Mark 8:1-21

1In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples and said to them,

2“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days, and they have nothing to eat.

3If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.”

4His disciples answered him, “Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?”

5He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.”

6Then he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. So they served the crowd.

7They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well.

8Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

9There were about four thousand who ate. Then he dismissed them.

10Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

11Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him.

12Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.”

13Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.

14Now they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.

15And Jesus ordered them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”

16So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread.

17When he learned of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened?

18Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear? Don’t you remember?

19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.”

20“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Seven.”

21Then he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”