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Commentary on Matthew 16 verses 5–12
We have here Christ's discourse with his disciples concerning bread, in which, as in many other discourses, he speaks to them of spiritual things under a similitude, and they misunderstand him of carnal things. The occasion of it was, their forgetting to victual their ship, and to take along with them provisions for their family on the other side of the water; usually they carried bread along with them, because they were sometimes in desert places; and when they were not, yet they would not be burthensome. But now they forgot; we will hope it was because their minds and memories were filled with better things. Note, Christ's disciples are often such as have no great forecast for the world.
I. Here is the caution Christ gave them, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. He had now been discoursing with the Pharisees and Sadducees, and saw them to be men of such a spirit, that it was necessary to caution his disciples to have nothing to do with them. Disciples are in most danger from hypocrites; against those that are openly vicious they stand upon their guard, but against Pharisees, who are great pretenders to devotion, and Sadducees, who pretend to a free and impartial search after truth, they commonly lie unguarded: and therefore the caution is doubted, Take heed, and beware.
The corrupt principles and practices of the Pharisees and Sadducees are compared to leaven; they were souring, and swelling, and spreading, like leaven; they fermented wherever they came.
II. Their mistake concerning this caution, Mat 16:7. They thought Christ hereby upbraided them with their improvidence and forgetfulness, that they were so busy attending to his discourse with the Pharisees, that therefore they forgot their private concerns. Or, because having no bread of their own with them, they must be beholden to their friends for supply, he would not have them to ask it of the Pharisees and Sadducees, nor to receive of their alms, because he would not so far countenance them; or, for fear, lest, under pretence of feeding them, they should do them a mischief. Or, they took it for a caution, not to be familiar with the Pharisees and Sadducees, not to eat with them (Pro 23:6), whereas the danger was not in their bread (Christ himself did eat with them, Luk 7:36; Luk 11:37; Luk 14:1), but in their principles.
III. The reproof Christ gave them for this.
1.He reproves their distrust of his ability and readiness to supply them in this strait (Mat 16:8); "O ye of little faith, why are ye in such perplexity because ye have taken no bread, that ye can mind nothing else, that ye think your Master is as full of it as you, and apply every thing he saith to that?" He does not chide them for their little forecast, as they expected he would. Note, Parents and masters must not be angry at the forgetfulness of their children and servants, more than is necessary to make them take more heed another time; we are all apt to be forgetful of our duty. This should serve to excuse a fault, Peradventure it was an oversight. See how easily Christ forgave his disciples' carelessness, though it was in such a material point as taking bread; and do likewise. But that which he chides them for is their little faith.
(1.)He would have them to depend upon him for supply, though it were in a wilderness, and not to disquiet themselves with anxious thoughts about it. Note, Though Christ's disciples be brought into wants and straits, through their own carelessness and incogitancy, yet he encourages them to trust in him for relief. We must not therefore use this as an excuse for our want of charity to those who are really poor, that they should have minded their own affairs better, and then they would not have been in need. It may be so, but they must not therefore be left to starve when they are in need.
(2.)He is displeased at their solicitude in this matter. The weakness and shiftlessness of good people in their worldly affairs is that for which men are apt to condemn them; but it is not such an offence to Christ as their inordinate care and anxiety about those things. We must endeavour to keep the mean between the extremes of carelessness and carefulness; but of the two, the excess of thoughtfulness about the world worst becomes Christ's disciples. "O ye of little faith, why are ye disquieted for want of bread?" Note, To distrust Christ, and to disturb ourselves when we are in straits and difficulties, is an evidence of the weakness of our faith, which, if it were in exercise as it should be, would ease us of the burthen of care, by casting it on the Lord, who careth for us.
(3.)The aggravation of their distrust was the experience they had so lately had of the power and goodness of Christ in providing for them, Mat 16:9, Mat 16:10. Though they had no bread with them, they had him with them who could provide bread for them. If they had not the cistern, they had the Fountain. Do ye not yet understand, neither remember? Note, Christ's disciples are often to be blamed for the shallowness of their understandings, and the slipperiness of their memories. "Have ye forgot those repeated instances of merciful and miraculous supplies; five thousand fed with five loaves, and four thousand with seven loaves, and yet they had enough and to spare? Remember how many baskets ye took up." These baskets were intended for memorials, by which to keep the mercy in remembrance, as the pot of manna which was preserved in the ark, Exo 16:32. The fragments of those meals would be a feast now; and he that could furnish them with such an overplus then, surely could furnish them with what was necessary now. That meat for their bodies was intended to be meat or their faith (Psa 74:14), which therefore they should have lived upon, now that they had forgotten to take bread. Note, We are therefore perplexed with present cares and distrusts, because we do not duly remember our former experiences of divine power and goodness.
