Matthew 16:9

KJV

Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

KJV (with Strong's)

Do ye {G3539} not yet {G3768} understand {G3539}, neither {G3761} remember {G3421} the five {G4002} loaves {G740} of the five thousand {G4000}, and {G2532} how many {G4214} baskets {G2894} ye took up {G2983}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Don't you understand yet? Don't you remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you filled?

Berean Standard Bible

Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

American Standard Version

Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 16:9 captures Jesus' profound disappointment and rhetorical questioning of His disciples' spiritual dullness. Despite having personally witnessed His miraculous power to feed thousands with meager provisions and collect abundant leftovers, they fail to grasp the spiritual implications of His warning about the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This verse underscores their struggle to move beyond a literal understanding to discern deeper spiritual truths, highlighting the persistent challenge of spiritual comprehension even among those closest to Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in a dialogue that immediately follows Jesus' warning to His disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" ([Matthew 16:6](/matthew/16-6 "Matthew 16:6 - Warning Against Leaven")). The disciples, having forgotten to bring bread, misinterpret "leaven" literally, thinking Jesus is scolding them for their lack of physical provisions ([Matthew 16:7](/matthew/16-7 "Matthew 16:7 - Disciples' Misunderstanding")). Jesus' subsequent questions in [Matthew 16:8-10](/matthew/16-8-10 "Matthew 16:8-10 - Jesus Rebukes Their Lack of Faith") are a direct, rhetorical rebuke, expressing His astonishment at their inability to connect His recent miracles of feeding multitudes with His current spiritual teaching. He is pushing them to see beyond the physical and understand the spiritual nature of His warning. The passage culminates in their eventual understanding that He spoke not of literal bread, but of the doctrine of the religious leaders ([Matthew 16:11-12](/matthew/16-11-12 "Matthew 16:11-12 - Disciples Understand the Leaven")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is likely in the region of Caesarea Philippi, a Gentile area, after Jesus' ministry in Galilee. The "leaven" metaphor was common in Jewish culture, often symbolizing pervasive influence, whether good or bad. For instance, leaven could represent corruption or hypocrisy (as in the Pharisees' teachings) because a small amount could affect an entire batch of dough. The disciples, being Jewish, would have been familiar with the literal and metaphorical uses of leaven. Their literal interpretation in this context, despite having just witnessed two massive miraculous feedings, reveals a deep-seated spiritual blindness or preoccupation with earthly concerns. The two miracles referenced—the feeding of the five thousand ([Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-13-21 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding of the Five Thousand")) and the feeding of the four thousand ([Matthew 15:32-39](/matthew/15-32-39 "Matthew 15:32-39 - Feeding of the Four Thousand"))—were recent and highly impactful events, making the disciples' lack of understanding even more perplexing to Jesus.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Spiritual Discernment vs. Literalism**, showing the disciples' struggle to grasp the spiritual implications of Jesus' teachings and miracles. They are repeatedly challenged to look beyond the surface. Secondly, it reinforces the theme of **Remembering God's Faithfulness and Provision**. Jesus explicitly calls them to recall His past acts of boundless provision, emphasizing that remembering God's past works is crucial for developing present faith and understanding. This theme is foundational throughout the biblical narrative, from the wilderness wanderings in [Exodus](/exodus/1 "Book of Exodus") to the prophetic calls to remembrance. Thirdly, the verse subtly underscores **Jesus' Divine Authority and Omnipotence**. By referencing the miracles of the loaves, Jesus implicitly reminds them of His supernatural power to provide for all needs, whether physical or spiritual, transcending all natural limitations. The vast quantities of leftovers, specifically the "baskets ye took up," served as undeniable, tangible proof of His unique ability, a point Jesus presses upon them here.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **understand (Greek, _noiéō'_):** From the root _nous_ (mind), this verb signifies the act of exercising the mind, observing, comprehending, or heeding. Jesus is questioning their ability to connect the dots, to synthesize the evidence of His past miracles with His current warning, and thereby grasp the spiritual, non-literal meaning of "leaven." It implies a failure not just of memory, but of intellectual and spiritual processing.
* **remember (Greek, _mnēmoneúō'_):** This word denotes the act of exercising memory, recalling from memory, or being mindful of past events. Jesus challenges them to actively bring to mind the specific details of the feeding miracles, particularly the quantities of food and the abundance of leftovers, which should have informed their understanding of His power and their own lack of need. Their failure to remember these recent, powerful events indicates a deeper spiritual amnesia.
* **baskets (Greek, _kóphinos'_):** This term refers to a small, portable basket, typically used by Jews for carrying provisions. In the context of the feeding of the five thousand, twelve _kóphinos_ baskets of leftovers were collected. The specific mention of "how many baskets ye took up" emphasizes the tangible, undeniable evidence of the super-abundance of Jesus' provision, serving as a stark contrast to the disciples' current anxiety over a lack of bread.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Do ye not yet understand,"**: This rhetorical question expresses Jesus' astonishment and disappointment. The phrase "not yet" (Greek, _oúpō_) emphasizes a continued state of spiritual dullness despite repeated teaching and miraculous demonstrations. Jesus expects them to have moved beyond a purely literal interpretation.
* **"neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand,"**: Jesus directly appeals to their memory, specifically referencing the miracle of feeding five thousand men (plus women and children) with only five loaves. This event was a profound demonstration of His power to provide abundantly from scarcity. Their failure to remember this recent, powerful event underscores their spiritual amnesia.
* **"and how many baskets ye took up?"**: This part of the question highlights the tangible evidence of super-abundance. The "baskets" (referring to the twelve baskets of leftovers from the feeding of the five thousand) served as irrefutable proof of Jesus' limitless provision. By asking "how many," Jesus prompts them to recall the specific, measurable evidence that should have dispelled any anxiety about physical bread.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 16:9 is rich with **Rhetorical Question**, a device where a question is posed not to elicit an answer, but to make a point or provoke thought. Jesus' question is a pointed rebuke, designed to highlight the disciples' spiritual dullness and their failure to connect His past miraculous provisions with His current spiritual teaching. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; the disciples, who have personally witnessed Jesus' power to create abundance from scarcity, are now anxious about a lack of physical bread, demonstrating a profound disconnect between their experience and their understanding. The mention of "five loaves of the five thousand" and "how many baskets ye took up" functions as **Allusion**, referring directly to the two specific, recent miracles of feeding the multitudes, calling upon the disciples' shared experience and memory as evidence against their current spiritual blindness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the human tendency towards spiritual amnesia and a focus on the temporal rather than the eternal. Despite overwhelming evidence of God's power and provision, even those closest to Jesus struggled to internalize these truths and apply them to new situations. Jesus' exasperation reveals a divine desire for His followers to develop a deeper, spiritual understanding that transcends mere physical observation. It underscores that true faith is not just about witnessing miracles, but about remembering them and allowing them to transform one's perspective on God's character and capabilities. The disciples' failure to remember the abundance of the baskets highlights their inability to trust in Jesus' sufficient provision, both physically and spiritually, and to discern the true nature of His warnings.

