Matthew 16:8

8 But knowing [this], Jesus said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you did not take bread, [you] of little faith?

Matthew 16:8 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 16:8

Which when Jesus perceived
Without hearing any of their debates, but by his omniscience; for he knew the doubts and unbelief, and anxious solicitude of their minds, as well as their private reasonings one with another:

he said unto them, O ye of little faith;
a phrase used upon a like occasion, when he would dissuade his disciples from an anxious distressing care about a livelihood, ( Matthew 6:30 ) (See Gill on Matthew 6:30):

why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
blaming one another for your negligence and forgetfulness in this matter; distressing your minds, as if you should be famished and starved, because ye have not brought a quantity of bread, as you used to do with you.

Matthew 16:8 In-Context

6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out for and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"
7 So they were discussing [this] among themselves, saying, "[It is] because we did not take bread."
8 But knowing [this], Jesus said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you did not take bread, [you] of little faith?
9 Do you not yet understand or do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up?

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [b]. Some manuscripts have "you do not have bread"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.