The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. 14 They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered [him], “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?’
The Pharisees who had come from Jerusalem asked Jesus for a sign from Heaven to prove that his authority was from God and that God was at work in him. Their intentions were evil (Mt. 12:35) as they were trying to test and trap Jesus (Lk. 4:12). The Pharisees had previously accused Jesus of casting our demons by the prince of demons (Mk. 3:22). Jesus refused show them his divine power. Faith is needed for one to grasp the signs from God and for God’s works to bear fruit (Mt. 13:58).
Jesus had just finished feeding the four thousand when the Disciples got into the boat and realized that they only had one loaf of bread. They did not understand the miracles of the multiplication of loaves. Jesus on hearing their comments realized that they still did not understand who he was even though they had been granted the grace to understand the mystery of the kingdom of God (Mk. 4:11). They were still thinking on a material plane while Jesus was teaching on a spiritual plane. He warned them to avoid the evil influence of the Pharisees which can spread. They observed the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law but showed by their actions that they did not live the Law. Jesus chastised the disciples for not grasping the parables or understanding his miracles any better than those outside the kingdom of God (Mk. 4:10-12). After everything Jesus had shown them, the disciples still did not realize that he could take care of their material needs and that their spiritual needs were of much greater importance.
Almighty God, as we read and meditate upon your word, grant us the grace to think on a spiritual plane so we may understand the mystery of your kingdom. Help us to understand as you want us to understand, to live ad you want us to live, and to serve you in accordance with the gifts you have given us. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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