Mark 9:1
Till they see the kingdom of God coming with power — So it began to do at the day of pentecost, when three thousand were converted to God at once.... [ Continue Reading ]
Till they see the kingdom of God coming with power — So it began to do at the day of pentecost, when three thousand were converted to God at once.... [ Continue Reading ]
By themselves — That is, separate from the multitude: Apart — From the other apostles: and was transfigured — The Greek word seems to refer to the form of God, and the form of a servant, mentioned by St. Paul, Philippians 2:6, and may intimate, that the Divine rays, which the indwelling God let out... [ Continue Reading ]
White as snow, such as no fuller can whiten — Such as could not be equalled either by nature or art.... [ Continue Reading ]
Elijah — Whom they expected: Moses, whom they did not.... [ Continue Reading ]
There came a (bright, luminous) cloud, overshadowing them — This seems to have been such a cloud of glory as accompanied Israel in the wilderness, which, as the Jewish writers observe, departed at the death of Moses. But it now appeared again, in honour of our Lord, as the great Prophet of the Churc... [ Continue Reading ]
Elijah verily coming first restoreth all things: and how it is written — That is, And he told them how it is written — As if he had said, Elijah's coming is not inconsistent with my suffering. He is come: yet I shall suffer. The first part of the verse answers their question concerning Elijah; the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 17:14; Luke 9:37.... [ Continue Reading ]
All the multitude seeing him were greatly amazed — At his coming so suddenly, so seasonably, so unexpectedly: perhaps also at some unusual rays of majesty and glory, which yet remained on his countenance.... [ Continue Reading ]
And one of the multitude answering — The scribes gave no answer to our Lord's question. They did not care to repeat what they had said to his disciples. A dumb spirit — A spirit that takes his speech from him.... [ Continue Reading ]
When he saw him — When the child saw Christ; when his deliverance was at hand. Immediately the spirit tore him — Made his last grand effort to destroy him. Is it not generally so, before Satan is cast out of a soul, of which he has long had possession?... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou canst do any thing — In so desperate a case: Have compassion on us — Me as well as him.... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou canst believe — As if he had said, The thing does not turn on my power, but on thy faith. I can do all things: canst thou believe?... [ Continue Reading ]
Help thou mine unbelief — Although my faith be so small, that it might rather be termed unbelief, yet help me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou deaf and dumb spirit — So termed, because he made the child so. When Jesus spake, the devil heard, though the child could not. I command thee — I myself now; not my disciples.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having rent him sore — So does even the body sometimes suffer, when God comes to deliver the soul from Satan.... [ Continue Reading ]
They passed through Galilee — Though not through the cities, but by them, in the most private ways. He was not willing that any should know it: for he taught his disciples — He wanted to be alone with them some time, in order to instruct them fully concerning his sufferings. The Son of man is delive... [ Continue Reading ]
They understood not the word — They did not understand how to reconcile the death of our Saviour (nor consequently his resurrection, which supposed his death) with their notions of his temporal kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 9:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who should be greatest — Prime minister in his kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let him be the least of all — Let him abase himself the most.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 18:2; Luke 9:47.... [ Continue Reading ]
One such little child — Either in years or in heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
And John answered him — As if he had said, But ought we to receive those who follow not us? Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name — Probably this was one of John the Baptist's disciples, who believed in Jesus, though he did not yet associate with our Lord's disciples. And we forbad him,... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus said — Christ here gives us a lovely example of candour and moderation. He was willing to put the best construction on doubtful cases, and to treat as friends those who were not avowed enemies. Perhaps in this instance it was a means of conquering the remainder of prejudice, and perfecting wha... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that is not against you, is for you — Our Lord had formerly said, he that is not with me, is against me: thereby admonishing his hearers, that the war between him and Satan admitted of no neutrality, and that those who were indifferent to him now, would finally be treated as enemies. But here... [ Continue Reading ]
For whosoever shall give you a cup — Having answered St. John, our Lord here resumes the discourse which was broken off at Mark 9:37. Matthew 10:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
On the contrary, whosoever shall offend the very least Christian. Matthew 18:6; Luke 17:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
And if a person cause thee to offend — (The discourse passes from the case of offending, to that of being offended) if one who is as useful or dear to thee as a hand or eye, hinder or slacken thee in the ways of Cod, renounce all intercourse with him. This primarily relates to persons, secondarily t... [ Continue Reading ]
Where their worm — That gnaweth the soul, (pride, self will, desire, malice, envy, shame, sorrow, despair,) dieth not — No more than the soul itself: and the fire (either material, or infinitely worse!) that tormenteth the body, is not quenched for ever. Isaiah 66:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
Every one — Who does not cut off the offending member, and consequently is cast into hell, shall be, as it were, salted with fire, preserved, not consumed thereby whereas every acceptable sacrifice shall be salted with another kind of salt, even that of Divine grace, which purifies the soul, (though... [ Continue Reading ]
Such salt is good indeed; highly beneficial to the world, in respect of which I have termed you the salt of the earth. But if the salt which should season others, have lost its own saltness, wherewith will ye season it? — Beware of this; see that ye retain your savour; and as a proof of it, have pea... [ Continue Reading ]