And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
Matthew 16:5. And when his disciples came. Here Christ takes occasion from the circumstance that had just occurred “Ici Christ prenant occasion des propos precedens;” — “here Christ taking occasion from the former discourse.” to exhort his disciples to beware of every abuse that makes an inroad on sincere piety.
Christ speaks of spiritual things in earthly pictures, and His disciples hear only bread and butter. They forgot provisions because their minds were filled with better things, which is no small mercy. But mark this: the leaven of the Pharisees, their corrupt principles spreading like yeast through dough, is far more dangerous than an empty pantry, and disciples stand most in peril from hypocrites who cloak their poison in piety.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 16:5-12
When his disciples were come to the other side,.... Of the sea, as Munster's Hebrew Gospel adds, to Bethsaida, Mar 8:22 as they were either in the ship, or going from the shore to the said place, they recollected themselves, that they had forgotten to take bread: having but one loaf, as Mark says, in the ship; the seven baskets of fragments being either expended...