PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1
Edward Henry Bickersteth [1925-1906] · 331,482 words · 374 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED DY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEili OF GLOUCESTER; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RAW…
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of the history. St. Mark, by the strnoture of his narrative, helps us more readily to grasp the whole of the sublime and impressive record. Take, for example, St. Mark's account of our Lord's ministry in Galilee. How it revolves around the familiar Lake of Gennesaret I A series of striking miracles at Oa.pernaum and i…
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88 also does the faot that he was sister's eon, or cousin ( d.vuf;io,;) to Barnabas, who was himself on terms of close fellowship with St. Peter. Moreover, the general consensus of the early Church identifies John Mark with the writer of this Goepel, which Eueebiue informs us was written under the, eye of St. Peter. …
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the oircumoision, having gone to Babylon, where we know there was a. large oolony of Jews, or in his having been accompanied thither by Mark him- self, also o. Jew of the family of Aaron. The whole is consistent with the idea that Mark wrote his Gospel under the direction of St. Peter. Ancient writers, as Irenreus, Ter…
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3. Evidence of the Early Fathers. There are some expreeeions in the 'Shepherd of Hermae,' written in all probability not later than the middle of the second century, which are evidently taken from St. Mark (xvi. 16). Justin Martyr (about A.D. 160) quotes the last two verses. The evidence of Irenmus (A.D. 177) is yet…
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on. vu. 1-13 The complaint or the Pharisees and scribes against the disciples for eating bread with unwashen hands. 'fhe traditioLs of the elders. 14-23 The true sources of defilement. 24-30 The Syro-phrenician woman. 31-37 'l'he healing of the deaf and dumb. OH, VIII, 1-10 The feeding of the four thousand. 11-13 'l…
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the baptism of John was the profession of of Confirmation, which ls the complotion of their penitence. Hence they "·ho wore the sncrament of Baptism. John baptized baptized with his baptism confessed their with water only, but Christ with wnter nnd eins, and thus made the first step towards the Holy Spirit. John bnp…
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went forth, armed with Divine power, into his first purging or the temple (John the desert, that there, as in a wreetling-,p,Jace, ii. 14). Then came the visit of Nicodemus he might contend alone with Sn.tan. l'here to him by night; and then he began openly Cbriet and antichrist met, nnd entered to preach and to baptiz…
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of Galilee; a better reo.ding is (1racl racpd.,...,v), muob larger elze. But whc !her it be the oe.et- and paMing akmg. Our Lord oo.me up ing-net or the dro.~-net, the comparison is 11 from the south, passing through Samaria, striking one. It 1B plain that, lil the pur- till he reached Co.no. of Galilee. He then suit o…
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naum ; literally, they go ,nt.o Oapernaum permitted to nse his own gifts, his reason ( .J,nrop<vona.1). Bt. Mark is fonc1 of the and even his own particular manner of hietoncal "present" tense, which often adds speech; whereas here a false e.nd lying spirit life and energy to his nnrro.tive. Who go usurps the organs of…
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further, the time wo.s not yet arrived when Luke spe&k of this houae as the ho1111e or Christ was to be publicly proclaimed 11.11 Simon Peter only: but St. Mark, writing the Son of God. This great truth WM! to probably under St. Peter's direction, inoludea be gmdually unfolded, &nd the people "·ere Andrew as &joint …
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ilonary tour. Thie would be the momlng clean I" It was in some caeos hereditary. It of the first day of the weok, A great while we.s e. very revolting disease. It was a. beforo d11y he loft the econo of excitement. poisoning of the springs of life. It was a. That was not B time for preo.ohing the living death. It wa.e …
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thou olean; literally, be thou mnde elenn hide them." It le evident that he wished (,ca6aplu61rr,). It ie well observed here by to draw the thot•ghte of men awny from hi ■ St. Jerome thot our Lord aptly answers both miracles, and to fix them upon his dootrine. the petitions of the leper. "If thou wilt;" Go thy way, all…
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of Peter. The opening sentence of his Gospel is brief, striking, and full of meaning and of Divine truth. J. Observe the BIONIFI0ANOE OF THE BEGINNING OJI THE GOSPEL. Matthew and Luk8 begin their narratives with a relation of the circumstances of the birth of our Lord; John commences with the pre-existence of the Word…
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I. A GLIMPSE OF THE FORERUNNER'S PERSON AND ClIARACTER. 1. He was a priest. This we learn from St. Luke's narrative of his parentage and birth. John owed some- thing of the respect and acceptance he met with to this fact, Yet his ministry was not sacerdotal, though his education and his Msociations must all have fit…
