Marcos 6
Kenneth Wuest · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 6
Wuest on wondered - Expositors says: “Jesus marvelled at the faith of the centurion. Nazareth supplied the opposite ground of astonishment. There Jesus found an amount of stupid unreceptivity for which His experience in Decapolis and elsewhere had not prepared Him.” The fact that our omniscient Lord marvelled at the unbelief of His fellow-towns-people, gives us a measure of understanding of His human limitations. As Deity, He would not marvel at anything. Yet in His humanity, He expected a different reception at Nazareth than He received. And He was disappointed. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Adrian Rogers - One of the saddest verses in all of the Bible: "And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching" (Mark 6:6). It was because of their unbelief that He could do no mighty work there. Their unbelief had fettered the hands, and chained the work, of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, one of the other Gospels makes it very clear: "He could do no work there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58). And, this verse in Mark says that he marveled at their unbelief. Now, if He were to look at you today, or look in my heart, I wonder if the Lord Jesus would be somewhat perplexed at the lack of faith that we have. He marveled. He was astonished that they had such unbelief. Now, the fact that they had unbelief was rooted in the fact that they knew Him. And, they said, "Is not this the carpenter?
Marcos 6
Wuest - And when the Sabbath had come, He began to be teaching in the synagogue. And the many hearing, were completely flabbergasted, saying, From where does this one get these things? And what wisdom is this which has been given to this fellow? Even such great exhibitions of power take place through the medium of His hands? (All Scriptures by Wuest used below are from Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) he began - Mk 1:21,22,39 Lu 4:15,31,32 Where did this man get these things: Joh 6:42 7:15 Ac 4:13,14 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passage: Matthew 13:54 He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? (See parallel commentary) TEACHING ON THE SABBATH When the Sabbath came - Did Jesus teach in Nazareth prior to the Sabbath? There is no record here and presumably the synagogue teaching was His first in Nazareth on this second visit, even as it had been at His first visit when "He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read." (Lk 4:16ff+). Sabbath (4521)(sabbaton from shabath - 07676 = to cease from work, intermission - shabath) literally means a rest, a cessation from labor. Here Sabbath, refers to the seventh day of the week, kept originally by a total cessation from all labor, rest from worldly toil. The Sabbath was a sign between the Lord and the nation of Israel—the sign of the Old Covenant (the Law)—that they might know He is the Lord Who sanctifies them, sets them apart. The 4th commandment in Ex 20:8-11; Dt 5:12-15 enjoins no specific religious service, except generally to keep it holy. The custom of reading the Scriptures in public assemblies and synagogues appears to have been introduced after the exile (cf. Neh 8:1ff; Lu 4:16). After the captivity arose the school of the Pharisees, and by them the attractive character of the Sabbatical observances was destroyed. In place of the joy, they imposed upon the people the yoke of a scrupulous, slavish sabbatarianism which made the Sabbath an END instead of a MEANS, hampered the spirit of true worship, and laid greater stress upon a punctilious obedience to mere human regulations than upon God's commands in the Law. Resources on Sabbath: Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sabbath What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day? How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest? What is the Sabbath day? What does it mean that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath? Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath? What does it mean to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy? What is the Lord’s day? Is working on Sunday a sin? Did Constantine change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? He began to teach in the synagogue - This is probably the very synagogue Jesus had sat in and been taught as boy! Began is the verb archo which literally means to be first and in the middle voice (as here) means to begin, start or initiate an action, in this case teaching. Jesus had His priorities straight! The use of Mark's word began is a bit ironic (and tragic) as this is the last record in Mark of Jesus either teaching in a synagogue or even attending a synagogue. This is the place the Jews received their teaching primarily, but having rejected the Teacher of teachers, He no longer will teach in this venue. Be careful of rejecting the teaching of Jesus (or anything you read in the Word that convicts and/or reproves you), for if you reject too often, the Spirit of Jesus will be grieved and you will not likely experience the same degree of illumination as you did when you experienced your first love (read Rev 2:4-5+). Brooks comments that "The synagogue had become a place of rejection. (cf Mk 3:1-6+) Later in the narrative the emphasis is placed on teaching in houses (Mk 7:17, 24; Mk 9:33; Mk 10:10; cf. Mk 6:10).”
Marcos 6
Wuest adds "Their astonishment was so great that their self-possession was exhausted. In the language of Webster, they were completely flabbergasted." (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Hiebert - Astonished is the same strong verb used in Mark 1:22+, but here the conclusion drawn from the impact is quite different. Their feeling of astonishment, upon further reflection, gave way to a different attitude. The questions they asked themselves indicate their mounting agitation as they thought about the identity of the speaker. They knew that as “a home town boy” He had not studied under any rabbi, hence lacked the proper credentials for such a ministry. Astonished (1605)(ekplesso from ek = out + plesso = strike) (imperfect tense) means strike out, expel by a blow, drive out or away, force out or cast off by a blow. Wuest quips that "The prefixed preposition ek meaning “out,” shows an exhausted state of affairs. It reminds one of an automobile tire that has been deflated." English word astonish is derived from the Latin extonare meaning to strike with thunder! What a picture of Jesus' radical message which must have struck His hearers like thunder! Figuratively ekplesso means to drive out of one's senses by a sudden shock or strong feeling, or "to be exceedingly struck in mind". In sum, it means to cause one to be filled with amazement to the point of being overwhelmed and encompasses the ideas of wonder, astonishment or amazement. Matt. 7:28; Matt. 13:54; Matt. 19:25; Matt. 22:33; Mk. 1:22; Mk. 6:2; Mk. 7:37; Mk. 10:26; Mk. 11:18; Lk. 2:48; Lk. 4:32; Lk. 9:43; Acts 13:12 Daniel Akin - their amazement again turns to skepticism and ridicule. In rapid fire succession Mark records 5 questions they began to banter about among themselves: 1) Where did this man get these things? (6:2) 2) What is the wisdom given to him? (6:2) 3) How are such mighty works done by his hands? (6:2) 4) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? (6:3). 5) And, are not his sisters here with us? (6:3) These are meant as slights, disparaging questions. Note, they did not deny he was saying and doing these things. This makes their rejection all the more amazing and them all the more culpable and responsible. Is there at least an echo of Mark 3:22? If He did not get these things from God, if this wisdom does not come from God, if these mighty works He performs are not done by God, then who? How? They chose to leave the question open. Application: In his day some chalked up what He said and did to Satan. In our day some chalk up what He said and did to a superior intellect and a witty disposition. His teachings should astonish all of us, but that is not enough. Even those who deny the supernatural, His miracles and His resurrection can applaud His teaching. (Sermon) Saying, "Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom (sophia) given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? - They had seen Him for 30 years as a citizen of Nazareth and never heard or seen anything in Him like they were seeing now! So in some ways it is not hard to see how the locals might wonder about Him now. Notice they refer to Him contemptuously as this man instead of by His Name (they knew Who he was because they knew His mother and siblings!) Their derogatory description of Jesus will change in Php 2:9-11+!. What are these things? NET says "these ideas." In context these things refer to His teaching, which was teaching that was with godly wisdom, "for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." (Mt 7:29+) What is astonishing is that these people challenge both His wise words and His wonderful works! While Mark says only that He was teaching, the townspeople would have been well aware of the miracles He had performed at Capernaum for it was less than a days journey away. Wuest on miracles (KJV - "mighty works") - The word is dunamis, a word used in the NT, to speak of miracles from the standpoint of the supernatural power exerted in their performance. This word is used in Romans 1:16+ where Paul speaks of the Gospel as the power (dunamis) of God resulting in salvation. (ED: EVERY NEW BIRTH IS AN INCREDIBLE MIRACLE, A MIGHTY WORK OF GOD!) Here Jesus was back home among the people who had known Him for almost thirty years as the son of Mary and Joseph, one of their own number. They saw the miracles and noted the wisdom which was not of this world (James 3:17, 18+), but wondered where both had come from. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Robertson on "Where did this man get these things?" - Laconic and curt. With a sting and a fling in their words as the sequel shows....They felt that there was some hocus-pocus about it somehow and somewhere. They do not deny the wisdom of his words, nor the wonder of his works, but the townsmen knew Jesus and they had never suspected that he possessed such gifts and graces. J D Jones - If Mark 6:3 is the Nazarenes" testimony to our Lord"s real and normal humanity, Mark 6:2 is their testimony to His absolutely unique greatness. The three questions that leaped to their lips emphasize three separate aspects of the greatness of Christ. "Whence hath this Man these things?" is the first question, i.e. these things that He is saying. Here is their testimony to the wonder of the speech of Christ. "Never man spake like this Man" ( John 7:46) was the testimony of the officers who were sent to seize Christ, but who returned with their errand unfulfilled. That is to all intents and purposes the testimony of these Nazarenes. They "wondered," Luke says, in his account of His first visit, "at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth" ( Luke 4:22+). There was a charm and a winsomeness about Christ"s speech that not even the most callous and insensible could fail to feel. Even the "publicans and sinners drew near for to hear Him." Even the "common people heard Him gladly." And not only was Christ"s speech marked by grace and charm. It had the note of authority in it too. Perhaps this was the most astonishing thing about it. "He taught them as one having authority." He spoke as one who had the right to command. He preached as one who had power to supersede even Moses. There was a whole universe between Jesus and every other teacher the land contained. (Commentary) Jones on The Wisdom of Our Lord. - "What is the wisdom that is given unto this Man?"—this was the second question. He never "guessed at truth." He declared the truth as one who knew. There was no "perhaps," or "if" or "it may be," in His speech. The note of certitude rang through it all. And as Jesus declared His Gospel men recognised its truth. Truth always has a self-evidencing power. And even these prejudiced Nazarenes could not fail to see that Jesus had a grip of truth, a knowledge of God, a familiarity with the eternal, that no prophet or psalmist had ever possessed. And it left them speechless with amazement. "What is the wisdom that is given unto this man?" they said. (Commentary) Hiebert adds "They felt a sharp contrast between the man, long known to them, and the things He said. Compelled to admit His obvious authority, they asked themselves concerning the source of the change. They seemed unwilling to entertain the thought that He had been divinely commissioned. Miracles (1411)(dunamis from dunamai = to be able, have power) power especially achieving power, intrinsic power or inherent ability to carry out some function. In this context dunamis refers to supernatural manifestations of power Dunamis in Mark - Mk. 5:30; Mk. 6:2; Mk. 6:5; Mk. 6:14; Mk. 9:1; Mk. 9:39; Mk. 12:24; Mk. 13:25; Mk. 13:26; Mk. 14:62; Daniel Akin - His miracles may captivate you but that is not enough. 6:2 At this point in Mark’s gospel the miracles are at who can say, and growing! 