2.He reproves their misunderstanding of the caution he gave them (Mat 16:11); How is it that you do not understand? Note, Christ's disciples may well be ashamed of the slowness and dulness of their apprehensions in divine things; especially when they have long enjoyed the means of grace; I spake it not unto you concerning bread. He took it ill, (1.) That they should think him as thoughtful about bread as they were; whereas his meat and drink were to do his Father's will. (2.) That they should be so little acquainted with his way of preaching, as to take that literally which he spoke by way of parable; and should thus make themselves like the multitude, who, when Christ spoke to them in parables, seeing, saw not, and hearing, heard not, Mat 13:13.
IV. The rectifying of the mistake by this reproof (Mat 16:12); Then understood they what he meant. Note, Christ therefore shows us our folly and weakness, that we may stir up ourselves to take things right. He did not tell them expressly what he meant, but repeated what he had said, that they should beware of the leaven; and so obliged them, by comparing this with his other discourses, to arrive at the sense of it in their own thoughts. Thus Christ teaches by the Spirit of wisdom in the heart, opening the understanding to the Spirit of revelation in the word. And those truths are most precious, which we have thus digged for, and have found out after some mistakes. Though Christ did not tell them plainly, yet now they were aware that by the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he meant their doctrine and way, which were corrupt and vicious, but, as they managed them, very apt to insinuate themselves into the minds of men like leaven, and to eat like a canker. They were leading men, and were had in reputation, which made the danger of infection by their errors the greater. In our age, we may reckon atheism and deism to be the leaven of the Sadducees, and popery to be the leaven of the Pharisees, against both which it concerns all Christians to stand upon their guard.
The bread that they had before they crossed the lake was no longer of any use to them when they reached the other side. They needed one kind of bread before they crossed and a different kind afterward. They forgot to take any loaves with them because they were careless about carrying bread. The disciples of Jesus had also crossed to another side. They had passed from the material to the spiritual, from the sensory to the intellectual. This is why Jesus said to them after the crossing, be careful and be on your guard.The Pharisees and Sadducees offered a different dough of teaching, a truly ancient yeast restricted to the bare letter and therefore not free from evil. Jesus does not want his disciples to eat of it any longer. Instead, he mixed a new spiritual dough when he himself offered to any who would abandon the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees and come to him, the living bread which came down from heaven and gives life to the world. Anyone intending no longer to use the yeast and dough of the Pharisees and Sadducees’ teaching must first “be careful.” He must “be on guard” that he will not use the old leaven either accidentally or due to shortages. So Jesus tells his disciples first, “be careful,” and second, “be on your guard.”
Observe, we do not read here as in other places, that He sent the multitudes away and departed; but because the error of unbelief held the minds of the presumptuous, it is said that He left them.
Herein the Apostles are admonished not to be partakers in the doctrine of the Jews; for the works of the Law were established to produce faith, and to prefigure the things that were to follow; and they on whose times truth itself had chanced should look for no further types of truth; lest the teaching of the Pharisees, which knew not of Christ, should stay the effect of Gospel truth.
"And when His disciples," so it is said, "were come to the other side, they forgot to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
And why said He not plainly, Beware of their teaching? His will is to remind them of what had been done, for He knew they had forgotten. But for accusing them at once there seemed to be no reasonable ground, but to take the occasion from themselves, and so to reprove them, would make the charge admissible. "And why did He not then reprove them, when they said, 'Whence should we have so many loaves in the wilderness?' for it seemed a good time then to say what He says here." That He might not seem to rush hastily on the miracle. And besides, He would not blame them before the multitude, nor seek honor in their presence. And now too the accusation had greater reason, for that after repetition of the miracle they were so minded.
Wherefore also He works another miracle, and then and not till then He reproves; I mean, He brings forward what they were reasoning in their hearts. But what were their reasonings? "Because," so it is said, "we have taken no bread." For as yet they were full of trepidation about the purifications of the Jews, and the observances of meats.