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ministry of the herald preceded that of the King. Jesus was yet in the seclusion of Nazareth when John was attracting multitudos of all classes, and from all parts of the land, to his teaching and baptism in the Jordan valley. When Jesus came to John ii seemed, to ordinary judgments, that the less came to the greate…
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Vcrs. 12, 13.-The temptation of Christ. The portal by which our Lord entered upon his earthly ministry has two pillars-the baptism and the temptation. In his baptism the Saviour was visibly and audibly approved by God the Father. In his temptation he was manifestly put to the test by the power of evil. Consecration …
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which occupied thie term are recorded in detail by the other evangeli,te, Matthew and Luke. 1. A. temptation appealing to ordinary bodily wants. 2. A temptation appeal- ing to spiritual pride. 3. A temptation appealing to ambition and the love of power. V. St. Mark implies, what the other evangelist& explicitly record…
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tinctly assured. This, the period of Christ's ministry, was "in the fulneee of the time." 2. The kingdom of God was at hand. Not that the Most High had abdicated hie rightful throne; but he had lon~ suffered the rebellion of men, o.nd ho.d not interfered with the tyrant who had usurpeo. dominion. The evils of this u…
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e.nd eterne.l harvest. He probably called these four more than once-first during the ministry of the forerunner, e.gain ns in the text, e.nd a third time when he com- missioned them formally to act as his aJYJBtles. I. Observe WHO THE MEN WEnE WHO WERE CALLED. 1. Their position in life ; they wore from the industrial …
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Remember that Christ has called you anu is calling you. The burden of hie appeal is this-" Come ye after me I " And, when saved, seek that you may be the means of saving others. 3. For those who, hearing the voice of the Lord Christ, are disposed to obey bis call. Bear in mind that he demands a complete surrender, that…
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power or hie discourse wa.s, however, the chief ea.use of this general wonder. There were occasions when astonishment led to repugnance, and the people would fain shun the presence of One so awful; but there were instances in which astonishment glowed into a<lmira.tion and kindled into faith. And this la.st is the prop…
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Jesus we.s lord of the t~mple bece.use ho was the Son of God. And this lordship he a~ert~d when he predic~ the destruction of the material sanctuary, e.nd when he, usmg 1t u a symbol of his body, foretold the rebuilding of tho temple of God in three short days. Another oase in point is his a.ssumptton of the Divine pr…
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o.pnrt from righteousness, enkindles resentment and arouses resistance. Bnt goodness and benevolence, with the resources of Omnipotence at their command, summon our hearts to a willing surrender and our lives to a glad obedience. Our will, our whole nature, acknowledge the authority of the Saviou!r's law. When he was u…
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claim of Christ upon the faith and obedience of men, to keep out of sight the truth that men have no right to disbelieve and disobey the Son of God. No doubt it is for our interest and our happiness to be Christians. It is also our sin and our shame lf we are not Christians. There have been parents among the poor who h…
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IV. OemeT's AUTHORITY IS ADMITTED WITH AMAZEMENT. The rendering of the revisers is full of meaning and vivacity: "What is this? a new teaching I " or, aK others read, "A new doctrine with authority I " The point is that miracle and dootrine are justly regarded. as one and the same. The listeners to his discourses felt …
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Vers. 32-34.-The Healer of multitudes. It was the hallowed evening of a memorable day The Lord Jesus had taught in the synagogue, consecrating the sabbath by worship and by spiritual instruction, and creat.icg in,the popular mind an impression of his unique authority. He had cast out the demon from a wretched suffe…
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em-eTRIOKEN HUMANITY TO TIIE SAVIOUR. What a eight-" all the city gathered together at the door" of Jesus I Men are learning tbe poworlessness of every other belper, the hopelessness of every other refuge and confidence. Heathenism and Mohammedanism are proving the futility of their claims; infidelity anu atheism are 1…
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"all men sought for him." Not always from the highest motives, yet with a Co.Ith and earnestness creditable to the suppliants, men sought Christ's help. 2, Christ's labours were regarded by him as the fulfilment of Divine purpose. "Therefore to this end ea.me I forth." He did the will of the Father; this was his mea…
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I. WHAT m MEN LEADB THEM TO BEEK CHRIST? There are many motives inducinc, to this inquiry and endeavour, just ae when Jesus was on earth. 1. Curiosity lea& men to seek him. During our Lord's ministry, especially the earlier ministry in Galilee, there occurred, now and again, a '1"11,/lh to Jesns. Crowds followed him ev…
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i,in and need, and every recorded miracle seems to convey some special lesson conoernlug the Healer's grace and power. Let this narrative be thus regarded, and we find here- I. A SYMBOL OF HU:111~N SIN Al\~ MISERY. Leprosy was evidently so regarded among the ~:ws, and 1:1pon D1vme authonty, as. is clear from the det…
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Ver. 41,-" Moved with compassion." There is something in human nature which draws men towardR the great, the powerful, the prosperous-an impulse not altoaether good. And there is something which attracts men towards the good and pur~ holy and admirable impulse. But there is yet another tendency, which impels souls towa…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-" The beginning if the gospel." Very simple and natural. Thero is hardly any preface. The narrator seems impatient to get into the very heart of his subject. '.fhis ~hould ever be the instinct ~f Jhe_ preac_her. Ingenuously, yet with perfect mduct1ve force, he shows that Christiani…
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descrlptlone are very general, and look as if they had been foreshortened in order to give due prominence to the gospel na1rative that had to follow. Yet a fairly complete impression may be received of his main doctrines and rules of discipline. Generally in his ministry there are four elements discoverable. 1. Exharta…
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the Gentile world" (Perowne). The first aim, therefore, of every relll religion must be the removal of sin, because: 1. The sense of guilt estranges man from God. Under this feeling of alienation the heart hardens, and the tendency is to cast off the authority of a.11 Divine sanctions. 2. Indwelling sin corrupts and…
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God, in righteousness and true holiness." •• I can do all things through Christ which strengthcneth me."-M. Vere, 9-11.-The baptism of Jesua. One of many proofs of the wide influence of the Baptist's ministry. He ea.me from Nazareth of Galilee. The multitudinous baptism of John was a fit occasion and background for th…
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wrestled, but with the prince of darkness himself. In such an encounter the oonllict must needs be a duel, and even then was it determined beforehand in favour of the Son of God. i3ut the allurements employed were necessarily of the most subtle and grandly representative character. It was a final trial of strength, upo…
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Seif-sacrifice, This was begun by "leaving all and following" Christ, as Pete,r phrased it. The will of the flesh, "the will to live," the whole self-life,-had to h., renounced. 3. But their life would be a fellowship with the Master. 'l'his wnuM compensate for every toil and trial. But it would also necessitate contin…
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uncertain as to his willingness. The spirit c,f the Saviour was therefore concealed from him. Yet Christ answered his prayer. (There is no evidence that the leper identified the will with the power.) III. CHRIST'S METHOD OF RESTORATION I8 ADAPTED TO THB SPECIAL MORAL OONDfflON OF THE BUI\JECT OF HIS MERCY. It was his …
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w&B Christ'& "concealed designation," a Messianic identification which implied spiritual insight or knowledge (John vi. 69; x. 36; Rev. iii. 7). Kn01JJledge without love. How fruitless I '!'hey knew him as the Holy One of God, but not as their Saviour. Belief and obedience, but no salvation I So near, yet so far I How …
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Ver. 35.-The history of a prayer of CJhrist. L ITS IMMEDIATE ocoASlON. 1. To be found in con11ection with his work. It was incessant. Fresh claims upon his atten- tion and compassion were continually being made. Only the day before "all the city" had been" gathered together at the door." The exercise of his healing p…
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intercourse of the day will not be overtaken or surprised by evil. Better lose a little tileep thrm the restful communion of the Father. 2. His departure wa.~ .,ecret. There was no consulting with flesh and blood. There are inward prornpting3 and voices concerning which no earthly advice should be asked. It is possible…
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power or sympR.thy. But if we would get the benefit of solitude If we would· achieve victory over self and sin i-n our own hour of temptation, we m~st be like our Lord, who was baptizcd before he was tempted, who was filled with the Holy Spirit before he fou2:ht with the evil spirit. 'l'hen out of such an experience…
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I. THAT HONEST WORK FITS FOB HIGHER DUTIES. Those who are indolent in the world are not of great use in the Church, If men are not fit for ordinary work, they seldom a.re fit for Christ's service. Our Lord does not call the indolent resthetes, who would gaze on a lily for hours in II languid rapture, but he summons men…
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"mend" the net, to have it well in hand, to cast it in a likely place, and then to wait and watch and pray. Quote Keble's hymn beginning- • The livelong night we've toiled in vam: But at thy gracious word I will let down the net again: Do thou thy will, 0 Lord." A.R. Ver. 29.-The home and the synagogue. This pa.…