1) Peter’s mother-in-law (Mk 1:29-31) 2) Many more in Capernaum (Mk 1:32-34) 3) A leper (Mk 1:40-45) 4) A paralyzed man (Mk 2:1-12) 5) A man with a deformed hand (Mk 3:1-6) 6) Many again (Mk 3:7-12) 7) Calmed the storm and sea (Mk 4:35-41) 8) Delivered the Gerasenes demoniac (Mk 5:1-20) 9) Healed the woman who bled for 12 years (Mk 5:25-34) 10) Raised Jarius’ daughter form the dead (Mk 5:35-43) His hometown does not deny all these things, but it does not bring them to faith. They simply cannot reconcile what He has done with who they think He must be! Deny His miracles? No! Receive Him as Messiah? No! This is the Christ? This one we have known all our lives is the Son of God? Are you kidding? Are you serious? We may not be able to explain His miracles but we know who He is. He is nothing and a nobody, of that we are certain. Application: Apart from the eyes of faith, no one will see Jesus for who He truly is. Miracles can only take you so far, but in and of themselves, they are not enough. His teachings point to Him. His miracles point to Him. They are divinely ordained signs, billboards, declaring in BOLD LETTERS this one is the Christ, the Son of God! Believe Him! Trust Him! Follow Him! (Sermon) Alan Carr - They immediately began to speak among themselves and talk about three areas of the Lord’s ministry that amazed them. His Words – When Jesus preached, He did so with grace and charm. His words were filled with divine authority. He did not speak like the local rabbis. They quoted other rabbis and had no sense of certainty in their words. When Jesus spoke, He did so with the sense that He knew what He was talking about. He left no doubt in the minds of His hearers that His words must either be accepted or rejected. He left His hearers no wiggle room. In fact, when some officers were sent from the Pharisees to hear what Jesus had to say, they came back and said, “Never man spake like this man”, John 7:46. When the people of Nazareth heard Jesus speak, they were amazed. His Wisdom – When Jesus spoke, His words were filled with truth. The people heard Him declare old truths in new ways. They listened as He taught spiritual truth by using the common everyday things around them. While His illustrations may have called on the common, the truth He preached was anything but common. The Lord’s wisdom left them shaking their heads in disbelief. His Works – The Lord’s fame had preceded Him to Nazareth. They had heard about the miracles He had performed elsewhere. They could not believe that a young man from their own town could do the miracles that were attributed to Him. The people of Nazareth could not believe what they were hearing and Who they were hearing it from. They heard what Jesus had to say and they were left with their mouths hanging open. Our Lord’s message still affects people that way. When you read the Bible and study the message of the Gospel, it can cause you to be astonished. Consider some of the claims of the Bible. All people are sinners – Rom. 3:10-20, 23; Gal. 3:22 All sinners are headed to a place called Hell – Psa. 9:17; Rom. 2:8-9 There is only one way to be saved from sin and its penalty – Acts 4:12; 1 John 2:23; 5:12 All other religions in the world are false religions and they all lead to Hell – John 3:18, 36 The only way for anyone to be saved is for them to place their faith in a man Who lived, died and rose again from the dead 2,000 years ago – John 14:6; 10:9 Those are amazing claims because they condemn much of the world to a lost eternity. When people in our day hear the claims of the Gospel, they react in anger. They reject the message and attack the messenger, just as they did in Jesus’ day. What do you think when you hear the claims of the Gospel? Do you rejoice in its truth, knowing that it has saved you soul? Or, do you hear it and reject its message, thinking you know a better way? Ill. Pro. 16:25 (Sermon) Mark 6:3 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. Wuest - Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Jude, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? And they saw in Him that of which they disapproved and which kept them from acknowledging Him. this - Mt 13:55,56 Lu 4:22 Joh 6:42 carpenter- Isa 49:7 53:2,3 1Pe 2:4 James - Mk 15:40 Mt 12:46 1Co 9:4 Ga 1:19 Judas - Joh 14:22 Jude 1:1 Simon - Mk 3:18 Ac 1:13 took offense - Mt 11:6 13:57 Lu 2:34 4:23-29 7:23 Joh 6:60,61 1Co 1:23 James Hastings - Mark 6-3 The Carpenter Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passage: Matthew 13:55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” (See parallel commentary) NAZARENES SCANDALIZED BY "THIS MAN," THE NAZARENE To scandalize means to offend the moral sensibilities of someone. Is not this the carpenter - The is the only place Jesus is expressly called the carpenter. Remember that Jesus spent more time as a carpenter than doing anything else in his 33 years on earth. “Is not this the carpenter’s son?" (Mt 13:55+) Their referring to Him as carpenter was not a compliment! Indeed the people of Nazareth may have owned things Jesus had built for them and this man of wood had become a man of words and works! After all what famous rabbi had He sat under? None that they knew about! And yet now they see a Man they knew as a carpenter in Nazareth taking center stage in the synagogue and they are scandalized! The townspeople may have been saying something like "You are no better than we are! Why should we listen to you?” Vincent (quoting Farrar) comments that the description of Jesus as a carpenter "throws the only flash which falls on the continuous tenor of the first thirty years, from infancy to manhood, of the life of Christ.” Robertson counters
Marcos 6
Wuest adds that Jesus "had already claimed to be the Jewish Messiah (John 4:26, Luke 4:21+), the Son of Man with power of God (Mk 1:10+, Mt. 9:6+, Lk 5:24+), the Son of God (John 5:22)." A parallel passage is John 1:11+ for "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him." But initially not even His brothers and sisters believed in Him! One has to wonder what went through Mary's mind as she saw this unbelief, because surely she could hardly forget her famous song of praise, the Magnificat! Is this proverbial statement not a commentary on Isaiah's prophetic description of the Messiah.... For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, (Hebrew = bazah = despise; Lxx = atimos) and we did not esteem Him. (Isa 53:2-3+) Hiebert - “But in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house”—three decreasing circles of persons to whom the prophet is related. Their rejection of Him was explained by the commonly observed fact that those who know the prophet best think least of him. Their intimate acquaintance with His private life led them to fear that there was something unreal about His public position. (Ibid) Gilbrant on without honor - The “lack of respect” held for Jesus by the townspeople of Nazareth was a tangible expression of their lack of faith (Mk 6:6). Chris Benfield - Jesus gives a solemn word to those in Nazareth. They had witnessed His works, heard His words, and yet rejected Him. He was received in other places, but not in His hometown. The people had rejected Jesus, but they would be accountable for the Light they had denied. We too will give account for the Light we have received. I believe we are accountable for every time we meet. Rom.14:12 – So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. God has given us much and He expects much of us. Luke 12:48b – For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Do we give Jesus the honor He deserves? Do our lives testify of the faith we have in Him? If anyone should honor and lift up the name of Jesus, we should! (Sermon) The Jews should have recognized Him because Moses had prophesied that the Messiah would be a Prophet and warned Israel to listen to Him because God would put His words in His mouth. “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like (Lxx = prophetes) me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. 18 ‘I will raise up a prophet (Lxx = prophetes) from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." (Deut 18:15, 18) Brian Bell - Jesus’ hearers were ice sculptors. Are you too familiar with Jesus? - Maybe you grew up “knowing” Him. At home, in church, maybe even Christian school. The Bible, Jesus, Christianity, Christian things, have become too familiar to you. Have you become Numbed to certain bible verses you’ve heard so many times. Desensitized to how special the Bible is because you now have 12 bible's in written form in digital format on your iMac, iPhone, iPod, iPad, and soon to be on iGlasses. Anesthetized by hearing people's salvation story. Do you feel Frozen in your faith, or Immobilized by spiritual insomnia. I think this is the plague of our youth in modern day North American Christianity. They know Him too well, or so they think. M. Are you too familiar with Christian things that you have lost a sense of wonder or expectancy? Daniel Akin - Sometimes we can get so close to something we no longer see it. We spend so much time with someone we no longer appreciate them. For those of us raised in a Christian environment, this is certainly an ever present danger we must guard against. In a sense, we should never get completely comfortable with Jesus. His goal is never to make us comfortable. His goal is to bring us to repentance and faith, humbly falling at His feet confessing Him as Lord and God. He is not your homeboy, your buddy, your soul mate or a puppet on a string you pull and he does your bidding. He is not your genie in a bottle obligated to grant you every wish. Nor is He some ordinary guy who lived 2000 years ago who stirred things up for a few years and got nailed to a cross for His troubles. His hometown got it wrong. His relatives, at least for a while, got it wrong. The religious leaders of the day got it wrong. Rome got it wrong. And still today people get Him wrong! Do you see Him for who He truly is and call Him Lord, Savior, Master, King? Do you let Jesus set the agenda for your life? And as Mark 8 says, for your death? (Sermon) Prophet (4396)(prophetes from pró = before, in front of, forth, on behalf of + phemí = speak, tell) is primarily a forth-teller or one who speaks out God’s message, primarily to their own generation, usually always calling the people to God's truth for them at that moment, often using the phrase "Thus saith the Lord." The prophet is one who speaks before in the sense of proclaim, or the one who speaks for, i.e., in the Name of (God). The prophet as a predictor of future events is only incidental the main function. Jesus is called a prophet - Mt 13:57; Mt 16:14; Mt 21:11, 46; Mk 6:4, 15; Mk 8:28; Lk 4:24; Lk 7:16, 39; Lk 9:8, 19; Lk 24:19; Jn 4:19, 44; Jn 6:14; Jn 7:40, 52; Jn 9:17). Without honor (820)(atimos from a= negates thus without + time = value, honor) means literally without honor, unhonored, dishonored, despised , of low character or reputation. Another nuance is less respectable, more insignificant (1Cor 12.23) BDAG - pert. to being considered relatively unimportant, insignificant of things that do not elicit special admiration or attention, comp. held in less esteem 1 Cor 12:23 (of parts of the body also Aristot., Part. An. 3, 672b, 21 ‘more esteemed … less esteemed’, a distinction made in terms of dependency, lower members being at the service of upper ones." Liddell-Scott - (1) unhonoured, dishonoured, Il., Trag.; Comp. less honourable, Xen.; c. gen. without the honour of. . , not deemed worthy of. . , Aesch.; also, no unworthy return for. . , Id. 2. at Athens, deprived of privileges, Thuc.; deprived of the right of advising, Dem. II. without price or value, thou devourest his substance without payment made, Od. 2. unrevenged, Aesch. III. Adv. dishonourably, ignominiously, Id., Soph." Atimos - 4x in NT - less(1), less honorable(1), without honor(3). Matt. 13:57; Mk. 6:4; 1 Co. 4:10; 1 Co. 12:23 Atimos in Septuagint - Job 30:4; Job 30:8; Isa. 3:5; Isa. 53:3 Job uses it of “dishonorable” names in apposition to “foolish sons”. Misunderstood Read: Mark 6:1-6; 8:27-31 A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives. —Mark 6:4 It’s easy to be misunderstood. My wife and I still laugh about her first impressions of me when we were in college. She saw my natural shyness as aloofness. I think we’ve got that straightened out now. Somehow, I hadn’t communicated well to her. When we’re misunderstood, we haven’t communicated properly. For instance, the person who wrote this ad for a car fix-it shop didn’t mean to convey what he did: “Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once and you’ll never go anywhere again.” That’s not exactly a confidence builder. Jesus was misunderstood during His ministry, but unlike the examples mentioned above, it wasn’t His fault. Even the people who lived with Him and observed Him closely didn’t understand His mission. For a long time, they didn’t see that He was the God-sent Messiah. That’s why His question in Mark 8:29 is so vital. There He asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter finally understood. Do you? Our Savior was the God-sent One; Though He was scorned, misunderstood, His love would not avoid the cross To bear our sins and make us good. —DJD Jesus is Good because He is God! Mark 6:5 And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. Wuest - And He was not able there to do even one work of power, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly ones and healed them. Mk 9:23 Ge 19:22 32:25 Isa 59:1,2 Mt 13:58 Heb 4:2 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Matthew 13:58+ And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. (See parallel commentary) Mark 9:23+ And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Hebrews 4:2+ For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard (HEARING THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND AND SO IT) did not profit them, because it was not united by faith (BELIEF) in those who heard. Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. IMPEDING THE POWER OF JESUS Impede means to retard or obstruct the progress of something. To hinder. And He could (dunamai) do no miracle (dunamis) there - Why could He do no miracles other than with a few sick people? Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture and Matthew 13:58+ says the reason Jesus could do no miracles was because of their unbelief. They still saw Him as a carpenter's son, and not the Son of Man (and Son of God), a designation ascribed to the Messiah. They heard His amazing words and wisdom and heard about His miracles elsewhere. The heart of their problem was their heart, it was hard. Stephen gave a good summary in Acts 7:51+ “You men who are stiff-necked (sklerotrachelos) and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did." The words they heard Him speak were words of life but they resisted the Holy Spirit's taking those words and bringing out regeneration (or circumcised hearts). Jesus' offer was (is) always "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mk 4:9+, Lk 8:8+) The would not hear, so then they could not hear. In essence their hard hearts were a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy Jesus declaring "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING (THE CITIZENS OF NAZARETH HEARD HIS WORDS AND EVEN WERE ASTONISHED), BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 15 FOR THE HEART (HERE IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM) OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL (SPIRITUAL HEALING - REGENERATION, REBIRTH) THEM." (Mt 13:14-15+) Unbelief...closed the door against the operation of His power. -- D Edmond Hiebert Hiebert explains that Jesus "felt it morally impossible to exercise His beneficent power in their behalf in the face of their unbelief (Matt. 13:58 = "He did not..."). It closed the door against the operation of His power. He refused to force Himself upon those who did not want Him. “God and his Son could do anything, but they have chosen to limit themselves in accordance with human response.