Jesus" rebuke probably arose from the disciples" failure to believe that He could provide bread for them in spite of their having witnessed two feeding miracles. This was a serious mistake for them (cf. Matthew 6:30). [source][source][source]
"The miracles Jesus performs, unlike the signs the Pharisees demand, do not compel faith; but those with faith will perceive their significance." [1][source]
The disciples did not perceive their significance, namely, that Jesus was the Messiah who could and would provide for His people. In this their attitude was not much different from that of the Pharisees and Sadducees. [source][source][source]
Jesus did not explain His metaphor to the disciples, but, as a good teacher, He repeated it forcing them to think more deeply about its meaning. Matthew provided the interpretation for his readers ( Matthew 16:12). Though the Pharisees and Sadducees differed on several points of theology, they held certain beliefs in common. Specifically, the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus warned His disciples about was the skepticism toward divine revelation that resulted in failure to accept Messiah. These critics tried to fit the King and His kingdom into their preconceptions and preferences rather than accepting Him as the Old Testament presented Him. [source][source][source]
This section of the Gospel ( Matthew 13:54 to Matthew 16:12) emphasizes the continuing and mounting opposition to the King. Matthew recorded Jesus withdrawing from this opposition twice ( Matthew 14:13; Matthew 15:21). In both instances He proceeded to train His disciples. The first time He ministered to Jews, and the second time He ministered to Gentiles. This was the pattern of Jesus" ministry that Matthew hinted at in the first verse of this Gospel. Opposition arose from the Jewish people ( Matthew 13:54-58), from the Romans ( Matthew 14:1-12), and most strongly from the religious leaders within Judaism ( Matthew 15:1-9; Matthew 16:1-4). The rejection of this last group finally became so firm that Jesus abandoned them ( Matthew 16:4). From now on He concentrated on preparing His disciples for what lay ahead of them because of Israel"s rejection of Her King. [source][source][source]