NOTES ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MARK
THIS CONTAINS,
I. The beginning of the Gospel,
a. John prepares the way..................................... Chap. i, 1-8
b. Baptizes Jesus, who is proclaimed the Son of God................. 9-11
c. Tempted of Satan, served by angels............................... 12,13
II. The Gospel itself,
A. In Galilee: where we may observe three periods,
a. After John was cast into prison,
In general,
1. The place and matter of his preaching,....................... 14,15
2. The calling of several of the apostles....................... 16-20
In particular,
1. Actions not censured by his adversaries
1. He teaches with authority................................... 21, 22
2. Cures the demoniac........................................... 23-28
3. Heals many sick.............................................. 29-34
4. Prays........................................................... 35
5. Teaches every where.......................................... 36-39
6. Cleanses the leper........................................... 40-45
2. Actions censured by them,
Here occur,
1. The paralytic forgiven and healed......................... ii, 1-12
2. The call of Levi, and eating with publicans and sinners...... 13-17
3. The question concerning fasting answered..................... 18-22
4. The ears of corn plucked..................................... 23-28
5. The withered hand restored: Snares laid................... iii, 1-6
3. Our Lord's retirement,
1. At the sea.................................................... 7-12
2. In the mountain, where the apostles are called............... 13-19
3. In the house, where after refuting the blasphemy of the
Pharisees, he shows who are his mother and his brethren.... 20-35
4. In the ship; various parables............................. iv, 1-34
5. On the sea, and beyond it.................................... 35-41
v, 1-20
6. On this side the sea: Again: Jairus, and the woman with
the flux of blood.......................................... 21-43
7. At Nazareth: His countrymen offended....................... vi, 1-6
8. The apostles sent forth....................................... 7-13
b. After John was put to death,
1. Herod's hearing of Jesus, and judgment of him................ 14-29
2. Christ's retiring with his apostles, now returned............ 30-32
3. The earnestness of the people; Christ's compassion;
five thousand fed.......................................... 33-44
4. His walking on the sea....................................... 45-52
5. He heals many in the land of Gennesaret..................... 53-56
6. And teaches what defiles a man........................... vii, 1-23
7. A devil cast out in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon............. 24-30
8. At the sea of Galilee, the deaf and dumb healed;
four thousand fed.......................................... 31-37
viii, 1-9
9. He comes into the parts of Dalmanutha, and answers concerning
the sign from heaven........................... Chap. viii, 10-13
10. In the ship, he warns them of evil leaven................... 14-21
11. At Bethsaida, heals the sick................................ 22-26
c. After he was acknowledged to be the Son of God,
1. Peter confessing him, he enjoins his disciples silence; foretells
his passion; reproves Peter; exhorts to follow him............ 21
ix, 1
2. Is transfigured: casts out a devil; foretells his passion.... 2-32
3. Reproves and instructs his disciples......................... 33-50
B. In Judea,
a. In the borders................................................... x,1
1. He treats of divorce......................................... 2-12
2. Of little children.......................................... 13-16
3. Of entering into life, and of the danger of riches.......... 17-31
b. In his way to the city,
1. He foretells his passion a third time....................... 32-34
2. Answers James and John, and instructs them all.............. 35-45
3. At Jericho, gives sight to Bartimeus........................ 46-52
4. At Jerusalem................................................. xi,1
a. His royal entry'................................................ 2-11
b. The day after, the fig tree cursed............................. 12-14
the temple purged.......................................... 15-19
c. The day after that,
1. Near the fig tree, he shows the power of faith................. 20-26
2. In the temple,
1. His authority vindicated..................................... 27-33
2. The parable of the wicked husbandmen..................... xii, 1-12
3. Of paying tribute to Cesar................................... 13-17
4. Of the resurrection.......................................... 18-27
5. Of the great commandment..................................... 28-34
6. Of David's Lord.............................................. 35-37
7. He warns the people of the scribes........................... 38-40
8. Commends the poor widow...................................... 41-44
3. On Mount Olivet, he foretells the destruction of the city and
temple, and the end of the world...................... xiii, 1-37
d. Two days before the passover; his enemies bargain with Judas.xiv,1-11
e. On the first day of unleavened bread,
1. The passover prepared........................................ 12-16
2. The Lord's Supper instituted................................. 17-25
3. After the hymn, the offence of the disciples and Peter's
denial foretold............................................ 26-31
4. In Gethsemane,
Jesus prays; wakes his disciples........................... 32-42
Is betrayed; taken; forsaken of all........................ 43-52
5. In the high priest's palace,
He is condemned to death................................... 53-65
Denied by Peter............................................ 66-72
f. Friday,
What was done,
1.In Pilate's palace........................................ xv, 1-20
2. In the way..................................................... 21
3. At Golgotha.................................................... 22
1. The wine and myrrh offered................................... 23
2. The crucifixion; his garments parted...................... 24,25
3. The title.................................................... 26
4. The two malefactors....................................... 27,28
5. Revilings................................................. 29-32
6. The darkness; the cry of Jesus; the scoff; the vinegar;
his death; the veil rent................................ 33-38
7. The saying of the centurion; the women looking on......... 39-41
4. In the evening, the burial.................................. 42-47
g. Sunday,
Our Lord's resurrection declared,
1. By an angel........................................ Chap. xvi, 1-8
2. By himself,
To Mary Magdalene........................................... 9-11
To two going into the country.............................. 12,13
To the eleven sitting at meat................................. 14
III. The Gospel,
1. Committed by Christ to his apostles after his resurrection...15-18
2. Confirmed after his ascension............................... 19,20
Chapter I
| 1 |
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - The evangelist speaks with strict
propriety: for the beginning of the Gospel is in the account of John the Baptist,
contained in the first paragraph; the Gospel itself in the rest of the book. Mt 3:1;
Lu 3:1 |
| 2 |
Mal 3:1 |
| 3 |
Isa 40:3. |
| 4 |
Preaching the baptism of repentance - That is, preaching repentance, and baptizing as
a sign and means of it. |
| 7 |
The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose - That is, to do him the very
meanest service. |
| 9 |
Mt 3:13; Lu 3:21. |
| 12 |
And immediately the Spirit thrusteth him out into the wilderness - So in all the
children of God, extraordinary manifestations of his favour are wont to be followed by
extraordinary temptations. Mt 4:1; Lu 4:1. |
| 13 |
And he was there forty days, tempted by Satan - Invisibly. After this followed the
temptation by him in a visible shape, related by St. Matthew. And he was with the wild
beasts - Though they had no power to hurt him. St. Mark not only gives us a compendium of
St. Matthew's Gospel, but likewise several valuable particulars, which the other
evangelists have omitted. |
| 14 |
Mt 4:12. |
| 15 |
The time is fulfilled - The time of my kingdom, foretold by Daniel, expected by you,
is fully come. |
| 16 |
Mt 4:18; Lu 5:1. |
| 18 |
Straightway leaving their nets, they followed him - From this time they forsook their
employ, and constantly attended him. Happy they who follow Christ at the first call! |
| 21 |
Lu 4:31. |
| 26 |
A loud noise - For he was forbidden to speak. Christ would neither suffer those evil
spirits to speak in opposition, nor yet in favour of him. He needed not their testimony,
nor would encourage it, lest any should infer that he acted in concert with them. |
| 29 |
Mt 8:14; Lu 4:38. |
| 32 |
When the sun was set - And, consequently, the Sabbath was ended, which they reckoned
from sunset to sunset. |
| 33 |
And the whole city was gathered together at the door - O what a fair prospect was
here! Who could then have imagined that all these blossoms would die away without fruit? |
| 34 |
He suffered not the devils to say that they knew him - That is, according to Dr.
