Mark 5:3

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: WHO HAD HIS DWELLING AMONG THE TOMBS. Luke says, "He ware no clothes, neither abode in any house." These tombs were hewn out of the rocky caves of the locality, and served for shelters and lurking-places (). AND NO MAN COULD BIND HIM, NO, NOT WITH CHAINS:...

Mark 5:3._And no man could bind him, not even with chains _Naturally, he was not able to break the chains; and hence we infer that Satan is sometimes permitted to make extraordinary movements, the effect of which goes beyond our comprehension and beyond ordinary means. We often perceive in madmen much greater strength than belongs to their natural capacity; and we are not at liberty to deny that, in such cases, the devil does his part when God permits him: but the force, which is described by the Evangelists, was far greater. (548) It was indeed a sad and shocking exhibition, but may serve to remind us how wretched and alarming it is to be placed under the tyranny of Satan, and also that bodily agony, however violent or cruel, is not more to be dreaded than distress of mind....

1-20 Some openly wilful sinners are like this madman. The commands of the law are as chains and fetters, to restrain sinners from their wicked courses; but they break those bands in sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the devil in them. A legion of soldiers consisted of six thousand men, or more. What multitudes of fallen spirits there must be, and all enemies to God and man, when here was a legion in one poor wretched creature! Many there are that rise up against us. We are not a match for our spiritual enemies, in our own strength; but in the Lord, and in the power of his might, we shall be able to stand against them, though there are legions of them. When the vilest transgressor is delivered by the power of Jesus from the bondage of Satan, he will gladly sit at the feet of his Deliverer, and hear his word, who delivers the wretched slaves of Satan, and numbers them among hi...

Verse Mark 5:3. _WHO HAD_ HIS _DWELLING AMONG THE TOMBS_] See Matthew 8:28....

See this account of the demoniacs fully explained in the notes at Matthew 8:28. Mark 5:4 HE HAD BEEN OFTEN BOUND WITH FETTERS AND CHAINS - Efforts had been made to confine him, but his great strength - his strength increased by his malady - had prevented it. There often appears to be a great increase of strength produced by insanity, and what is here stated in regard to this maniac often occurs in Palestine and elsewhere now. Dr. Thomson (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 213) says respecting this case: “There are some very similar at the present day - furious and dangerous maniacs, who wander about the mountains, and sleep in tombs and caves. In their worst paroxysms they are quite unmanageable and prodigiously strong.”...

EXPOSITION MARK 5:1 AND THEY CAME TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA. The other side of the sea would be the south-east side of the sea. INTO THE COUNTRY OF THE GADARENES, or rather, _Gerasenes_,_ _which is now generally admitted to be the true reading, from Gerasa, Gersa, or Kersa. There was another Gerasa, situated at some distance from the sea, on the borders of Arabia Petraea. The ruins of the Gerasa, here referred to, have been recently discovered by Dr. Thomson, ('The Land and the Book'). Immediately over this spot is a lofty mountain, in which are ancient tombs; and from this mountain there is an almost perpendicular declivity, literally (κρημνός) corresponding accurately to what is required by the description in the narrative of the miracle. Dr. Farrar ('Life of Christ') says that in the days of Eusebius and Jer

WHO HAD HIS DWELLING AMONG THE TOMBS,.... Which is one of the characters of a madman among the Jews; who say it is q "the sign of a madman, that he goeth out in the night, הקברות והלן בבית, "and lodges among the tombs", and rends his garments, and loses what is given to him.'' The same they say, in the same place, of an hypochondriac, and melancholy man; and of Kordiacus, which they give out r is a demon that possesses, and has power over some sort of persons: AND NO MAN COULD BIND HIM, NO, NOT WITH CHAINS; so as to hold him for any length of time: not only cords were insufficient to hold, but even chains of iron; so strong was he through the possession; for this could not be by his own natural strength. q T. Hieros. Gittin, fol. 48. 3. Trumot, fol. 40. 2. r Jarchi Bartenora in Misn. Gittin, c. 7. sect. 1....

Mark 5:1. _And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit._ Our Lord crossed the Sea of Galilee on purpose to rescue this poor man from the power of the unclean spirit that possessed him. He knew that there were many who needed him on the Galilean side of the lake, and he could foresee the storm that would threaten to sink the little ship; yet he calmly said to his disciples (see chapter 4:Verse 35), «Let us pass over unto the other side.» As soon as the great Physician landed, a dreadful apparition appeared. «Out of the tombs», an uncanny place, rushed a man, howling and yelling like some wild beast; or worse still, under the influence of Satan, who had taken possession of him....

CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The Servant's Power over Satan's work. (Mark 5:1. Matthew 8:28; Luke 8:26 .)_ 2. The Servant's Power over disease and death. (Mark 5:21 .Matthew 9:18; Luke 8:40 .) 1. THE SERVANT'S POWER OVER SATAN'S WORK. Mark 5:1 The Storm on the Lake was the work of Satan, but here the power of the enemy is more prominent. The description of the demoniac differs from Mat

MARK 4:35 TO MARK 5:43. FOUR WONDER-STORIES. The stilling of the tempest, the healing of the demoniac and of the woman, and the raising of Jairus-' daughter form one of the most graphic sections of Mk.'s narrative. These stories have clearly been often told, and the evangelist delights to tell them. They seem to rest on unmistakable history. Thus the reference to the other little boats (Mark 4:36) reproduces an insignificant detail that naturally remained in the memory of an eye-witness (_cf._ Wellhausen). Other details, such as asleep _on the cushion_ (Mark 4:38), or the command to give the little girl something to eat ...