Matthew 16:7-11: a reflection

7They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread? 9Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, 10or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 11How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

When the disciples worry that they have forgotten to bring bread, Jesus gently rebukes their little faith by pointing them back to what he has already done. Don't you yet perceive or remember, he asks, the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, or the seven loaves for the four thousand? They were anxious about bread, having just seen Jesus feed thousands from a few loaves, twice over. Their worry sprang from forgetting his past provision; had they remembered what he had already done, they would not have been anxious.

Notice the cure Jesus offers for their anxiety: remembering his past provision. The disciples worried about bread, forgetting that Jesus had twice fed multitudes from a few loaves. Jesus does not simply reassure them; he calls them to remember what he had already done, to let the memory of his past provision quiet their present anxiety. Had they remembered the loaves and the baskets, they would not have worried about bread; their anxiety sprang from forgetting. Remembering God's past provision is a cure for present worry.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can worry, forgetting how God has provided for us before. When we face a present need or fear, we can be anxious as though God had never provided, forgetting the many times he has met our needs before; but Jesus points the disciples back to his past provision as a cure for their worry. When you are anxious about a present need, do not forget how God has provided for you before; remember his past provision, and let the memory quiet your present anxiety. The God who has met your needs before is the same God who holds your present need; remembering what he has already done is a cure for worry, as Jesus called the disciples to remember the loaves and the baskets. Recall God's past faithfulness when present anxiety rises, and let it quiet your fear, as Jesus called his worried disciples to remember how he had already fed the multitudes.

Lord Jesus, when the disciples worry that they have forgotten to bring bread, you gently rebuke their little faith by pointing them back to what you have already done. Don't you yet perceive or remember, you ask, the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, or the seven loaves for the four thousand? They were anxious about bread, having just seen you feed thousands from a few loaves, twice over. Their worry sprang from forgetting your past provision. Show me the cure you offer for their anxiety: remembering your past provision. The disciples worried about bread, forgetting that you had twice fed multitudes. You do not simply reassure them; you call them to remember what you had already done, to let the memory quiet their present anxiety. Had they remembered the loaves and the baskets, they would not have worried; their anxiety sprang from forgetting. Take that to my heart, for I too can worry, forgetting how you have provided for me before. When I face a present need or fear, I can be anxious as though you had never provided, forgetting the many times you have met my needs; but you point the disciples back to your past provision. When I am anxious about a present need, keep me from forgetting how you have provided for me before; help me remember your past provision, and let the memory quiet my present anxiety. Help me recall your past faithfulness when present anxiety rises, Lord, and let it quiet my fear.