CHAPTER VIII. _Four thousand persons fed with seven loaves and a few small_ _fishes_, 1-8. _Christ refuses to give any farther sign to the impertinent_ _Pharisees_, 10-12. _Warns his disciples against the corrupt doctrine of the_ _Pharisees and of Herod_, 13-21. _He restores sight to a blind... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:2. _HAVING NOTHING TO EAT_] If they had brought any provisions with them, they were _now_ entirely expended; and they stood in immediate need of a supply.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:3. _FOR DIVERS OF THEM CAME FROM FAR._] And they could not possibly reach their respective homes without perishing, unless they got food.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:4. c.] See on Matthew 14:14; Matthew 15:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:7. _AND THEY, HAD A FEW SMALL FISHES_] This is not noticed in the parallel place, Matthew 15:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:10. _DALMANUTHA._] Matthew 15:39, Matthew 15:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:12. _AND HE SIGHED DEEPLY IN HIS SPIRIT_] Or _having_ _deeply groaned _- so the word αναστεναξας properly means. He was exceedingly affected at their _obstinacy_ and _hardness_ of _heart_. See Matthew 16:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:14. _NOW_ THE DISCIPLES _HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE BREAD_] See all this, to Mark 8:21, explained at large on Matthew 16:4. In the above chapter, an account is given of the _Pharisees, Sadducees_, and _Herodians_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _THEY BRING A BLIND MAN UNTO HIM_] Christ went about to do good, and wherever he came he found some good to be done; and so should we, if we had a proper measure of the same zeal and love for the welfare of the bodies and souls of men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _AND HE TOOK THE BLIND MAN BY THE HAND_] Giving him a proof of his readiness to help him, and thus preparing him for the cure which he was about to work. _LED HIM OUT OF THE TOWN_] Thus showing the inhabitants that he considered them unworthy of having another miracle wrought among them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _I SEE MEN AS TREES, WALKING._] His sight was so _imperfect_ that he could not distinguish between _men_ and _trees_, only by the _motion_ of the former.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _AND SAW EVERY MAN CLEARLY._] But instead of απαντας, _all men_, several excellent MSS., and the principal _versions_, have απαντα, _all things_, every object; for the view he had of them before was _indistinct_ and _confused_. Our Lord could have restored this man to sight in a _moment_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _HE SENT HIM AWAY TO HIS HOUSE_] So it appears that this person did not belong to _Bethsaida_, for, in going to _his_ _house_, he was _not to enter into the village_. This miracle is not mentioned by any other of the evangelists. It affords _another_ proof that Mark did not _abridge_ Matt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _AND JESUS WENT OUT_, c.] See on Matthew 16:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _THOU ART THE CHRIST._] Three MSS. and some versions add, _the Son of the living God_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:32. _AND HE SPAKE THAT SAYING_] Concerning the _certainty_ and _necessity_ of his sufferings - _openly: with great plainness_, παρρησια, _confidence_, or _emphasis_, so that the disciples now began fully to understand him. This is an _additional_ observation of St. Mark. For Peter's rep... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:34. _WHOSOEVER WILL COME AFTER ME_] It seems that Christ formed, on the _proselytism_ of the Jews, the principal qualities which he required in the _proselytes_ of _his covenant_. The _first_ condition of proselytism among the Jews was, that he that came to embrace their religion shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:35. _FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE_] On this and the following verses, see Matthew 16:24, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Mark 8:38. _WHOSOEVER - SHALL BE ASHAMED OF ME_] Our Lord hints here at one of the principal _reasons_ of the _incredulity_ of the Jews,-they saw nothing in the _person_ of Jesus Christ which corresponded to the _pompous_ notions which they had formed of the Messiah. If Jesus Christ had come... [ Continue Reading ]