JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND

Passage: Mark 8:14-26

Key verse: 25

NIV

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast(A) of the Pharisees(B) and that of Herod.”(C)

16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?(D) 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,”(E) they replied.

20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”(F)

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”(G)

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 They came to Bethsaida,(H) and some people brought a blind man(I) and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit(J) on the man’s eyes and put his hands on(K) him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into[a] the village.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 8:26 Some manuscripts go and tell anyone in
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; (A)beware of (B)the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of (C)Herod.”[a] 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And (D)Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? (E)Do you not yet perceive (F)or understand? (G)Are your hearts hardened? 18 (H)Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke (I)the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And (J)the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 And they came (K)to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And (L)he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when (M)he had (N)spit on his eyes and (O)laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus[b] laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, (P)“Do not even enter the village.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 8:15 Some manuscripts the Herodians
  2. Mark 8:25 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus asked his disciples, “Do you still not see or understand?” How many times has Jesus through his Spirit asked us the same question? Our spiritual eyes, ears, and memory are often not what they should be. Jesus warned his disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the worldliness of the Herodians were dangerous to the souls of the people. Their unbelief and evil teachings could affect the whole nation. The disciples, on the other hand, thought Jesus was talking about their lack of bread on the boat. Their preoccupation with physical bread was almost beyond belief. Didn’t they see the Lord feed the crowds of 5,

and 4,

with plenty to spare? Didn’t they know that he was able to provide whatever they needed? Jesus reminded them of the meaning of these miracles.

When they arrived in Bethsaida, a blind man was brought to Jesus. Jesus took the man by the hand and guided him out of the town. He spat on the man’s eyes and placed his hands on him and asked him if he saw anything. The man reported that he saw people, but they were blurry and looked like trees. Jesus then placed his hands on the man’s eyes and his sight was completely restored. Often, this is the way it is with our spiritual sight. Only Jesus can open our eyes to spiritual truth and sometimes it happens gradually over time.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our spiritual eyes to see.

One Word: Jesus asks, “Do you see anything?”