Mark 8:17

17 And 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?

Mark 8:17 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:17

And when Jesus knew it
As he did immediately, by his omniscience; for as he knew the thoughts and reasonings of the Scribes and Pharisees, ( Matthew 9:4 ) , so he did those of his own disciples:

he saith unto them, why reason ye because ye have no bread?
or imagine that I have given you this caution on that account; or are distressed because this is your case, as if you should be reduced to great difficulties, by reason of your forgetfulness and negligence:

perceive ye not yet, neither understand?
the meaning of the parabolical expressions, which he had used them to; or his power in providing food for them, and supporting a great number of persons with very little food, of which they had some very late instances:

have ye your heart yet hardened?
as after the first miracle; see ( Mark 6:52 ) , for it might have been expected, that by a second miracle of the loaves, their understandings would have been more enlightened, and their faith increased, and that they would have relinquished their gross notions, their anxieties, doubts, and unbelief.

Mark 8:17 In-Context

15 And he ordered them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod!"

16 And they began to discuss with one another that they had no bread.

17 And 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?

18 [Although you] have eyes, do you not see? And [although you] have ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

19 When 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."

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation