Mark 9:34

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. BUT THEY HELD THEIR PEACE: FOR BY THE WAY THEY HAD DISPUTED AMONG THEMSELVES, WHO SHOULD BE THE GREATEST. From we should infer that the subject was introduced, not by our Lord, but by the disciples themselves, who came and asked Jesus who should be greatest. Perhaps one or two of them first referred the matter to Jesus who put them off until they should all be assembled together at Capernaum. He had all the while "perceived the thought of their heart" (); but now that they were all together "in the house," He questions them about it, and they are put to the blush, conscious of the temper toward each other which it had kindled. This raised the whole question afresh, and at this poin...

30-40 The time of Christ's suffering drew nigh. Had he been delivered into the hands of devils, and they had done this, it had not been so strange; but that men should thus shamefully treat the Son of man, who came to redeem and save them, is wonderful. Still observe that when Christ spake of his death, he always spake of his resurrection, which took the reproach of it from himself, and should have taken the grief of it from his disciples. Many remain ignorant because they are ashamed to inquire. Alas! that while the Saviour teaches so plainly the things which belong to his love and grace, men are so blinded that they understand not his sayings. We shall be called to account about our discourses, and to account for our disputes, especially about being greater than others. Those who are most humble and self-denying, most resemble Christ, and shall be most tenderly owned by him. This Jesu...

Verse 34. _WHO_ SHOULD BE _THE GREATEST._] See on Matthew 18:1....

See the notes at Matthew 18:1....

EXPOSITION MARK 9:1 TILL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME WITH POWER. In St. Matthew 16:28 the words run thus: "Till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." In St. Luke 9:27, "Till they see the kingdom of God." All these evangelists connect their record of the Transfiguration with these predictive words—a circumstance which must not be lost sight of in their interpretation. The question, therefore, is whether or how far the Transfiguration is to be regarded as a fulfillment of these words. One thing seems plain, that the Transfiguration, if a fulfillment at all, was not an exhaustive fulfillment of the words. The solemnity of their introduction forbids us to limit them to a

BUT THEY HELD THEIR PEACE,.... Fearing a reprimand, for their vanity and affectation of worldly grandeur: FOR BY THE WAY THEY HAD DISPUTED AMONG THEMSELVES, WHO [SHOULD BE] THE GREATEST; that is, who should be advanced to the highest post, and have the greatest place of authority, honour, and dignity, in the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, they expected would be in a little time set up; for notwithstanding what Christ had said to them, concerning his being given up to the power of men, and concerning his death and resurrection, they still retained their former principle, to which they knew not how to reconcile his dying; and therefore chose rather to leave his meaning in suspense, and remain ignorant about it, than quit so darling a notion: and doubtless this dispute was occasioned by what Christ had said to them; who afterwards, getting by themselves, talked about it, which led on to...

Our Lord had been absent from the people, and transfigured on the top of the mountain; when he came down from this manifestation of his glory, he was brought face to face with Satan's work at almost the first step he took. Let us read about what he did. Mark 9:14. _And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him._ There was a glory about his face not altogether unlike that of Moses when he came down from the other mountain, so that the people were struck with wonder when they looked upon him. Mark 9:16. _And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?_ The battle had been raging

CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The Glory to Come foreshadowed in the Transfiguration. (Mark 9:1 .Matthew 17:1; Luke 9:28 .)_ 2. The helpless disciples and the secret of failure. (Mark 9:14. Matthew 17:14; Luke 9:37) 3. The second announcement of His death. (Mark 9:30 .Matthew 17:22;...

A CONVERSATION WITH THE TWELVE. This section illustrates the kind of teaching which Jesus gave in private to His disciples. It may embody fragmentary recollections of a particular discussion, but more probably Mk. has strung together utterances and incidents belonging to different occasions, the connecting links being sometimes the mere repetition of a single word, such as cause to stumble (Mark 9:42 f.), or fire (Mark 9:48 f.), or even in my name (Mark 9:37; Mark 9:39). The latter half of Mark 9:37 and Mark 9:41

WHEN THE KING COMES INTO HIS OWN (Mark 8:38 ; Mark 9:1) _ 9:1 "Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he used to say to them, "This is the truth I tell you--there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste of death until they shall see the Kingdom of God coming with power."_ One thing leaps out from this passage--the confidence of Jesus. He has just been speaking of his death; he has no doubt that the Cross stands ahead of him; but nonetheless he is absolutely sure that in the end there will be triumph. The first part of the passage states a simple truth. When the King comes into his Kingdom he will be loyal to those w