Mead's hypothesis, (that the Scriptural demoniacs were only diseased persons,) He suffered
not the diseases to say that they knew him! |
| 35 |
Rising a great while before day - So did he labour for us, both day and night. Lu
4:42. |
| 40 |
Mt 8:2; Lu 5:12. |
| 44 |
See thou say nothing to any man - But our blessed Lord gives no such charge to us. If
he has made us clean from our leprosy of sin, we are not commanded to conceal it. On the
contrary, it is our duty to publish it abroad, both for the honour of our Benefactor, and
that others who are sick of sin may be encouraged to ask and hope for the same benefit.
But go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses commanded for a
testimony to them - The priests seeing him, pronouncing him clean, Lev 13:17,23,28,37,
and accordingly allowing him to offer as Moses commanded, Lev 14:2,7, was
such a proof against them, that they durst never say the leper was not cleansed; which out
of envy or malice against our Saviour they might have been ready to say, upon his
presenting himself to be viewed, according to the law, if by the cleansed person's talking
much about his cure, the account of it had reached their ears before he came in person.
This is one great reason why our Lord commanded this man to say nothing. |
| 45 |
So that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city - It was also to prevent this
inconvenience that our Lord had enjoined him silence. |
Chapter II
| 1 |
And again - After having been in desert places for some time, he returned privately to
the city. In the house - In Peter's house. |
| 2 |
And immediately many were gathered together - Hitherto continued the general
impression on their hearts. Hitherto, even at Capernaum, all who heard received the word
with joy. |
| 3 |
Mt 9:2; Lu 5:18. |
| 4 |
They uncovered the roof - Or, took up the covering, the lattice or trap door, which
was on all their houses, (being flat roofed.) And finding it not wide enough, broke the
passage wider, to let down the couch. |
| 6 |
But certain of the scribes - See whence the first offence cometh! As yet not one of
the plain unlettered people were offended. They all rejoiced in the light, till these men
of learning came, to put darkness for light, and light for darkness. Wo to all such blind
guides! Good had it been for these if they had never been born. O God, let me never offend
one of thy simple ones! Sooner let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth! |
| 12 |
They were all amazed - Even the scribes themselves for a time. |
| 13 |
All the multitude came to him - Namely, by the sea side. And he as readily taught them
there as if they had been in a synagogue. |
| 14 |
Mt 9:9; Lu 5:27. |
| 15 |
Many publicans and notorious sinners sat with Jesus - Some of them doubtless invited
by Matthew, moved with compassion for his old companions in sin. But the next words, For
there were many, and they followed him, seem to imply, that the greater part, encouraged
by his gracious words and the tenderness of his behaviour, and impatient to hear more,
stayed for no invitation, but pressed in after him, and kept as close to him as they
could. |
| 16 |
And the scribes and Pharisees said - So now the wise men being joined by the saints of
the world, went a little farther in raising prejudices against our Lord. In his answer he
uses as yet no harshness, but only calm, dispassionate reasoning. |
| 17 |
I came not to call the righteous - Therefore if these were righteous I should not call
them. But now, they are the very persons I came to save. |
| 18 |
Mt 9:14; Lu 5:33. |
| 23 |
Mt 12:1; Lu 6:1. |
| 26 |
In the days of Abiathar the high priest - Abimelech, the father of Abiathar, was high
priest then; Abiathar himself not till some time after. This phrase therefore only means,
In the time of Abiathar, who was afterward the high priest. 1Sa 21:6. |
| 27 |
The Sabbath was made for man - And therefore must give way to man's necessity. |
| 28 |
Moreover the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath - Being the supreme Lawgiver, he
hath power to dispense with his own laws; and with this in particular. |
Chapter III
| 1 |
He entered again into the synagogue - At Capernaum on the same day. Mt 12:9;
Lu 6:6. |
| 2 |
And they - The scribes and Pharisees, watched him, that they might accuse him - Pride,
anger, and shame, after being so often put to silence, began now to ripen into malice. |
| 4 |
Is it lawful to save life or to kill? - Which he knew they were seeking occasion to
do. But they held their peace - Being confounded, though not convinced. |
| 5 |
Looking round upon them with anger, being grieved - Angry at the sin, grieved at the
sinner; the true standard of Christian anger. But who can separate anger at sin from anger
at the sinner? None but a true believer in Christ. |
| 6 |
The Pharisees going out - Probably leaving the scribes to watch him still: took
counsel with the Herodians - as bitter as they usually were against each other. |
| 8 |
From Idumea - The natives of which had now professed the Jewish religion above a
hundred and fifty years. They about Tyre and Sidon - The Israelites who lived in those
coasts. |
| 10 |
Plagues or scourges (so the Greek word properly means) seem to be those very painful
or afflictive disorders which were frequently sent, or at least permitted of God, as a
scourge or punishment of sin. |
| 12 |
He charged them not to make him known - It was not the time: nor were they fit
preachers. |
| 13 |
He calleth whom he would - With regard to the eternal states of men, God always acts
as just and merciful. But with regard to numberless other things, he seems to us to act as
a mere sovereign. Lu 6:12 |
| 14 |
Mt 10:2; Lu 6:13; Ac 1:13. |
| 16 |
He surnamed them sons of thunder - Both with respect to the warmth and impetuosity of
their spirit, their fervent manner of preaching, and the power of their word. |
| 20 |
To eat bread - That is, to take any subsistence. |
| 21 |
His relations - His mother and his brethren, Mr 3:31. But it was some
time before they could come near him. |
| 22 |
The scribes and Pharisees, Matt 12:22; who had come down from Jerusalem -
Purposely on the devil's errand. And not without success. For the common people now began
to drink in the poison, from these learned, good, honourable men! He hath Beelzebub - at
command, is in league with him: And by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils -
How easily may a man of learning elude the strongest proof of a work of God! How readily
can he account for every incident without ever taking God into the question. Mt
12:24; Lu 11:15. |
| 28 |
Mt 12:31; Lu 12:10. |
| 30 |
Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit - Is it not astonishing, that men who
have ever read these words, should doubt, what is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost?