Wherefore on all accounts He attacks them even with severity, saying, "Why reason ye in yourselves, O ye of little faith, because ye have brought no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? Having ears, hear ye not? Do ye not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?"
Seest thou intense displeasure? For nowhere else doth He appear to have so rebuked them. Wherefore then doth He so? In order again to cast out their prejudice about the meats. I mean that with this view, whereas then He had only said, "Perceive ye not, neither understand?" in this place, and with a strong rebuke, He saith, "O ye of little faith."
For not everywhere is lenity a good thing. And as He used to allow them freedom of speech, so doth He also reprove, by this variety providing for their salvation. And mark thou at once His reproof, how strong, and His mildness. For all but excusing Himself to them for His severe reproofs to them, He saith, "Do ye not yet consider the five loaves, and how many baskets ye took up; and the seven loaves, and how many baskets ye took up?" And to this end He sets down also the numbers, as well of the persons fed as of the fragments, at once both bringing them to recollection of the past, and making them more attentive to the future.
And to teach thee how great the power of His reproof, and how it roused up their slumbering mind, hear what saith the evangelist. For Jesus having said no more, but having reproved them, and added this only, "How is it that ye do not understand, that I spake it not to you concerning bread that ye should beware, but of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees;" He subjoined, saying, "Then understood they that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees," although He had not uttered that interpretation.
See how much good His reproof wrought. For it both led them away from the Jewish observances, and when they were remiss, made them more heedful, and delivered them from want of faith; so that they were not afraid nor in alarm, if at any time they seemed to have few loaves; nor were they careful about famine, but despised all these things.
Why did He not say plainly, Take heed of the doctrine of the Pharisees? Because He would remind them of those things that had been done in the multiplication of the loaves, knowing them to be forgetful. To have given them this charge at once bluntly would have seemed unreasonable; but to find fault with them on occasion furnished by themselves prepared the way for the charge; therefore it is that the Evangelist brings forward their thoughts; But they thought within themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Because the disciples still grovelled about Jewish observances, the Lord sharply rebukes them for the benefit of all; whence it follows, But Jesus knowing their thoughts said unto them, O ye of little faith, why consider ye among yourselves because ye have no bread?
This He does that He may put away from them all care for food. But why did He not reprove them, when they said, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness? for that seemed a more fitting occasion. He did not blame them at that time that He might not seem to be by that urged on to do miracles, and He was unwilling to find fault with them before the people. Also there was more reason in the charge, when after two miracles of multiplication of loaves, they had anxiety about food. Observe with what mildness He rebukes them; He makes an excuse in answer Himself, saying, Do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves?
By this calling to mind what was past, and rousing their attention to what was to come.
But that you may learn what force Christ's reproof had upon His disciples, and how it roused their sluggish spirit, hear what says the Evangelist; Then they understood how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees; yet He had not interpreted this to them. This instruction of the Lord them drew them away from Jewish observances, and made them attentive instead of careless, and raised them out of their little faith, that whenever they should seem to have but little provision of bread they should have no fear about food, but should despise all those things.
(Verse 5.) And leaving them, he went away, and when his disciples had come across the sea, they forgot to take bread. He said to them: Leaving behind the scribes and Pharisees, to whom he had said, An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet, he went over the sea correctly, and he followed the peoples of the Gentiles. But what the sign of Jonah means, has already been said above.
For he that takes heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, does not observe the precepts of the Law and of the letter, and neglects the traditions of men that he may do the commandments of God. This is the leaven of which the Apostle speaks, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (1 Cor. 5:6.) By every means also we should avoid that leaven which Marcion, Valentinus, and all the heretics had. For the nature of leaven is such, that when mixed with flour, that which seemed a little increases to a large quantity, and brings the whole mixture to its own flavour. Thus heretical doctrine if it have cast but a small spark into your breast, in a short time a mighty flame is raised, and drives the whole temper of the man along with it.
How had they no bread, seeing that as soon as they had filled seven baskets they entered into the boat, and came into the parts of Magedan? There they hear that they ought to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But the Scripture is witness that they had forgotten to take the baskets with them.
Thus He takes this occasion to instruct them what is meant by the five loaves and the seven loaves, the five thousand and the four thousand, who were fed in the desert. For if the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees signified not earthly food, but corrupt traditions and heretical dogmas, why should not the food with which the people of God is nourished signify the true and uncorrupt doctrine?
