The Demand for a Sign

11 And the Pharisees came out and put questions to him, requesting from him a sign from heaven, testing him. 12 And he was very sad in spirit, and said, Why is this generation looking for a sign? truly, I say to you, No sign will be given to this generation. 13 And he went away from them, and again got into the boat and went across to the other side.

The Leaven of the Pharisees

14 And they had taken no thought to get bread; and they had only one cake of bread with them in the boat. 15 And he said to them, Take care to be on the watch against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. 16 And they said to one another, We have no bread. 17 And Jesus, hearing it, said to them, Why are you reasoning among yourselves because you have no bread? do you still not see, and is it still not clear to you? are your hearts so hard? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? and having ears, have you no hearing? and have you no memory? 19 When I made a division of the five cakes of bread among the five thousand, what number of baskets full of broken bits did you take up? They said to him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among the four thousand, what number of baskets full of broken bits did you take up? And they said to him, Seven. 21 And he said to them, Is it still not clear to you?

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 8:11-21

Commentary on Mark 8:11-21

(Read Mark 8:11-21)

Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?