Can any words declare more plainly, that it is "the ascribing those miracles to the
power of the devil which Christ wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost?" |
| 31 |
Then come his brethren and his mother - Having at length made their way through the
crowd, so as to come to the door. His brethren are here named first, as being first and
most earnest in the design of taking him: for neither did these of his brethren believe on
him. They sent to him, calling him - They sent one into the house, who called him aloud,
by name. Mt 12:46; Lu 8:19. |
| 34 |
Looking round on them who sat about him - With the utmost sweetness; He said, Behold
my mother and my brethren - In this preference of his true disciples even to the Virgin
Mary, considered merely as his mother after the flesh, he not only shows his high and
tender affection for them, but seems designedly to guard against those excessive and
idolatrous honours, which he foresaw would in after ages be paid to her. |
Chapter IV
| 1 |
Mt 13:1; Lu 8:4. |
| 2 |
He taught them many things by parables - After the usual manner of the eastern
nations, to make his instructions more agreeable to them, and to impress them the more
upon attentive hearers. A parable signifies not only a simile or comparison, and sometimes
a proverb, but any kind of instructive speech, wherein spiritual things are explained and
illustrated by natural, Prov 1:6. To understand a proverb and the
interpretation - The proverb is the literal sense, the interpretation is the spiritual
resting in the literal sense killeth, but the spiritual giveth life. |
| 3 |
Hearken - This word he probably spoke with a loud voice, to stop the noise and hurry
of the people. |
| 10 |
When he was alone - That is, retired apart from the multitude. |
| 11 |
To them that are without - So the Jews termed the heathens: so our Lord terms all
obstinate unbelievers: for they shall not enter into his kingdom: they shall abide in
outer darkness. |
| 12 |
So that seeing they see and do not perceive - They would not see before now they could
not, God having given them up to the blindness which they had chosen. |
| 13 |
Know ye not this parable? - Which is as it were the foundation of all those that I
shall speak hereafter; and is so easy to be understood? |
| 19 |
The desire of other things choke the word - A deep and important truth! The desire of
any thing, otherwise than as it leads to happiness in God, directly tends to barrenness of
soul. Entering in - Where they were not before. Let him therefore who has received and
retained the word, see that no other desire then enter in, such as perhaps till then he
never knew. It becometh unfruitful - After the fruit had grown almost to perfection. |
| 21 |
And he said, Is a candle - As if he had said, I explain these things to you, I give
you this light, not to conceal, but to impart it to others. And if I conceal any thing
from you now, it is only that it may be more effectually manifested hereafter. Mt
5:15; Lu 8:16; 11:33. |
| 22 |
Mt 10:26; Lu 8:17. |
| 24 |
Take heed what ye hear - That is, attend to what you hear, that it may have its due
influence upon you. With what measure you mete - That is, according to the improvement you
make of what you have heard, still farther assistance shall be given. And to you that hear
- That is, with improvement. |
| 25 |
He that hath - That improves whatever he has received, to the good of others, as well
as of his own soul. Mt 13:12; Lu 8:18. |
| 26 |
So is the kingdom of God - The inward kingdom is like seed which a man casts into the
ground - This a preacher of the Gospel casts into the heart. And he sleeps and rises night
and day - That is, he has it continually in his thoughts. Meantime it springs and grows up
he knows not how - Even he that sowed it cannot explain how it grows. For as the earth by
a curious kind of mechanism, which the greatest philosophers cannot comprehend, does as it
were spontaneously bring forth first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the
ear: so the soul, in an inexplicable manner, brings forth, first weak graces, then
stronger, then full holiness: and all this of itself, as a machine, whose spring of motion
is within itself. Yet observe the amazing exactness of the comparison. The earth brings
forth no corn (as the soul no holiness) without both the care and toil of man, and the
benign influence of heaven. |
| 29 |
He putteth in the sickle - God cutteth down and gathereth the corn into his garner. |
| 30 |
Mt 13:31; Lu 13:18. |
| 33 |
He spake the word as they were able to hear it - Adapting it to the capacity of his
hearers; and speaking as plain as he could without offending them. A rule never to be
forgotten by those who instruct others. |
| 35 |
Mt 8:23; Lu 8:22. |
| 36 |
They take him as he was in the vessel - They carried him immediately in the same
vessel from which he had been preaching to the people. |
| 38 |
On the pillow - So we translate it, for want of a proper English expression, for that
particular part of the vessel near the rudder, on which he lay. |
| 39 |
Peace - Cease thy tossing: Be still - Cease thy roaring; literally, Be thou gagged. |
Chapter V
| 1 |
Mt 8:28; Lu 8:26. |
| 2 |
There met him a man with an unclean spirit - St. Matthew mentions two. Probably this,
so particularly spoken of here, was the most remarkably fierce and ungovernable. |
| 9 |
My name is Legion! for we are many - But all these seem to have been under one
commander, who accordingly speaks all along, both for them and himself. |
| 15 |
And they were afraid - It is not improbable they might otherwise have offered some
rudeness, if not violence. |
| 18 |
Mt 9:1; Lu 8:37; |
| 19 |
Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee - This was peculiarly needful
there, where Christ did not go in person. |
| 20 |
He published in Decapolis - Not only at home, but in all that country where Jesus
himself did not come. |
| 21 |
Lu 8:40. |
| 22 |
One of the rulers of the synagogue - To regulate the affairs of every synagogue, there
was a council of grave men. Over these was a president, who was termed the ruler of the
synagogue. Sometimes there was no more than one ruler in a synagogue. Mt 9:18;
Lu 8:41. |
| 25 |
Mt 9:20; Lu 8:43. |
| 37 |
John, the brother of James - When St. Mark wrote, not long after our Lord's ascension,
the memory of St. James, lately beheaded, was so fresh, that his name was more known than
that of John himself. |
| 40 |
Them that were with him - Peter, James, and John. |
| 43 |
He charged them that no man should know it - That he might avoid every appearance of
vain glory, might prevent too great a concourse of people, and might not farther enrage
the scribes and Pharisees against him; the time for his death, and for the full
manifestation of his glory, being not yet come. He commanded something should be given her
to eat - So that when either natural or spiritual life is restored, even by immediate
miracle, all proper means are to be used in order to preserve it. |
Chapter VI
| 1 |
Mt 13:54; Lu 4:16. |
| 3 |
Is not this the carpenter? - There can be no doubt, but in his youth he wrought with
his supposed father Joseph. |
| 5 |
He could do no miracle there - Not consistently with his wisdom and goodness. It being
inconsistent with his wisdom to work them there, where it could not promote his great end;
and with his goodness, seeing he well knew his countrymen would reject whatever evidence
could be given them. And therefore to have given them more evidence, would only have