… The statement clarifies that Jesus was not the kind of miracle worker whose primary purpose was to impress his viewers.” “A sin (unbelief) of that venomous nature, that it transfuseth, as it were, a dead palsy into the hands of omnipotency.” -Puritan writer John Trapp Guzik on no miracles (no mighty works - KJV) - His work was limited in this climate of unbelief. In this sense, Jesus’ power was limited by the unbelief of His countrymen. This was in respect to God’s principle of partnership with man. God may work with no belief, but not with unbelief. Chris Benfield on He could (dunamai) do no miracle (dunamis) there - These words gripped my heart. I know that God is sovereign and will accomplish what He desires, but God’s people have an impact on His work. Their doubt and unbelief hindered the work of Christ. A spirit of unbelief is contagious. If we never show genuine faith, then likely others never will. Those here tonight are the backbone of the church. We must not hinder the work of the Lord by grieving the Spirit. I fear we will be sorely disappointed as we stand before Jesus and understand all that could have been accomplished if we had only been obedient in faith. I don’t want to be a hindrance to the work of my Lord. I don’t want to be the reason a lost man never got saved. May our eyes be opened to the things of God! Let’s continue for the Lord as long as we live! This passage has certainly challenged my heart to live closer to the Lord. If we would be honest, Jesus is not always welcome as He should be. He wants to do so much through our lives, but we must be willing to welcome Him. Has God spoken to your heart? Are there issues you need to bring before Him? Seek Him that you might live pleasing unto Him! He could not because He would not in the face of blatant unbelief. -- Daniel Akin Daniel Akin - Unbelief is one thing that limits Jesus. Mk 6:5 (1) Jesus did no mighty works in His hometown. (2) He healed just a few. This verse again is simple and clear but has raised many troubling questions. How could the omnipotent Son of God be bound, limited by the unbelief of Nazareth? Of anyone? I believe the answer is this: He could not because He would not in the face of blatant unbelief. The parallel account in Matt 13:58 clarifies the issue: “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” Morally and spiritually He was constrained not to reveal His power in such an environment of rejection and unbelief. Come to Him in faith like Jarius and the woman who bled for 12 years and He will heal your body and bring your only daughter back from death (Mk 5:21-43). Reject Him in unbelief and you provide an environment where he not only does not do for you what He does for others, you also send Him on His way in search of those who will listen to His kingdom/gospel message and embrace Him as Lord. Tim Keller is helpful here: “Jesus’ miracles were not “magic tricks” designed to prove how powerful he was, but “signs of the kingdom” to show how his redemptive power operates. His miracles always healed and restored and delivered people in ways that revealed how we are to find him by faith and have our lives transformed by him…He “could” not do a deed that would not redeem” (Keller notes, (62). So, there was no public display with His supernatural power. More likely, quietly and privately, “he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them.” Oh, but imagine what He would have done in the presence of faith! 10 Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “And without faith it is impossible to please him [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Sermon) Stephen Olford - What an amazing, yet solemn, verse this is! Purge me, O Lord, that I may never be guilty of such unbelief! Notice that the verse does not say, “He could not,” but rather that “He did not.” It was not a case that His power was limited on this particular occasion, but rather that Christ does not work in the presence of blatant or open unbelief. Unbelief is the preeminent fruit of the flesh. It is that which emanates from man's corrupt nature. “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). Give me the grace to crucify the natural man in me, Lord, until all unbelief is removed. Amen (See According to Your Word: Morning and Evening) David Jeremiah - THE DANGER OF UNBELIEF - Unbelief is the greatest obstacle to the expression of faith in the life of Christians. Unbelief has ruined the vision of more people than any other single characteristic. One of the reasons so many churches settle for mediocrity is because they are limited by their unbelief. We ought to pray every day, both corporately and as individuals, that God would never limit us through our own unbelief. Sometimes we set barriers on our lives because we won’t believe great things. Matthew 13:58 tells of Jesus coming to Nazareth and not doing many miracles “because of their unbelief.” The greatest problem we face in churches is the problem of unbelief. Doubt creeps into the hearts of those who should be walking in faith and trusting God for His provision. Unbelief settles into their lives like a dark cloud, wiping out God’s plan and destroying the opportunity for His miracle-making power to take place. There will always be confrontation with unbelief for anyone willing to do great things for God. (See Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God) And He could do no miracle there - Mark says could not suggesting He was weak, but that is not the case for Matthew says "He did not," indicating that Jesus made the choice to not do miracles. And yet clearly healing sick people indicates He did perform some miracles. The idea is that relative to other places where He had done many miracles, He chose to do few in His hometown. (cf Jesus' warning on the danger of rejecting the Truth revealed - Mt 11:22-24+). D L Moody - UNBELIEF is as much an enemy to the Christian as it is to the unconverted. It will keep back the blessing now as much as it did in the days of Christ. We read that in one place Christ could not do many mighty works because of unbelief. If Christ could not do this, how can we expect to accomplish anything if the people of God are unbelieving? I contend that God’s children are alone able to hinder God’s work. Infidels, atheists, and sceptics cannot do it. Where there is union, strong faith, and expectation among Christians, a mighty work is always done. Except that He laid His hands on a few sick (arrostos) people and healed (therapeuo) them - Apparently only a few sick were brought to Him so yes He healed a few, but contrast Mt 4:23+ where "Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom (cf Jn 3:3, 5+), and healing (therapeuo) every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people." Earlier Mark recorded "And He healed (therapeuo) many who were ill with various diseases." (Mk 1:34+, cf Mk 3:10+) Similarly Luke describes Jesus healing not few but many recording "While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing (therapeuo) them." (Lk 4:40+, cf Lk 5:15+, Lk 7:21+) Hiebert - only a few opportunities for the exercise of His healing power were offered Him. Those healed were apparently inconspicuous individuals who did not share the prevailing attitude of their neighbors. The laying on of His hands gave visible evidence that the healings came directly from Him. (Ibid) Wuest - A few sick folk. The word “sick” is arrostos “without strength, weak, sick.” This is sickness regarded as constitutional weakness. Expositors remarks that the people of Nazareth were so consistently unbelieving that they would not even bring their sick to Him to be healed. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader)
Marcos 6
Wuest - And He marvelled because of their unbelief. And He kept going around the villages in the encircling country, teaching. NET Mark 6:6 And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then he went around among the villages and taught. NLT Mark 6:6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. ESV Mark 6:6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. NIV Mark 6:6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. GNT Mark 6:6 καὶ ἐθαύμαζεν διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν. Καὶ περιῆγεν τὰς κώμας κύκλῳ διδάσκων. KJV Mark 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. He wondered at their unbelief - Isa 59:16 Jer 2:11 Mt 8:10 Joh 9:30 He was going around the villages teaching - Mt 4:23 9:35 Lu 4:31,44 13:22 Ac 10:38 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JESUS ASTONISHED BY THEIR UNBELIEF And He wondered (thaumazo) at their unbelief (apistia) - TEV = “He was greatly surprised, because the people did not have faith." Wondered is in the imperfect tense implying His repeated response! Wondered is better translated "was amazed!" Jesus was astonished again and again! This same word was used of Jesus in Lk 7:8 where "He marveled (thaumazo)" at the Roman (Gentile) Centurion's faith. Here He marvels at the Jewish people's unbelief! What a sad, tragic irony! Their rejection and unbelief did not cause Jesus to have a "pity party", but instead prompted Him to be amazed at their unbelief. Indeed, we too wonder at their unbelief in view of the fact that they had heard and seen the Creator of the Universe! They were blinded to truth from the One Who Himself is The Truth (Jn 14:6), because even though they heard they could not hear internally with their heart and seeing they could not see the Holy One of Israel standing in their midst! This is indeed amazing, but it speaks to the profound power of unbelief. Sadly, they were not like the unbelieving man who "cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). However, lest we be too critical, we need to remember that in Mark 16:14 when Jesus after His resurrection from the dead "appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart (sklerokardia), because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen." Notice that here we see unbelief is a heart issue, reflecting a hard heart. As His disciples have we at times not manifested this same unbelief and hardness of heart? (That's a rhetorical question!) Limiting God - Is it not a frightening truth that the free will of a bad man can resist the will of God? For He has, after a fashion, restricted His own Omnipotence by the very fact of creating free creatures; and we read that the Lord was not able to do miracles in some place because people's faith was wanting. —C.S. Lewis in a letter to Don Calabria (Letters, ed. Martin Moynihan). Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 5. Brian Bell - Scary, a person can be amazed with Jesus & yet still have unbelief. What does this warn us against?
Marcos 6
Wuest - The injunction to remain in the home where one has been welcomed and to stay there until he leaves the village,
Marcos 6
Wuest - The act of shaking off the travel dust that has accumulated on one’s sandals, is symbolic of extreme contempt for another, and the refusal to have any further verbal intercourse with him. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) THOUGHT - Have you heard the Gospel dear reader, but you have ignored it, been indifferent toward it or even angered by it? Be very careful for the day may come when the Holy Spirit "shakes the dust off of His feet" and no longer allows the Gospel to be presented to you! Question: What does it mean to shake the dust off your feet? Answer: The command to “shake the dust off your feet” appears only four times in the New Testament. In each case the command is spoken by Jesus to His disciples when He sent them out two by two (Matthew 10:14; Luke 9:5). In Mark 6:11 Jesus says, “And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” In the Matthew 10 account, Jesus clarifies His meaning: “Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town” (verse 15). Shaking the dust off one’s feet conveys the same idea as our modern phrase “I wash my hands of it.” Shaking the dust off the feet is a symbolic indication that one has done all that can be done in a situation and therefore carries no further responsibility for it. In the scriptural examples, Jesus was telling His disciples that they were to preach the gospel to everyone. Where they were received with joy, they should stay and teach. But where their message was rejected, they had no further responsibility. They were free to walk away with a clear conscience, knowing they had done all they could do. Shaking the dust off their feet was, in effect, saying that those who rejected God’s truth would not be allowed to hinder the furtherance of the gospel. Even the dust of those cities that rejected the Lord was an abomination and would not be allowed to cling to the feet of God’s messengers. Embedded within this symbolic gesture was the implication that God also saw the dust-shaking and would judge people accordingly. There was a spiritual significance to a disciple of Jesus shaking the dust off his feet. It was a statement of finality about people who had been given the truth and who had rejected it. On their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas put Jesus’ words into practice. They had been preaching in Pisidian Antioch, but some of the Jewish leaders of that city stirred up persecution against the missionaries and had them expelled from the region. “So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium” (Acts 13:51+). Antioch may not have welcomed the gospel as they should have, but that didn’t keep the message from spreading to other areas. Paul and Barnabas had done all they were sent to do, and the responsibility was now on the shoulders of those in Antioch. The apostles had proclaimed truth boldly. Some had accepted it eagerly; some had rejected it with violence. The apostles were not responsible for the Antiochians’ level of acceptance, only for their own obedience to God. There are situations in our lives where God calls us to stand firm, proclaim truth, and give patient testimony. Sometimes we need to continue until we see the results of that testimony. Other times God gives us the freedom to move on. We figuratively “shake the dust off our feet” when, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, we surrender those people to the Lord and emotionally let go. We have the freedom then to move into the next phase of ministry. Jesus’ instruction to “shake the dust off our feet” reminds us that we are only responsible for our obedience to God, not for the results of that obedience.(Source: GotQuestions.org Mark 6:12 They went out and preached that men should repent. Wuest - And having gone out, they made a proclamation to the effect that they should be repenting. preached - Mk 1:3,15 Eze 18:30 Mt 3:2,8 4:17 Mt 9:13 11:20 Lu 11:32 13:3,5 Lu 15:7,10 24:47 Ac 2:38 3:19 11:18 20:21 26:20 2Co 7:9,10 2Ti 2:25,26 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Luke 9:6+ - Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel (euaggelizo/euangelizo) and healing everywhere. PREACH THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE They went out - This describes the 12 going forth after receiving their commission. They left that place to traverse to other places which Jesus presumably had not had time to visit. And preached (kerusso) that men should (hina - in order to - expresses purpose of preaching) repent (metanoeo) - Preached (kerusso) means they made a public proclamation with such gravity, formality, and authority as must be heeded with grave consequences (in the final judgment) if the message were rejected (cf Mt 10:15+). The content of their message was that the hearers should repent. Like Master, like bondservants. In Mark 1:15+ Jesus began His ministry in Mark declaring “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel," where repent and believe are both commands in the present imperative. Repent (metanoeo) which calls for a changed lifestyle as evidence of their changed attitude. Luke's parallel passage (Luke 9:6+) tells us the disciple's message was not only to repent but to repent and believe because Luke uses euangelizo in place to metanoeo.
