They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
- BSB They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”
- NKJV And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
- NASB They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.”
- NLT At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples think Jesus is rebuking them for forgetting bread. It matters because it shows how easily literal concerns obscure spiritual meaning.
Overview
Missing Jesus' point, the disciples assume his mention of yeast refers to their lack of bread. Their reasoning reveals minds fixed on physical needs rather than spiritual truth. This misunderstanding prompts Jesus to correct and instruct them. It is a humbling reminder of how dull even devoted hearts can be without the Spirit's illumination.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Mark 8:16–18They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
- Acts 10:14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
- Luke 9:46There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.
- Mark 9:10They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.
- Matt 15:16–18So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 16:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.