HAD NOTHING TO EAT (μη εχοντων τ φαγωσιν). Genitive absolute and plural because οχλου a collective substantive. Not having what to eat (deliberative subjunctive retained in indirect question). The repetition of a nature miracle of feeding four thousand in Decapolis disturbs some modern critics who... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THREE DAYS (ηδη ημερα τρεις). This text preserves a curious parenthetic nominative of time (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 460). See on Matthew 15:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE COME FROM FAR (απο μακροθεν εισιν). This item alone in Mark.... [ Continue Reading ]
HERE (ωδε). Of all places, in this desert region in the mountains. The disciples feel as helpless as when the five thousand were fed. They do not rise to faith in the unlimited power of Jesus after all that they have seen.... [ Continue Reading ]
BRAKE AND GAVE (εκλασεν κα εδιδου). Constative aorist followed by imperfect. The giving kept on.TO SET BEFORE THEM (ινα παρατιθωσιν). Present subjunctive describing the continuous process.... [ Continue Reading ]
A FEW SMALL FISHES (ιχθυδια ολιγα). Mark mentions them last as if they were served after the food, but not so Matthew 15:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROKEN PIECES THAT REMAINED OVER (περισσευματα κλασματων). Overplus, abundance, remains of broken pieces not used, not just scraps or crumbs.... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE PARTS OF DALMANUTHA (εις τα μερη Δαλμανουθα). Matthew 15:39 calls it "the borders of Magadan." Both names are unknown elsewhere, but apparently the same region of Galilee on the western side of the lake not far from Tiberias. Mark here uses "parts" (μερη) in the same sense as "borders" ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PHARISEES CAME FORTH (κα εξηλθον ο Φαρισαιο). At once they met Jesus and opened a controversy. Matthew 16:1 adds "and Sadducees," the first time these two parties appear together against Jesus. See discussion on Matthew 16:1. The Pharisees and Herodians had already joined hands against Je... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SIGHED DEEPLY IN HIS SPIRIT (αναστεναξας τω πνευματ). The only instance of this compound in the N.T. though in the LXX. The uncompounded form occurs in Mark 7:34 and it is common enough. The preposition ανα- intensifies the meaning of the verb (perfective use). "The sigh seemed to come, as we... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAD (αρτους).LOAVES , plural.MORE THAN ONE LOAF (ε μη ινα αρτον). Except one loaf. Detail only in Mark. Practically for thirteen men when hungry.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED, BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES, AND THE LEAVEN OF HEROD (Hορατε, βλεπετε απο της ζυμης των Φαρισαιων κα της ζυμης Hηρωιδου). Present imperatives. Note απο and the ablative case. Ζυμη is from ζυμοω and occurs already in Matthew 13:33 in a good sense. For the bad sense see 1 Corint... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY REASONED ONE WITH ANOTHER (διελογιζοντο προς αλληλους), implying discussion. Imperfect tense, kept it up. Matthew 16:7 has εν εαυτοις, in themselves or among themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark here (vv. Mark 8:17-20) gives six keen questions of Jesus while Matthew 16:8-11 gives as four that really include the six of Mark running some together. The questions reveal the disappointment of Jesus at the intellectual dulness of his pupils. The questions concern the intellect (νοειτε, from... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Mark 8:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YE NOT YET UNDERSTAND? (ουπω συνιετε;). After all this rebuke and explanation. The greatest of all teachers had the greatest of all classes, but he struck a snag here. Matthew 16:12 gives the result: "Then they understood how that he bade them not beware of the loaves of bread, but of the teac... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO BETHSAIDA (εις Βηθσαιδαν). On the Eastern side not far from the place of the feeding of the five thousand, Bethsaida Julias. Note dramatic presentsTHEY COME (ερχοντα),THEY BRING (φερουσιν). This incident in Mark alone (verses Mark 8:22-26).... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT HIM OUT OF THE VILLAGE (εξηνεγκεν αυτον εξω της κωμης). It had been a village, but Philip had enlarged it and made it a town or city (πολις), though still called a village (verses Mark 8:23; Mark 8:26). As in the case of the deaf and dumb demoniac given also alone by Mark (Mark 7:31-37), s... [ Continue Reading ]
