Abstract

The goal of this article is to consider the literary-theological function of the hardening of the disciples’ hearts in Mark 8:14–21. The disciples are remarkably characterised by faithlessness, which is associated with hardness of their hearts. Although Mark uses the same language, ‘hardness of heart’, at different points in his Gospel to describe both Jesus’ opponents and the disciples, he nevertheless retains a distinction between the two groups. With regard to the opponents’ unbelief, the language means a divine judgement for their unbelieving rejection (cf. Mark 3:5–6). By contrast, when the language is used in relation to the disciples, it warns them (or the Markan readers) to beware of falling into the opponents’ unbelieving attitudes (6:52; 8:17–18).

Highlights

  • In his Gospel, Mark’s portrayal of the disciples is complex

  • In 8:27 to 10:45 the disciples are inappropriately preoccupied with their own status within the coming kingdom, in contrast to Jesus’ teaching on the nature of true discipleship

  • When Jesus warns the disciples against the leaven of Pharisees and Herod, they worry about a lack of provisions (Painter 1997:121)

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Summary

Original Research

Postal address: Korean Bible University, 205 Sanggye-1-Dong, Nowon-Ku, Seoul, South Korea. How to cite this article: Lee, S–H. & Van der Watt, J.G., 2009, ‘The portrayal of the hardening of the disciples’ hearts in Mark 8:14–21’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 65(1), Art. Note: This article is a reworked version of a section of Dr Sug-Ho Lee’s PhD dissertation, written under the supervision of Prof. Dr Jan G. van der Watt, Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria in 2006. Dr Lee is a lecturer at the Korean Bible University, Seoul, South Korea

INTRODUCTION
The leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod
HEARTS Warning against faithlessness
Spiritual perceptiveness as a prerequisite for discipleship
CONCLUSION
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