increased their damnation. |
| 6 |
He marvelled - As man. As he was God, nothing was strange to him. |
| 7 |
Mt 10:1; Lu 9:1. |
| 8 |
He commanded them to take nothing for their journey - That they might be always
unincumbered, free, ready for motion. Save a staff only - He that had one might take it;
but he that had not was not to provide one, Matt 10:9. Lu 9:3. |
| 9 |
Be shod with sandals - As you usually are. Sandals were pieces of strong leather or
wood, tied under the sole of the foot by thongs, something resembling modern clogs. The
shoes which they are in St. Matthew forbidden to take, were a kind of short boots,
reaching a little above the mid - leg, which were then commonly used in journeys. Our Lord
intended by this mission to initiate them into their apostolic work. And it was doubtless
an encouragement to them all their life after, to recollect the care which God took of
them, when they had left all they had, and went out quite unfurnished for such an
expedition. In this view our Lord himself leads them to consider it, Luke 22:35: When
I sent you forth without purse or scrip, lacked ye any thing? |
| 10 |
Mt 10:11; Lu 9:4. |
| 12 |
Lu 9:6. |
| 13 |
They anointed with oil many that were sick - Which St. James gives as a general
direction, Jas 5:14,15, adding those peremptory words, And the Lord shall
heal him - He shall be restored to health: not by the natural efficacy of the oil, but by
the supernatural blessing of God. And it seems this was the great standing means of
healing, desperate diseases in the Christian Church, long before extreme unction was used
or heard of, which bears scarce any resemblance to it; the former being used only as a
means of health; the latter only when life is despaired of. |
| 14 |
Mt 14:1; Lu 9:7. |
| 15 |
A prophet, as one of the prophets - Not inferior to one of the ancient prophets. |
| 16 |
But Herod hearing thereof - Of their various judgments concerning him, still said, It
is John. |
| 20 |
And preserved him - Against all the malice and contrivances of Herodias. And when he
heard him - Probably sending for him, at times, during his imprisonment, which continued a
year and a half. He heard him gladly - Delusive joy! While Herodias lay in his bosom. |
| 21 |
A convenient day - Convenient for her purpose. His lords, captains, and principal men
of Galilee - The great men of the court, the army, and the province. |
| 23 |
To the half of my kingdom - A proverbial expression. |
| 26 |
Yet for his oath's sake, and for the sake of his guests - Herod's honour was like the
conscience of the chief priests, Matt 27:6. To shed innocent blood wounded
neither one nor the other. |
| 30 |
Lu 9:10. |
| 31 |
Mt 14:13; John 6:1. |
| 32 |
They departed - Across a creek or corner of the lake. |
| 34 |
Coming out - of the vessel. |
| 40 |
They sat down in ranks - The word properly signifies a parterre or bed in a garden; by
a metaphor, a company of men ranged in order, by hundreds and by fifties - That is, fifty
in rank, and a hundred in file. So a hundred multiplied by fifty, make just five thousand.
|
| 43 |
Full of the fragments - of the bread. |
| 45 |
He constrained his disciples - Who did not care to go without him. Mt 14:22.
|
| 46 |
Mt 14:23; John 6:15. |
| 48 |
And he saw them - For the darkness could veil nothing from him. And would have passed
by them - That is, walked, as if he was passing by. |
| 52 |
Their heart was hardened - And yet they were not reprobates. It means only, they were
slow and dull of apprehension. |
| 53 |
Mt 14:34; John 6:21. |
Chapter VII
| 1 |
Coming from Jerusalem - Probably on purpose to find occasion against him. Mt
15:1. |
| 4 |
Washing of cups and pots and brazen vessels and couches - The Greek word (baptisms)
means indifferently either washing or sprinkling. The cups, pots, and vessels were washed;
the couches sprinkled. |
| 5 |
The tradition of the elders - The rule delivered down from your forefathers. |
| 6 |
Isa 29:13. |
| 10 |
Ex 20:12; Ex 21:17. |
| 15 |
There is nothing entering into a man from without which can defile him - Though it is
very true, a man may bring guilt, which is moral defilement, upon himself by eating what
hurts his health, or by excess either in meat or drink yet even here the pollution arises
from the wickedness of the heart, and is just proportionable to it. And this is all that
our Lord asserts. |
| 19 |
Purging all meats - Probably the seat was usually placed over running water. |
| 22 |
Wickedness - The word means ill natured, cruelty, inhumanity, and all malevolent
affections. Foolishness - Directly contrary to sobriety of thought and discourse: all kind
of wild imaginations and extravagant passions. |
| 24 |
Mt 15:21. |
| 26 |
The woman was a Greek (that is, a Gentile, not a Jew) a Syrophenician or Canaanite.
Canaan was also called Syrophenicia, as lying between Syria, properly so called, and
Phenicia. |
| 31 |
Mt 15:29. |
| 33 |
He put his fingers into his ears - Perhaps intending to teach us, that we are not to
prescribe to him (as they who brought this man attempted to do) but to expect his blessing
by whatsoever means he pleases: even though there should be no proportion or resemblance
between the means used, and the benefit to be conveyed thereby. |
| 34 |
Ephphatha - This was a word of SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY, not an address to God for power to
heal: such an address was needless; for Christ had a perpetual fund of power residing in
himself, to work all miracles whenever he pleased, even to the raising the dead, John
5:21,26. |
| 36 |
Them - The blind man and those that brought him. |
Chapter VIII
| 1 |
Mt 15:32. |
| 8 |
So they did eat - This miracle was intended to demonstrate, that Christ was the true
bread which cometh down from heaven; for he who was almighty to create bread without means
to support natural life, could not want power to create bread without means to support
spiritual life. And this heavenly bread we stand so much in need of every moment, that we
ought to be always praying, Lord, evermore give us this bread. |
| 11 |
Tempting him - That is, trying to ensnare him. Mt 16:1. |
| 12 |
Mt 16:4. |
| 15 |
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod, or of the Sadducees; two opposite
extremes. |
| 17,18 |
Our Lord here affirms of all the apostles, (for the question is equivalent to an
affirmation,) That their hearts were hardened; that having eyes they saw not, having ears
they heard not; that they did not consider, neither understand: the very same expressions
that occur in the thirteenth of Matthew. And yet it is certain they were not judicially
hardened. Therefore all these strong expressions do not necessarily import any thing more
than the present want of spiritual understanding. |
| 18 |
See note ... "Mr 8:17" |
| 23 |
He led him out of the town - It was in just displeasure against the inhabitants of
Bethsaida for their obstinate infidelity, that our Lord would work no more miracles among
them, nor even suffer the person he had cured, either to go into the town, or to tell it
to any therein. |
| 24 |
I see men as trees walking - He distinguished men from trees only by their motion. |
| 27 |
Mt 16:13; Lu 9:18. |
| 30 |
He enjoined them silence for the present,
- That he might not encourage the people to set him up for a temporal king;
- That he might not provoke the scribes and Pharisees to destroy him before the time and,
- That he might not forestall the bright evidence which was to be given of his Divine
character after his resurrection.
