Don’t You Get It?
Today’s Verse:
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? ~Mark 8:17
Discernment is the ability to make good judgment on a matter or subject. It is being able to take a set of facts and come to a reasonable and proper decision. A vital aspect of spiritual maturity is our ability to discern good from evil, good doctrine from bad doctrine, and what God is trying to teach us. Let us see the importance of having good discernment.
We see the symbol.
“Why reason ye, because ye have no bread?” The disciples boarded a ship with Jesus to go to the other side. While on the ship, they realized that they forgot to bring bread with them. Bread is a staple with most cultures. It is a necessary staple. Bread is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Bread of Life. As the Bread of Life, Jesus satisfies the spiritual hunger of every soul. First, He satisfies the soul’s need for salvation. When a sinner, by faith, receives Jesus as his Savior, he will live forever (John 6:51). Second, Jesus satisfies our spiritual need as we read God’s Word and spend time in God’s presence.
We see the supernatural.
Jesus was ministering to a large multitude of people. He had great compassion for them and wanted to feed them before letting them go home. The disciples were perplexed about how Jesus would satisfy the hunger of so many people. He took seven loaves of bread and a few fish that they found among the crowd, prayed over it, and gave it to the disciples. They, in turn, distributed to the people as much they had need. Over 7,000 men, women, and children were fed. Jesus miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes. Not only that, but after everyone was fed, they took up seven baskets of the fragments that were leftover. This miracle was a lesson that when we give our little to Jesus, He can do much more with it than we can in our own power. It was also a lesson on having faith in the Lord’s ability to work past our limitations.
We see the shortsighted.
Jesus was saddened with His disciples because of their lack of discernment. When Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,” they thought He was referring to physical bread. They said, “It is because we have no bread.” The disciples could not discern the physical from the spiritual. We are like that as well. There are many times when we might miss the spiritual lesson or application behind something that God has placed into our life. Jesus asked them, “Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?” The lesson was not about their stomach: it was about their soul. Jesus watches over and cares for us. He does powerful works in and though us so that we recognize that without Him, we can do nothing.
We see the schooling.
Jesus wanted the disciples to be discerning about bad and false doctrine. The leaven of the Pharisees is their bad doctrine. Leaven is small, but it spreads and, over time, and corrupts. The doctrine of the Pharisees exalted the tradition of their elders over the commandments of God. We can put so much emphasis on the external that we overlook the great significance of the spiritual. They didn’t get it. He sadly asked them, “How is it that ye do not understand?” Don’t miss the spiritual lessons found in everything the Lord does for you. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Be discerning about the things of God.
Have a wise God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 1-4