kimvall

In Mark 6:30 Jesus performs the well-known miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. I always interpreted this literally (a classic miracle, intent on proving Jesus' divinity, such as when he walks on water, etc.).

But i Mark 8:15, he says "And he cautioned them, saying 'Watch out of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of the Herod'".

So, assuming that "yeast" means bread (I'm probably not the only one making the connection?), could the Feeding of the Five Thousand in 6:30 mean that Jesus didn't really distribute bread, but knowledge ("teachings", and in a general sense, not limited to just that particular occasion), and that one should watch out for the "yeast" (i.e. teachings, proclamations, knowledge) of the Pharisees and Herodians?

If I get some sort of thumbs up on this one, does it mean that I've gotten somewhere in my Biblical studies? :constern01:

storytime

It's a hidden message. "Yeast" identified false doctrine. "Beware the false doctrine of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod".

Jesus spoke in parables to the circumstances prevailing. His doctrine was different as compared to the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod. He told the Pharisees: "ye teach for doctrine the commandments of men", which was as He thought, in opposition to the commandments of God.

Sheshbazzar

"How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?" "Twelve," they said"
Hmmm....how would they be able to gather up twelve baskets of 'leftovers' ('fragments' KJV) if all that he was distributing was knowledge or 'teachings'?
Doesn't seem that this type of a 'bread' feeding would leave a mess on the ground that would needing picking up after? :huh:

Mindsword

its not a bad idea at all, and i think its plausible. too bad the teachings were propably evil, demonic, proto-fascist ramblings.

Mindsword

maybe there were some books/papers whatever left?? maybe the people who "ate" simply wrote down a bunch of stuff and there were some notes they threw away? knowledge and teachings are usually in written form u know.

kimvall

Actually, if I extend my metaphor idea, the leftover baskets could refer to the twelve apostles that were "leftovers" after the crucifiction, and people "gathered" the leftovers by following to them? He's essentially handing over authority to the apostles.

My idea is growing by the minute, amazing!

dog-on

Perhaps a reference to the 12 tribes that would simply be left behind.

kimvall

I didn't think of that. It could be!

Sheshbazzar

Sounds like you guys would excel in the field of Christian Apologetics!
Make up this stuff on the fly-
You could be inventing entirely new fields of theological exploration!
Preach it, and 1000s of suck...er' .....that is, believers will swallow it hook line and sinker, and open their wallets to you

kimvall

Is this was Apologetics is? I always thought Apologetics was when you tried to explain away, make excuses (apologies) for all the contradiction, oddities, etc.?

And also, making the statement that one of the most famous scenes from the NT actually isn't history, but allegory, would be rather controversial? :constern01:

Or?

(And I'm not being sarcastic, those are genuine statements.)