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 301
of the Word itself. The Lord Jesus came not to destroy, but to fulfil the Law; yet with mere tradition he would have no truce. III. CEREMONIALISM SU13STITUTES THE WORSHIP OF TJIE LIPS FOR THE WORSHIP 011' THE HEART. This was an old error and fault. The prophet Isaiah had seen reason to c0mplaiti of its prevalence amon…
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to lay its anxieties before a mighty and compassionate Lord, We cannot be satisfied to come to Christ for ourselves alone; for those dear to onr hearts some true request will be preferred, some petition will be urged. The heart's compassionate impulse the Lord of the heart will not despise. III. FAITH REPULSED AND SOR…
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II. A VIEW OF TIIE SAVIOUR AND OF THE PROOESS OF SALVATION. Remark: 1. The individual, character of salvation. As Jesus took this deaf man apart from the crowd, that he might deal with him privately and by himself, so the Lord ever singles out each individual whom he saves. Sometimes he lays such a one aside by afflict…
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to~day th~ customs and obeervanc~s of nations. aT?ongst w~om civilization ~as long existed might equally serve as a foil for the Chnst1an moralist ; and all casuistrie• or secondary, customa'l'y moralities. 2. The objectors were the leaders and representativea of the religious life of the time. "Pharisees, and ce1ta…
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even in at.range regions his fame anticipates him, The many who took adv11ntaae of his power to heal are forgotten in the special case which now presented itself. 1.'his may have' been the spiritual result of many unsatisfactory cases in which the cure only affected the body ; the rumour of them awoke at least one h…
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saying." It was an inspiration of faith. She had found the master-key for all time, ·and as she used it the door flew open, If we but "ask in faith, nothing wavering," all our petitions will be granted. 2. It is opened by Divine grace, We are not to suppose the request granted because the feeling of Christ was wrought…
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I. OcoASIONAL SECLUSION WAS GOOD FOB THE LORD HIMSELF, lie was as truly the Son of man as the Son of God. His life would not have been complete, it would not have touched ours at so many points, if he had always worked nnd never waited, Hence, though he bad to do a work so stupendous that it would affect the destinies …
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hie salvation, does not come to us when we are spiritually inert, but that when the Holy Spirit has shown us that we need him, and when we seek him, he must be found of us. But if we spurn him he will hide himself, till he will have to say of us, concerning the things that would give us peace, "But now they are hid …
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taught find their principle in the signs which our Lord, in loving condescension, used in dealing with this afflicted man. The spirit of Christ reigns over and blesses the bodies of men still. If we have the use of all our faculties, and know nothing of the irritability of the deaf, the loneliness of the blind, and …
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flock of sheep; and even the same sea changes in He aspect from hour to hour. Thie- variety is greater ae we go higher in the scale of creation, and is most conspicuous in man, whether considered individually or collectively. And Christ Jusus was the Image of the invisible God, who ia omniacient. He knew the avenue to …
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and the sealed ear opened to his voice and the stammering tongue proolaimed hie praise See Keble's lines- • " As thou hast touched our ears, and taught Our tongues to epeo.k thy praises plain, Quell thou each thankless, godless thought That would make fBSt our bonds again," do. C.0NOLUSION. Henceforth this man wo…
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affirms that is real for ns. "In morals and in religion the conscious mind is every- thing " (Godwin). 2. This true view maty require an ejf<Yrt to attain. Strange I the dis- ciples " could not quite see it I " "And he said to them, Are you also so inconsiderate? n And Christ must explain to them the lesson as to a cla…
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his disciples' departure from the old paths. It wa.s a favourable opJ .ortuuity for exposing the error of substituting human for Divine precepts, and for placing the external in its right relation to the internal and spiritual. Christ here appears as the authoritative Interpreter of the Divine commands; and, as a true …
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II. THE BOUROE OF ALL IMPURITY 18 NOT IN Goo's WORKS, BUT IN MAN'S HEART. 11 All these evil things proceed from within.n '!'bus Jesus, with his just judgment, traces evil to its hidden source. 'l'he heart, not the flesh, is the seat of defilement. This is the fountain which can corrupt God's good and pure gifts. How m…
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table something goes to them. Give me that-" the crumbs that fall." Give me" tha children's crumbl;" what they need not, what they despise, what I may blr.ve without robbine; them. IV. It is enough; the patient, triumphant faith at length finds its BEWABD. It shall be written for future generations of needy ones to le…
