CHRONOLOGY. This visit to Nazareth is the same as that mentioned by Matthew (Matthew 13:54-58), but different from that recorded by Luke (Luke 4:14-29). See notes on the former passage. Some other miracles intervened between the raising of Jairus' daughter and this rejection (Matthew 9:27-34).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:1. WENT OUT FROM THENCE. From Capernaum. HIS OWN COUNTRY, _i.e._, Nazareth. HIS DISCIPLES FOLLOW HIM. Mentioned by Matthew also; this opposes the identity with the visit mentioned by Luke.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:2. THE SABBATH-DAY. Mark, here as so often, is more specific than Matthew. MANY, according to many ancient authorities, ‘the many,' the multitude of this city. WHAT IS THE WISDOM GIVEN UNTO THIS MAN? This acknowledgement of His wisdom conveys a sneer. More graphic than Matthew's statement... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:3. THE CARPENTER. Matthew: ‘the carpenter's son.' Our Lord had probably wrought at the trade of Joseph; though the Nazarenes would in any case naturally identify Him with the occupation of His reported father. All Jewish young men learned a trade. The legends and fancies about the infancy of... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:4. AMONG HIS OWN KINDRED. Peculiar to Mark.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:5. AND HE COULD THERE DO NO MIGHTY WORK. His power was not changed. His miracles were not feats of magic, but required two conditions to call them forth: an opportunity and a sufficient moral purpose. ‘Unbelief ‘prevented both. The unbelieving would not come for healing; to heal such would be... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:6. He marvelled because of their unbelief. To be taken literally. On another occasion our Lord ‘marvelled' (Matthew 8:10; Luke 7:9) at the great faith of a heathen centurion. Both instances indicate the great importance of faith. WENT ROUND ABOUT. The unbelief of Nazareth did not stop our Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:7. BY TWO AND TWO. These pairs seem to be indicated in the list given by Matthew, although he does not mention that they were thus sent out. A proof both of truthfulness and of independence. POWER OVER THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS. Peculiar to Mark, and characteristic of his narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW prefaces his fuller account by telling of our Lord's compassion for the multitudes (Matthew 9:36-38). Luke gives a very brief statement (Luke 9:1-6). The _choice_ of the Twelve took place some time before (chap. Mark 3:13-19), within the same year. Mark gives only a portion of the _first par... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:8. SAVE A STAFF ONLY, _i.e.,_ if, as was usual, each had a staff for walking, let him take it, but not provide one especially. This explanation, which is strictly grammatical, removes the apparent difference between the command as recorded here and by Matthew and Luke. Our Lord did not prescr... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:9. WITH SANDALS _, i.e.,_ such as they had on at the time, without waiting for shoes especially adapted for the journey (Matthew: ‘nor shoes'). The construction changes into a direct command in the last clause, as if the memory of one present had supplied it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:10-11. See notes on Matthew 10:11-15. Mark, however, adds: FOR A TESTIMONY UNTO THEM (comp. Matthew 10:18). Luke says, ‘against them.' This solemn act, which meant a cessation of intercourse, was a testimony to them, and against them also, a token that the truth was still the truth, and their... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:12. THAT MEN SHOULD REPENT. Not simply, preached repentance, but preached in order that men might be lead to repentance; the latter including the former.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:13. ANOINTED WITH OIL MANY SICK. Peculiar to Mark. To suppose that the oil was used medicinally is contrary to the whole tenor of the narratives. It was ‘the vehicle of healing power committed to them' (Alford), an external sign such as our Lord sometimes used to connect Himself and the perso... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:14. KING HEROD. Herod Antipas, the ‘Tetrarch' (Matt. Luke). HEARD. The activity of the Apostles, preaching and performing miracles as the messengers of Jesus, now specially attracted his attention. FOR HIS NAME HAD BECAME KNOWN. The necessary result of the labor of the Apostles.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE entire independence of Mark's Gospel is fully apparent in this section, which tells of one of the few events recorded by all four Evangelists. In the emendations we have sought to reproduce the vivacity of the original.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE on Matthew 14:1-13; comp. Luke 9:7-9. Mark's account is detailed, going back to the imprisonment of John, which occurred before our Lord began His Galilean ministry.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:15. OTHERS SAID, were in the habit of saying. The current popular opinions are here given (comp. chap. Mark 8:28; Matthew 16:14; Luke 9:19), and not what was said to Herod. A PROPHET AS ONE OF THE PROPHETS. The meaning is: A prophet like the old prophets, not Elijah nor the Prophet.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:16. HEARD. Probably of these opinions as well as of the acts which occasioned them. WHOM I BEHEADED. The emphasis rests on ‘I,' and the correct reading is more graphic than the common one. His guilty conscience suggested the thought, which was uttered to his servants (Matthew 14:2). Others... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:17-19. See on Matthew 14:3-4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:20. FOR HEROD FEARED JOHN. Herod's feelings toward John are detailed by Mark only. The impression made upon Herod grew stronger after the imprisonment, so that Herodias ‘could not' kill John. Matthew says that Herod ‘feared the multitude.' Both motives necessarily entered. Without the politic... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:21. A CONVENIENT DAY, _i.e.,_ for the purpose which Herodias cherished, not for Herod's feast, which took place at the fixed time. WHEN HEROD ON HIS BIRTHDAY. Herodias planned the schemes beforehand. LORDS, etc. Political servants and military officials, then leading men of the land. ‘His... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:22. See on Matthew 14:6-7. THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS HERSELF. Not a common dancing girl, but her own daughter was put to this degrading task, for the accomplishment of her malignant purpose. Some of the best authorities, however, read: ‘his daughter Herodias.' She was now, in law, his daughte... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:23. UNTO THE HALF OF MY KINGDOM. The full form of the oath is here preserved. Ahasuerus (Esther 7:2) made a similar oath to his queen; this was to a girl whose graceful immodesty had pleased the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:24. SHE WENT FORTH. The studied vindictiveness of Herodias is here brought out.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:25. WITH HASTE. She shows no reluctance, but is a genuine daughter of the Herodian family. Her request is put most strongly: I WILL, _i.e.,_ this is my choice. FORTHWITH, after as short an interval as possible.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:26. EXCEEDING SORRY. Mark's language is stronger than that of Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:27. A SOLDIER OF HIS GUARD. The word is a peculiar one, derived from the Latin. The members of the body-guard would be entrusted with the execution of capital sentences, but that was not their special office. In the prison. See on Matthew 14:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:29. HIS DISCIPLES, _i.e.,_ those of John. They ‘came and told Jesus' (Matthew 14:12).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:30. AND THEY TOLD HIM ALL THINGS. This report was probably given at a time previously appointed for their reassembling.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:31. COMA YE YOURSELVES (_i.e.,_ you alone) AND REST AWHILE. The motive was that _they_ should rest. Another reason for this departure was Herod's state of mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:32. A DESERT PLACE. Near Bethsaida (Luke), on the eastern side of the lake (John). APART. The same word as in Mark 6:33. ‘Privately ‘points to concealment, which was scarcely designed. The departure was not in secret (Mark 6:33).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:33. A striking picture of the continued popularity of our Lord. We give the translation of the better supported, approved reading.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:34. AND HE CAME FORTH. Either disembarked from the boat, or, more probably, came out from His retirement. Upon landing they went up some hill or cliff and from that point saw the great crowd. (John 6:3; John 6:5). It is not certain that the needed rest was obtained. HAD COMPASSION, etc. Com... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:35-37. See on Matthew 14:15-16, and especially John 6:5-7. From the latter account we learn that our Lord put a question to Philip, who had probably been the spokesman, to try him, and that he answered in language more generally stated here. TWO HUNDRED PENNYWORTH. This sum is mentioned main... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:38. GO AND SEE, lit., ‘go, see.' Peculiar to Mark. WHEN THEY KNEW. By finding a lad with these provisions; see John 6:8-9. The answer was given by Andrew.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:39. UPON THE GREEN GRASS. ‘Green ‘is inserted by Mark alone, in his usual graphic way.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:40. IN RANKS, BY HUNDREDS, AND BY FIFTIES, This is the fullest account of the way they were placed, though all four Evangelists intimate that the crowd was arranged in an orderly manner. Some have thought there were 50 seats in breadth and 100 in length, thus making 5, 000 (Mark 6:44). Gerlac... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:41. Mark here agrees most closely with Matthew and Luke, while John is less full. The emendations correspond with those in Matthew 14:19. AND THE TWO FISHES DIVIDED HE AMONG THEM ALL. In the case of the fish there is no mention made of a distribution through the disciples. The greater detai... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:43. Among the many peculiarities of the various accounts of this miracle and the similar one (Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9), none are more remarkable than the variety of expressions used to tell of what was gathered by the disciples. Among the six accounts no two are precisely alike. It is im... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:44. FIVE THOUSAND MEN. Mark, usually so exact, does not speak of the ‘women and children' (Matthew). An evidence of independence.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE notes on Matthew 14:22-36; John 6:15-25. Mark omits the attempt of Peter to walk on the water; otherwise his account closely resembles that of Matthew, but with the usual variations. Mark 6:45-47. The only detail peculiar to these verses is the mention of BETHSAIDA. In the only other case where... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:48. DISTRESSED IN ROWING. Lit., ‘tormented.' In consequence of the contrary wind. John says they rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs; yet they must have been thus engaged for some time, since it was not until ABOUT THE FOURTH WATCH OF THE NIGHT (three to six in the morning) that our Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:50. FOR THEY ALL SAW HIM AND WERE TROUBLED. A proof that this story was not due to the over-heated imagination of a few of them. At this point Peter's attempt to walk on the water occurred.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:51. WERE SORE AMAZED IN THEMSELVES. Too much so, as the next verse indicates. Hence ‘beyond measure ‘has been inserted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:52. FOR THEY UNDERSTOOD NOT CONCERNING THE LOAVES, lit, ‘ _on_ the loaves.' ‘There was no intelligent comprehension _founded_ on the miracle of the loaves. They did not from the miracle they had seen, infer the power of the Lord over nature' (Alford). BUT THEIR HEART WAS HARDENED. ‘Had been... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:53. PASSED OVER TO THE LAND. The correct reading strengthens the view that there was no miraculous sailing, since it distinguishes the passing over to the land, and the coming to Gennesaret. The natural course of things is further apparent from the last phrase: moored there, _i.e.,_ came to a... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:53-56. Mark's account is here the fullest, as to the details of the healing work in Gennesaret. John introduces other incidents and an important discourse uttered to those who sought our Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:54. THEY KNEW, or, GOT KNOWLEDGE OF, him. It was soon known that the great Healer was there. He was recognized as such, since the region was probably near Capernaum. See on Matthew 14:35, and comp. John 6:24-25; John 6:59.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:55. TO CARRY ABOUT IN BEDS. Some were taken to one place, others to another, as they heard where our Lord was; some may have been carried from place to place after Him, but it is not meant that this was generally necessary.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:56. WHERESOEVER HE ENTERED. This implies that a journey of some kind followed. COUNTRY, lit,' fields.' MARKET-PLACES, here with a wide sense. This description may refer to a period of some length, and indicates the great number of miracles performed by our Lord. The Passover was at hand ... [ Continue Reading ]