Do not your eyes see? (Mk 8:18-8:18)

“Do you have eyes?

Yet you do not see.

Do you have ears

And not hear?

Do you not remember?”

 

ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντες οὐ βλέπετε, καὶ ὦτα ἔχοντες οὐκ ἀκούετε; καὶ οὐ μνημονεύετε,

 

This reprimand of Jesus to his disciples is unique to Mark, who returned to his favorite theme of failure to see and hear correctly.  Mark said that Jesus asked them if they did not have eyes to see (ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντες οὐ βλέπετε) or any ears to hear (καὶ ὦτα ἔχοντες οὐκ ἀκούετε)?  Did they not remember (καὶ οὐ μνημονεύετε) what he had done and said?  Jesus was upset at their lack of understanding of what was going on.

The disciples ask about the parables (Mk 7:17-7:17)

“Jesus left

The crowd.

He entered

The house.

His disciples asked him

About the parables.”

 

Καὶ ὅτε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς οἶκον ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου, ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὴν παραβολήν.

 

This discussion is somewhat similar to a discussion that Peter had with Jesus in Matthew, chapter 15:15.  Mark seems to indicate that the disciples had a lack of understanding.  Mark said that when Jesus left the crowd (ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου), he entered the house (Καὶ ὅτε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς οἶκον).  Then his disciples were asking him about this parable (ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὴν παραβολήν).