Four Thousand Are Fed
1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus
called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 "I have compassion on the
multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing
to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint
on the way; for some of them have come from afar."
4 Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with
bread here in the wilderness?"
5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"
And they said, "Seven."
6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven
loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before
them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish;
and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate
and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.
9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10
immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of
Dalmanutha.
Pharisees Seek a Sign
11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him
a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and
said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no
sign shall be given to this generation." 13 And He left them, and getting
into the boat again, departed to the other side.
Disciples Do Not Understand
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more
than one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He charged them, saying, "Take
heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no
bread."
17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because
you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still
hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?
And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?"
They said to Him, "Twelve."
20 "Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large
baskets full of fragments did you take up?"
And they said, "Seven."
21 So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"
A Blind Man is Healed
22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged
Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of
the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked
him if he saw anything.
24And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking."
25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was
restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying,
"Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town."
Peter's Confession of Christ
27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and
on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that
I am?"
28 So they answered, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others,
one of the prophets."
29He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."
30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.
31And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and
be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and
after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him
aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at
His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you
are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
Cost of Discipleship
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said
to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save
it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever
is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him
the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father
with the holy angels."