Matthew 16 7

Matthew 16:7 kjv

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

Matthew 16:7 nkjv

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread."

Matthew 16:7 niv

They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread."

Matthew 16:7 esv

And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread."

Matthew 16:7 nlt

At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread.

Matthew 16 verses

Matthew 16 7 Meaning

Matthew 16:7 describes the disciples' private conversation where they misinterpreted Jesus' warning about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Their reasoning stemmed from a purely physical concern: they had forgotten to bring bread. This verse highlights their limited understanding, as they focused on literal food rather than the spiritual truth Jesus was attempting to convey, revealing a deep-seated spiritual blindness despite having witnessed numerous miracles.

Matthew 16 7 Context

Matthew chapter 16 begins with a confrontational demand from the Pharisees and Sadducees for a sign from heaven, which Jesus refuses, denouncing their inability to discern the "signs of the times." He warns them against the "leaven" of these religious factions. The immediate setting of verse 7 finds Jesus and His disciples crossing to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, a transition noted for their having only one loaf of bread. This seemingly mundane detail directly precedes and sets up the disciples' misunderstanding. Historically, both Pharisees and Sadducees held significant influence in Jewish society, representing different theological and political leanings. Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to oral tradition and outward displays of piety, often characterized by hypocrisy (their "leaven" here representing false doctrine or hypocrisy), while Sadducees were more focused on the Temple and denied doctrines like resurrection or angels, embodying skepticism and worldly power. The disciples, being steeped in a culture where leaven had specific ritual and symbolic associations, particularly concerning purity and sin during Passover, struggled to elevate their thinking from literal bread to the figurative danger of corrupting doctrines. Their physical need for food momentarily eclipsed their spiritual awareness and their memory of Jesus' miraculous feedings.

Matthew 16 7 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting Jesus' warning to the disciples' subsequent reasoning. It indicates a direct causal link in the narrative sequence.
• they reasoned (διελογίζοντο - dielogizonto): From dialogizomai, meaning "to reason, deliberate, ponder, dispute inwardly or among themselves." The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing, internal debate or discussion, implying their minds were actively trying to figure out Jesus' meaning. This term often carries a connotation of faulty or earthly reasoning in the New Testament, especially when contrasted with spiritual understanding (e.g., Mar 2:6, 8; Luk 3:15).
• among themselves (ἐν ἑαυτοῖς - en heautois): This reflexive pronoun emphasizes that the reasoning was internal to the group of disciples, a private discussion rather than addressing Jesus directly. It highlights their collaborative, though mistaken, conclusion.
• saying (λέγοντες - legontes): A present participle indicating they were speaking out loud the thoughts they were reasoning. This transitions their internal deliberation into audible articulation, making their error explicit.
• It is (ὅτι - hoti): Often translated as "that" or "because," here indicating the content of their conclusion. They perceived Jesus' statement as a consequence of their forgetting bread.
• because we took (οὐκ ἐλάβομεν - ouk elabomen): Ouk is the negative particle "not," and elabomen is the aorist tense of lambano, meaning "to take, receive, acquire." This phrase reflects their simple, immediate explanation for Jesus' obscure warning, reducing a spiritual metaphor to a practical oversight concerning their meal.
• no bread (ἄρτους - artous): Plural form of artos, referring to "loaves" or "bread." Their concern was purely about the lack of physical sustenance, demonstrating their failure to look beyond the immediate and material. The focus on artous (loaves) directly connects to their physical oversight.
• Group analysis: "they reasoned among themselves": This phrase highlights a collective misunderstanding. Their inability to grasp spiritual truths was a shared limitation, reinforcing the common human tendency to process divine revelation through an earthly filter. Their self-reliant reasoning, apart from direct spiritual discernment from Jesus, led them astray.
• Group analysis: "It is because we took no bread": This reflects a common human trait: attributing profound or complex statements to simple, practical, and often mundane causes, particularly when those causes relate to personal needs or anxieties. It shows their immediate assumption, revealing their mind was set on worldly provision rather than spiritual doctrine.

Matthew 16 7 Bonus section

The disciples' "reasoning" (dielogizonto) is crucial, as this Greek term often describes inner mental processing that is more akin to rumination or even skeptical disputation rather than open-minded spiritual inquiry. It reflects a state where their minds were occupied by earthly anxieties, making them unreceptive to spiritual metaphors. This narrative functions as a pedagogical moment for both the disciples and the readers. Jesus' subsequent rebuke and explanation (vv. 8-12) force them, and us, to move beyond literal interpretations to understand the dangerous, pervasive influence of false doctrine and hypocrisy, symbolized by the leaven. The entire episode serves as a powerful reminder of the persistent need for believers to cultivate spiritual understanding and faith, lest they too become consumed by anxieties or misguided assumptions, missing the profound spiritual truths Jesus seeks to impart.

Matthew 16 7 Commentary

Matthew 16:7 presents a moment of profound irony. Jesus, having just unveiled profound truths about His identity (leading up to Peter's confession) and the nature of His kingdom, confronts a deep-seated spiritual obtuseness in His closest followers. Their "reasoning among themselves" was not an act of thoughtful contemplation on Jesus' symbolic language, but rather a narrow-minded calculation driven by material concerns. They had just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands with a few loaves of bread twice (Matthew 14:13-21, 15:32-38), yet they immediately fell back into anxiety over a lack of physical provisions. This verse vividly illustrates the ongoing struggle for believers, both then and now, to discern spiritual realities from mere worldly circumstances. It is a subtle critique of a purely naturalistic mindset that fails to look beyond the surface, preventing deeper understanding of God's truths and trust in His power to provide. It is a reminder that spiritual discernment often requires setting aside carnal preoccupations.

Examples:

• A Christian worrying excessively about next month's bills after having just prayed for God's provision.
• A disciple fixating on practical limitations in ministry instead of trusting God's empowerment.
• Misinterpreting biblical teachings literally when a figurative or spiritual meaning is intended.