Matthew 16:9

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

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}?

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

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

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

Commentary

Context

Matthew 16:9 is part of a crucial dialogue between Jesus and His disciples, highlighting their struggle with spiritual understanding. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus had warned His disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6). The disciples, fresh from a situation where they had forgotten to bring bread, mistakenly interpreted "leaven" literally, thinking Jesus was rebuking them for their lack of physical bread (Matthew 16:7). Jesus' question in verse 9, therefore, is a rhetorical rebuke, expressing His astonishment at their failure to grasp spiritual truths despite having witnessed His miraculous power firsthand, specifically the feeding of thousands with very little food.

Key Themes

  • Lack of Spiritual Discernment: The verse powerfully underscores the disciples' inability to move beyond a literal interpretation of Jesus' words to understand their deeper, spiritual meaning. This is a recurring challenge for believers throughout the New Testament.
  • Remembering God's Past Provisions: Jesus directly challenges their memory, reminding them of His previous acts of boundless provision. This highlights the importance of recalling God's faithfulness as a foundation for present trust and understanding.
  • Divine Power and Abundance: By referencing the miracles of the loaves, Jesus implicitly reiterates His omnipotent power to provide for all needs, transcending natural limitations. The vast quantities of leftovers ("how many baskets ye took up") served as tangible proof of His supernatural ability.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Do ye not yet understand, neither remember" uses two distinct Greek verbs that emphasize different aspects of comprehension and recall:

  • Suniēmi (understand): This word implies putting facts together, connecting the dots, or synthesizing information to gain comprehension. Jesus is questioning their ability to connect His warning about "leaven" with His miraculous power to provide, thereby understanding that He wasn't talking about physical bread.
  • Mnēmoneuō (remember): This verb refers to the act of recalling from memory, bringing past events to mind. Jesus challenges them to actively recall the details of the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand, including the significant amounts of leftover fragments gathered.

Practical Application

Matthew 16:9 serves as a timeless reminder for believers:

  • Cultivate Spiritual Understanding: We are encouraged to seek deeper spiritual meaning in God's Word and in life's circumstances, not getting stuck on superficial interpretations. Pray for discernment to understand God's truth.
  • Remember God's Faithfulness: When facing new challenges or doubts, it is vital to recall how God has provided, protected, and guided us in the past. Remembering His past works builds faith for future needs.
  • Trust in God's Provision: Just as Jesus provided abundantly for the multitudes, we can trust in His ability to meet our needs, both spiritual and physical. He is not limited by our perceived lack or the world's challenges.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 14:17 (9 votes)

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

  • Matthew 14:21 (9 votes)

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

  • John 6:9 (6 votes)

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

  • John 6:13 (6 votes)

    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 (6 votes)

    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 (6 votes)

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

  • Matthew 15:16 (4 votes)

    And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?