Study Desk

In^(a) those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summoned^(b) the disciples^(c) and said to them,

"I have compassion^(d) on the crowd, because they've already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

If I send them home hungry,^[a] they will collapse on the way,^(e) and some of them have come a long distance."

His disciples answered Him, "Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill^(f) these people?"

"How many loaves do you have?" He asked them. "Seven," they said.

Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke^(g) the loaves, and kept on giving them to His disciples to set before the people. So they served the loaves to the crowd.

They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well.

They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces.

About 4,000 men were there. He dismissed them

and immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.^[b]

The^(h) Pharisees⁽ⁱ⁾ came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign^(j) from heaven^(k) to test^(l) Him.

But sighing deeply in His spirit,^(m) He said, "Why does this generation⁽ⁿ⁾ demand a sign? I assure you:^(o) No sign will be given to this generation!"

Then He left them, got on board the boat again, and went to the other side.

They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

Then^(p) He commanded them: "Watch out! Beware of the yeast^(q) of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." ^(r)

They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread.

Aware of this, He said to them, "Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don't you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? ^(s)

Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? ^(t)[c] And do you not remember?^(u)

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.

"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.

And He said to them, "Don't you understand yet?" ^(v)