Mark 8:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:4

Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place? St. Matthew ( Matthew 15:33 ) gives the question thus: "Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place, as to fill so great a multitude?" The disciples, measuring the difficulty by human reason, thought that it was impossible to find so many loaves in the desert. But Christ in this necessity, when human resources fail, supplies Divine; and meanwhile the disciples' estimate of the impossibility illustrates... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:4

Whence shall man's soul be fed? God's creatures are altogether and for ever dependent upon him. It is not now and then only that our Creator and Lord interposes upon our behalf, to supply our wants and to relieve our distresses. There are times when we specially recognize, and occasions when we specially feel, his care. But his bounty and watchfulness are, in fact, unceasing. "In him we live, and move, and have our being;" "He openeth his hand, and satisfieth the desires of every living... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:5

The seven loaves and the few small fishes appear to have been the modest provision for our Lord and his disciples. As he often retired into the desert, they were no doubt accustomed to carry small supplies about with them, though poor and scanty. In the former miracle of the multiplying of the loaves ( Mark 6:35 ), we find that their stock consisted of five loaves and two fishes. It was, of course, just as easy for our Lord to multiply the smaller quantity as the larger. But he chose so to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 8:1-9

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 15:32-39.Mark 8:1In those days - While in the wilderness, where he had cured the deaf-mute man.Having nothing to eat - Having come unprovided, or having consumed what they had brought.Mark 8:2I have compassions - I pity their condition. I am disposed to relieve them.Mark 8:9Four thousand - Four thousand “men,” besides women and children. See Matthew 15:38. See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 15:32-39. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 8:1-4

Mark 8:1-4. In those days, the multitude being very great The multitude mentioned Matthew 15:30; and having nothing to eat They had, as on a former occasion, consumed all the provision they had brought with them; Jesus said I have compassion, Greek, σπλαγχνιζομαι , my bowels yearn, or, are moved, toward the multitude Who thus flock eagerly about me, and express such zeal in their attendance, as to expose themselves thereby to many inconveniences and hardships. It is pleasing to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 8:1-10

71. Ministry in the Decapolis (Matthew 15:29-39; Mark 7:31-8:10)From the Mediterranean towns of Phoenicia, Jesus returned to the region around the Sea of Galilee, then continued on into the Decapolis, where the population was largely Gentile. It seems that for a period his ministry was mainly among Gentiles, and many became believers in the God of Israel (Matthew 15:29-31; Mark 7:31). One of the people he healed was a deaf and dumb man. Because of the man’s deafness, Jesus used actions rather... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Mark 8:4

in = on. Greek. epi. App-104 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Mark 8:5

asked = began asking. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 8:4

And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?Whence ...? Whence indeed are the supplies to feed any man or all men, if not from the Lord? The prejudice of the apostles is showing in this reply. They were not concerned at all with meeting the dire human need of the hungry multitude; they were Gentiles; so they dismissed the Lord's question with what amounts to a flippant remark that there was no place around there to buy bread for... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 8:5

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.It would appear from Mark 8:7 that the apostles were even a little less than candid regarding what they did have, for they at first made no mention of the few small fishes which they also had; but, regardless of their evident reluctance, Jesus ordered the feast to proceed. read more

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