Rejected and Relentless
for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened. Mark 6:52 · Berean Standard Bible
Mark explains why they were so shocked: they still hadn't understood the meaning of the bread miracle. Their hearts were hardened.
If they'd truly grasped what happened with the five loaves, walking on water wouldn't have surprised them. One miracle should have prepared them for the next.
Mark offers his editorial commentary on the disciples' lack of understanding.
This is Mark's honest assessment: the disciples kept being amazed because they weren't connecting the dots. Each miracle was supposed to deepen their understanding of who Jesus is.
Mark provides the devastating editorial explanation: the disciples were astonished because 'they had not understood about the loaves' (ou gar synekan epi tois artois) — the feeding should have prepared them for this. Their hearts had been 'hardened' (peporomenе he kardia auton), the same term used for Pharaoh (Exod 7:3) and Jesus' opponents (3:5).
Applying kardia pepōrōmenē ('hardened heart') to the disciples — language previously reserved for Jesus' enemies — is Mark's harshest criticism of the Twelve. The loaves-sea connection suggests that whoever provides bread for five thousand can obviously walk on water.
Mark the narrator offers a harsh editorial assessment of the disciples' spiritual condition.
Mark delivers a stinging verdict: the disciples' astonishment at the sea-walking reveals that they completely missed the point of the bread miracle. Their hearts have hardened like Pharaoh's.
50for they all saw Him and were terrified.
51Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,
52for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat.
54As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus
Read all of Mark 6 — His hometown dismisses him, a king beheads his cousin, and the crowds won't stop coming. Jesus feeds five thousand anyway.
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