ΟἹ ΦΑΡΙΣΑΙ͂ΟΙ ΚΑῚ ΣΑΔΔΟΥΚΑΙ͂ΟΙ. In Mark οἱ Φαρισαῖοι alone. The coalition between these opposing sects can only be accounted for by the uniting influence of a strong common hostility against Jesus. ΠΕΙΡΆΖΟΝΤΕΣ. The participle sometimes expresses in a condensed form what might be expanded into a fin... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΔΊΑ … ΧΕΙΜΏΝ. For this contrast cp. ἀλλὰ νῦν μοι | γαιάοχος εὐδίαν ὄπασσεν | ἐκ χειμῶνος. Pind. _Isth_. (VII) VI. 37–39.... [ Continue Reading ]
2 and 3. ὈΨΊΑΣ … ΟΥ̓ ΔΎΝΑΣΘΕ. The genuineness of this passage is doubtful. It is omitted in several uncials (among them אB) and cursives. Origen passes over the passage in his Commentary, and Jerome notes its omission plerisque Codicibus. Still the internal evidence is strong in its favour and it is... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑποκριταὶ omitted before ΤῸ ΜῈΝ ΠΡΌΣΩΠΟΝ and (Matthew 16:4) τοῦ προφήτου after ἸΩΝΑ͂. 3. στυγνάζων, late. Polybius uses στυγνότης of the weather. ΤῸ ΠΡΌΣΩΠΟΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΟΥ̓ΡΑΝΟΥ͂. Perhaps Jesus and His questioners were looking across the lake towards the cliffs of Gergesa, with the sky red from the refl... [ Continue Reading ]
39–16:4. JESUS AT MAGDALA, OR MAGADAN, IS TEMPTED TO GIVE A SIGN Mark 8:10-12; Luke 12:54-57 4. ΜΟΙΧΑΛΊΣ. See ch. Matthew 12:39. ΤῸ ΣΗΜΕΙ͂ΟΝ ἸΩΝΑ͂. See ch. Matthew 12:39-41, where the same word occurs in the same connection. An estranged people cannot see signs. The words in Mark 8:12 are ‘there... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND OF THE SADDUCEES Mark 8:14-21, where the rebuke of Christ is given more at length in stirring language; and Luke 12:1, where the context and occasion are different. ἐπισυναχθεισῶν τῶν μυριάδων τοῦ ὄχλον ὥστε καταπατεῖν�.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Σ ΖΎΜΗΣ. Teaching, which like leaven is corrupt and penetrating, cp. 1 Corinthians 5:7, ἐκκαθάρατε τὴν παλαιὰν ζύμην ἵνα ἦτε νέον φύραμα καθώς ἐστε ἄζυμοι, where the reference is to the putting away of leaven before the passover. See Schöttgen on 1 Corinthians 5:7, and cp. Hosea 7:4, and note ch.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΤΙ ἌΡΤΟΥΣ ΟΥ̓Κ ἘΛΆΒΟΜΕΝ. ὅτι, probably not causal but _recitativum_ i.e. used to introduce the words of the speaker. εἰ μὴ ἕνα ἄρτον οὐκ εἶχον (Mark). It is possible that Jesus may have employed figurative language even more than was usual with Eastern teachers; certainly this special metaphorical... [ Continue Reading ]
ὈΛΙΓΌΠΙΣΤΟΙ. Their πίστις had failed in two respects: they had shown (1) want of _spiritual insight_ by taking ζύμη in a literal sense. (2) Want of _loving trust_ in thinking that Jesus intended a rebuke to their forgetfulness.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓́ΠΩ ΝΟΕΙ͂ΤΕ. In Mark the rebuke is conveyed by a reference to the prophecy quoted ch. Matthew 13:14-15 (Isaiah 6:9-10), with the striking variation of πεπωρωμένην καρδίαν for ἐπαχύνθη ἡ καρδία. ΚΟΦΊΝΟΥΣ … ΣΠΥΡΊΔΑΣ. See notes ch. Matthew 14:20 and Matthew 15:37.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἊΡΤΩΝ for ἄρτου, a certain correction.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΗ͂ΚΑΝ. See note on ἀσύνετοι, ch. Matthew 15:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΙΣΑΡΕΊΑΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ΦΙΛΊΠΠΟΥ. The most northerly point in the Holy Land reached by our Lord. The city was rebuilt by Herod Philip, who called it by his own name to distinguish it from Cæsarea Stratonis on the sea coast, the seat of the Roman government, and the scene of St Paul’s imprisonment. The Gree... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GREAT CONFESSION OF ST PETER, AND THE PROMISE GIVEN TO HIM Mark 8:27-30 : The question is put ‘while they were on the way,’ the words ‘the Son of the living God’ are omitted, as also the blessing on Peter. Luke 9:18-21 : Jesus was engaged in prayer alone; the words of the confession are ‘the Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
ἹΕΡΕΜΊΑΝ. Named by St Matthew only. The mention of Jeremiah as representative of the Prophets is explained by Lightfoot (_Hor. Hebr._ Matthew 27:9) by reference to a Talmudic treatise, according to which the book of Jeremiah came first of the Prophets, following the books of Kings.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪ ΕἾ Ὁ ΧΡΙΣΤῸΣ Ὁ ΥἹῸΣ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂ ΤΟΥ͂ ΖΩ͂ΝΤΟΣ. This confession not only sees in Jesus the promised Messiah, but in the Messiah recognises the divine nature. It was this claim that brought upon Jesus the hostility of the Jews. Trypho the Jew in his dialogue with Justin Martyr declares that his natio... [ Continue Reading ]
