Mark 8

A sign from heaven. "There was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat." Again Jesus had "compassion." Again are the disciples perplexed. "Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?" Speedily, of "seven loaves" and "a few small fishes" "about four thousand men, beside women and children, did eat and were filled," and "broken pieces remained over" to the extent of "seven baskets." Jesus left the miracle to give its own teachings—the great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:1-21

Parallel passage: Mt 15:30-16:12. The Feeding of the for thousand 1 . The feeding of the four thousand. 2 . The sign sought by the Pharisees. 3 . The leaven of the Pharisees. I. OMISSION . Having pretty fully considered the feeding of the five thousand recorded in the sixth chapter, and its relation to the feeding of the four thousand narrated in the above section of this eighth chapter, we waive further notice of this subject, as the two miracles are in fact twin miracles,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:3

For divers of them came from far. These words, as they stand in the Authorized Version, might be supposed to be an observation thrown in by the evangelist himself. But the correct rendering of ἥκασι , is not "came," but have come, or rather, are come and instead of τινὲς γὰρ at the beginning of the clause, the more correct reading is καὶ τινὲς . This change makes the clause almost of necessity to be a part of our Lord's own words going before. It was not until the third day that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:6

And he commandeth the multitude to sit down ( ἀναπεσεῖν )—literally, to recline — on the ground ( ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ); not the green grass, as before. It was a different season of the year. "He gave thanks." In this expression is included the recognition of the Divine power to enable him to work the miracle. Christ indeed, as God, was able of his own will and by his own power to multiply the loaves. But as man he gave thanks. And yet, as Dr. Westcott excellently remarks, "The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:8

And they did eat, and were filled ( ἐχορτάσθησαν ). Wycliffe renders it, "were fulfilled;" according to the original meaning of "to fulfill," namely, "to fill full." And they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets —as many as there were loaves. In the record of the other similar miracle, the number of baskets corresponded to the number of the disciples. Here, as in the former miracle, far more food remained after all were fed than the original supply on which our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:8

Christ's beneficence and economy. I. CHRIST 'S BENEFICENCE , 1 . It embraces all human wants. He came to save from sin, but he also delivered men from its manifold effects. The dead were raised, the sick were cured, the hungry were fed. Herein signs were shown of the coming of that heavenly state in which the redeemed hunger no more, and wherein there shall be no more pain. The Church should seek to deal with human necessities as broadly as her Lord did—overlooking neither the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:8

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