They were bound to their Master with so great affection, that they were unwilling to part from Him for even a moment of time. And herein it should be observed how far they were from any longing for delicacies, when they took so small care for necessaries, that they had even forgotten to take bread, without which human weakness cannot support itself. He said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees; and of the Sadducees.
(non occ.) As the Lord had left the Pharisees on account of their unbelief, so now He teaches His disciples to be on their guard against their doctrine; whence it follows, And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
(ord.) As much as to say; Why do ye think that I spake of earthly bread, for which ye ought not to have a thought, having beheld Me of so little make such abundant overplus?
(interlin.) As much as to say, Do ye not understand the mystery, nor remember the miracle?
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SUMMARY
Matthew 16:5 marks a pivotal moment in the disciples' journey with Jesus, immediately following a tense encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees. As they cross the Sea of Galilee, the disciples' practical oversight of forgetting to bring bread serves as a seemingly mundane detail that Jesus masterfully employs to pivot from physical concerns to a profound spiritual lesson on discernment and the insidious nature of false teaching. This verse, though brief, highlights the disciples' human fallibility and sets the stage for a critical theological exposition by their Lord.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is strategically placed immediately after Jesus' direct confrontation with the Pharisees and Sadducees, who demand a sign from heaven (Matthew 16:1-4). Jesus refuses to give them a sign, except for the "sign of Jonah," a veiled reference to His death and resurrection. As they depart from this hostile environment, the disciples' forgetfulness of bread becomes the catalyst for Jesus' subsequent warning about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6), which they initially misunderstand as a literal concern about food. This immediate sequence underscores Jesus' transition from confronting external opposition to instructing His inner circle on spiritual dangers. Furthermore, this incident occurs shortly after Jesus had miraculously fed both five thousand (Matthew 14:15-21) and four thousand (Matthew 15:32-39), making their forgetfulness of physical bread a poignant setup for a lesson on spiritual provision and discernment.
Historical & Cultural Context: Travel across the Sea of Galilee was a common mode of transport in Jesus' time, often undertaken by boat. For journeys, especially those involving an overnight stay or a significant distance, it was customary for travelers to carry their own provisions, with bread being the most fundamental staple. The Sea of Galilee itself, approximately 13 miles long and 8 miles wide, could be crossed in a few hours, but the act of crossing provided a natural setting for conversation and reflection away from the crowds and religious leaders. The disciples' oversight reflects a common human tendency to be preoccupied with immediate concerns or to simply forget practical necessities, especially after intense or distracting events like the recent confrontation with the religious elite. Their reliance on physical bread highlights the prevailing mindset of the era, where daily sustenance was a constant and primary concern for most people.
Key Themes: The verse, though simple in its statement, introduces several profound themes that resonate throughout the Gospels. Firstly, it highlights human fallibility and forgetfulness, even among those closest to Jesus. Despite witnessing two massive miraculous feedings, the disciples still neglected to bring bread, demonstrating their ongoing need for spiritual growth and their limited comprehension of Jesus' divine power and provision. Secondly, it sets up a crucial contrast between physical and spiritual needs. The disciples' immediate concern is the lack of literal bread, while Jesus' subsequent teaching aims to shift their focus to the far more dangerous "leaven" of false doctrine and hypocrisy, emphasizing that spiritual nourishment and discernment are paramount. Finally, the incident subtly touches upon the theme of divine provision and trust. Their forgetfulness, coming so soon after Jesus had demonstrated His limitless ability to provide, underscores a nascent lack of full trust or understanding in His power, a lesson Jesus will immediately address by reminding them of His past miracles and their deeper meaning.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Matthew 16:5, though brief, employs several subtle literary devices. Firstly, there is a clear element of Irony. The disciples, having just witnessed Jesus supernaturally provide food for thousands on two separate occasions, now find themselves in a predicament of having forgotten to bring bread. This practical oversight highlights their spiritual dullness and the irony of their immediate concern over a physical need, despite direct evidence of Jesus' boundless provision. Secondly, the verse functions as Foreshadowing. The seemingly mundane detail of forgotten bread is not an isolated incident but deliberately sets the stage for Jesus' profound teaching in the subsequent verses about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." This practical problem becomes a spiritual parable, hinting at the deeper, more dangerous spiritual "food" (doctrine) that they must be wary of. Finally, there is an implicit Contrast between the physical bread that the disciples are concerned about and the spiritual "bread" of truth and the "leaven" of false doctrine that Jesus will soon introduce. This contrast prepares the reader for a shift from earthly concerns to heavenly realities.