|
| 31 |
Mt 16:21; Lu 9:22. |
| 32 |
He spake that saying openly - Or in express terms. Till now he had only intimated it
to them. And Peter taking hold of him - Perhaps by the arms or clothes. |
| 33 |
Looking on his disciples - That they might the more observe what he said to Peter. |
| 34 |
And when he called the people - To hear a truth of the last importance, and one that
equally concerned them all. Let him deny himself - His own will, in all things small and
great, however pleasing, and that continually: And take up his cross - Embrace the will of
God, however painful, daily, hourly, continually. Thus only can he follow me in holiness
to glory. |
| 35 |
Mt 16:25; Lu 9:24; Lu 17:33; John 12:25. |
| 38 |
Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words - That is, avowing whatever I have
said (particularly of self denial and the daily cross) both by word and action. Mt
10:32; Lu 9:26; Lu 12:8. |
Chapter IX
| 1 |
Till they see the kingdom of God coming with power - So it began to do at the day of
pentecost, when three thousand were converted to God at once. |
| 2 |
By themselves - That is, separate from the multitude: Apart - From the other apostles:
and was transfigured - The Greek word seems to refer to the form of God, and the form of a
servant, {mentioned by St. Paul, Php 2:6,7,} and may intimate, that the
Divine rays, which the indwelling God let out on this occasion, made the glorious change
from one of these forms into the other. Mt 17:1; Lu 9:28. |
| 3 |
White as snow, such as no fuller can whiten - Such as could not be equalled either by
nature or art. |
| 4 |
Elijah - Whom they expected: Moses, whom they did not. |
| 7 |
There came a (bright, luminous) cloud, overshadowing them - This seems to have been
such a cloud of glory as accompanied Israel in the wilderness, which, as the Jewish
writers observe, departed at the death of Moses. But it now appeared again, in honour of
our Lord, as the great Prophet of the Church, who was prefigured by Moses. Hear ye him -
Even preferably to Moses and Elijah. |
| 12 |
Elijah verily coming first restoreth all things: and how it is written - That is, And
he told them how it is written - As if he had said, Elijah's coming is not inconsistent
with my suffering. He is come: yet I shall suffer. The first part of the verse answers
their question concerning Elijah; the second refutes their error concerning the Messiah's
continuing for ever. |
| 14 |
Mt 17:14; Lu 9:37. |
| 15 |
All the multitude seeing him were greatly amazed - At his coming so suddenly, so
seasonably, so unexpectedly: perhaps also at some unusual rays of majesty and glory, which
yet remained on his countenance. |
| 17 |
And one of the multitude answering - The scribes gave no answer to our Lord's
question. They did not care to repeat what they had said to his disciples. A dumb spirit -
A spirit that takes his speech from him. |
| 20 |
When he saw him - When the child saw Christ; when his deliverance was at hand.
Immediately the spirit tore him - Made his last grand effort to destroy him. Is it not
generally so, before Satan is cast out of a soul, of which he has long had possession? |
| 22 |
If thou canst do any thing - In so desperate a case: Have compassion on us - Me as
well as him. |
| 23 |
If thou canst believe - As if he had said, The thing does not turn on my power, but on
thy faith. I can do all things: canst thou believe? |
| 24 |
Help thou mine unbelief - Although my faith be so small, that it might rather be
termed unbelief, yet help me. |
| 25 |
Thou deaf and dumb spirit - So termed, because he made the child so. When Jesus spake,
the devil heard, though the child could not. I command thee - I myself now; not my
disciples. |
| 26 |
Having rent him sore - So does even the body sometimes suffer, when God comes to
deliver the soul from Satan. |
| 30 |
They passed through Galilee - Though not through the cities, but by them, in the most
private ways. He was not willing that any should know it: for he taught his disciples - He
wanted to be alone with them some time, in order to instruct them fully concerning his
sufferings. The Son of man is delivered - It is as sure as if it were done already. Mt
17:22; Lu 9:44. |
| 32 |
They understood not the word - They did not understand how to reconcile the death of
our Saviour (nor consequently his resurrection, which supposed his death) with their
notions of his temporal kingdom. |
| 33 |
Lu 9:46. |
| 34 |
Who should be greatest - Prime minister in his kingdom. |
| 35 |
Let him be the least of all - Let him abase himself the most. |
| 36 |
Mt 18:2; Lu 9:47. |
| 37 |
One such little child - Either in years or in heart. |
| 38 |
And John answered him - As if he had said, But ought we to receive those who follow
not us? Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name - Probably this was one of John
the Baptist's disciples, who believed in Jesus, though he did not yet associate with our
Lord's disciples. And we forbad him, because he followeth not us - How often is the same
temper found in us? How readily do we also lust to envy? But how does that spirit become a
disciple, much more a minister of the benevolent Jesus! St. Paul had learnt a better
temper, when he rejoiced that Christ was preached, even by those who were his personal
enemies. But to confine religion to them that follow us, is a narrowness of spirit which
we should avoid and abhor. Lu 9:49. |
| 39 |
Jesus said - Christ here gives us a lovely example of candour and moderation. He was
willing to put the best construction on doubtful cases, and to treat as friends those who
were not avowed enemies. Perhaps in this instance it was a means of conquering the
remainder of prejudice, and perfecting what was wanting in the faith and obedience of
these persons. Forbid him not - Neither directly nor indirectly discourage or hinder any
man who brings sinners from the power of Satan to God, because he followeth not us, in
opinions, modes of worship, or any thing else which does not affect the essence of
religion. |
| 40 |
For he that is not against you, is for you - Our Lord had formerly said, he that is
not with me, is against me: thereby admonishing his hearers, that the war between him and
Satan admitted of no neutrality, and that those who were indifferent to him now, would
finally be treated as enemies. But here in another view, he uses a very different proverb;
directing his followers to judge of men's characters in the most candid manner; and
charitably to hope that those who did not oppose his cause wished well to it. Upon the
whole, we are to be rigorous in judging ourselves, and candid in judging each other. |
| 41 |
For whosoever shall give you a cup - Having answered St. John, our Lord here resumes
the discourse which was broken off at the 37th verse. Mr 9:37. Mt 10:42.
