Why Do You Reason? - Mark 8:17

Mark wrote how Jesus' “disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread”, and in chapter eight and verse seventeen of his book, Mark shared how Jesus asked His disciples, “Why do you reason because you have no bread?” where we read:

And when Jesus knew it, he said unto them, Why reason you, because you have no bread? perceive you not yet, neither understand? have you your heart yet hardened?

The verse reads, “And when Jesus knew it, he said unto them, Why reason you, because you have no bread?” Mark began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “Jesus knew it” or “Jesus perceived, understood, discovered and discerned that His disciples were talking about not having physical bread”, “he said unto them” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to His disciples”, “why reason you” or “for what reason and cause do Jesus' disciples deliberate, reckon and decide”, “because you have no bread” which means “since and on account that Jesus' disciples do not possess any food made with flour mixed with water and baked”? Mark shared how Jesus discovered what the disciples were discussing and asked them “why” they decided that He was speaking about physical “bread”.

The verse goes on to say, “perceive you not yet, neither understand? have you your heart yet hardened?” Mark continued with the words, “perceive you not yet” which means “do you not understand or think upon at this point”, “neither understand” or “nor and not in any way consider, be wise or comprehend”? “have you your heart” which means “do Jesus' disciples own, possess and hold in their souls or minds as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “yet hardened” or “still at this point callused, made dull and with a loss of power”. Mark shared how Jesus continued questioning His disciples concerning why they did not “understand and comprehend” what He was saying and whether it was because their “souls” were spiritually “callused”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus was well aware of His disciples' discussion. They thought He was talking about “physical bread”, and because they were without perception, understanding and hard hearted, they could not see that He meant “spiritual” nourishment. God's desire is for everyone to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and when they “believe and trust” in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they begin to understand that “spiritual things” far surpass “physical” ones. “Physical food” is temporary, and “spiritual food” lasts forever. Which “food” do we find ourselves discussing more with others?

Next time Mark shares, “when Jesus knew it, he said unto them, Why do you reason because you have no bread?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".