Marcos 6
Wuest on repent - Our word “gospel” means a message of good news. The proclamation of the disciples was that men should repent. The word is metanoeō “to change one’s mind about one’s previous life and course of action.” Since one’s previous life could only be sinful, the only change of attitude would be in the direction of the good. The New Testament meaning of the word therefore is “a change of mind regarding one’s previous sinful life and the determination to be done with it.” This proclamation would not be good news to the sinner, unless it were accompanied with the announcement of a salvation from sin provided by God. This was included in the message of John the Baptist, our Lord, and the disciples, as shown by the word Luke used. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) "About Face" The command "About Face" is describes the act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation (see diagram above). Another English definition says it is "a reversal of direction, of attitude, behavior, or point of view." This is a good picture of repentance that Jesus commands. Jesus continues the call to repentance made by John in Mark 1:4+. Repentance is to leave The sins we loved before, And show that we in earnest grieve, By doing so no more. Listen to Jesus' words Mark 1:15+ and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (present imperative = calls for this to be one's lifestyle = a believer is a "repenter"!) and believe (present imperative = calls for this to be one's lifestyle) in the gospel." Repentance is aptly depicted by the military command "About, face!" The repentant person in effect turns around 180 degrees and goes the other direction. And keep in mind that the spiritual dynamics of true repentance are enabled by the Holy Spirit (cf Acts 5:31+, Acts 11:18+, 2 Ti 2:25+). In other words repentance is a work of grace and not merely a human effort, although it does require the repentant individual to make a volitional choice. Repentance then involves the mysterious interaction of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. Further, this change of mind may, especially in the case of Christians who have fallen into sin, be preceded by sorrow (2 Cor 7:8, 9, 10, 11); but sorrow for sin, though it may cause repentance, is not repentance. Darrell Bock writes "the point is that repentance involves a reorientation of perspective, a fresh point of view. When dealing with God's plan, it means to see that plan in a new way and to orient oneself to it. Luke demonstrates the fruit of repentance expresses itself concretely (Lk 3:10-14+). Repentance expresses itself in life, especially in how one treats others." (Gulp!) There can be no genuine conversion without genuine repentance. "This word (repent) was the message of the Baptist, of Jesus, of Peter, of Paul, this radical change of attitude and life." (Robertson) God uses at least four factors to prompt repentance = (1) The knowledge of God's Truth should prompt repentance (Mt 11:21-24 - where Chorazin, et al refused to repent at the Truth; cp Lk 16:30-31 which also illustrates the sufficiency of the Truth to prompt repentance.) Note the deadly deception - one can have Truth (as well as #2 sorrow) without true repentance! Beware! (2) Sorrow for sin can lead to repentance (2Cor 7:9-10), but the sorrow per se should NOT be confused with true repentance. E.g., Judas felt sorrow for betraying Jesus but did not repent. (3) God's kindness prompts (leads to) repentance (Ro 2:4). (4) Fear of final judgment (as discussed here in Acts 17:30-31) can motivate one to true repentance. Indeed, realization that there is no other way of escape but through Jesus, should cause any "rational" person to repent. Repentance is not an act separate from faith, but saving faith includes and implies the true change of mind which is called repentance. As noted in the use of the present imperative (see uses below), to repent is not just an event at the time of conversion, but represents an ongoing lifestyle -- we sin daily, and sometimes we get caught in a "rut" (habit) of sin, and so we are daily in desperate need of God's gracious gift of repentance. In the parable of the two sons, our Lord Jesus Christ gives a beautiful illustration of what true repentance looks like (Read Mt 21:28-31 = notice second son changed his mind and his behavior!). As Albert Barnes wisely said "False repentance dreads the consequences of sin; true repentance dreads sin itself." William
Marcos 6
Wuest - And demons, many of them, they were casting out, and they were anointing with oil many who were sick, and were healing them. they were casting out - Mk 6:7 Lu 10:17 were anointing with oil - Jas 5:14,15 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CASTING, ANOINTING AND HEALING And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them - Casting out, anointing and healing are all in the imperfect tense indicating this was happening over and over. Note the repetition of many...many indicating that this must have been a significant number of people who experienced these miracles. But remember, the miracles were not the message, but they did potentially open the door for presentation of the message of salvation, which of course for all of us who have experienced it, is the far greater miracle than exorcision or healing! Casting (throw, send, drive, take, put) (1544)(ekbállō from ek = out + bállō = to cast, throw, drive) means to cast, throw out often with the idea of force (Mt. 8:12; 15:17; 25:30; Acts 16:37, 27:38; Lxx - Lev. 14:40). To throw out of an area or object, throw out, jettison (Mt 21:39 Acts 27:18). Frequently used of casting out demons (Mt 7:22, Mt 8:16, 31,9:34, 10:1, etc). Used of casting or throwing unbelievers into outer darkness (hell). In Luke 6:22 ekballo means to scorn one's name ("cast it out" so to speak). Mark 1:12 "Immediately the Spirit impelled Him (Jesus) to go out into the wilderness." Ekballo in Mark - Mk. 1:34; Mk. 1:39; Mk. 1:43; Mk. 3:15; Mk. 3:22; Mk. 3:23; Mk. 5:40; Mk. 6:13; Mk. 7:26; Mk. 9:18; Mk. 9:28; Mk. 9:38; Mk. 9:47; Mk. 11:15; Mk. 12:8; Mk. 16:9; Mk. 16:17; Anointing (218)(aleipho) means to rub, to cover over, besmear (Mtt. 6:17; Mark 6:13; 16:1; Luke 7:38, 46; John 11:2; 12:3; James 5:14; Sept.: Gen. 31:13; Ezek. 13:10–12). Again Luke's use of the imperfect tense adds to the vivid picture of this scene.Aleipho is used in Septuagint in Ge 31:13 of Jacob's anointing of a pillar in Bethel where he made a vow to God. Used of anointing the priests in Ex 40:15 (Nu 3:3) which also uses the word chrisma (anointing). Ruth was to anoint herself before going to meet Boaz (Ru 3:3). David anointed himself after his illicit son with Bathsheba died (2 Sa 12:20).Aleipho - 9x in 8v -Matt. 6:17; Mk. 6:13; Mk. 16:1; Lk. 7:38; Lk. 7:46; Jn. 11:2; Jn. 12:3; Jas. 5:14 Wuest on anointing - The papyri give us examples of its usage. We have a letter from the second century in which a man whose wife had gone away a month before, writes that he has not bathed or anointed himself. There is a third-century inscription in honor of a gymnasiarch (head of a gymnasium) which speaks of him as the beloved anointer. In James 5:14, directions are given for the elders to anoint the sick person with oil. In Luke 10:34, the Samaritan treated the wounds of the man with oil and wine. Olive oil was a common remedial agent of the ancients and was used internally and externally. At a time when the healing art was in its infancy, and medicines were few, olive oil was a panacea for many ills. Here, the disciples are directed to use it in the healing of the sick. In the case of James 5:14, it is prayer and medicine, God working directly, and through the medicine, which resulted in the healing of the sick person. In this instance in Mark it is the same, but with this difference, that up to the time of the close of revelation with the writing of The Book of the Revelation, God performed miracles of healing through the apostles. This was for the purpose of attesting their messages as from Him. Since then, there is no need of this. Hence, God heals directly in answer to prayer now, not through individuals. The normal procedure now is prayer, the doctor, and the use of medicine and other means as God may direct. Where the two latter are not obtainable, God does heal without means when it is in His wisdom to do so. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Sick (732)(arrostos from a = without + rhṓnnumi = to strengthen,make firm) means strictly without strength; hence sickly, infirm, disabled; invalid. BDAG says literally "powerless." Liddell-Scott adds "weak, sickly:-Adv.,to be ill, Aeschin. 2. in moral sense, weak, feeble (of soul - Xen)." Arrostos - 5x -sick(3), sick people(2). Matt. 14:14; Mk. 6:5; Mk. 6:13; Mk. 16:18; 1 Co. 11:30 Healing (2323)(therapeuo from therapon = an attendant, servant) means primarily to care for, to wait upon, minister to. It has two main senses in the NT, one speaking of rendering service (Acts 17:25) and the more common use describing medical aspects such as to take care of the sick, to heal, to cure (Matt. 4:24; 12:10; Mark 1:34; Luke 6:7; 10:9), to recover health, to restore. Therapeúō means to heal miraculously in Matt. 4:23, 24; 10:1, 8; Acts 4:14. Providing care to improve a situation. Uses of therapeuo in Mark - Mk. 1:34; Mk. 3:2; Mk. 3:10; Mk. 6:5; Mk. 6:13 Related Resources: What does the Bible say about healing? What is divine healing? | GotQuestions.org What is the spiritual gift of healing? | GotQuestions.org Steven Cole on what is the role of divine healing, signs and wonders today - In our day, there are segments of the church that argue that we are to emphasize divine healing along with the gospel. The late John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard movement, claimed that the “greater works” that Jesus predicted that His followers would do after receiving the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:12) include signs and wonders. If we are not regularly seeing God use us to perform miracles, then we are not proclaiming the gospel as we ought. What shall we say to this? First, God is just as able to perform miracles through His servants today as He always has been. We must be careful not to limit God’s power because of our unbelief (Mk 6:5, Mar 6:6). But, having said that, we must also be careful to understand the place of miracles in God’s working. While there are miracles reported throughout the Bible, they mainly occur in clusters around the time of the exodus, during the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, and during the time of Christ and the apostles. The purpose of those increased miracles was to authenticate the word of God or His messengers during critical times in the history of His people. But once the purpose for the miracles had been accomplished, the miracles decreased in frequency. For example, the Book of Hebrews was written to a second-generation church of mostly Jewish Christians who were tempted to go back to Judaism. The author is trying to convince them of the superiority of Jesus. In Heb 2:3-4, he states, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” He is saying that the truth of the gospel was authenticated by these miracles performed by those who had been with Jesus, namely, the apostles. But—here’s the point—if signs and wonders were still common in the church, why didn’t he appeal to their current experience? It would have been a much stronger argument to appeal to their common experience of miracles as a proof of Christianity than to appeal to miracles they had not even seen. Or, if the Hebrews were not experiencing such miracles, but should have been, he would have exhorted them to believe God for such things in their midst. But apparently such miracles had generally ceased. His appeal was to the authenticating nature of such signs as performed by the apostles and reported to these people as evidence of the true identity of Jesus as both Lord and Christ. Another reason I do not believe that we should be emphasizing signs and wonders when we proclaim the gospel is that both Jesus and Paul censured those who sought for such things. The Jews saw Jesus multiply the loaves and fishes and yet they challenged Him to perform more signs (Jn 6:2, Jn 6:26, Jo 6:30). But they would not submit to Him or believe in Him. Paul said, “The Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Co 1:22-24). The real issue of the gospel is sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 16:8). People can gawk at miracles, but if they are not convicted about their sin and need for a Savior, they will not be saved from God’s judgment. The miracles that Christ and the apostles performed authenticate Jesus as the promised Savior. While we can pray that God would graciously heal a person of some disease, and He may do it miraculously, our emphasis should be on the person’s need of a Savior from sin. Jesus is the powerful Lord who can save every person who believes in Him. (Sermon on Luke 9:1-9) Question - What does the Bible say about anointing oil? Answer: Anointing oil, mentioned 20 times in Scripture, was used in the Old Testament for pouring on the head of the high priest and his descendants and sprinkling the tabernacle and its furnishings to mark them as holy and set apart to the Lord (Exodus 25:6; Leviticus 8:30; Numbers 4:16). Three times it is called the "holy, anointing oil," and the Jews were strictly forbidden from reproducing it for personal use (Exodus 30:32-33). The recipe for anointing oil is found in Exodus 30:23-24; it contained myrrh, cinnamon and other natural ingredients. There is no indication that the oil or the ingredients had any supernatural power. Rather, the strictness of the guidelines for creating the oil was a test of the obedience of the Israelites and a demonstration of the absolute holiness of God. Only five New Testament passages refer to the practice of anointing with oil, and none of them offer an explanation for its use. We can draw our conclusions from context. In Matthew 6:17 Jesus mentions the everyday practice of anointing oneself with oil. In Mark 6:13 the disciples anoint the sick and heal them. In Mark 14:3–9 Mary anoints Jesus’ feet as an act of worship. In James 5:14 the church elders anoint the sick with oil for healing. In Hebrews 1:8–9 God says to Christ as He returns triumphantly to heaven, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,” and God anoints Jesus “with the oil of gladness.” Should Christians use anointing oil today? There is nothing in Scripture that commands or even suggests that we should use similar oil today, but neither is there anything to forbid it. Oil is often used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit in the Bible as in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Christians have the Spirit who leads us into all truth and “anoints” us continually with His grace and comfort. “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth” (1 John 2:20).