Feeding 4,000
1 In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summoned the disciples and said to them,
2
"I have compassion on the crowd, because they've already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
3
If I send them home famished, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance."
4
His disciples answered Him, "Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill these people?"
5
"How many loaves do you have?" He asked them. "Seven," they said.
6
Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke the [loaves], and kept on giving [them] to His disciples to set before [the people]. So they served the [loaves] to the crowd.
7
They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well.
8
They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces.
9
About 4,000 [men] were there. He dismissed them
10
and immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him.
12
But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!"
13
Then He left them, got on board [the boat] again, and went to the other side.
14
They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.
15
Then He commanded them: "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."
16
They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.
17
Aware of this, He said to them, "Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?
18
Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember?
19
When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?" "Twelve," they told Him.
20
"When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?" "Seven," they said.
21
And He said to them, "Don't you understand yet?"