This miracle repeated the lesson of the feeding of the 5,000 for the disciples who had not learned what they should have from the former miracle (vv. 17-21).187
8:1-3 Jesus and His disciples were still in the Decapolis region east of the lake. Three days had passed and the crowds were now hungry having exhausted the provisions they had brought with them. Perhaps Jesus waited three days to see if the disciples would ask Him to feed this crowd as He had fed the former one (6:31-44). They did not. Jesus' compassion for the multitude led Him to articulate their plight. Still the disciples did not ask Jesus to meet the need. Even the similar surroundings did not jog the disciples' memories.
8:4 Why did the disciples not catch on? Probably several months had passed since Jesus fed the 5,000. People tend to forget even great events. Moreover depending on Jesus rather than relying on self is a very difficult lesson to learn especially when one has a limited perception of who Jesus is. Furthermore Jesus' reluctance to perform miracles may have discouraged the disciples from asking Him for help.188Their question revealed their blindness. Rather than thinking about sending the crowds away, they despaired of finding enough bread to satisfy everyone in that wilderness (Gr. eremon, cf. 6:32). At least they referred their question to Jesus this time (cf. 6:37).
8:5 Jesus asked them the same question He had voiced before He fed the 5,000 (6:38). Even this did not remind the disciples to trust Jesus to provide for their need.
8:6-7 Mark explained exactly what Jesus did more particularly than Matthew did (Matt. 15:36). This reflects his typical interest in detail.
"Comparing Jesus' prayers offered before these two feeding miracles shows that the first included the Jewish blessing of looking toward heaven (6:41), whereas the second was a simple thanksgiving (8:6)."189
8:8-9 Jesus' provision was again typically adequate and abundant but not excessive.
Critics of the Bible have argued that Matthew and Mark told the story of one miraculous feeding twice and made mistakes that account for the differences in the accounts.190However the differences between the two stories are so great that most Bible students believe Jesus fed two different groups of people on two separate occasions.