(Source: Gotquestions.org) Question - Can a Christian today perform an exorcism? What does the Bible say about casting out demons? Answer: Exorcism (commanding demons to leave other people) was practiced by various people in the Gospels and the Book of Acts—the disciples as part of Christ’s instructions (Matthew 10); others using Christ’s name (Mark 9:38); the children of the Pharisees (Luke 11:18-19); Paul (Acts 16); and certain exorcists (Acts 19:11-16). It appears that the purpose of Jesus’ disciples performing exorcisms was to show Christ’s dominion over the demons (Luke 10:17) and to verify that the disciples were acting in His name and by His authority. It also revealed their faith or lack of faith (Matthew 17:14-21). It was obvious that this act of casting out demons was important to the ministry of the disciples. However, it is unclear what part casting out demons actually played in the discipleship process. Interestingly, there seems to be a shift in the latter part of the New Testament regarding demonic warfare. The teaching portions of the New Testament (Romans through Jude) refer to demonic activity, yet do not discuss the actions of casting them out, nor are believers exhorted to do so. We are told to put on the armor to stand against them (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are told to resist the devil (James 4:7), be careful of him (1 Peter 5:8), and not give him room in our lives (Ephesians 4:27). However, we are not told how to cast him or his demons out of others, or that we should even consider doing so. The book of Ephesians gives clear instructions on how we are to have victory in our lives in the battle against the forces of evil. The first step is placing our faith in Christ (2:8-9), which breaks the rule of “the prince of the power of the air” (2:2). We are then to choose, again by God’s grace, to put off ungodly habits and to put on godly habits (4:17-24). This does not involve casting out demons, but rather renewing our minds (4:23). After several practical instructions on how to obey God as His children, we are reminded that there is a spiritual battle. It is fought with certain armor that allows us to stand against—not cast out—the trickery of the demonic world (6:10). We stand with truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer (6:10-18). It appears that as the Word of God was completed, the Christians had more weapons with which to battle the spirit world than the early Christians did. The role of casting out demons was replaced, for the most part, with evangelism and discipleship through the Word of God. Since the methods of spiritual warfare in the New Testament do not involve casting out demons, it is difficult to determine instructions on how to do such a thing. If necessary at all, it seems that it is through exposing the individual to the truth of the Word of God and the name of Jesus Christ. (Source: Gotquestions.org) Mark 6:14 And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him." Wuest - And the king, Herod, heard, for His name became known, and they were saying that John the Baptist had been raised out from among those who were dead, and because of this, the powers are operative in him. NET Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him." NLT Mark 6:14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, "This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles." ESV Mark 6:14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." NIV Mark 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." King Herod heard of it Mk 6:22,26,27 Mt 14:1,2 Lu 3:1 9:7-9 13:31 23:7-12 for His name - Mk 1:28,45 2Ch 26:8,15 Mt 9:31 1Th 1:8 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Simple Outline on Mark 6 - Jesus Teaching, Sending, Mourning, Feeding, Walking and Touching Mark 6:1-6 Jesus' Teaching Astonished and Scandalized = Unbelief in Nazareth Mark 6:7-13 Jesus Sends Twelve in Pairs Giving them Instructions and Authority Mark 6:14-29 John the Baptist Beheaded Fate Mark 6:30-44 - Twelve Return and Jesus Feeds Five thousand Mark 6:45–52 Jesus Walks on the water Mark 6:53–56 Jesus Heals by Touching Parallel Passages: Matt. 14:1–3; At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Luke 9:7-9+ Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. 9 Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him. JESUS' NAME WAS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE Note that Mark 6:14-29 is divided into Herod's reaction to the preaching of Jesus (Mk 6:14-16) and the explanation of John the Baptizer's beheading. (Mk 6:17-29), which in turn can be divided into the events leading up to his death (Mk 6:17–20) and the plot resulting in John’s death (Mk 6:21–29). Taylor points out that this is the only narrative in Mark “not in some sense or other a story about Jesus. And King Herod (Herod the tetrarch or Antipas - see Lk 3:1+) heard of it - King Herod was not really a king but was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, and he ruled over Galilee from 4 BC to AD 39, overlapping with Jesus’ entire ministry. When his father Herod died in 4 b.c., the kingdom was divided among three of the sons, Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip, and a man named Lysanias. Luke 9:7+ adds that Herod "was greatly perplexed" ("was very confused" = diaporeo) which is not surprising because " a natural man (UNREGENERATE LIKE HEROD) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." (1 Cor 2:14+). Hiebert - Bruce points out that “it was natural for Mark writing for the Roman world to use this title ("KING"), as it was applied freely in Rome to all eastern rulers.” Antipas’s ambition to secure for himself the official title of “king” resulted in his downfall under Caligula. NET Note - Herod was technically not a king, but a tetrarch, a ruler with rank and authority lower than a king. A tetrarch ruled only with the approval of the Roman authorities. This was roughly equivalent to being governor of a region. In the NT, Herod, who ruled over Galilee, is called a king (Matt 14:9, Mark 6:14–29), reflecting popular usage rather than an official title. Wuest on king - Matthew and Luke speak of Herod as a tetrarch, namely, as one of the four men who ruled Palestine at that time. The word “tetrarch” means “a rule by four.” But Mark is entirely correct in calling him a king, for he was writing for the Roman world, and this title was applied freely in the Roman world to all eastern rulers. This tour of Galilee by the disciples had resulted in the dissemination of the news about Jesus until even the palace heard about him. As Bengel says; “A palace is late in hearing spiritual news.” (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) For (gar) is a term of explanation. Mark explains how King Herod had heard about Jesus. His Name was spreading throughout the region. Mark 1:28+ says "Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee." (See also Mk 1:45+). His name had become well known - His refers to Jesus and so the NET has "Jesus' name had become known." Keep the context in mind for Mark 6:13 had just stated Jesus' disciples "were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them." But here we see that Jesus' "name had become well known." So what's the point? The point is that in some manner as the disciples accomplished the miraculous works they continually pointed the people to Jesus and not to themselves. THOUGHT - This is a good pattern for all of us when we experience any degree of success in the ministry in which He has placed us. We should be quick to point the people to Jesus! Anything we are privileged to accomplish which is good (i.e., abides eternally) is because we have abided in the Vine Christ Jesus, the Source (Jn 15:5), so that it is only fitting we continually exalt the Name above all names! Amen? Amen! (O Jesus, Crowned with all Renown). O Jesus, crowned with all renown, Since Thou the earth hast trod, Thou reignest, and by Thee come down Henceforth the gifts of God. Thine is the health and Thine the wealth That in our halls abound, And Thine the beauty and the joy With which the years are crowned. Hiebert notes that "The king’s reaction indicates that the exciting news reaching him centered on Jesus Himself rather than on the Twelve. The Twelve exalted their Master in their preaching and miracle-working ministry." J D Jones - THE mission of the Twelve and the excitement caused by the works of power wrought through their hands (to which we find a reference in the closing sentence of the preceding paragraph) naturally spread abroad the name and fame of Jesus. For we may be sure that the Apostles made it clear to the people, as Peter and John did at a later day (see below), that it was not by their own wisdom, or skill, or power, that they accomplished these wonderful cures, but in the name of “Jesus of Nazareth.” And thus all Galilee rang with talk about this Jesus, so that at last it reached the palace and the ears of the King. “King Herod heard thereof.” Acts 4:8-10+ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by this Name this man stands here before you in good health. And people were saying, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead - In Mt 14:2 Herod tells his servants this same thing. The subsequent passages (Mk 6:22,26,27) describe John's beheading at the hands of Herod and behest of evil Herodias. Why would the people equate Jesus with John because John did not perform miracles? The context answers this question, implying that John had been resurrected and because of that had supernatural powers. There is also another similarity between Jesus and John and it was their similar messages shown especially in the Gospel of Matthew - compare Mt 3:2+ and Mt 4:17+.where they both proclaimed a call to repentance for the kingdom of Heaven/God was near (at hand). Wuest explains that "Herod’s explanation of our Lord and His miracles was that John the Baptist had risen from the dead, that while John had not performed any miracles, yet death had put him into touch with the unseen world and had enabled him to utilize its powers....Nestle’s text gives, not “he said,” but “they said,” referring the estimate of Jesus to the court talk, not alone to Herod. It seems evident though that it started with Herod and was taken up by his courtiers, for Expositors says; “The theory that John was risen looks more like the creation of a troubled conscience than the suggestion of light-minded courtiers.” Matthew reports the above, the estimation of Herod, Luke, that of the court at large." (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader)
Marcos 6
Wuest - But others kept on saying that it was Elijah. But others were saying that it was a prophet like one of the prophets. He is Elijah - Mk 8:28 9:12,13 15:35,36 Mal 4:5, Elijah, Mt 16:14 Mt 17:10,11 Lu 1:17 9:8,19 Joh 1:21,25 He is a prophet - Mt 21:11 Lu 7:16,39 Joh 6:14 7:40 9:17 Ac 3:22,23 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries But others were saying, "He is Elijah." - Recall that Elijah had also boldly rebuked an evil king appearing suddenly in 1 Kings 17:1 to challenge King Ahab who ruled the northern kingdom of Israel from 874 to 853 BC. Elijah prophesied that a drought would come upon the whole land as consequence for King Ahab's evil (read 1 Ki 17:1–7). And similar to the situation with John the Baptizer, Elijah's life was sought by a wicked queen Jezebel, but unlike Herodias who was successful, Jezebel was unable to kill Elijah (see the story of Ahab and Jezebel). Saying is in the imperfect tense which suggests this identification was being put forth repeatedly by the people. THOUGHT - What seems so strange and sad to me is that the one possible identification that the Jews did not suggest was that this might actually be their long expected Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah)! How spiritually blind the first century Jewish people were to their own Old Testament messianic prophecies! But is this not what we encounter today whenever we try to share Yeshua with a Jewish person? You do speak to your Jewish friends about Yeshua, don't you? Just asking! Brethren, let me encourage you to speak this eternal truth to your dear Jewish friends, because you may just be surprised when the Spirit uses your testimony of Messiah to open their eyes and sweep them into eternity with you! Be encouraged and motivated as you take a few minutes to be blessed by some of these salvation stories by Jewish men and women who finally met Yeshua Hamashiach! Elijah was was expected to reappear on the earth, to prepare the way for the establishment of the kingdom of heaven “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. (Mal. 4:5+). Comment from Morison - It was assumed by those who mooted this opinion regarding the Galilean Rabbi, that He could not be the Messiah himself. The Messiah was to be a great and glorious King, and would be found in some palace, surrounded with courtiers and generals and armies. Related Resource: Why must Elijah return before the end times (Malachi 4:5-6)? | GotQuestions.org Jones - The report about Jesus was, I imagine, good news to the mass of the people of Galilee. If any were sick or had dear ones sick, the report about this Man who could cleanse the leper, cast out devils, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and life to the dead, must have opened a door of hope for them. And, quite apart from sickness, the advent of a One in whom such mighty works manifested themselves must have made the people at large realise that God had come near them. For when they heard of Jesus, they said, “This is Elijah,” and others, “He is a prophet even as one of the prophets”—that is to say, as true a prophet as Isaiah or Jeremiah, or Amos or Hosea, or any one of the recognised order of prophets, of whom they boasted, and in whom they took such great pride. They did not, it is true, rise to the great faith that Jesus was Messiah Himself. But the report of His doings filled them with a solemn joy; they felt the Kingdom of God had come near to them. And others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old (cf Mt 16:14) - Elijah of course was a prophet; but he stood apart on a pedestal as ‘the forerunner,’was thus pre-eminently ‘the prophet.’ Considering that the One Whom they were actually describing was Jesus, this was the most accurate description, for Jesus was a prophet, however not just "a prophet," but in fact "the prophet" the One Whom Moses had predicted declaring "The LORD your God will raise up for you (ADDRESSING THE NATION OF ISRAEL) a Prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen (HE WILL BE JEWISH), you shall listen to Him...‘I (JEHOVAH) will raise up a Prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him." (Dt 18:15, 18 - see Was Jesus a prophet?) "A prophet in the Old Testament was someone who was used by God to communicate His message to the world. Prophets were also called “seers” because they could “see,” spiritually speaking, as God gave them insight (1 Samuel 9:9).(See What was a prophet in the Old Testament?) Prophets (4396)(prophetes from próphemi = literally to tell beforehand in turn from pró = before, in front of, forth, on behalf of + phemí = speak, tell) is primarily a forth-teller or one who speaks out God’s message, primarily to their own generation, usually always calling the people to God's truth for them at that moment, often using the phrase "Thus saith the Lord." The prophet is one who speaks before in the sense of proclaim, or the one who speaks for, i.e., in the Name of (God). "As distinct from the sacral figures of pagan antiquity the biblical prophet is not a magician. He does not force God. On the contrary, he is under divine constraint. It is God Who invites, summons, and impels him--e.g., Jer 20:7" (Lamorte and Hawthorne) Although we commonly think of the prophet as predicting future events (foretelling) generally this was secondary to his work of forth-telling. When they functioned as predictors or prognosticators, the Biblical prophets foretold the future with 100 percent accuracy. And so if they were correct on the first coming of Messiah, they will be correct on His second coming and on the coming of the antichrist. In sum, forth-telling dealt with current events and fore-telling with future events, but in both the goal is the same -- to call us to trust the Lord and submit to His will for our lives, living in conformity with His Word. Lexham Bible - Prophetes is someone who is specially endowed or enabled to receive and deliver direct revelation of God's will. Uses in Mark - Mk. 1:2; Mk. 6:4; Mk. 6:15; Mk. 8:28; Mk. 11:32; Simply put, prophetes in Scripture is one who speaks for God, as His mouthpiece so to speak (referring of course to true not false prophetes) to men, communicating His truth to them.