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the good life, are all serviceable. The life now becomes an active power for good Ea.oh, when he has " turned again," is ablo to strengthen bis brethren. The first effect of the eviction of evil from the life is that the eyes are opened, tha.t a.11 that surrounds may enter to enrich the life, The second effect is, the …
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o\.o,'.., t-0 "wash," usually the body, and therefore in the middle voice "to bathe." (2) Again, in ver. 4, a different kind of washing must be meant by JJ..,,.../aau,-r,11. Olshausen and others refe.r the washing which it implies, not to the Pharisees themselves, but to the articles of food bought in,and brought fr…
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dispensation, begins wHh the heart. Thus the psalmist prays so beautifully, "Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me." The promise here is limited to such, as when it is said, " Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart;" the prospect hereafter is for them, and for …
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(1) He charged them with hypocritical lip-service, saying, as though with withering scorn, "Ye hypocrites, ye honour me with lip-service, but without sincere heart- worship! " (2) with vanity or empty form in worshipping according to the command- ·ments which human tradition taught; and (3) our Lord, in stating the …
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9. Moral obligation ,et aside through Pharuaism. Our Lord proceeds to expose the practical and pernicious effect of Pharisaic traditionalism in the domain of ethics. He had shown the hollowness of its teaching in cases of ceremonial cleansings , but he now advances from the ceremonial to the moral. For this purpose …
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ms.de over for religious purposes, though the time or fulfilling such vow was left to his own option, and so its fulfilment became discretionary, or was evaded. 'l'o revile or ourse father or mother was surely bad enough and wicked enough; but to refuse to supply the wants of a parent when reduced to poverty, or to …
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cepts given for a particular purpoRe and obligations for a limited time, and those laws that were unvarying in their nature and perpetual in their obligation. The principle in question our Lord propounds in the form of an antithetic paradox. The first part of it seemed to collide with the distinction between meats clea…
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Vers. 24-30. Parallel passage: Matt. xv. 21-28.-Daughter of a Syro-phamician 1voman heakd. L Otra Loao's WITHDRAWAL INTO THE REGION OP TYRE AND SmoN. Our Lord's retirement at this time into the region indicated was probably occasioned by a desire t.o avoid the further attention and inquiries of Herod, and perhaps hi…
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and crushed her h~art. That beloved child-that dear daughter, round whom alone, in the absence of 'lluer objects, the mother's afTections were now a.11 entwined-was an invalid, and an invalid whom no medical skill and no human power could relieve. It w11.11 not merely disease under which she laboured ; if that had been…
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petition which she prefers, are calculated to surprise and even astonish us, We mus\ presuppose some knowledge of the Saviour, from whatever source it came. She had obtained in some way, and to some extent, knowledge of Jesus-how or whence we have not sufficient information to enable us to say, The terms of her addr…
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Or is it dislike and contempt for a descendant of a sinful and accursed race? And yet she must have heard of his compassionate kindness and tender pity, as also of the ready relief he was in the habit of granting to every son and daughter of affliction. She must have heard, from all who told her of him, that no applica…
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content to take the place of dogs under the table; she was satisfied with the crumbs that remained after the children had got their full share. It was as if she said -Iowa i my inferiority ; I am not a descendant of Abraham, nor a daughter of Israel ; do not claim equal privileges or equal dignity with one of that …
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faith, hut his object was to improve and strengthen it; he meant to exhibit its sterling qualities as a pattern to his disciples. Many II one, tried as this woman was, would have sunk down into sullen silence, or hurried off in a fit of passion, and given up her suit. It might he.ve been so with some of ourselves; hut …
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organs were virtually wanting, two senses were sealed, two ohe.nnela of communi- ~tio~ wit~ the external world were closed._ '.fhe cas_e of t~is person, if not actually ldent1cal with that of a man deaf and dumb, 1s 11lustrat1ve of 1t. And oh, how great this .double privation I How difficult for those, whom God has …
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written, "They bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech." II. TBm BI0Ne WBIOB THE SAVIOUR USED, 1. What these signs were. After taking him aside, he "put hie fingers into hie ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue." 'l'hese signs which he employed did in no way contribute to the cure…
