#ScriptureReflection - Mark 8:11-21 (3.20.21)

The Demand for a Sign. ¹¹ The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. ¹² He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

The Leaven of the Pharisees. ¹⁴ They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ¹⁶ They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. ¹⁷ When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, ¹⁹ when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered [him], “Seven.” ²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”