Marcos 6
Wuest - But Herod, having heard, kept on saying, Him whom I decapitated, John, this man was raised. NET Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!" NLT Mark 6:16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead." ESV Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." NIV Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!" GNT Mark 6:16 ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ἡρῴδης ἔλεγεν, Ὃν ἐγὼ ἀπεκεφάλισα Ἰωάννην, οὗτος ἠγέρθη. KJV Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. YLT Mark 6:16 And Herod having heard, said -- 'He whom I did behead -- John -- this is he; he was raised out of the dead.' It is - Ge 40:10,11 Ps 53:5 Mt 14:2 27:4 Lu 9:9 Rev 11:10-13 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE VOICE OF A MAN WITH A TROUBLED CONSCIENCE But when Herod heard of it He kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!" - Good tidings for the people of Galilee was not "good news" to Herod the murderer of John the Baptist. Indeed, his conscience was pricked with a grave concern that the man by whom these miraculous deeds were being wrought was the man he had executed! That would not be good news for Herod! One can imagine he was having a difficult time sleeping! Not the verb kept saying is in the imperfect tense as if picturing Herod muttering this over and over out loud! Each time someone would suggest another possibility such as "Eliah" or one of the names of the OT prophets, Herod's response would be "He whom I did behead-John-this is he!!!" Risen is in the perfect tense which could be rendered “was raised and is now alive and active!" Herod is convinced these reports were the resurrected John! Notice that while the people were postulating Elijah or the prophets, wicked, guilty Herod made this emphatic pronouncement - here is the literal rendering = "He whom I did behead -- John -- this is he; he was raised out of the dead." Imagine Herod's recollection of John's head on a gold platter dripping blood on the palace floor! Hiebert - Mark’s account stresses the strange conviction which Herod reached concerning Jesus. Verse 16 makes it clear that it was prompted by his troubled conscience rather than by the rumors which he had heard about Jesus. Do you have any ghosts in your past? Any skeletons in your closet? -- Brian Bell James Morison writes that “the guilty monarch’s conscience was haunted by ghastly reminiscences and weird forebodings.” (Mark Commentary) J D Jones gives us an animated description which is probably very close to what happened in Herod's house -- "The report about Jesus fell upon him like a clap of doom. It terrified him. It flung him into a perfect panic of fear. When he heard about Jesus and His wonderful works, his knees shook and his face blanched. He saw ghosts, and he gasped out, “John, whom I beheaded—he is risen from the dead!” Thereupon the Evangelist proceeds to tell us why it was that Jesus suggested John, and why it was that the thought of John filled this King Herod’s heart with mortal terror."
Marcos 6
Wuest - For this Herod himself, having commissioned an official representative, apprehended this aforementioned John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother; NET Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. NLT Mark 6:17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her. ESV Mark 6:17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. NIV Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. Herod - Mt 4:12 11:2 Mt 14:3-12 Lu 3:19,20 brother Philip - Lu 3:1 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 14:3 For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4 For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Luke 3:19; 20+ But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison. MARK'S "FLASHBACK" RECOUNTING JOHN'S FATE Flashback is a literary device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative. Mark 6:17-29 is Mark's recounting John the Baptist's horrible fate, and is the most detailed account of his death in the synoptic Gospels (Matthew has a lengthy account in Mt 14:3-12). As Morison says this section "constitute a long and intensely ‘sensational’ paragraph. Its ‘sensationalism,’ however, is the quiet efflorescence of truth, not the noisy effervescence of fiction. It is ‘truth stranger than fiction’: deeply instructive truth moreover, giving glimpses into scenes behind the curtain of court life, and revealing the hollowness of the pleasures that are founded on immorality. At the bottom of these pleasures there is an opening into an abyss of disappointment and woe." As noted above Mark 6:17-29 can be subdivided into the events leading up to his death (Mk 6:17–20) the plot resulting in John’s death (Mk 6:21–29). For (gar) is an interesting term of explanation, because here Mark uses it to introduce the lengthy explanation of John's fate. Herod himself - This reflexive pronoun (himself) emphasizes that this was Herod's own act and no one else (presumably not even Herodias was involved in this evil act)! Had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her - NLT says Herod did this "as a favor to Herodias." Herod laid hold on John, because John’s word laid hold on Herod. -- Brian Bell Hiebert recounts the sordid tale of Herod's lust "Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, a half-brother to Antipas, thus his niece. She had married her uncle, here called Philip, and they had had a daughter named Salome. Philip had been disinherited by his father, Herod the Great, and lived with Herodias in Rome as a private citizen. While visiting his brother in Rome, Antipas became enamored with Herodias, who, as an ambitious woman, agreed to marry Antipas on the condition that he would divorce his wife, a daughter of the Nabataean king Aretas IV. Upon learning of the treacherous intentions of her husband, his wife of many years fled to her father at whose hands Antipas later suffered a humiliating military defeat. “For he had married her”—the evil plan was carried out. Ambitious to be the wife of a ruler, Herodias deserted her husband, or got a Roman divorce, and as the wife of Antipas became the mistress of the palace at Tiberias." John was imprisoned in the grim fortress of Machaerus, situated on the barren heights of Moab above the Dead Sea. John’s disciples had access to him while he was confined there, for Luke 7:18+ records "The disciples of John reported to him about all these things (e.g., Lk 7:11-17)." J D Jones - It is a ghastly story. You know it well, and I scarcely need repeat it. Herod’s shameful and incestuous union with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; John the Baptist’s plain and unvarnished rebuke of the monarch’s sin; his consequent imprisonment in the castle of Machærus; Herod’s birthday feast; Salome’s degrading and lascivious dance; the King’s drunken vow to the girl who had so disgraced her sex; her demand for John the Baptist’s head, and the murder of the prophet to glut a woman’s hate—these are the steps in the lurid and awful story. It was a story Herod was for ever trying to forget. For he had been rushed into a crime he loathed by the stronger will of his wicked and cruel wife. He knew John for a just man and a holy. He reverenced him. He heard him gladly. The suggestion that he would ever imbrue his hands in the Baptist’s blood would have shocked Herod. “Is thy servant a dog,” he would have said, “that he should do this thing?” But he had done it. Driven by false shame and false pride, and the stronger will of the malignant Herodias, he had done the very thing he loathed. And ever since he had done it he had been trying to forget it. He had been trying to bury the ghastly crime out of sight. But it would not be buried. Here we see the wretched king confronted by his terrible sin. The report about Jesus did this for Herod—it conjured up the ghost of the murdered John. “John!” he cried, and you can almost hear the sentence come in jerky gasps from his ashen lips—“John, whom I beheaded,—he is risen from the dead.” Mark 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Wuest - for John had been saying to Herod, It is not lawful for you to be having the wife of your brother. NET Mark 6:18 For John had repeatedly told Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." NLT Mark 6:18 John had been telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife." ESV Mark 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." NIV Mark 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." GNT Mark 6:18 ἔλεγεν γὰρ ὁ Ἰωάννης τῷ Ἡρῴδῃ ὅτι Οὐκ ἔξεστίν σοι ἔχειν τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου. KJV Mark 6:18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. It is - Lev 18:16 Lev 20:21 1Ki 22:14 Eze 3:18,19 Mt 14:3,4 Ac 20:26,27 Ac 24:24-26 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 14:3 For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4 For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Leviticus 18:16 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. Leviticus 20:21 ‘If there is a man who takes his brother’s wife, it is abhorrent; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They will be childless. For John had been saying to Herod - Had been saying is in the imperfect tense, again and again. John was filled with the Spirit and the result was a "holy boldness." "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." - In short this was an entangled incestuous web!
Marcos 6
Wuest - But Herodias set herself against him, and was desiring to kill him, but she was unable to do so. NET Mark 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not NLT Mark 6:19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval she was powerless, ESV Mark 6:19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, NIV Mark 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, GNT Mark 6:19 ἡ δὲ Ἡρῳδιὰς ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἤθελεν αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο· KJV Mark 6:19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: Herodias - Ge 39:17-20 1Ki 21:20 a grudge against, Ec 7:9 Eph 4:26,27 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HERODIAS "HAD IT IN" FOR JOHN B! "Had it in for him" means to persistently try or desire to harass, criticize, cause harm to, or harass someone, especially due to a grudge. Herodias had a grudge against him - NET translates it with another idiomatic saying = "nursed a grudge against him" which means to harbor persistent and continual resentment or ill feelings toward one, especially for some slight or wrongdoing one committed in the past. Had a grudge is in the imperfect tense which means that "Herodias never let up on this fury of hers toward the Baptist for daring to denounce her private relations with Herod, but waited her time for revenge." (Wuest) Hiebert adds "The imperfect tense pictures the protracted feeling; she harbored an undying hatred against John. But the open-ended imperfect also prepares for something to happen because of that hatred."
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Wuest - For Herod was in a continual state of fearing John, knowing him to be a man, righteous and holy; and he kept him constantly out of harm’s way, and, having heard him, he was in a continual state of perplexity, and he was in the habit of hearing him with pleasure. NET Mark 6:20 because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John. NLT Mark 6:20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. ESV Mark 6:20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. NIV Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. GNT Mark 6:20 ὁ γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ἐφοβεῖτο τὸν Ἰωάννην, εἰδὼς αὐτὸν ἄνδρα δίκαιον καὶ ἅγιον, καὶ συνετήρει αὐτόν, καὶ ἀκούσας αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἠπόρει, καὶ ἡδέως αὐτοῦ ἤκουεν. KJV Mark 6:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Herod was afraid of John - Mk 11:18 Ex 11:3 1Ki 21:20 2Ki 3:12,13 6:21 13:14 2Ch 24:2,15-22 2Ch 26:5 Eze 2:5-7 Da 4:18,27 5:17 Mt 14:5 21:26 And when he heard him - Mk 4:16 Ps 106:12,13 Eze 33:32 Joh 5:35 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HEROD FEARED JOHN THE BAPTIST Related Passages: Matthew 14:5 Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. For Herod was afraid of John - Was afraid is imperfect tense indicating he was in a continual state of fear! What a horrible way to live!
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Wuest - And a strategic day having come, when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his great men, and his military commanders, and the chief men of Galilee. NET Mark 6:21 But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. NLT Mark 6:21 Herodias's chance finally came on Herod's birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. ESV Mark 6:21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. NIV Mark 6:21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. GNT Mark 6:21 Καὶ γενομένης ἡμέρας εὐκαίρου ὅτε Ἡρῴδης τοῖς γενεσίοις αὐτοῦ δεῖπνον ἐποίησεν τοῖς μεγιστᾶσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς χιλιάρχοις καὶ τοῖς πρώτοις τῆς Γαλιλαίας, KJV Mark 6:21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; A strategic day came when - Ge 27:41 2Sa 13:23-29 Es 3:7 Ps 37:12,13 Ac 12:2-4 his birthday gave a banquet - Ge 40:20 Es 1:3-7 2:18 Pr 31:4,5 Da 5:1-4 Ho 7:5 1Pe 4:3 Rev 11:10 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A CONVENIENT DAY FOR A CRUEL CRIME! Related Passages: Matthew 14:6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, A strategic day came - This was the "day of opportunity" for Herodias, the favorable occasion to allow her to act against John the Baptist. She was not about to miss her "opportunity!" In Texas we have seasons for deer hunting and dove hunting and all other times are illegal. In this case it was "in season" for "John the Baptist hunting" (so to speak)! Strategic (2122)(eukairos rom eu = good + kairos = season, opportune time, "window of opportunity") is an adjective that means well timed, suitable, favorable, at the right time. BDAG says it "pertains to time that is considered a favorable occasion for some event or circumstance." The only other NT use (as an adjective) is in Hebrews 4:16 "help in time of need." Wuest - Herodias chose Herod’s birthday as the strategic moment to spring her trap and force him to put John to death. This was the propitious, auspicious time that promised the attainment of her murderous plans. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Hiebert points out that "Jews generally disapproved of such birthday festivals as being pagan, but the Herods followed the Romans in the practice." When Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee - "Those invited to the birthday-banquet were the lords (megas = great ones), the high captains (chiliarchos) commander of a thousand soldiers, a Roman cohort), and chief estates of Galilee (prōtos) the first-ones of Galilee, or the chief men - "The first men of social importance and prominence" - Robertson). This was a notable gathering, composed of men from governmental, military, and civil life." (Wuest) MacArthur on birthday...banquet - The Jews viewed birthday celebrations as pagan festivities that they generally avoided. But, for the Romans, birthday parties were excuses for uninhibited revelry, often characterized by overindulgence, gluttony, drunkenness, and sexual deviance. Such was certainly true of the orgiastic festival to which Herod invited his nobles, the political elite of Galilee. His dinner guests, limited to men only...The party itself was a lecherous affair as evidenced by the erotic entertainment that amused those in attendance. (MNTC-Mark) Hiebert on for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee — three groups of distinguished guests. The lords, “the great ones,” were the dignitaries holding high civil offices under Antipas. The high captains (chiliarchs), commanders over a thousand men, here denote the military officials of high rank. Their presence may imply that Antipas at this time was consulting with them concerning his collection of forces to meet Aretas, the father of his repudiated wife. The chief men of Galilee were the important social leaders of the province. The mention of the third group would seem to suggest that the gathering was at Tiberias, but to hold it at the fortress of Machaerus would give it a distinctive image. Further, it seems doubtful that Herod could have gathered “the chief men of Galilee” (ASV) for this birthday party if it was held in Tiberias since Josephus tells us that pious Jews avoided that city because it had been built on a cemetery (Antiquities 18. 2. 3). Birthday (1077)(genesia from genesis = origin, lineage) was originally a day observed on the birthday of a deceased person; in the NT birthday feast or celebration.