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"should all fulness dwell;" that" all power in heaven and on earth" was entrusted to his bands. He was indicating, moreover, the unity of purpose and of plan that subsisted between the Father and the Son; that he was doing the will of the Father, and accom- plishing the work with which he had been commissioned. "The F…
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The correct explanation, wLile not exclusive of this view, is inclusive of much more. 5. The single word spoken by the Saviour. "Ephphatha.," that is, "Be opened," was the single utterance after the heavenward look and inward sigh. The root of this word is the Hebrew pathach, to open; from a similar Syriac root comes e…
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTER VIII. the context. In the original Greek con- etrnction the word iJx>..os, in the singular, Vers. 1, 2.-The opening words of the first is disintegrated in the next clause by e. verse seem to imply tho.t our Lord remained passage into the plural (reed l'-h lxl"m"" .,./ for some time on this, the n…
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more than their necessary food." Our Lord multiply the loaves. Bct as man he ga.ve on his pnrl we.s so full of zee.l for their good, th1tnks. And yet, e.s Dr. Westcott excel- thnt during all the.t time, with little inter• lenUy re1narks, "The thanksgiving was not ve.l, he he.d been pree.C'hing to them, denying for a…
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was extolled by the multitudee who had God, St. Luke (xii. 11) oolle this leaven benefited by it, it was easy for them to urge " hypocrisy;" because the Phnrieces only that it was an earthly sign, and might have regarded outwnrd ceremonies, and negleoted 1-n wrought by· him who is called " the the inward sanctidcati…
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distinct recollection of the fo.cln, but they Lord's hands were applied to the blind had fo.iled to co.tch their spi1ituo.l import. man's eyes. From the analogy of the Ver. 21.-How is it the.t ye do not under- miracle in the last chapter (vii. 33), we may ate.nd 1 A better reading here is oli71'w in- perhaps infer t…
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ihe Btages of the spirituo.1 chau11:e from JernSl\lem, it would have boon· perilous to ebsolute darknose to glimmering light, and speak on suoh a snbj-sct ; for the scribes thence to bright and clear vision. Cornelius would at once have accused him to the ~ Lapide s11,ys, " We see 11,n example of this Roman power th…
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Bia obarootcr and actions were fresh in their inexpedient for such II disclosure at that memories; and Herod himself had given time. Those who were favourable to his currency to the idea that the Baptist had cause would h11.ve wanted at once to take him risen again in the person of our Lord. Then by force 11.nd make …
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things of men. Tbe form of words is the same But be who loses bis life hare for tho sake as th1tt U8ed by our Lor<l to Satan himself, of Christ, either by dying in his co.use or by wben he was tempted by him in the wilder- denying and mortifying his lusts out of ness. It reminded him of that great oon- love for him,…
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to the generous and considerate kindness of the Saviour, and to the instructive nature -of the sign. We discern in this narrative an illustration of- I. CamsT's ATTBACTIVE IIINIBTBY. A great multitude followed him to listen to his teaching, and were so absorbed in his words as to neglect attention to their bodily ,w…
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sufficient supply. No fellow-creature can give what our circumstances demand and our nature craves; no fellow-creature can satisfy the necessities of one suppliant, far less those of the unnumbered race of humanity. " ~'rom whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?" I. This language suggest…
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the cose of our epirituolly dependent and hungering race I The world is the scene of our triol ond proving, the occasion of our manifold temptations. Of what use is it to look to it for sympathy, succour, strength, and salvation? It ca!l.not satisfy you, search and prove it how you may. Is thot rich and luscious fru…
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first great necessity of the sinful soul. Josus came to call sinnen to repentance, but he came at the same time to a.ssure the penitent of pardon-the purchase of his precious blood. What bread is to the hungry, that is pardon to the contrite, humbled, suppliant transgressor. And this is the gift of Christ, who came …
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to century. Opportunity is given to every system, to every creecJ, to every philosophy, to deal with the deep and spiritual necessities of mankind. As one attempt of human wisdom succeeds another, and as each fails in its tum, we hear in our soul within us the cry arise, suggested by human effort and by human powerless…
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so attached to his ministry, they were not deemed by the Master beyond the need or this wise and faithful admonition. JI. THE CONSTRUCTION WHICH THEY PUT UPON HIS WORDS. The word Cl leaven" reminded them of bread, and the thought of bread reminded them of their negligence in. not having made proper provision for th…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-15.-(Cf. on eh. vi. 32-41.)-M. Vers. 11-13.-Seelcing for a sign. Christ knew at once what this meant. He "knew what was in man," and refused to comwit himself to the pretended inquirer~- We have a more difficult course to pursue. I. THE CHARACTER OF THE DEMAND DEPENDS UPON CIROUM…
