Mark 6:39

And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO MAKE ALL SIT DOWN BY COMPANIES UPON THE GREEN GRASS, [ epi (G1909) too (G3588) chlooroo (G5515) chortoo (G5528)] - or 'green hay;' the rank grass of those bushy wastes. For, as John (John 6:10) notes, "there was much grass [ chortos (G5528)] in the place....

30-44 Let not ministers do any thing or teach any thing, but what they are willing should be told to their Lord. Christ notices the frights of some, and the toils of others of his disciples, and provides rest for those that are tired, and refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the spiritual food of Christ's word, and then he took care that they should not want bodily food. If Christ and his disciples put up with mean things, surely we may. And this miracle shows that Christ came into the world, not only to restore, but to preserve and nourish spiritual life; in him there is enough for all that come. None are sent empty away from Christ but those who come to him full of themselves. Though Christ had bread enough at command, he teaches us not to waste any of God's bounties, remembering how many are in want. We may, some time, need the fragments that we now throw away....

See this narrative explained in the notes at Matthew 14:13. Mark 6:32 BY SHIP - By a boat or a small vessel. PRIVATELY - Without making their plan known. They intended to go privately. It appears, however, that their intention became known, and multitudes followed them. Mark 6:33 AFOOT THITHER - On foot to the place where they saw them going. OUT OF ALL CITIES - All cities or large towns in the neighborhood. Mark 6:34...

EXPOSITION MARK 6:1 Our Lord now left the neighbourhood of Capernaum, and came INTO HIS OWN COUNTRY, the district of Nazareth, where he had been, not born indeed, but brought up, and where his kinsfolk after the flesh still lived. Nazareth would be about a day's journey from Capernaum. This was not the first public exercise of his ministry at Nazareth. Of that and its results St. Luke gives us the account (Luke 4:16). It would seem reasonable to suppose that, after the fame which he had now acquired, he should again visit the place where he had been brought up. His sisters were still living there. St. Mark here again uses the historical present ἔρχεται, "he cometh," for which there is better authority than for ἧλθεν_. _HIS

AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO MAKE ALL SIT DOWN,.... Christ ordered his disciples, without any more ado, to cause the whole multitude, men, women, and children, to sit, or lie down, as they used to do at table when about to take a meal: and as they had no table before them, nor beds, or couches to sit, or lie down upon, he directed them to place them BY COMPANIES UPON THE GREEN GRASS; that there might be some order among them, as at a meal; and that their number might be the more easily known; and that all of them might more plainly see the miracle that was to be wrought: and the provision be more orderly distributed to them....

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The Servant rejected in Nazareth. (Mark 6:1. Matthew 13:54; Luke 4:16)_ 2. The Servant sends forth the Twelve. (Mark 6:7 .Matthew 10:5; Luke 9:1) 3. King Herod troubled. (Mark 6:14. Matthew 14:1; Luke 9:7)...

THE FEEDING OF THE MULTITUDE. Mk. regards the disciples-' need of rest after their missionary labours as the occasion for retirement. The hostility of Herod may also have contributed to the decision to withdraw to a desert place. The pressure of the public on the time and energies of the disciple-band is, however, put in the foreground. The eagerness of the crowd defeats the purpose of Jesus. Though He has withdrawn to avoid them. He goes forth to welcome them. To Him they seem like the shepherdless flock described in Ezekiel 34. Their political and religious leaders are worthless, and their first need is teaching. Jesus is touched by the crowd's half-unconscious search for leadership. Mk. preserves (Mark 6:34) his tantalizing silence as to the content of Jesus-' teaching. He is more interested in the care of Jesus for men's physical hunger than in His concern for their spiritual and pol...

WITHOUT HONOR IN HIS OWN COUNTRY (Mark 6:1-6)...

BY COMPANIES. in table-parties: i.e. arranged in three sides of. square, as in. Jewish or Roman dining-room; the guests being seated on the outside and served from the inside. These were arranged in companies of 50 and of 100. Greek. _sumposia sumposia_. Figure of speech _Epizeuxis_ (App-6). UPON. _Greek. epi._ App-104., GREEN. This is. Divine supplement only here....

_by companies_ Literally, DRINKING PARTIES. The word alludes to an orderly social grouping, _catervatim_. The words are repeated by a Hebraism in the original, like the "two and two" of Mark 6:7. _upon the green grass_ St Mark alone mentions _the green grass_, "still fresh in the spring of the year, before it had faded away in the summer sun." It was the season of the Passover, corresponding to our March or April, hence there was "_much grass in the place;_" comp. John 6:10....