The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; Ver. 1. _The beginning of the Gospel, &c._] The history of our Saviour's life and death, St Mark is recorded to have written at the request of the Romans. _a_ In the Latin tongue, say some (who pretend to have seen the original copy at Ve... [ Continue Reading ]
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Ver. 2. _As it is written in the prophets_] Isaiah and Malachi; so that there was no cause why that dead dog Porphyry should here bark and blaspheme, as if this testimony should b... [ Continue Reading ]
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Ver. 3. _The voice of one crying_] Here Mark begins the Gospel, at the preaching of the Baptist, which the author to the Hebrews begins at the preaching of Christ, Hebrews 2:3. But that is only to pr... [ Continue Reading ]
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Ver. 4. _John did baptize in the wilderness_] Like as at the promulgation of the law, the people were commanded to wash their garments, and sanctify themselves; so at the first publication of the Gos... [ Continue Reading ]
And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. Ver. 5. _All the land of Judea_] That is, a great sort of them; but John quickly grew stale to them, John 5:35. _Principium fervet, medium leper, ex... [ Continue Reading ]
And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; Ver. 6. _And John was clothed, &c._] Elias also was a rough hairy man. Those worthies, of "whom the world was not worthy, wandered about in sheep's skins and goat's skins," He... [ Continue Reading ]
And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. Ver. 7. _I am not worthy_] So Jacob cried out of old. So the centurion, Matthew 8:5,13. So the prodigal, Luke 15:11,32. So Peter, Luke 5:8. So Augustine, _Domine, n... [ Continue Reading ]
I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Ver. 8. _With the Holy Ghost_] By whom your iniquity is taken away, Isaiah 6:6,7. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 3:11 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. Ver. 9. _In those days_] When the people flocked so fast to John, that they might not mistake him for the Messiah, and that his baptism might be the more famous.... [ Continue Reading ]
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: Ver. 10. _He saw the heavens opened_] The visible heavens, so that the Baptist saw something above the stars: so did Stephen; so could Christ when he was upon the earth. It is a ju... [ Continue Reading ]
And there came a voice from heaven, _saying_, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Ver. 11. _In whom I am well pleased_] And in him with us, whom he hath made gracious or favourites in him, the beloved One,Ephesians 1:6. εχαριτωσεν, _gratificavit._... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. Ver. 12. _The Spirit driveth him_] That is, suddenly carrieth him (who was most willing to go) as that legal scape goat, Leviticus 16:8,10, into the wilderness, and there permitted him to be tempted, but supported him under the temptation,... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. Ver. 13. _And was with the wild beasts_] Unhurt by them, as Adam was in the state of integrity. These fell creatures saw in Christ the perfect image of God; and therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, Ver. 14. _Jesus came into Galilee_] To decline Herod's rage. And whereas it may seem that our Saviour herein took a wrong course, since Herod was governor of Galilee; we must know that the Ph... [ Continue Reading ]
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Ver. 15. _And saying, The time is fulfilled_] These were four of our Saviour's sermon heads. The prophets of old were wont to set down some short notes of their larger discourses to the people,... [ Continue Reading ]
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. Ver. 16. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 4:18 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Ver. 17. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 4:19 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. Ver. 18. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 4:20 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the _son_ of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. Ver. 19. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 4:21 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. Ver. 20. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 4:21 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. Ver. 21. _He entered into the synagogue, and taught_] This is noted as remarkable in St Mark, that he often stated that our Saviour taught.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. Ver. 22. _And they were astonished_] If it could be said of Dr Whittaker, that no man ever saw him without reverence, or heard him without wonder, how much more of Christ, since grace was... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Ver. 23. _With an unclean spirit_] Gr. εν πρευματι ακαθαρτω. In an unclean spirit. An unregenerate man is _in maligno positus, _ as St John saith of the world, 1 John 5:19. He is _inversus decalogus; _ whole evil is in... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, Let _us_ alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Ver. 24. _What have we to do with thee?_] Not to do with Christ, and yet vex a servant of Christ? Could the devil so mistake him, whom he confess... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. Ver. 25. _Hold thy peace_] φιμωθητι _capistrator, _ be thou haltered up, or muzzled. Christ would not hear good words from an evil mouth. High words become not a fool, saith Solomon. The leper's lips should be covered, according to... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. Ver. 26. _And when the unclean spirit had torn him_] So he will serve all that he is now at one with, as Bradford hath it. You are the devil's birds (saith he to all wicked ones), whom, when he hath well fed,... [ Continue Reading ]
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine _is_ this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. Ver. 27. _For with authority_] As he taught, so he wrought with authority, εξουσια. The... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. Ver. 28. _His fame spread_] Those that do worthily in Ephratah shall be famous in Bethlehem, Ruth 4:11. Cicero worthily preferreth Cato before Socrates, _quoniam huius dicta, illius facta laudantur._ because in sa... [ Continue Reading ]
And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Ver. 29. _They entered into the house_] Happy house in such a guest. If Elisabeth held it so great a matter, that the mother of her Lord should come unto her, Luke 1:43, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. Ver. 30. _Sick of a fever_] πυρετος, which the Greeks denominate of the heat that is in it; the Germans of the cold. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:14 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. Ver. 31. _The fever left her_] For Christ (the great Centurion that hath the command of all diseases, Mat 8:9) had rebuked it, Luke 4:39, as once he did the Red Sea, Psalms 106... [ Continue Reading ]
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. Ver. 32. _When the sun did set_] And the Sabbath was ended; for till then many held it not lawful.... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the city was gathered together at the door. Ver. 33. _All the city_] _i.e._ The sick folk in the city by a synecdoche. _a_ As all that were in debt or distress came to David, and he received them; so all that were diseased came to this Son of David, and he relieved them. _ a_ A figure by w... [ Continue Reading ]
And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. Ver. 34. _Suffered not the devils to speak_] For what calling had they to preach the gospel?... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Ver. 35. _And in the morning, &c._] The fittest time for prayer, or any serious business. Therefore not only David, Psalms 5:3, and other saints, but also heathens chose the mo... [ Continue Reading ]
And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. Ver. 36. _Followed after him_] Gr. "Followed hard after him," as David's soul did after God, Psalms 63:8, and as God's grace did after David, Psalms 23:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had found him, they said unto him, All _men_ seek for thee. Ver. 37. _All men seek for thee_] But few seek Christ seriously, seasonably, sincerely. Hence so many miss him: _Vix quaeritur Iesus propter Iesum._ All men seek themselves, and not the things of Jesus Christ, Philippians 2:2... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. Ver. 38. _Let us go into the next towns_] The neighbouring boroughs, κωμωπολεις, such as were between a city and a town. Though secret prayer were sweet to our Saviour, yet he left it to... [ Continue Reading ]
And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. Ver. 39. _In their synagogues_] Which were as chapels of ease, or petty parish churches, belonging to the temple, as the cathedral. In these it was lawful to pray, preach, and dispute, but not to sacrifice, Acts 15:21... [ Continue Reading ]
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Ver. 40. _Beseeching him, &c._] _Morbi virtutum officina, _ saith Ambrose. We are best when we are worst, saith another. Therefore King Alured prayed God to send him... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth _his_ hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. Ver. 41. _Touched him_] _Immensae gratiae et bonitatis signum et tessera, _ saith Calvin. And so it is of his infinite goodness, that he will touch our menstruous clouts, take at our... [ Continue Reading ]
And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. Ver. 42. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; Ver. 43. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. Ver. 44. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
But he went out, and began to publish _it_ much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter. Ver. 45. _Could no more openly enter_] For press of people, he was so frequented... [ Continue Reading ]