The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 335

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 sanctidcation of the Spil'it. St. god of this world;" and eo thev insinuated Jerome says, "Thie is the leaven of whiob that be had wrought this mire.cie as well as the Apoet!e speaks where he ea.ye. 'A little hie ot.her miracles by the power of Satan. leaven leavencth the whole lump.' Maroiou Therefore they seek a sign from heaven, that and Valentinus cmd all heretics have had he who dwells in heaven might thus bear this kind of leaven, whiob is on every witness that he came from God, and that account to be avoided. Leaven bas this his doctrine was Divine; the Pharisees property, that, however small it may be in probably meant that if be did this they quantity, it spreads its influence rapidly would believe in him as the Messiah, and through the mass. And so if only a little lead the people to the same faith. The spark of heretical doctrine be admitted into Sadduceee, who were practically atheists, the soul, speedily a great fie.me a.rises, and thought that no sigu could be given from envelopes the whole man." heaven by God, seeing that in theil' opinion Ver. 16.-Accordwg to the most approved it was doubtful whether there was any God readings, this verse sbouid be read thll.8: to give it. And they reasoned one with another, saying, Ver. 12.-Ke sighed deeply in his spirit We have no bread. There is something very (lwturr•v~as), Another graphic touch of artless and simple ill this narrative. Our this evangelist; such as he bad learnt in Lord spea.ke of" leaven; " and the mention all probability from St. Peter. The word of this word reminds the disciples that they occurs nowhere but here. It is the outcome had forgotten to bricg bread with them in of grief and indignation, in which, however, the boat; and fearing lest Christ should grief predominates. There shall no sign be dil'ect them, according to hie wont, to land given unto tlris generation ( ,l Bo9-F,cr.-ra.,. on some desert shore, they were in some tr71µ,iio11). This is a Hebrew idiom, based anxiety how they might obtain what they upon a form of taking e.n oath wliich pre- would need; and so they di•puted among vailed amongst the Jews. The full form them.selves; one, it may be, throwillg the would be, " God do so and so to me, if so and blame upon another. so." Hence the hypothetical part of the Ver. 17.-And when .Tes118 knew it (1tal clause came to be lllled alone, expressing a -,,vo~s t, 'l71crovs)-literally and far more very strong form of denial or refusal correctly, and JetJU8 perceiving it-he saith Ver. 13.-And he left them, and again unto them, Why reason ye, beoause ye have embarking-<1µ,Jlo:s for lµ,~a.s ,ls .-o ,r.>..oiov- no bread 1 Jesus perceived the direction in departed to the other Bide. Agaill and again which theil' thoughts were moving, by the onr Lord crossed this aea, that he might power of hie divinity. It is ae though he instruct the Galileans d wellwg on eitl1er said, "Why reason ye becanse ye have no side ; ill fulfilment of Isa. ix. l, " The land of bread, as though I was referring to natural Zebulun and the land of N aphtali, ... by the things, and speaking concerning bread for way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the body, and wishing you to be anxious the nations. The people that we.!ked in dark- abont that; as though I could not provide ness have seen a great light." that for you, ifneoeesnry,just as easily here Ver. U.-And they had forgotten (l,r,M• on the sea as I diJ just now in the desert?" eo.,..o)-literally, tltey forgot-to take brea.d Dr. John Lightfoot(' Hebrew Exercitations (~p-rovs); loaf/ea. The conversa.tion which on St. Matthew,' vol. ii. p. 204) a.aye, "The follows took place on the boat while they rule of the J ewe woe very strict as to the were crossillg. The passage wonld take kind of leaven that was to be used ; and the perhaps six hours. And it was during that disciples supposed that our Lord was time that they wonld want food; fur when alludillg to this when he cautioned them to they reached the port, they would find it ill beware of the leaven of the Pharisees." ~bnndance. Perhaps they alao thought that our Lord Ver. 111.-Beware of the leaven of the was conveying a. silent reproof to them for Phariaeea and the leaven of Herod. St. not having brought a suffioient supply of Matthew (xv. 6) says, "Beware of the leaven bread with them. '.1'he whole incident, of the Pharisees and Sa.clducees;" tbll.8 St. while it ~hows their transparent simplicity Mark identifies the leaven of the Sadduceea of character, exhibits alao theil' dulneee of with that of Herod. .. Leaven" here means apprehension. "doctrine." They were not to beware of Vera. 19, 20.-Here St. Mark is as care- this, so far as the PhariBees rightly taught ful as St. Matthew to mention the details of and expla.ined the Law of Moses: bnt only the two miracles, even to the reference to eo far as they corrupted that Law by theil' the two kinds of baskets in which the own vain traditioD.11, contrary to the Law of fragments were gathered up. They had a cm. vm. 1-38.J THE GOSPEL ACCOR.DING TO ST. MARK. 333