Mark 8:17

17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still 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 He charged them, saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

16 They reasoned with one another, saying, "It's because we have no bread."

17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?

18 Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember?

19 When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Twelve."