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These two brethren e.ppee.r to have removed from Bethsaida, possibly because of mar- riage connection with the place or for their convenience as fishermen. 1. It wa, a home with ordinary associations. There was nothing special or distinctive e.bout it or about others whioh our Lord frequented, and in which he did some …
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and all this was not because the effort was great, but because the effort was needed. In harmony with this we read in ver. 41 that, when the leper came Jesus being. "moved with <:°1!1passion, put forth his hand, and touched him." Hs did' this although he knew that 1t involved him in ceremonial defilement; but he was wi…
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Solitude ls a necessary element in trial. (See Robertson's sermon on the' Loneliness of Christ.') Life is a drama. on which angels and demons look with intensest interest. Evil is ever near ; succour never far off.-J. Vers. 16-20.-Oall of disciples. I. CALLING MEANS BEPABATION. We cannot prove any .calling without sep…
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The true disciple, always a listener and a learner, whose eyes are not holden and who ls not" slow of heart, to believe," will gladly learn that" from Moses and fr~m all the prophets, the things concerning" his Lord may be" interpreted·" and he will search "in t.11 the Scriptures" for the bidden or open references to h…
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then, without and within, is complete. This is the t111e "beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ." It is begun historically; it is begun personally.-G. Vers. 9-13.-The officml preparation. "The beginning of the f?Ospel of Jesus Christ" embraces yet another element. The preparation of "the way" of the Lord ie followe…
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MEBBIAIL Yes, truly the transil.ion; for now is the manifestation to Israel to be made and the open, authoritMive designation of him " who from the foundation of the world.~ had been in Heaven's counsels dP.signated. When so suitable a time as when fulfillina all righteousness? Then," coming up out of the water, he "-a…
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in the wimn, pitiful sympathy of the obedient disciple, ready to lay down life and all for the Master's sake and in his cause; it is a call coming, not from the lips, but from the wretched, sinful lives of the wicked in the world around, or from the wilds of heathen darkness, superstition, and loss afar off; from the C…
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spirit. 2. It is a spirit of antagonism to truth, 3. It is a malignant spirit, " tearing" its victim till he cries aloud. 4. Till Jesus speaks, it dominates over the entire life of its victim. 5. But in his presence it is a conquered spirit. "With authority he com- mandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." …
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corrupt, slow-dying sufferer appeals to the Lord of life, and love, and power. It is not wrong to say" lf thou wilt." It is & lower form of" Thy will be done." II. 'l'he humble cry turns us from the sufferer to THE SAVIOUR to learn his com- passion, to see bis touch, to bear bis word of power, and to witnes~ its insta…
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with which we have hie first recorded utterances, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not tbat I must be about my Father's business?" St. Mark also omits the lineacre of our Lord, by w?ich _St. Matthew connects him vrith the seed of Abrah_am accorclii~g to the flesh, and likewise that other genealogy, which St. Lu…
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still the same, though ch1mge and alteration are the very essence of thie world; it remains the same amid all the ups and downs of time; and its blessed results nre durahlc ns eternity itself. It is" the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of G,,d," for he is the Alpha and Omega of it; he is the Source from which all its b…
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and eo causing a straight, direct road to take the place of a circuitous and devious route. Some prepe.re.tion like this was made for Alexander the Great when he marched to the Indus, and more so still for Semiramis in her progress through Media and Persia. Likewise in Vespe.sian's march to Galilee a detachment was app…
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the tabernacle, and the altn.r of incense, which he hnd hid in Pisgah, at whatever time. God should gather his people together. The Pharisees could have readily understood the baptism of Gentile proselytes into the Jewish faith, and euch b11ptism by John could have prod_uced no uneasiness and caused no alarm. Instea…
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is still frequently done. The honey, too, was the article made by bees. . . . Wild honey is still gathered in large quantities from trees in the wilderness, and from rocks in the we.dies, jUBt where the :Baptist sojourned, and where he came preachin"'0 the doctrine of repentance." X, DIBOOUBBE OF THE BAPTIST TO THE CO…
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round the Bnptist were on the tiptoe of expectation. At this period expectations of some J!;I'eat deliverer were rife both in Gentile lands and among Jewish people, It is not strange, then, that the multitudes who had listened to the instructions of the Baptist reasoned within themselves whether haply John himself w…
787 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.