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Ven. H-21.-The kaven of the Phari.<ees and of Herod, The parabolic habit of :.iind of Christ was essential to the setting forth of Divine truth to the comprehension )f men; but as yet the persons who might have been expected to understand his teaching most thoroughly, were continually mistaking it. Whilst their Maste…
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of ox11mple ; and they were written for our aclmonition, upon whom the ends or the oges are come" (1 Cor. x. 11). "These are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" <John xx. 81). 2. From personal experience. In the- case of the disciples, the teachrng, example, and miracles of Christ wer…
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oocause more naturally prompted, action. Each case of distress as it arises receives his deliberate and careful attention. His diagnosis of the blind man's state must have been perfect. It was impaired original power that had to be restored, and the treat- ment corresponded to this fact. The interest of the Saviour in …
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had to be abandoned. In the popular mind the only personages corresponding to Jesus, save John the Baptist, were those of ancient Jewish history, the heroic ages of the theocracy. All were agreed that in him there was a revival or reappearance of the religious spirit of the best days of Israel, 1. The knowledge of t…
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di,inl'd the true dignity of his Master, but what it involved was net yet felt. The doctrine is often correct when the sense of oblign lion it ouii;ht to produce is not awakened. A great spiritual truth may be perceived and adopted lJng ere its relations to practical life are recognized; just as a principle in mecha…
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terrible moral trials of life owe their power to this circumstance. 2. With great aB11Umption of reasonableness. In Peter there was a domineering, "superior" tone. He spoke as one who knew the world, and the impracticableness of his Master's ideas. But even where this is absent there may be a latent co:itempt for relig…
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Ver. 88.-Ashamed of Jesus and his words. This warning is evidently called forth by the unholy presumption of Peter, and the wavering of the disciples divined by the penetrating spirit of Christ. He rebukes the spirit of false shame as a heinous offence against himself and his CI\Use. 1. JESUS AND HIS WORDS AN OCCAS…
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the pangs of hunger. He is kind to the unthankful and to the unworthy. 3. It was free from ostentation and from pride. A plainer, cheaper meal could scarcely have been given than this, of barley loaves and fish. The absence of luxury on this and on other occasions during our Lord's minidry is a rebuke to our self- indu…
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blazed around him, to him it was as darkness, and objects which appeared to others real and 1:1ear were unperceived by him. Hence we often, and properly, ,speak of "moral blmdness" or "spiritual blindness," by which we mean, that he who eufftm~ that privation is incapable of discerning the moral or spiritual truths whi…
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III. THE ONE 0ARER FOR WHAT 18 OUTWARD, THE OTHER FOR WHAT 18 L."IWARD. Many desire to "gain the world," and in the attempt use selfish and sinful means, such e,s the Lord spurned when they were offered to him (Matt. iv. 9). But what seems to us to be "gain" we must learn to "count loss for Christ" (Phil. iii. 7, 8). H…
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of the ears and ha.rdening of the heart. And if the light abound the clo~d eye oannot - , and if the air be filled with angel-songs, or the voice of the Teacher lade the air with heavenly truth, the closed ear admits it not. And though the hand of the Lord be present, the hardened heart receives not its impress. It i…
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Vers. 22-26.-The gradual healing of the blind man. In each of the many cases of healing there were, doubtless, peculiarities of incident of great interest to the healed, if not to us. But of only a few have we the details. Perhaps where we have them they have their more important relation to us than to the subjects of…
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" For thou wouldst b11.ve us linger still Upon the verge of good or ill, Tb11.t on thy guiding b11.nd unseen Our undivided bee.rte me.y lean." Cert.ainly we may learn, in the midst of the variety of the Lord's ways of working • 1. That it may please him to use many means to accomplish that which by a word, a touch, …
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more bidden in the word "Christ;" and this demands a fuller insight. Some, like Nicodemus, acknowledge him to be "a 'l'eacher come from God." But in their view he is only one of many; with whom Homer, and Shakespeare, and Dante, and a thousand others rank as sent of God, and filled with the spirit of wisdom and under- …
867 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.