|
| 42 |
On the contrary, whosoever shall offend the very least Christian. Mt 18:6;
Lu 17:1. |
| 43 |
And if a person cause thee to offend - (The discourse passes from the case of
offending, to that of being offended) if one who is as useful or dear to thee as a hand or
eye, hinder or slacken thee in the ways of Cod, renounce all intercourse with him. This
primarily relates to persons, secondarily to things. Mt 5:29; Mt 18:8. |
| 44 |
Where their worm - That gnaweth the soul, (pride, self will, desire, malice, envy,
shame, sorrow, despair,) dieth not - No more than the soul itself: and the fire (either
material, or infinitely worse!) that tormenteth the body, is not quenched for ever. Isa
66:24. |
| 49 |
Every one - Who does not cut off the offending member, and consequently is cast into
hell, shall be, as it were, salted with fire, preserved, not consumed thereby whereas
every acceptable sacrifice shall be salted with another kind of salt, even that of Divine
grace, which purifies the soul, (though frequently with pain) and preserves it from
corruption. |
| 50 |
Such salt is good indeed; highly beneficial to the world, in respect of which I have
termed you the salt of the earth. But if the salt which should season others, have lost
its own saltness, wherewith will ye season it? - Beware of this; see that ye retain your
savour; and as a proof of it, have peace one with another. More largely this obscure text
might be paraphrased thus: - As every burnt offering was salted with salt, in order to its
being cast into the fire of the altar, so every one who will not part with his hand or
eye, shall fall a sacrifice to Divine justice, and be cast into hell fire, which will not
consume, but preserve him from a cessation of being. And on the other hand, every one,
who, denying himself and taking up his cross, offers up himself as a living sacrifice to
God, shall be seasoned with grace, which like salt will make him savoury, and preserve him
from destruction for ever. As salt is good for preserving meats, and making them savoury,
so it is good that ye be seasoned with grace, for the purifying your hearts and lives, and
for spreading the savour of my knowledge, both in your own souls, and wherever ye go. But
as salt if it loses its saltness is fit for nothing, so ye, if ye lose your faith and
love, are fit for nothing but to be utterly destroyed. See therefore that grace abide in
you, and that ye no more contend, Who shall be greatest. Mt 5:13; Lu 14:34. |
Chapter X
| 1 |
He cometh thence - From Galilee. Mt 19:1. |
| 2 |
Mt 5:31; Mt 19:7; Lu 16:18. |
| 4 |
Deu 24:1. |
| 6 |
From the beginning of the creation - Therefore Moses in the first of Genesis gives us
an account of things from the beginning of the creation. Does it not clearly follow, that
there was no creation previous to that which Moses describes? God made them male and
female - Therefore Adam did not at first contain both sexes in himself: but God made Adam,
when first created, male only; and Eve female only. And this man and woman he joined
together, in a state of innocence, as husband and wife. |
| 7 |
Gen 2:24. |
| 11, 12 |
All polygamy is here totally condemned. |
| 12 |
See note ... "Mr 10:11" |
| 13 |
Mt 19:13. |
| 14 |
Jesus seeing it was much displeased - At their blaming those who were not blame
worthy: and endeavouring to hinder the children from receiving a blessing. Of such is the
kingdom of God - The members of the kingdom which I am come to set up in the world are
such as these, as well as grown persons, of a child - like temper. |
| 15 |
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child - As totally
disclaiming all worthiness and fitness, as if he were but a week old. |
| 17 |
Mt 19:16; Lu 18:18. |
| 20 |
He answering, said to him, Master - He stands reproved now, and drops the epithet
good. |
| 21 |
Jesus looking upon him - And looking into his heart, loved him - Doubtless for the
dawnings of good which he saw in him: and said to him - Out of tender love, One thing thou
lackest - The love of God, without which all religion is a dead carcass. In order to this,
throw away what is to thee the grand hinderance of it. Give up thy great idol, riches. Go,
sell whatsoever thou hast. |
| 24 |
Jesus saith to them, Children - See how he softens the harsh truth, by the manner of
delivering it! And yet without retracting or abating one tittle: How hard is it for them
that trust in riches - Either for defence, or happiness, or deliverance from the thousand
dangers that life is continually exposed to. That these cannot enter into God's glorious
kingdom, is clear and undeniable: but it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye, than for a man to have riches, and not trust in them. Therefore, it is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom. |
| 28 |
Lo, we have left all - Though the young man would not. |
| 30 |
He shall receive a hundred fold, houses, &c. - Not in the same kind: for it will
generally be with persecutions: but in value: a hundred fold more happiness than any or
all of these did or could afford. But let it be observed, none is entitled to this
happiness, but he that will accept it with persecutions. |
| 32 |
They were in the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed -
At his courage and intrepidity, considering the treatment which he had himself told them
he should meet with there: and as they followed, they were afraid - Both for him and
themselves: nevertheless he judged it best to prepare them, by telling them more
particularly what was to ensue. Mt 20:17; Lu 18:31. |
| 35 |
Saying - By their mother. It was she, not they that uttered the words. Mt 20:20.
|
| 38 |
Ye know not what ye ask - Ye know not that ye ask for sufferings, which must needs
pave the way to glory. The cup - Of inward; the baptism - Of outward sufferings. Our Lord
was filled with sufferings within, and covered with them without. |
| 40 |
Save to them for whom it is prepared - Them who by patient continuance in well doing,
seek for glory, and honour, and immortality. For these only eternal life is prepared. To
these, only he will give it in that day; and to every man his own reward, according to his
own labour. |
| 45 |
A ransom for many - Even for as many souls as needed such a ransom, 2Cor 5:15.
|
| 46 |
Mt 20:29; Lu 18:35. |
| 50 |
Casting away his garment - Through joy and eagerness. |
Chapter XI
| 1 |
To Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives - The limits of Bethany reached to
the mount of Olives, and joined to those of Bethphage. Bethphage was part of the suburbs
of Jerusalem, and reached from the mount of Olives to the walls of the city. Our Lord was
now come to the place where the boundaries of Bethany and Bethphage met. Mt 21:1;
Lu 19:29; John 12:12. |
| 11 |
Mt 21:10,17. |
| 12 |
Mt 21:18. |
| 13 |
For it was not a season of figs - It was net (as we say) a good year for figs; at
least not for that early sort, which alone was ripe so soon in the spring. If we render
the words, It was not the season of figs, that is, the time of gathering them in, it may
mean, The season was not yet: and so (inclosing the words in a parenthesis, And coming to
it, he found nothing but leaves) it may refer to the former part of the sentence, and may
be considered as the reason of Christ's going to see whether there were any figs on this
tree. Some who also read that clause in a parenthesis, translate the hollowing words, for
where he was, it was the season of figs. And it is certain, this meaning of the words
suits best with the great design of the parable, which was to reprove the Jewish Church
for its unfruitfulness at that very season, when fruit might best be expected from them. |
| 15 |
