As Mark is more full, and explains the circumstances very minutely, we shall follow the order of his narrative. And first he points out clearly the reason why Christ uses a harshness so unusual with him, when he exclaims that the Jews, on account of their perverse malice, do not deserve to be any lo... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Master, I have brought to thee my son. _Matthew describes a different sort of disease from what is described by Mark, for he says that the man was _lunatic _But both agree as to these two points, that he was _dumb_, and that at certain intervals he became furious. The term _lunatic _is applied t... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 9:20._And as soon as he saw him. _That the devil should rage with more than ordinary cruelty against the man, when he is brought to Christ, ought not to excite surprise; for in proportion as the grace of Christ is seen to be nearer at hand, and acts more powerfully, the fury of Satan is the mor... [ Continue Reading ]
21._From a child. _Hence we infer that this punishment was not inflicted on account of the sins of the individual, but was a secret judgment of God. True indeed, even infants, as soon as they have come out of the womb, are not innocent in the sight of God, or free from guilt; but God’s chastisements... [ Continue Reading ]
22._If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. _We see how little honor he renders to Christ; for, supposing him to be some prophet, whose power was limited, he approaches to him with hesitation. On the other hand, the first foundation of faith is, to embrace the boundless power... [ Continue Reading ]
23._If thou canst believe. _“You ask me,” says he, “to aid you as far as I can; but you will find in me an inexhaustible fountain of power, provided that the faith which you bring be sufficiently large.” Hence may be learned a useful doctrine, which will apply equally to all of us, that it is not th... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Lord, I believe. _He declares that he _believes_, and yet acknowledges himself to have _unbelief _These two statements may appear to contradict each other, but there is none of us that does not experience both of them in himself. As our _faith _is never perfect, it follows that we are partly _un... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 9:38._Master, we saw one. _Hence it is evident that the _name _of Christ was at that time so celebrated, that persons who were not of the number of his intimate disciples used that _name_, or perhaps even abused it, for I will not venture to avouch any thing on this point as certain. It is poss... [ Continue Reading ]
39._Forbid him not. _Christ did not wish that he should be _forbidden_; not that he had given him authority, or approved of what he did, or even wished his disciples to approve of it, but because, when by any occurrence God is glorified, we ought to bear with it and rejoice. Thus Paul, (Philippians... [ Continue Reading ]
40._For he who is not against us is for us. _He does not enjoin us to give a loose rein to rash men, and to be silent while they intermeddle with this and the other matter, according to their own fancy, and disturb the whole order of the Church: for such licentiousness, so far as our calling allows,... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 9:49._Every man shall be salted with fire. _I have connected these words of Mark with the passage in Matthew which we have just considered: not that I look upon them to have altogether the same meaning, or to have been spoken at the same place and time, but rather to enable the reader to unders... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 9:50._Have salt in yourselves _This word may be taken in a different sense from what it had in the former verse, as meaning that seasoning of good odor, which is obtained by faith, or rather the wisdom of the Spirit. When Paul enjoins, “Let your speech be always with grace, _seasoned with salt,... [ Continue Reading ]