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Who Can Eat the Children’s Bread? - Part 2 of 2 (Mark 7:1-8:21)

When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:19-21 (NIV)

Context:

Today’s reading (Mark 7:31-8:21) is connected to the reading from Day 11 (Mark 7:1-30) by the theme of bread and/or references to eating:

• The Pharisees are concerned about Jesus’ disciples eating with unwashed hands (Mark 7:1-13)
• Jesus declares all foods clean (Mark 7:14-23)
• Jesus tells a Syrophoenician woman that the children’s bread shouldn’t be tossed to dogs. She replies, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:24-30)
• Jesus feeds the 4,000 with fish and loaves, with leftovers to spare (Mark 8:1-10)
• The disciples forget bread and Jesus warns them about the yeast of the Pharisees (Mark 8:14-21)

Additionally, to interpret today’s passage, it will help to recognize that sometimes numbers in the Bible are just numbers. However, sometimes a number points to a story’s deeper significance. This is because of the cultural meaning of certain numbers in the Ancient Near East, and/or because the number was used notably in other biblical stories.

Jesus himself seems to indicate that the numbers of leftover baskets (in both miraculous feedings) point to the deeper significance of these stories. He highlights these numbers to his disciples, and rebukes them for not understanding what they mean (Mark 8:17-21).

Observations:

After reading Mark 8:1-21 today, you will re-read the feeding of the 5,000 (from Mark 6:30-44). Take note of any similarities and differences between these two miraculous feedings.

This section closes with Jesus warning his disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herodians (Mark 8:15). They misunderstand and think he is berating them for forgetting bread (Mark 8:14, 16). Jesus is astonished at their lack of understanding and highlights the number of leftover baskets at the two feedings.

Interpretation:

The geographical references (in Mark 7:31 and Mark 8:10) suggest that the feeding of the 4,000 takes place in the Decapolis, a Hellenized region. However, this miracle is very similar to the feeding of the 5,000, which was interpreted as a fulfillment of God’s promise in Ezekiel 34 to gather and provide for his lost sheep (see Day 9 if you need a reminder).

Consider the attention Jesus draws to the number of leftover baskets from the two miraculous feedings: 12 and 7. With the biblical context of these numbers in mind:

• What do these stories communicate to the original readers about who gets to eat the bread Jesus provides?
• Who can be identified as God’s children? Who are the sheep he searches out and for whom he provides?

Application:

1 Timothy 2:4 says that God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Do you desire this as well? Is there a person (or group) for whom you struggle to desire this? Are there prejudices, past hurts, or cultural biases that contribute to this felt difficulty? Be honest with yourself as you reflect on these questions. Push yourself to truly examine your own heart.