Mark 6:52

For they considered not [the miracle] of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

For {G1063} they considered {G4920} not {G3756} the miracle of {G1909} the loaves {G740}: for {G1063} their {G846} heart {G2588} was {G2258} hardened {G4456}.

for they did not understand about the loaves; on the contrary, their hearts had been made stone-like.

for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

Commentary

Context

Mark 6:52 immediately follows two profound miracles performed by Jesus: the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:30-44) and His miraculous walk on water across the Sea of Galilee during a storm (Mark 6:45-51). This verse explains the disciples' profound astonishment and fear when they saw Jesus walking on the water, highlighting their failure to grasp the full implications of the previous miracle. Despite witnessing Jesus' power firsthand, they had not yet fully understood His divine nature.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Dullness and Lack of Understanding: The verse directly states that the disciples "considered not the miracle of the loaves," meaning they did not truly comprehend its significance. This points to a spiritual insensitivity or obtuseness that prevented them from connecting Jesus' power over creation (feeding the multitude) with His power over the elements (walking on water).
  • The Nature of Jesus' Authority: The feeding of the five thousand was a demonstration of Jesus' sovereign power over physical resources and His ability to create from scarcity. This miracle should have prepared the disciples for an even greater display of His authority, such as calming the storm or walking on water. Their lack of understanding indicates they had not yet fully grasped Jesus' divine identity.
  • The Human Struggle with Faith: Even those closest to Jesus, His chosen disciples, struggled with belief and comprehension. Their "hardened heart" illustrates the human tendency to be slow to perceive spiritual truths, even in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "their heart was hardened" comes from the Greek word pepōrōmenē (πεπωρωμένη), which literally means "to be made callous" or "to be dulled." It describes a spiritual insensitivity, a lack of perception, or a state where the mind is slow to understand, rather than active rebellion or malice. It suggests a spiritual dullness, akin to having a thick skin that prevents feeling or understanding. This concept is echoed elsewhere in Mark's Gospel, such as when Jesus laments their lack of understanding after the second feeding miracle (Mark 8:17-18).

Significance and Application

Mark 6:52 serves as a powerful reminder that witnessing miracles or experiencing God's blessings does not automatically lead to deep spiritual understanding or unwavering faith. We, like the disciples, can often see God's hand at work in our lives but fail to connect those experiences to His overarching character and power. This verse challenges us to:

  • Reflect on God's Past Faithfulness: Just as the disciples should have "considered" the miracle of the loaves, we are called to reflect on God's past interventions and provisions. These experiences build our faith and prepare us for future challenges.
  • Cultivate a Receptive Heart: Spiritual growth requires a heart that is open and receptive to God's truth, willing to learn and understand more deeply. We must guard against spiritual dullness that prevents us from perceiving God's ongoing work and His true nature.
  • Recognize God's Patience: Despite their spiritual struggles, Jesus continued to teach, guide, and patiently work with His disciples, ultimately transforming their understanding. This offers hope for our own journey of faith, acknowledging that spiritual comprehension is a process.
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Cross-References

  • Mark 8:17 (8 votes)

    And when Jesus knew [it], he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

  • Mark 8:21 (8 votes)

    And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

  • Luke 24:25 (7 votes)

    Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

  • Isaiah 63:17 (7 votes)

    O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, [and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

  • Mark 16:14 (5 votes)

    ¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

  • Romans 11:7 (3 votes)

    What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

  • Mark 7:18 (3 votes)

    And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, [it] cannot defile him;