Mark 5:1-20
Mark 5:1-20. THE DEMONIAC AT GERASA. See on Matthew 8:28-34. Comp. Luke 8:26-39. Luke's account more nearly resembles that of Mark, and both are fuller than that of Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:1-20. THE DEMONIAC AT GERASA. See on Matthew 8:28-34. Comp. Luke 8:26-39. Luke's account more nearly resembles that of Mark, and both are fuller than that of Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:1. THE GERASENES. The preferable form here. ‘Gergesenes' is found in some of the best authorities. The latter is the preferable reading in Luke, although there is good authority for ‘Gerasenes ‘there also. On the locality and in explanation of the cut, see Matthew 8:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TIME of the voyage across the lake is fixed by the account before us. It was the evening of the day (Mark 4:35) when the discourse in parables had been uttered. The other accounts (Matthew 8:18; Luke 8:22) can readily be harmonized on this view. The conversations with some who would follow Him ... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:2. STRAIGHTWAY. Mark's favorite word. A MAN. Matthew tells of ‘two,' being more particular in this respect. Luke speaks of but one. WITH, lit., ‘in ‘ AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT. Mark usually prefers this form of describing demoniacal possession.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:3-5. Mark's description of the man is most full and striking. Both he and Luke tell in different words that his dwelling was AMONG, lit., ‘in' THE TOMBS, a fact only hinted at by Matthew. Peculiar to this narrative is the mention of the fact that NO MAN COULD BIND HIM ANY MORE; as well as the... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:6. AND WHEN HE SAW JESUS FROM AFAR. The prominent thought is that he ran from a distance. This running would look like a violent attack, but instead of this, he WORSHIPPED HIM; Luke: ‘fell down before Him,' which may be all that the word ‘worshipped ‘means. But the next verse intimates that i... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:7. See on Matthew 8:29. Peculiar to Mark is the strong expression: I ADJURE THEE BY GOD. The language of the demon, not of the man; not a mere blasphemy, but a plausible argument: ‘We implore thee to deal with us as God Himself does, that is, not to precipitate our final doom, but to prolong... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:8. FOR HE SAID, or, ‘was saying.' This and the next verse show that the language just used was that of the demon speaking through the man. The adjuration of the demon and the command of our Lord were uttered about the same moment, the conversation (Mark 5:9-12) taking place immediately afterw... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:9. WHAT IS THY NAME! Probably addressed to the man, since there would be no special object in finding out the name of the demon, who however answered: LEGION IS MY NAME. Matthew omits this, and Luke abbreviates it. The Latin word ‘legion' (used also in Greek and rabbinical Hebrew), was applie... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:10. HE BESOUGHT SEND THEM AWAY. The singular and plural here used confirm the explanation just given. OUT OF THE COUNTRY, _i.e.,_ the Gerasene district. Luke says: ‘into the deep; ‘comp. Matthew 8:29, This request seems to have been a preparation for the subsequent one (Mark 5:12). It was l... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:11. THE MOUNTAIN. The better established reading, agreeing more exactly with Luke's account.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:13. BEING ABOUT TWO THOUSAND. The parenthesis is unnecessary. The correct reading omits the verb, and we supply: being. This is preserved by Mark alone. The rest agrees entirely, though not verbally, with Matthew's account.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:14. IN THE COUNTRY, lit., ‘in the fields,' _i.e.,_ the villages and houses by which they passed. So Luke; Matthew is less minute. THEY, _i.e._, the people who heard the report Matthew: ‘the whole city.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:15. The order of the Greek, which is reproduced in the footnote, is vivid. SITTING, not wandering as before; clothed, not naked now; AND IN HIS RIGHT MIND, sane, not a maniac, as he had been under the demoniacal influence. EVEN HIM THAT HAD THE LEGION. The reality of the possession is e... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:16. AND THEY THAT SAW IT. Probably the swine herds who had returned, possibly those who had accompanied our Lord in the boat. HOW IT HAPPENED. Not merely the fact which those coming already perceived, but the way in which the cure had occurred.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:17. TO DEPART OUT OF THEIR BORDERS. See on Matthew 8:34. That Evangelist omits all the incidents of Mark 5:15-16; Mark 5:18-20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:18. AS HE WAS ENTERING INTO THE BOAT. The correct reading shows that he had not yet entered. BESOUGHT HIM. The same word used in the last verse. The reason of this request was probably personal gratitude to our Lord. He would thus separate himself from those who rejected his Deliverer. Poss... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:19. GO INTO THY HOUSE UNTO THY FRIENDS, etc. He may have been in danger of despising his friends in the district that rejected Christ. His previous life may have harmed them; our Lord would make his future life a blessing to them. TELL THEM. The command to those healed was often to keep sil... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:20. IN DECAPOLIS. See on Matthew 4:25. The region (of ten cities east of the Jordan) of which this immediate district formed a part. The healed man became a preacher, not only where Christ had been rejected but where He had not gone. His message was his own experience: HOW GREAT THINGS JESUS... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:21. A GREAT MULTITUDE WAS GATHERED UNTO HIM. Comp. Luke 8:40. The night after the discourse was probably passed on the lake, so that this was the day after; possibly the second day. BY THE SEA SIDE. He resumed His teaching there. We disconnect this verse from what follows. See note on next... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:22. THERE COMETH, to the house of Matthew (Levi). Mark is fond of using the present tense. JAIRUS. So Luke. Matthew omits the name. The original is vivid: SEEING HIM HE FALLETH AT HIS FEET.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRONOLOGY. These miracles were performed very shortly after the return from the country of the Gadarenes. From Matthew, however (Mark 9:18), we learn that Jairus came while our Lord was discoursing after the feast at his (Matthew's) house. The paragraph (chap. Mark 2:15-22), in order of time, shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:23. MY LITTLE DAUGHTER. ‘Little daughter,' one word in the original, a diminutive of affection; comp. the German _Tochterlein_ Mark probably gives the exact words of the ruler; Luke narrates in his own language the state of the case; Matthew, in his briefer account, combines in one sentence t... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:24. A GREAT MULTITUDE. The thronging of the people is prominent in the accounts of Mark and Luke. That so important a person as Jairus had asked our Lord's help may have occasioned unusual excitement, though multitudes usually followed Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:26. SUFFERED MANY THINGS OF MANY PHYSICIANS. Luke, himself a physician, also states that she ‘had spent all her living on physicians,' without any good result. Mark emphasizes the fact that she ‘suffered ‘at their hands, and grew worse instead of better. In those days such diseases especially... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:27. WHEN THE HAD HEARD. It is not certain how long it was since she heard, but she came because she had heard. THE THINGS CONCERNING JESUS. This paraphrase brings out the correct sense. She had heard of His doings, as well as His name. IN THE CROWD (the word usually translated ‘multitude... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:28. FOR SHE SAID, literally, ‘was saying.' Matthew: ‘within herself,' but it is possible that she may have murmured it again and again as she tried to get through the crowd.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:29. FELT IN HER BODY. Lit., ‘knew (_i.e.,_ by feeling) in the body.' The first clause tells of the cessation of the ordinary symptom of her disease, this points to a new sense of health.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:30. THAT THE POWER FROM HIM HAD GONE FORTH. This is a literal rendering. The power, which was His and which proceeded from Him, He felt had on this occasion also gone forth to heal.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:31. HIS DISCIPLES. Luke: ‘Peter and they that were with Him.' The denial of all is mentioned by the same Evangelist. This natural answer of the disciples, according to Luke, called forth an express declaration from our Lord, that He perceived power had gone out from Him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:32. AND HE LOOKED ROUND ABOUT. Peculiar in this form to Mark. TO SEE HER. This indicates, what is implied in any fair view of the whole transaction, that He knew who had done it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:33. FEARING AND TREMBLING. Luke inserts: ‘saw that she was not hid.' The two accounts agree remarkably and yet differ. Her experience in the past well accounts for her conduct; rough physicians, painful treatment, loss of means, constant diminution of health, the nature of her disease, all le... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:34. BE HEALED. Not the same word as in the previous clause. OF THY PLAGUE, scourge, affliction. Peculiar to Mark. These words were a gracious and solemn ratification of the healing, which had been stolen, as it were. GO IN PEACE. Lit, ‘into peace.' The state in which she could now live in... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:35. WHY TROUBLEST THOU THE MASTER (Greek: ‘teacher') ANY FURTHER? The underlying thought is: the case is now beyond the help of Jesus, who might have cured, but cannot raise her. The language is kind, and indicates faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:36. BUT JESUS NOT HEEDING, or, OVERHEARING, THE WORD SPOKEN. The correct reading introduces a word, which usually means, to pass by as unheard, not to heed: more rarely, to overhear. In either case, it is a mark of accuracy in this account. The message was addressed to the ruler, not to our L... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:38. BEHOLDETH A TUMULT. Mark gives prominence to the noise common in such circumstances; Matthew, to the ‘minstrels; ‘Luke, to the weeping. Evidently the same scene is described and the accounts derived from eye-wit-nesses. See on Matthew 9:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:39. WHEN HE WAS COME IN. The crowd was kept outside, three disciples accompanying Him. He then speaks to the crowd _inside_, and after their scornful reply (Mark 5:40), they are put out of the house, at least kept from entering into the chamber of death. See on Matthew 9:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:40. ENTERETH IN WHERE THE DAMSEL WAS. The whole account, just here, seems to have been derived directly from Peter who was present.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:41. TALITHA CUMI. These were the words used, in the dialect of the country. Mark cites such Aramaic expressions a number of times (Mark 3:17; Mark 7:11; Mark 7:34; Mark 14:36). The addition of an interpretation shows that he wrote for other than Jewish readers, but the insertion of the very w... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:42. STRAIGHTWAY THE DAMSEL AROSE. Luke, the physician, speaks of her spirit returning. AND WALKED. Peculiar to Mark, and an incident which would be impressed upon an eye-witness. FOR SHE WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD. Before her death she was old enough to walk and was now restored just as before.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 5:43. CHARGED THEM MUCH. A tumult might be excited, the carnal expectations about the Messiah might be roused. Comp. Mark 1:43; Matthew 8:30, etc. THAT SOMETHING BE GIVEN HER TO EAT. The miraculous power now ceased: she needed food; her strength would be recovered by natural means. At the sam... [ Continue Reading ]