Matthew 16:8-10
Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither 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?
In this passage, Jesus had warned the disciples just a few verses earlier about the “leaven of the Pharisees.” Yet, they completely missed the lesson He was teaching. Their minds were fixated on something else—bread. The Son of God was in their boat, teaching them eternal truths, and all they could think about was bread.
Before we criticize them too harshly, let us pause and reflect on our own lives. How often have we read several pages of Scripture only to realize we don’t remember a single thing we read? Or sat in church, letting our minds wander to the worries of the past or coming week, missing the message entirely?
This passage shows us that distraction isn’t just caused by Attention Deficit Disorder—it’s often a faith issue. Jesus says, “O ye of little faith.” It’s also a matter of understanding, as He asks, “Do ye not yet understand?” And it’s a memory problem: “Neither remember.” In Mark’s account, Jesus goes even further, asking, “Have ye your heart hardened?” (Mark 8:17).
When Jesus addresses an issue, it can sometimes seem unrelated to the surface topic. But, knowing our hearts, He speaks to what we are truly thinking, not just what we are saying, "When Jesus Percieved." Here, Jesus tackles their lack of faith, revealing that their concern about the lack of bread wasn’t a passing thought—it consumed them, ". They were overwhelmed, fixated on their perceived lack, leaving no room for faith.
They were anxious about food while the very Son of God was with them. Did they think He would let them starve? Did they doubt that the One who had compassion on the multitudes would not also provide for His closest followers?
How often do we do the same? We let our needs and worries crowd our minds, doubting whether God will provide—despite His promises. Even when we don’t voice these doubts, He knows our thoughts and intentions. Today, He speaks not just to our words but to our hearts, addressing those nagging fears of lack and need. He commands us, “Take no thought” for such things, yet we are consumed by them.
When we are preoccupied, we cannot hear or understand what Jesus is saying. Here, the disciples misinterpreted His warning about the Pharisees’ doctrine, thinking He was concerned about literal bread. This kind of distraction leads not only to misunderstanding but also to misapplication of His words. Many Christians do the same today, twisting Scripture to fit worldly ideas of happiness, health, and wealth, while forgetting we are called to bear a cross.
Jesus described this condition in Mark’s account as having eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Their obsession with bread caused them to miss the entire point. What are you focused on this morning? Not everything in Scripture speaks to your specific concerns. Be careful not to read your own interests into the Bible—you may misunderstand the Lord’s Word or His work in your life because of distraction.
Lastly, the disciples’ misunderstanding stemmed from forgetfulness. They were consumed with worry over something beyond their control, forgetting that nothing is beyond His control. Just one chapter earlier, Jesus miraculously fed multitudes, leaving them with seven baskets of leftovers—and not long before that, with twelve baskets. How could they forget?
Do we not also forget so easily? Time and again, God has met our needs, yet we let genuine concerns distract us, forgetting His power and faithfulness. The same God who fed multitudes, brought fish into Peter’s net, rained manna from heaven, and sustained a widow with a barrel of meal and a cruse of oil—is He not able to meet our needs?
Thankfully, the disciples eventually realized that Jesus was speaking about something far more important than bread. His questions and rebuke jolted them into understanding. And He does the same for us. When we are distracted, forgetful, and hard-hearted, He speaks to us through His Word, rebuking and teaching. The Sword of the Spirit cuts to the heart, strengthening our faith, opening our eyes, refreshing our memory, and softening our hearts.
Thank God He is still speaking to distracted, forgetful disciples, showing us the way.
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