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Wuest adds on spekoulator - We get our word “speculator” from it. The word itself means “a watcher.” It was used to designate a guardsman whose business it was to watch or spy out. It came gradually to denote one of the armed bodyguard of the Roman emperor. Suetonius says that Claudius did not dare to attend banquets unless his speculatores with their lances surrounded him. Seneca uses the word in the sense of an executioner. Herod imitated the custom of the Roman emperor and had a company of speculatores around him. It was one of these that he sent to behead John. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader)
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Wuest says here it refers to "those who had been sent off on a commission to represent the one sending them and to perform a certain mission. A T
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Wuest - And He says to them; Come here, as for you, yourselves, into the privacy of an uninhabited place, and rest yourselves a little. For there were those who were coming and those who were going, many of them, and not even did they have an opportune time to eat. come - Mk 1:45 3:7,20 Mt 14:13 Joh 6:1 James Hastings Mark 6-31 Retirement for Rest Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 14:13+ Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. Luke 9:10+ When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. John 6:1+ After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while (oligos = a little) - At this time they were in the area of Capernaum (see map above). Note that Mt 14:13 says "by Himself" but Mark explains that this includes His disciples who we see are invited to come away with Him. One reason for going to the other side was to rest, and another was the news about the death of John the Baptist (Mt 14:13), although it was not because Jesus feared death. Thirdly, the next phrase suggests Jesus sought a quiet place where they would have time to eat. Notice Jesus' command rest (aorist imperative = Do this now! It is urgent!) a while or a little (short in duration) indicating it would be a short lived rest, His words in a sense proving prophetic as the crowds soon discovered their location If we don’t come apart and rest - we’ll come apart. -- Vance Havner Daniel Akin - Some people “rust out” in ministry because they are lazy. Others “burn out” because they never rest or take a break. They need some “down time,” a “break in the action,” much needed R&R. If there is not time even to eat, there was no time to relax, rest, and recuperate. It was not a sin for them to take a brief sabbatical. It would have been a sin for them not to. The same is true for us! In fact, the greater the demands, the greater “our need to find time alone with Jesus.” Several practical insights can be gleaned from just these few verses... There is a time to work (cf. John 9:4). Laziness has no place in the Christian life. We should have periods of rest because Jesus tells us to. Being a workaholic is not spiritual and can be sinful. Some make ministry an idol. Rest is best when accompanied both by solitude and companionship. Rest is for a specific period of time. It is not permanent. Even while resting, be prepared for ministry if necessary. A devoted follower of Jesus is never off duty. Henry
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Wuest - And they went off in the boat to the privacy of an uninhabited place. BGT Mark 6:32 Καὶ ἀπῆλθον ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς ἔρημον τόπον κατ᾽ ἰδίαν. NET Mark 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place. NLT Mark 6:32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. ESV Mark 6:32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. NIV Mark 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 14:13+ Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. Luke 9:10+ When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. John 6:1+ After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). Bethsaida (Article) JESUS TAKES A HOLIDAY Daniel Akin - Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “The most pressing question on the problem of faith is whether a man as a civilized being can believe in the divinity of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, for therein rests the whole of our faith.” 2) Perhaps no story in the Bible, other than the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, confronts us with this reality of our Lord’s deity more directly than the feeding of the 5,000. Only God could do what occurred on that remarkable day in Israel. This story, so popular and captivating for children and, yes, adults, is so important in the life and ministry of Jesus that it is the only miracle, outside of the resurrection, that is recorded in all 4 gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13). Mark also will record a 2nd feeding miracle in 8:1-10, the feeding of the 4,000 on that occasion. 3) John 6:15 informs us that this miracle made such an impact on the crowd that they attempted to take Jesus “by force to make him king.” Our Lord would refuse their advance, withdraw by himself to pray (Mark 6:46), and stay the course to the cross as was His divine destiny. 4) So many lessons are contained in this story one hardly knows where to begin. They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves - The set off for the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. John 6:1+ says the other side of the Sea and Luke 9:10+ says this is Bethsaida, which is on the East (really northeast) side of the Sea of Galilee. Their private time with Jesus was in the boat on the sea. Boat is ploion which was a generally large seafaring vessel, big enough for 13 men. Hiebert on the boat - The boat was the same boat (definite article "the" before "ship") they had used before (Mk 5:1–2+). It shows that they assembled by the seashore, and Capernaum, as Jesus’ headquarters, would be the natural place
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Wuest on ran - The word “ran” is from suntrechō “to run along with others, to rush with.” It describes the frenzied hurry of the people who ran with one another out of the town. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) John
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Wuest - And having come out, He saw a large crowd, and He was moved with compassion upon them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd. And He began teaching them many things. BGT Mark 6:34 Καὶ ἐξελθὼν εἶδεν πολὺν ὄχλον καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς, ὅτι ἦσαν ὡς πρόβατα μὴ ἔχοντα ποιμένα, καὶ ἤρξατο διδάσκειν αὐτοὺς πολλά. NET Mark 6:34 As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things. NLT Mark 6:34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. ESV Mark 6:34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. NIV Mark 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. saw - Mt 14:14 15:32 Lu 9:11 Ro 15:2,3 Heb 2:17 4:15 because - Nu 27:17 1Ki 22:17 2Ch 18:16 Jer 50:6 Zec 10:2 Mt 9:36 and he - Isa 61:1-3 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JESUS' MOVED WITH COMPASSION NOT COMPLAINING Related Passages: Matthew 14:14+ When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. Luke 9:11+ But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. John 6:3+ Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. When Jesus went ashore - Jesus went ashore on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee and the rest He had sought would soon prove short- lived. He saw a large crowd - One reason the crowds may have been even larger than usual was because the Passover was near (Jn 6:4) and pilgrims would have been making their way to Jerusalem. As John's version suggests, presumably Jesus was on the mountain and able to envision the unorganized mass of humanity coming towards Him. John gives us more detail on what transpired when Jesus went ashore, explaining "Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do." (John 6:3-5+)
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Wuest adds "The infinitive shows durative (continuous) action. Jesus went to teaching and kept it up. Matthew and Luke speak of Him healing. Among the many things He undoubtedly taught them was how to enter the Kingdom of God which was frequently a main theme (see. Mark 4:11, 26–32; Luke 4:43; 6:20; 8:1; 11:20; 17:20–21; 18:24–25; John 3:3; Acts 1:3).. In the parallel passage Lk 9:11+ says "He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing." Undoubtedly he was teaching truths similar to what He had taught in Mark 1:15+ where Jesus declared "Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Both verbs in present imperative). Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them (Mark 6:34). At times, the world seems to be an uncaring, unsympathetic place. People are often cruel and indifferent, not giving a second thought to the plight of their suffering neighbors. Wrapped up in their own interests, they don't seem to notice the anguish and despair that is at their doorstep. This could not be said of the Lord Jesus. Time after time He met the needs of suffering people. Luke 7 tells about Christ's compassion when He saw the widow stricken with grief over the death of her son. Jesus had compassion on her and healed the boy. Earlier, when He saw a man with leprosy—who was despised, ostracized, and no doubt terribly disfigured—He made him well (Luke 5:12, 13, 14, 15). Still today, Jesus looks upon human need with compassion. A little girl whose mother had been taken to the hospital was spending the night alone with her father for the first time. Soon after her father turned out the lights, the girl asked quietly, "Daddy, are you there?" "Yes," he assured her. A moment later she asked, "Daddy, are you looking at me?" When he said yes, she fell asleep. God loves every one of us as if there were but one of us to love. Mark 6:35 When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and it is already quite late; Wuest And when the day was already far gone, His disciples came to Him and were saying, Uninhabited is this place, and already the hour is late. BGT Mark 6:35 Καὶ ἤδη ὥρας πολλῆς γενομένης προσελθόντες αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἔλεγον ὅτι ἔρημός ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἤδη ὥρα πολλή· NET Mark 6:35 When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is an isolated place and it is already very late. NLT Mark 6:35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. ESV Mark 6:35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. NIV Mark 6:35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Mt 14:15-21 Lu 9:12-17 Joh 6:5-15 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 14:15+ When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Luke 9:12+ Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” IT IS LATE QUITE LATE! Lenski helps set the context - At this point we must turn to John 6:5–7. When Jesus first stepped out of his retirement on the mountain side he put the question to Philip about buying bread for all these people. Jesus did this in advance in order to test out one of his disciples. Already then Jesus knew what he would do when evening would come. But all that Jesus got from Philip was that it would take more money than they had in their treasury to provide even a very little for so many people—not an inkling that Philip remembered Cana or thought of miraculous help on the part of Jesus in any way. Disappointed in Philip, Jesus descends to the multitude, heals the sick, and teaches about the kingdom until evening had actually come—entirely unconcerned about the bodily needs of the people and the passing of the time. The question put to Philip was evidently intended to have him report to the other apostles, and thus that all of them might think about it as the hours wore on. They did that but arrived at nothing. (ISMG) When it was already quite late - Greek = “much daytime already gone.” Luke 9:12+ says "Now the day was ending." What has Jesus been doing? Teaching and healing all day. Late in the afternoon, around sunset, was when the main meal was eaten. It was after 3 pm, the first evening. Sunset was approaching. So somewhere between 3-6 pm. Robertson on already quite late - It was after 3 P.M., the first evening. Note second evening or sunset in Mark 6:47=Matt. 14:23=John 6:16. The turn of the afternoon had come and sunset was approaching. The idiom is repeated at the close of the verse. His disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and it is already quite late - It was desolate (the "secluded place" of Mk 6:31+) but not a desert because they sat on green grass (Mk 6:39) The point is that there were not restaurants nearby! But now it is getting close to supper time and the disciples are concerned. Notice how Mark repeats already quite late as if JEsus did not realize what time it was. Hiebert comments "the longer Jesus continued to speak, the more tense the disciples became. The question that Jesus had asked Philip concerning food for the crowd (John 6:5+) had led to discussion on the matter among the disciples. They arrived at no solution other than that the crowd must be dismissed. They therefore approached Jesus, apparently while He was still teaching, with their well-meaning suggestion....He seemed to them to have forgotten that the hastily assembled multitude had failed to bring along any food, and the place offered them no convenient way to get it. The late hour demanded that immediate attention be given to the matter. Mark 6:36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." Wuest - Dismiss them in order that, having gone off to the neighboring farms and villages, they might purchase for themselves something that they might eat. NET Mark 6:36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat." NLT Mark 6:36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat." ESV Mark 6:36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." NIV Mark 6:36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." GNT Mark 6:36 ἀπόλυσον αὐτούς, ἵνα ἀπελθόντες εἰς τοὺς κύκλῳ ἀγροὺς καὶ κώμας ἀγοράσωσιν ἑαυτοῖς τί φάγωσιν. KJV Mark 6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. YLT Mark 6:36 let them away, that, having gone away to the surrounding fields and villages, they may buy to themselves loaves, for what they may eat they have not.' ASV Mark 6:36 send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat. CSB Mark 6:36 Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat." Mk 3:21 5:31 Mt 15:23 16:22 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 14:15+ When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves. Lk 9:12+ The twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” THE SHORTSIGHTED DISCIPLES Send them away so that (term of purpose) they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy (agorazo) themselves something to eat - It is interesting that both the disciples and Jesus saw the same need, but they had radically different solutions. This is amazing - the disciples actually command Jesus to send them away, the aorist imperative conveying a sense of "Do it now!" "It is urgent!" Luke adds another reason to send them away is to find lodging. (Lk 9:12+) The disciples appear to be motivated by their concern for the crowd. Daniel Akin - The tone of their request may be a bit harsh, but we can certainly understand the logic of it. The hour is late, the people are famished, they need something to eat, so send them on their way. They are becoming something of a nuisance. THOUGHT Aren't we so often just like the disciples? Instead of being others oriented, we are so easily inconvenienced with our "me-my-mine" mindset! (cf Paul's exhortation to manifest unselfish Christ-like behavior toward others - Php 2:3-5+). Steven