* [Mark 8:17-21](/mark/8-17-21 "Mark 8:17-21 - Jesus Rebukes Disciples' Dullness")
* [Luke 24:25](/luke/24-25 "Luke 24:25 - Jesus Rebukes Emmaus Disciples")
* [Hebrews 3:12](/hebrews/3-12 "Hebrews 3:12 - Warning Against Unbelief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 16:9 serves as a potent mirror for every believer, challenging us to examine the depth of our spiritual understanding and the reliability of our spiritual memory. How often do we, like the disciples, become preoccupied with earthly concerns or literal interpretations, missing the profound spiritual truths Jesus is trying to impart? This verse calls us to move beyond superficial understanding, to actively recall God's past faithfulness, and to trust in His boundless provision in every circumstance. When faced with new challenges or anxieties, we are encouraged to consciously remember how God has provided, protected, and guided us in the past. This act of remembrance cultivates a deeper faith and enables us to discern the spiritual realities behind life's circumstances, preventing us from falling into the same trap of spiritual dullness that plagued the disciples. It is a call to cultivate a discerning heart that sees God's hand not just in grand miracles, but in the everyday provisions and spiritual insights He offers.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you prone to spiritual amnesia, forgetting God's past provisions and faithfulness?**
* **How might a literal interpretation of circumstances or God's Word prevent you from grasping deeper spiritual truths?**
* **What "baskets" of past blessings and provisions can you recall that should strengthen your faith for present and future challenges?**
* **How can you intentionally cultivate a more discerning heart that understands God's spiritual warnings and promises?**

### FAQ
**Why were the disciples so slow to understand, even after witnessing miracles?**

Answer: The disciples' slowness to understand, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles, highlights a common human struggle with spiritual discernment. Their minds were often preoccupied with earthly concerns—like forgetting bread—and they tended to interpret Jesus' words literally rather than spiritually. This was compounded by their deeply ingrained Jewish expectations of a political Messiah, which often overshadowed their comprehension of His spiritual kingdom. Even after seeing Jesus feed thousands, their immediate concern was still physical provision, demonstrating a lack of faith and an inability to connect Jesus' power over physical needs with His authority over spiritual matters, such as the corrupting influence of the Pharisees' doctrine. Their spiritual dullness was a recurring theme, showing that even close proximity to Christ does not automatically guarantee full spiritual insight; it requires a receptive heart and a willingness to transcend worldly perspectives.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 16:9, though a rebuke, ultimately points to Christ as the sole source of true understanding and spiritual nourishment. The disciples' failure to grasp the significance of the physical bread miracles foreshadows their need for the ultimate Bread of Life. Jesus, in His exasperation, is not merely scolding them for a lack of memory, but for a lack of faith in Him as the one who provides all things, both physical and spiritual. He is the true manna from heaven, the one who satisfies spiritual hunger and thirst, as He declares in [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"). Their struggle to understand the "leaven" of doctrine underscores their need for the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, whom Christ would send to guide them into all truth ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth")). Ultimately, Jesus' question serves to highlight His own identity as the one who not only provides miraculously for physical needs but also is the very embodiment of spiritual wisdom and discernment. His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection would be the ultimate "basket" of provision, offering eternal life and true understanding to all who believe, fulfilling the deepest spiritual hunger that the disciples, in this moment, still struggled to comprehend.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:17

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

Matthew 14:21

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

John 6:9

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

John 6:13

Therefore they gathered [them] together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Luke 9:13

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

Luke 9:17

And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Matthew 15:16

And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?