Mt 21:12; Lu 19:45. |
| 16 |
He suffered not that any should carry a vessel through the temple - So strong notions
had our Lord, of even relative holiness! And of the regard due to those places (as well as
times) that are peculiarly dedicated to God. |
| 17 |
Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11. |
| 18 |
They feared him - That is, they were afraid to take him by violence, lest it should
raise a tumult; because all the people was astonished at his teaching - Both at the
excellence of his discourse, and at the majesty and authority with which he taught. |
| 20 |
Mt 21:20. |
| 22 |
Have faith in God - And who could find fault, if the Creator and Proprietor of all
things were to destroy, by a single word of his mouth, a thousand of his inanimate
creatures, were it only to imprint this important lesson more deeply on one immortal
spirit? |
| 25 |
When ye stand praying - Standing was their usual posture when they prayed. Forgive -
And on this condition, ye shall have whatever you ask, with. out wrath or doubting. Mt
6:14. |
| 27 |
Mt 21:23; Lu 20:1. |
Chapter XII
| 1 |
Mt 21:43; Lu 20:9. |
| 10 |
Psa 118:22. |
| 12 |
They feared the multitude - How wonderful is the providence of God, using all things
for the good of his children! Generally the multitude is restrained from tearing them in
pieces only by the fear of their rulers. And here the rulers themselves are restrained,
through fear of the multitude! |
| 13 |
Mt 22:15; Lu 20:20. |
| 17 |
They marvelled at him - At the wisdom of his answer. |
| 18 |
Mt 21:23; Lu 20:27. |
| 19 |
Deut 25:5. |
| 25 |
When they rise from the dead, neither men marry nor women are given in marriage. |
| 26 |
Exo 3:6. |
| 27 |
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living - That is, (if the argument
be proposed at length,) since the character of his being the God of any persons, plainly
intimates a relation to them, not as dead, but as living; and since he cannot be said to
be at present their God at all, if they are utterly dead; nor to be the God of human
persons, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, consisting of souls and bodies, if their
bodies were to abide in everlasting death; there must needs be a future state of
blessedness, and a resurrection of the body to share with the soul in it. |
| 28 |
Which is the first commandment? - The principal, and most necessary to be observed. Mt
22:34; Lu 10:25. |
| 29 |
The Lord our God is one Lord - This is the foundation of the first commandment, yea,
of all the commandments. The Lord our God, the Lord, the God of all men, is one God,
essentially, though three persons. From this unity of God it follows, that we owe all our
love to him alone. Deut 6:4. |
| 30 |
With all thy strength - That is, the whole strength and capacity of thy understanding,
will, and affections. |
| 31 |
The second is like unto it - Of a like comprehensive nature: comprising our whole duty
to man. There is no other moral, much less ceremonial commandment, greater than these. Lev
19:18. |
| 33 |
To love him with all the heart - To love and serve him, with all the united powers of
the soul in their utmost vigour; and to love his neighbour as himself - To maintain the
same equitable and charitable temper and behaviour toward all men, as we, in like
circumstances, would wish for from them toward ourselves, is a more necessary and
important duty, than the offering the most noble and costly sacrifices. |
| 34 |
Jesus said to him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God - Reader, art not thou?
then go on: be a real Christian: else it had been better for thee to have been afar off. |
| 35 |
Mt 22:41; Lu 20:41. |
| 36 |
Psa 110:1. |
| 38 |
Beware of the scribes - There was an absolute necessity for these repeated cautions.
For, considering their inveterate prejudices against Christ, it could never be supposed
the common people would receive the Gospel till these incorrigible blasphemers of it were
brought to just disgrace. Yet he delayed speaking in this manner till a little before his
passion, as knowing what effect it would quickly produce. Nor is this any precedent for
us: we are not invested with the same authority. Mt 23:5; Lu 20:46. |
| 41 |
He beheld how people cast money into the treasury - This treasury received the
voluntary contributions of the worshippers who came up to the feast; which were given to
buy wood for the altar, and other necessaries not provided for in any other way. Lu
21:1. |
| 43 |
I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all - See what
judgement is cast on the most specious, outward actions by the Judge of all! And how
acceptable to him is the smallest, which springs from self - denying love! |
Chapter XIII
| 1 |
Mt 24:1; Lu 21:5. |
| 4 |
Two questions are here asked; the one concerning the destruction of Jerusalem: the
other concerning the end of the world. |
| 9 |
Lu 21:12. |
| 10 |
Mt 24:14. |
| 11 |
The Holy Ghost will help you. But do not depend upon any other help For all the
nearest ties will be broken. |
| 14 |
Where it ought not - That place being set apart for sacred use. Mt 24:15;
Lu 21:20; Dan 9:27. |
| 19 |
In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation
- May it not be doubted, whether this be yet fully accomplished? Is not much of this
affliction still to come? |
| 20 |
The elect - The Christians: whom he hath chosen - That is, hath taken out of, or
separated from, the world, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
He hath shortened - That is, will surely shorten. |
| 21 |
Mt 24:23. |
| 24 |
But in those days - Which immediately precede the end of the world: after that
tribulation - Above described. |
| 28 |
Mt 24:32; Lu 21:28. |
| 29 |
He is nigh - The Son of man. |
| 30 |
All these things - Relating to the temple and the city. |
| 32 |
Of that day - The day of judgment is often in the Scriptures emphatically called that
day. Neither the Son - Not as man: as man he was no more omniscient than omnipresent. But
as God he knows all the circumstances of it. |
| 33 |
Mt 24:42; Lu 21:34. |
| 34 |
The Son of man is as a man taking a far journey - Being about to leave this world and
go to the Father, he appoints the services that are to be performed by all his servants,
in their several stations. This seems chiefly to respect ministers at the day of judgment:
but it may be applied to all men, and to the time of death. Mt 25:14; Lu
19:12. |
Chapter XIV
| 1 |
Mt 26:1; Lu 22:1. |
| 3 |
Mt 26:6. |
| 4 |
Some had indignation - Being incited thereto by Judas: and said - Probably to the
women. |
| 10 |
Judas went to the chief priests - Immediately after this reproof, having anger now
added to his covetousness. Mt 26:14; Lu 22:3. |
| 12 |
Mt 26:17; Lu 22:7. |
| 13 |
Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man - It was highly seasonable for our
Lord to give them this additional proof both of his knowing all things, and of his
influence over the minds of men. |
| 15 |
Furnished - The word properly means, spread with carpets. |
| 17 |
Mt 26:20; Lu 22:14. |
| 24 |
This is my blood of the New Testament - That is, this I appoint to be a perpetual sign
and memorial of my blood, as shed for establishing the new covenant, that all who shall
believe in me may receive all its gracious promises. |
| 25 |
I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, till I drink it new in the kingdom of
God - That is, I shall drink no more before I die: the next wine I drink will not be
earthly, but heavenly. |
| 26 |
Mt 26:30; Lu 22:39; John 18:1. |
| 27 |
This night - The Jews in reckoning their days began with the evening, according to the
Mosaic computation, which called the evening and the morning the first day, Gen 1:5.
