism: Some scholars suggest symbolic meanings to the numbers. Seven (the number of loaves and baskets) represents completeness or perfection in Jewish tradition. The feeding of the 4,000 can be interpreted to mean that Jesus is able to completely provide for them.
Context is Important: This verse is part of a broader passage (Mark 8:14-21) where Jesus warns his disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." The disciples are preoccupied with the fact that they only have one loaf of bread in the boat. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, rebukes them for their lack of faith and understanding, reminding them of the two feeding miracles. He is trying to teach them to have faith in his ability to provide, both physically and spiritually, and to be wary of the corrupting influence of the religious leaders.