Marcos 6
Wuest - And having taken the five loaves and the two fish, having looked up to heaven, He invoked a blessing, and broke the loaves, and kept on giving to the disciples in order that they might continue setting them beside them; and the two fish He divided to all. NET Mark 6:41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. NLT Mark 6:41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. ESV Mark 6:41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. NIV Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. GNT Mark 6:41 καὶ λαβὼν τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησεν καὶ κατέκλασεν τοὺς ἄρτους καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς μαθηταῖς [αὐτοῦ] ἵνα παρατιθῶσιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας ἐμέρισεν πᾶσιν. KJV Mark 6:41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. YLT Mark 6:41 And having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, having looked up to the heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves, and was giving to his disciples, that they may set before them, and the two fishes divided he to all, ASV Mark 6:41 And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. CSB Mark 6:41 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. looking - Mk 7:34 Mt 14:19 Lu 9:16 Joh 11:41 17:1 blessed - Mk 8:6,7 14:22 De 8:10 1Sa 9:13 Mt 15:36 26:26 Lu 24:30 Joh 6:11,23 Ac 27:35 Ro 14:6 1Co 10:31 Col 3:17 1Ti 4:4,5 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 14:19+ Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, Luke 9:16+ Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. John 6:11+ Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. JESUS' HOSTS A MESSIANIC BANQUET What a contrast is this beautiful banquet with the malicious banquet of Herod which resulted in the loss of John's head which "satisfied" wicked Herodias anger. One banquet resulted in a abominable beheading and the other in an astonishing bounty! And He took the five loaves and the two fish - A banquet with 5 bagels and 2 sardines! Spurgeon "They had bread and fish. Jesus seems to have made that His standing bill of fare whenever He spread a banquet—bread and fish. They once gave Him a piece of honeycomb, but He seems always to have given them bread and fish. Bread was enough, was it not? Yes, enough, but not enough for Him to give, for He loves to supply a little more than enough. He would give a delicacy as well as a staple—there was bread and fish. When Jesus Christ makes feasts for souls He gives them staple— bread, all that they can need, all the necessities for their souls’ life. Giving a sufficiency, He also gives excellence—He gives fish, there shall be savor and delight and peace with God" (The Miracle of the Loaves) and looking up toward heaven He blessed the food and broke the loaves and - John 6:11 says "having given thanks. "- Giving thanks to the Father in Heaven for daily bread, a good practice to continually emulate."When Jesus blessed before the meal, He didn’t bless the food; He blessed God for supplying it. The idea of praying before a meal isn’t to bless the food; it is to bless God in the sense of thanking and honoring Him for blessing us with the food." (Guzik)
Marcos 6
Wuest - The word for “men” here is not anthropos, the generic term which could include men and women, but anēr, the word for a male individual. Matthew adds that there were women and children. A wonderful miracle. It is recorded by all four Gospel writers. Two of them, Matthew and John were eyewitnesses, and Peter, also an eyewitness, reported it to Mark. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader)
Marcos 6
Wuest - The verb is proseuchomai, which is used of prayer addressed to God, the prefixed preposition meaning “toward, facing,” emphasizing the direct approach of the one who prays, in seeking God’s face. It speaks also of the consciousness on the part of the one who prays, of the fact of God’s presence and His listening ear. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Pray (4336)(proseuchomai from pros = toward, facing, before [emphasizing the direct approach of the one who prays in seeking God’s face] + euchomai = originally to speak out, utter aloud, express a wish, then to pray or to vow. Greek technical term for invoking a deity) in the NT is always used of prayer addressed to God (to Him as the object of faith and the One who will answer one’s prayer) and means to speak consciously (with or without vocalization) to Him, with a definite aim (See study of noun proseuche). Uses in Mark - Mk. 1:35; Mk. 6:46; Mk. 11:24; Mk. 11:25; Mk. 12:40; Mk. 13:18; Mk. 14:32; Mk. 14:35; Mk. 14:38; Mk. 14:39;
Marcos 6
Wuest adds "The word for “spirit” here is not pneuma, referring to a disembodied individual who had died, but phantasma “an apparition, a specter.” The word was associated with magic and charms, thus with the system of Satan. When Luke (Lk 24:37) reports the fact of our Lord’s post-resurrection appearance to the disciples, he uses the word pneuma, for there they thought they had seen some person come back from the dead. But to have somebody walk on the sea, that would be magic to them." Cried out (349)(anakrazo from aná = intensifies force of + krazo = to cry, croak or shriek as a raven) means to cry out, exclaim. (1) of the loud cry of demonized or frightened people cry aloud, scream, shout (Mk 1.23+); (2) of an aroused multitude shout out, howl, yell (Lk 23.18+) (Friberg) Note that Lk 23:18+ might as well have been demon possessed men crying out because this was the crowd crying out for Pilate to crucify Jesus and give them Barabbas! Only used 5x - Mk. 1:23; Mk. 6:49; Lk. 4:33; Lk. 8:28; Lk. 23:18
Marcos 6
Wuest - The verb is epiginōskō “to know by experience.” The people recognized Jesus, for they had seen Him before. He was becoming a well-known person by this time. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) THOUGHT - The psalmist writes that "those who know Your Name will put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You." (Psalm 9:10+) The tragedy is that most of the people who recognized Jesus knew His Name, but they did not truly know Him. In other words, they did not acknowledge Him as their God, as their Messiah, as their Savior and Redeemer and thus were like so many in America today who say they "know Jesus" they do not truly know Him. Jesus Himself warned of the grave deception and danger of saying you "know" Him but do not truly know HIm by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9+) declaring "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven (THIS IS SYNONYMOUS WITH "BE SAVED" OR "BE BORN AGAIN" - John 3:3-8+), but he who does (present tense = THIS IS THEIR LIFESTYLE, NOT PERFECTION BUT THEIR "GENERAL DIRECTION!") the will of My Father Who is in heaven (SEE SIMILAR TRUTH IN Mk 3:35+, cf Mt 7:24-27+,, Mt 12:48+, Lk 11:28+) will enter. 22 “Many (NOTE: NOT JUST A FEW!!!) will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ (NOTE: JESUS DOES NOT DISPUTE THEY DID THESE THINGS!) 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never (ABSOLUTE NEGATION) KNEW you; DEPART (aorist imperative) FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE (present tense = THIS IS THEIR LIFESTYLE, NOT AN OCCASIONAL "SLIP"!) LAWLESSNESS.’." (Mt 7:21-23+). Notice both the saved and the condemned are judged on their works. The works per se do not save nor damn, but are the clear evidence respectively that they either truly believed in Jesus or they just "professed" to believe in Jesus. DO NOT BE DECEIVED by a profession of Christ without subsequent practice of Christ-like behavior, behavior which is only possible by the supernatural power of the Spirit of Jesus. Mark 6:55 and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was. Wuest they ran around throughout that whole countryside, and began to be carrying around on pallets those who were afflicted, where they were hearing that He was. NET Mark 6:55 They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be. NLT Mark 6:55 and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. ESV Mark 6:55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. NIV Mark 6:55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. GNT Mark 6:55 περιέδραμον ὅλην τὴν χώραν ἐκείνην καὶ ἤρξαντο ἐπὶ τοῖς κραβάττοις τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας περιφέρειν ὅπου ἤκουον ὅτι ἐστίν. KJV Mark 6:55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. YLT Mark 6:55 having run about through all that region round about, they began upon the couches to carry about those ill, where they were hearing that he is, ASV Mark 6:55 and ran round about that whole region, and began to carry about on their beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. CSB Mark 6:55 They hurried throughout that vicinity and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. Mk 2:1-3 3:7-11 Mt 4:24 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SICK CARRIED TO JESUS Related Passages: Matthew 14:35+ And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; And ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was - This section emphasizes that Jesus' fame/popularity was at an all time high. Everywhere He goes they are bringing Him their sick. There is no mention of teaching in this section. They recognized Jesus had the power to heal physically but missed the truth that He had the more important power to heal spiritually. The people are still more interested in Jesus' "healing." And so preachers prey on those who are sick and offer "miraculous cures" (usually for "contributions") but fail to present the soul saving Gospel. We call this the "Health and Wealth Gospel" and it is flourishing, not only in America but in other countries such those in Africa where this false teaching is rampant. Wuest - What a pathetic picture. The people kept running from place to place, carrying their sick on pallets from place to place, wherever Jesus was reported to be or wherever it might be possible to find Him. This incident brings us near the close of our Lord’s Galilean ministry, and to the time when His popularity was phenomenal. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Mark 6:56 Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured. NET Mark 6:56 And wherever he would go– into villages, towns, or countryside– they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. NLT Mark 6:56 Wherever he went-- in villages, cities, or the countryside-- they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed. ESV Mark 6:56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. NIV Mark 6:56 And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. GNT Mark 6:56 καὶ ὅπου ἂν εἰσεπορεύετο εἰς κώμας ἢ εἰς πόλεις ἢ εἰς ἀγρούς, ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἐτίθεσαν τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντας καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα κἂν τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ ἅψωνται· καὶ ὅσοι ἂν ἥψαντο αὐτοῦ ἐσῴζοντο. KJV Mark 6:56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. YLT Mark 6:56 and wherever he was going, to villages, or cities, or fields, in the market-places they were laying the infirm, and were calling upon him, that they may touch if it were but the fringe of his garment, and as many as were touching him were saved. ASV Mark 6:56 And wheresoever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. CSB Mark 6:56 Wherever He would go, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might touch just the tassel of His robe. And everyone who touched it was made well. they were laying the sick - Ac 5:15 touch - Mk 3:10 5:27,28 2Ki 13:21 Lu 6:19 22:51 Ac 4:9,12 the fringe of His cloak; - Nu 15:38,39 De 22:12 Mt 9:20 Lu 8:44 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JESUS' HEALING TOUCH Related Passages: Matthew 14:36+ and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured. Matthew 14:34-36 (Matthew 14:34-36) - [Copy][Go][to List] (14:34-36) 34When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; 36and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured. Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside - Jesus apparently moves rapidly from one place to another. They were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak - (cf Mk 5:24-34+) Imploring is the verb parakaleo which literally means to call beside and thus is almost a play on words in this context, for again and again (parakaleo is in the imperfect tense) they were imploring Jesus to come close to allow a touch of His fringe. Wuest says the fringe was "a little appendage hanging down from the edge of the mantle or cloak.” The Jews had such appendages attached to their mantles to remind them of the law." (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Numbers 15 explains the OT background on fringes... Numbers 15:38-40 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39 (PURPOSE OF THE TASSEL) “It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to (POSITIVE - OBEY - IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO OBEY!) do them and (PREVENTION OF THE NEGATIVE) not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself. Fringe (tassel) (2899)(kraspedon) is the outer limit of something and thus means the edge, border, hem of a garment (Mt 9:20; 14:36; Mk 6:56; Lk 8:44, cf Lxx of Zech 8:23). Kraspedon also means tassel (Hebrew tsitsit) or fringe on the four corners of the outer garment (see picture, another picture), worn as a reminder to observe the commandments (Mt 23:5, cf. Nu 15.38, 39; Dt 22.12). Gilbrant - By the time of Jesus the original purpose of the kraspedon had been lost. Jesus wore the kraspedon on His garment, so one hung in the middle of His back (Matthew 9:20; 14:36; Mark 6:56; Luke 8:44), but He condemned the Pharisees for their departure from the original meaning (Matthew 23:5). Instead of allowing the tassels to remind them of God and His Word, they made them larger than necessary to remind God of their goodness! The woman with the issue of blood touched the hem or tassel of Jesus’ garment (Mt 9:20; Lk 8:44). Why she touched the kraspedon rather than His shoulder, feet, or hair cannot be determined. But she was not concerned about the superstition of the Pharisees concerning the tassel. She was putting her faith in Jesus.The tzitzit refers to the fringes on the borders of the robes. They were meant to hang from the corners of the upper garment ( Dt 22:12), which was worn on top of the clothing. The tassel was probably made by twisting the overhanging threads of the garment into a knot that would hang down. This was a reminder of the covenant. The tassels were retained down through history, and today more elaborate prayer shawls with tassels are worn during prayer. Daniel Hill says that "This fringe was a tassel that was required on men’s robes. This tassel consisted of eight white threads wound around or braided seven times and then double knotted eight times, then 11 times, and then 13 times. The numbers represented Hebrew letters that spelled the phase YHWH is ONE. Evans writes that "In late antiquity it was believed that fringe of the clothes of holy men, such as Honi the Circle-Drawer or Hanina ben Dosa, could convey benefit. “Hanan ha-Nehba was the son of the daughter of Honi the Circle-Drawer. When the world was in need of rain, the Rabbis would send to him schoolchildren, and they would take hold of the hem [or fringe] of his garment and say to him, ‘Father, Father, give us rain’ ” (b. Ta‘anit 23b)." (BKBC-Mt-Lk)