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This seemingly simple verse, highlighting the disciples' forgetfulness, serves as a profound theological touchstone regarding human fallibility and the constant need for spiritual discernment. It underscores the reality that even those closest to the Lord can be distracted by immediate physical concerns, failing to fully grasp the spiritual implications of their circumstances or the boundless nature of God's provision. The disciples' oversight reveals a struggle with spiritual amnesia, forgetting recent powerful demonstrations of Jesus' ability to provide, which then sets the stage for Jesus to redirect their focus from literal bread to the more insidious "leaven" of false teaching. This teaches us that spiritual dangers often appear subtle or are overlooked when our focus remains solely on the material. The incident ultimately calls believers to a deeper trust in God's provision and a vigilant discernment against spiritual corruption, reminding us that true sustenance is not merely physical but spiritual.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 16:5 offers a compelling mirror for our own spiritual lives. Like the disciples, we often find ourselves preoccupied with immediate, tangible needs—the "bread" of our daily lives—to the point of overlooking or forgetting the profound spiritual truths and divine provisions God has already demonstrated. This verse challenges us to consider where our focus truly lies: on the fleeting concerns of this world, or on the eternal realities of God's kingdom and His sustaining power. It serves as a potent reminder that spiritual amnesia, the tendency to forget God's past faithfulness and miraculous interventions, can leave us vulnerable to anxiety and misunderstanding, just as it did for the disciples. True spiritual maturity involves cultivating a memory of God's goodness and a discerning heart that prioritizes spiritual nourishment over mere physical sustenance. We are called to look beyond the surface, to understand that life's challenges are often opportunities for deeper spiritual lessons, and to trust that the Lord who has provided in the past will continue to provide for all our needs, both seen and unseen.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is this seemingly mundane detail about forgetting bread so significant in the biblical narrative?
Answer: This seemingly simple detail is highly significant because it serves as a deliberate narrative device to set the stage for Jesus' crucial teaching in the verses that follow (Matthew 16:6-12). The disciples' physical oversight becomes a tangible illustration of their spiritual dullness and their tendency to focus on material concerns rather than spiritual realities. Jesus uses their forgetfulness of literal bread to introduce the concept of the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which refers to their corrupt doctrine and hypocrisy. This pivot allows Jesus to shift the disciples' focus from a mundane, practical problem to a profound spiritual lesson on discernment and the dangers of false teaching, highlighting the importance of understanding His words on a deeper, spiritual level.
Did the disciples truly forget, or was it a test from Jesus?
Answer: The text explicitly states, "they had forgotten to take bread," indicating a genuine oversight on their part. While Jesus often tested His disciples' faith and understanding, this particular incident appears to be a natural human error. However, Jesus, in His divine wisdom, immediately seizes upon this forgetfulness as a teachable moment. He doesn't chide them for their lapse in memory but uses it as a springboard to address a far more critical issue: their spiritual discernment regarding the "leaven" of false doctrine. The fact that they had recently witnessed two miraculous feedings (Matthew 14:15-21 and Matthew 15:32-39) makes their forgetfulness even more poignant, underscoring their ongoing struggle to fully grasp the limitless nature of His provision and the spiritual implications of His identity.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 16:5, with its simple declaration of the disciples' forgetfulness regarding physical bread, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus' identity as the ultimate spiritual provision. The disciples' concern over earthly sustenance, despite having witnessed Jesus miraculously provide for thousands, highlights their yet-to-be-fully-realized understanding of who He is. Jesus, in His subsequent teaching, redirects their focus from perishable bread to the spiritual "leaven" of false doctrine, subtly preparing them for the revelation that He Himself is the true and everlasting "Bread of Life" (John 6:35). Just as man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4), so too is Christ the living bread who came down from heaven to give life to the world (John 6:48-51). The disciples' oversight underscores humanity's inherent tendency to seek physical provision while neglecting the spiritual sustenance found only in Christ. Their journey of learning to trust Jesus for all needs, both physical and spiritual, foreshadows the believer's journey to find complete satisfaction and eternal life in Him, the one who truly satisfies the deepest hunger of the soul.