Mark 6:44

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. AND THEY THAT DID EAT OF THE LOAVES WERE [ABOUT] FIVE THOUSAND MEN - "besides women and children" (Matthew 14:21). Of these, however, there would probably not be many; as only the males were obliged to go to the approaching festival [The word "about" - hoosei (G5616) - should be omitted here, as quite void of authority; but in the other three Gospels it certainly belongs to the genuine text.] One very important particular given by John alone (John 6:15) introduces this portion: "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone....

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....

Verse 44. _WERE ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND_] ωσει, _about_, is omitted by a great majority of the best MSS. and by the principal versions. It is wanting in several _editions: Bengel, Wetstein_, and _Griesbach_, leave it out of the text. It is omitted by some in the parallel place, Matthew 14:21, but it stands without any variation in Luke 9:14, and John 6:10. This miracle is mentioned by all the four evangelists. It is one of the most astonishing that Christ has wrought. It is a miracle which could not be _counterfeited_, and a full proof of the divinity of Christ....

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 THEY THAT DID EAT OF THE LOAVES,.... And also of the fishes; for they all ate of both; WERE ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MEN; the word ωσει, "about", is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic and Ethiopic versions, reading five thousand men certain. The Evangelist Matthew adds, "beside children and women", Matthew 14:21....

MARK 6:44 @tou.j a;rtouj# {C} External evidence is evenly divided between the witnesses that include the words tou.j a;rtouj and those that omit them. Moreover, several witnesses (such as D W syrs) that frequently have the longer reading, here have the shorter reading. From the point of view of transcriptional probabilities, it is more likely that copyists were tempted to delete than to add tou.j a;rtouj, for the presence of these words raises awkward questions why “loaves” should be singled out with no mention of the fish (the Old Latin ms. c reads both). In view of these conflicting considerations the Committee thought it best to retain the words but to enclose them within square brackets....

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)...