ΒᾺΡ ἸΩΝΑ͂, ‘son of Jonah,’ or ‘son of John.’ The Greek form may stand for either name (see Bp. Lightfoot on a _Fresh Revision of N.T._, pp. 159, 160); but the reading adopted by the best editors John 1:43, υἱὸς Ἰωάνου, seems conclusive in favour of the latter rendering. Bar is Aramaic for son; cp. B... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪ ΕἾ ΠΈΤΡΟΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. The precise meaning of πέτρα in relation to Πέτρος has been keenly disputed. To suppose no connection between Πέτρος and πέτρα is opposed to candid criticism. On the other hand, to view πέτρα as simply equivalent to Πέτρος, and to regard the _personal_ Peter as the rock on which... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤᾺΣ ΚΛΕΙ͂ΔΑΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΊΑΣ ΤΩ͂Ν ΟΥ̓ΡΑΝΩ͂Ν. This expression was not altogether new. To a Jew it would convey a definite meaning. A key was given to a Scribe when admitted to his office as a symbol of his authority to open the treasury of the divine oracles (ch. Matthew 13:52). Peter was to be a Scri... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἰησοῦς, though found in some important MSS. (not in אBL), is rightly omitted, the internal evidence against it is strong, and the insertion might easily be made by a mistake in transcription. 20. ἽΝΑ ΜΗΔΕΝῚ ΕἼΠΩΣΙΝ ὍΤΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΣ ἘΣΤΙΝ Ὁ ΧΡΙΣΤΌΣ. Lest the Galilæan enthusiasm should endeavour to make Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠῸ ΤΌΤΕ. An important note of time. Now that the disciples have learned to acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah, He is able to instruct them in the true nature of the Kingdom. ΔΕΙ͂ conveys the idea of duty, of a course of life not led haphazard, but determined by principle, of the divine plan which... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PASSION IS FORETOLD Mark 8:31-33; Luke 9:22. St Luke omits the rebuke to Peter. St Mark adds καὶ παρρησίᾳ (without reserve) τὸν λόγον ἐλάλει, both add καὶ�.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἽΛΕΏΣ ΣΟΙ. Understand θεὸς γένοιτο or γένοιο, and translate literally: ‘_may God pity thee_,’ i.e. ‘_give thee a better fate_,’ or (2) ‘_pity thyself_.’ ἵλεως is used of divine pity, in this way especially by late authors: σὐ δʼ ἵλεως Ἀφροδίτη γενοῦ, Lucian. _Amor._ 30; δέσποτα Παλαῖμον, ἵλεως ἡμῖν... [ Continue Reading ]
ὝΠΑΓΕ ὈΠΊΣΩ ΜΟΥ, ΣΑΤΑΝΑ͂. Peter takes the place of the tempter, and argues for the false kingdom instead of for the true (see notes ch. Matthew 4:8-10). ΣΚΆΝΔΑΛΟΝ ἘΜΟΥ͂, i.e. a snare to allure me, as tempting me to forsake the divine plan of self-denial and sacrifice. ΟΥ̓ ΦΡΟΝΕΙ͂Σ ΤᾺ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂�. ‘... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΡΆΤΩ ΤῸΝ ΣΤΑΥΡΌΝ, ‘take up his cross,’ St Luke adds καθʼ ἡμέραν. The expression, ch. Matthew 10:38, differs slightly, ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, where see note. ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν implies death; this explains the γὰρ (Matthew 16:15), let Christ’s follower lose on the cross the lower life, as... [ Continue Reading ]
SELF-RENOUNCEMENT REQUIRED IN CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS. THEIR REWARD Mark 8:34 to Mark 9:1; Luke 9:23-27.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘᾺΝ ΤῸΝ ΚΌΣΜΟΝ ὍΛΟΝ ΚΕΡΔΉΣΗΙ. One of the false Messianic notions was that the Christ should gain the whole world, i.e. the Roman Empire. This was the very temptation presented to our Lord Himself ‘the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them.’ What is the value of universal dominion, of the whole... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΆΡ. The reason given why the higher life—the soul—is of priceless value: (1) The Judge is at hand who will condemn self-indulgence and all the works of the lower life, and will reward those who have denied themselves. (2) Further (Matthew 16:28) this judgment shall not be delayed—it is very near. T... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ ΜῊ ΓΕΎΣΩΝΤΑΙ ΘΑΝΆΤΟΥ Κ.Τ.Λ. Compare The valiant never taste of death but once. SHAKSPEAR, _Jul. Cæs._ Act II, 2. St Matthew’s version of this ‘hard saying’ indicates more plainly than the other Synoptic Gospels the personal presence of Christ. St Luke has, ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ... [ Continue Reading ]