I SEE MEN, FOR I BEHOLD THEM AS TREES WALKING (Βλεπω τους ανθρωπους οτ ως δενδρα ορω περιπατουντας). A vivid description of dawning sight. His vision was incomplete though he could tell that they were men because they were walking. This is the single case of a gradual cure in the healings wrought... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LOOKED STEADFASTLY (διεβλεψεν). He saw thoroughly now, effective aorist (διεβλεψεν), he was completely restored (απεκατεστη, second aorist, double compound and double augment), and kept on seeing (ενεβλεπεν, imperfect, continued action) all things clearly or at a distance (τηλαυγως, common Gre... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIS HOME (εις οικον αυτου). A joyful homecoming that. He was not allowed to enter the village and create excitement before Jesus moved on to Caesarea Philippi.... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE VILLAGES OF CAESAREA PHILIPPI (εις τας κωμας Καισαριας της Φιλιππου). Parts (μερη) Matthew 16:13 has, the Caesarea of Philippi in contrast to the one down on the Mediterranean Sea. Mark means the villages belonging to the district around Caesarea Philippi. This region is on a spur of Mou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TOLD HIM (ο δε ειπαν). They knew only too well. See on Matthew 16:14; Matthew 16:28 for discussion.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART THE CHRIST (Συ ε ο Χριστος). Mark does not give "the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16) or "of God" (Luke 9:20). The full confession is the form in Matthew. Luke's language means practically the same, while Mark's is the briefest. But the form in Mark really means the full idea. Mark... [ Continue Reading ]
OF HIM (περ αυτου). As being the Messiah, that he was the Christ (Matthew 16:20). Not yet, for the time was not yet ripe. When that comes, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the very stones will cry out, if men will not (Luke 19:40).... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BEGAN TO TEACH THEM (ηρξατο διδασκειν αυτους). Mark is fond of this idiom, but it is not a mere rhetorical device. Matthew 16:21 expressly says "from that time." They had to be told soon about the approaching death of Jesus. The confession of faith in Jesus indicated that it was a good time to... [ Continue Reading ]
SPAKE THE SAYING OPENLY (παρρησια τον λογον ελαλε). He held back nothing, told it all (παν, all, ρησια, from ειπον, say), without reserve, to all of them. Imperfect tense ελαλε shows that Jesus did it repeatedly. Mark alone gives this item. Mark does not give the great eulogy of Peter in Matthew 1... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TURNING ABOUT AND SEEING HIS DISCIPLES (επιστραφεις κα ιδων τους μαθητας αυτου). Peter had called Jesus off to himself (προσκαλεσαμενος), but Jesus quickly wheeled round on Peter (επιστραφεις, only στραφεις in Matthew). In doing that the other disciples were in plain view also (this touch only... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CALLED UNTO HIM THE MULTITUDE WITH HIS DISCIPLES (κα προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου). Mark alone notes the unexpected presence of a crowd up here near Caesarea Philippi in heathen territory. In the presence of this crowd Jesus explains his philosophy of life and death wh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GOSPEL'S SAKE (κα του ευαγγελιου). In Mark alone. See on Matthew 16:25 for this paradox. Two senses of "life" and "save." For the last "save" (σωσε) Matthew 16:25 has "find" (ευρησε). See on Matthew 16:26 for "gain," "profit," and "exchange.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL BE ASHAMED OF ME AND MY WORDS (ος γαρ εαν επαισχυνθη με κα τους εμους λογους). More exactly,WHOSOEVER IS ASHAMED (first aorist passive subjunctive with indefinite relative and εαν = αν. See Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 957-9. It is not a statement about the future conduct of on... [ Continue Reading ]