And so that which after sunset is here called this night is, Mr 14:30, called
to - day. The expression there is peculiarly significant. Verily I say to thee, that thou
thyself, confident as thou art, to - day, even within four and twenty hours; yea, this
night, or ever the sun be risen, nay, before the cock crow twice, before three in the
morning, wilt deny me thrice. Our Lord doubtless spoke so determinately, as knowing a cock
would crow once before the usual time of cock crowing. By Mark 13:35, it
appears, that the third watch of the night, ending at three in the morning, was commonly
styled the cock crowing. Zech 13:7. |
| 32 |
Mt 26:36. |
| 33 |
Sore amazed - The original word imports the most shocking amazement, mingled with
grief: and that word in the next verse which we render sorrowful intimates, that he was
surrounded with sorrow on every side, breaking in upon him with such violence, as was
ready to separate his soul from his body. |
| 36 |
Abba, Father - St. Mark seems to add the word Father, by way of explication. |
| 37 |
Saith to Peter - The zealous, the confident Peter. |
| 43 |
Mt 26:47; Lu 22:47; John 18:2. |
| 44 |
Whomsoever I shall kiss - Probably our Lord, in great condescension, had used
(according to the Jewish custom) to permit his disciples to do this, after they had been
some time absent. |
| 47 |
Mt 26:51; Lu 22:49; John 18:10. |
| 51 |
A young man - It does not appear, that he was one of Christ's disciples. Probably
hearing an unusual noise, he started up out of his bed, not far from the garden, and ran
out with only the sheet about him, to see what was the matter. And the young men laid hold
on him - Who was only suspected to be Christ's disciple: but could not touch them who
really were so. |
| 53 |
Mt 26:57; Lu 22:54; John 18:12. |
| 55 |
All the council sought for witness and found none - What an amazing proof of the
overruling providence of God, considering both their authority, and the rewards they could
offer, that no two consistent witnesses could be procured, to charge him with any gross
crime. Mt 26:59. |
| 56 |
Their evidences were not sufficient - The Greek words literally rendered are, Were not
equal: not equal to the charge of a capital crime: it is the same word in the 59th verse. |
| 58 |
We heard him say - It is observable, that the words which they thus misrepresented,
were spoken by Christ at least three years before, John 2:19. Their going
back so far to find matter for the charge, was a glorious, though silent attestation of
the unexceptionable manner wherein he had behaved, through the whole course of his public
ministry. |
| 61 |
Mt 26:63; Lu 22:67. |
| 66 |
Mt 26:69; Lu 22:56; John 18:25. |
| 72 |
And he covered his head - Which was a usual custom with mourners, and was fitly
expressive both of grief and shame. |
Chapter XV
| 1 |
Mt 27:1,2; Lu 22:66; Lu 23:1; John 18:28. |
| 3 |
Mt 27:12. |
| 7 |
Insurrection - A crime which the Roman governors, and Pilate in particular, were more
especially concerned and careful to punish. |
| 9 |
Will ye that I release to you the king of the Jews - Which does this wretched man
discover most? Want of justice, or courage, or common sense? The poor coward sacrifices
justice to popular clamour, and enrages those whom he seeks to appease, by so unseasonably
repeating that title, The king of the Jews, which he could not but know was so highly
offensive to them. |
| 16 |
Praetorium - The inner hall, where the praetor, a Roman magistrate, used to give
judgment. But St. John calls the whole palace by this name. Mt 27:27; John
19:2. |
| 17 |
Purple - As royal robes were usually purple and scarlet, St. Mark and John term this a
purple robe, St. Matthew a scarlet one. The Tyrian purple is said not to have been very
different from scarlet. |
| 20 |
Mt 27:31; John 19:16. |
| 21 |
The father of Alexander and Rufus - These were afterward two eminent Christians, and
must have been well known when St. Mark wrote. |
| 22 |
Mt 27:33; Lu 23:33; John 19:17. |
| 24, 25 |
St. Mark seems to intimate, that they first nailed him to the cross, then parted his
garments, and afterward reared up the cross. |
| 25 |
See note ... "Mr 15:24" |
| 28 |
Isa 53:12. |
| 29 |
Mt 27:39. |
| 33 |
Mt 27:45; Lu 23:44. |
| 34 |
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me - Thereby claiming God as his God; and yet
lamenting his Father's withdrawing the tokens of his love, and treating him as an enemy,
while he bare our sins. |
| 37 |
Mt 27:50; Lu 23:46; John 19:30. |
| 41 |
Who served him - Provided him with necessaries. |
| 42 |
Because it was the day before the Sabbath - And the bodies might not hang on the
Sabbath day: therefore they were in haste to have them taken down. |
| 43 |
Honourable - A man of character and reputation: A counsellor - A member of the
sanhedrim. Who waited for the kingdom of God - Who expected to see it set up on earth. Mt
27:57; Lu 23:50; John 19:38. |
| 46 |
He rolled a stone - By his servants. It was too large for him to roll himself. |
Chapter XVI
| 1 |
Mt 28:1; Lu 24:1; John 20:1. |
| 2 |
At the rising of the sun - They set out while it was yet dark, and came within sight
of the sepulchre, for the first time, just as it grew light enough to discern that the
stone was rolled away, Matt 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1. But by the time Mary
had called Peter and John, and they had viewed the sepulchre, the sun was rising. |
| 3 |
Who shall roll us away the stone - This seems to have been the only difficulty they
apprehended. So they knew nothing of Pilate's having sealed the stone, and placed a guard
of soldiers there. |
| 7 |
And Peter - Though he so oft denied his Lord. What amazing goodness was this! |
| 9 |
John 20:11. |
| 10 |
Lu 24:9; John 20:18. |
| 12 |
Lu 24:13. |
| 13 |
Neither believed they them - They were moved a little by the testimony of these, added
to that of St. Peter, Luke 24:34; but they did not yet fully believe it. |
| 14 |
Lu 24:36; John 20:19. |
| 15 |
Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature - Our Lord speaks
without any limitation or restriction. If therefore every creature in every age hath not
heard it, either those who should have preached, or those who should have heard it, or
both, made void the counsel of God herein. Mt 28:19. |
| 16 |
And is baptized - In token thereof. Every one that believed was baptized. But he that
believeth not - Whether baptized or unbaptized, shall perish everlastingly. |
| 17 |
And these signs shall follow them that believe - An eminent author sub - joins,
"That believe with that very faith mentioned in the preceding verse." (Though it
is certain that a man may work miracles, and not have saving faith, Matt 7:22,23.)
"It was not one faith by which St. Paul was saved, another by which he wrought
miracles. Even at this day in every believer faith has a latent miraculous power; (every
effect of prayer being really miraculous;) although in many, both because of their own
littleness of faith, and because the world is unworthy, that power is not exerted.
Miracles, in the beginning, were helps to faith; now also they are the object of it. At
Leonberg, in the memory of our fathers, a cripple that could hardly move with crutches,
while the dean was preaching on this very text, was in a moment made whole." Shall
follow - The word and faith must go before. In my name - By my authority committed to
them. Raising the dead is not mentioned. So our Lord performed even more than he promised.
|
| 18 |
If they drink any deadly thing - But not by their own choice. God never calls us to
try any such experiments. |
| 19 |
The Lord - How seasonable is he called by this title! After he had spoken to them -
For forty days. Lu 24:50. |
| 20 |
They preached every where - At the time St. Mark wrote, the apostles had already gone
into all the known world, Rom 10:18; and each of them was there known where
he preached: the name of Christ only was known throughout the world. |
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