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Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came out and began to ask him questions. They were looking for a sign from heaven, and they were trying to test him. He sighed in his spirit and said to them, "Why does this generation look for a sign? This is the truth I tell you--no sign will be given to this generation." He sent them away and he again embarked on the boat, and went away to the other side.

The whole tendency of the age in which Jesus lived was to look for God in the abnormal. It was believed that when the Messiah came the most startling things would happen. Before we reach the end of this chapter we shall examine more closely, and in detail, the kind of signs which were expected. We may note just now that when false Messiahs arose, as they frequently did, they lured the people to follow them by promising astonishing signs. They would promise, for instance, to cleave the waters of the Jordan in two and leave a pathway through it, or they would promise, with a word, to make the city watts fall down.

It was a sign like that that the Pharisees were demanding. They wished to see some shattering event blazing across the horizon, defying the laws of nature and astonishing men. To Jesus such a demand was not due to the desire to see the hand of God; it was due to the fact that they were blind to his hand. To Jesus the whole world was full of signs; the corn in the field, the leaven in the loaf, the scarlet anemones on the hillside all spoke to him of God. He did not think that God had to break in from outside the world; he knew that God was already in the world for anyone who had eyes to see. The sign of the truly religious man is not that he comes to Church to find God but that he finds God everywhere, not that he makes a great deal of sacred places but that he sanctifies common places.

That is what the poets knew and felt, and that is why they were poets. Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:

"Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."

Thomas Edward Brown wrote:

"A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!

Rose plot,

Fringed pool,

Fern's grot--

The veriest school

Of peace; and yet the fool

Contends that God is not--

Not God! In gardens! when the eve is cool?

Nay, but I have a sign;

'Tis very sure God walks in mine."

And still another poet wrote:

"One asked a sign from God; and day by day

The sun arose in pearl; in scarlet set;

Each night the stars appeared in bright array;

Each morn the thirsty grass with dew was wet;

The corn failed not its harvest, nor the vine

And yet he saw no sign!"

From him who has eyes to see and a heart to understand, the daily miracle of night and day and the daily splendour of all common things are sign enough from God.

THE FAILURE TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE (Mark 8:14-21)

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See also Mark 8:11-13 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    See this passage explained in Matthew 16:1. Mark 8:12 SIGHED DEEPLY IN HIS SPIRIT - His heart was deeply affected at their wickedness and hypocrisy. The word “spirit” here is taken as the seat of the...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 8 __ 1. The feeding of the Four Thousand. (Mark 8:1. Matthew 15:32) 2. The Pharisees ask a sign. (Mark 8:10 .Matthew 16:1

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE REQUEST FOR A SIGN REFUSED. The Pharisees require some special authentication from Jesus beyond exorcisms and healings. They are said to tempt Jesus either because their question was intended to e...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    PHARISEES. App-120. BEGAN. The beginnings of things are very often thus, emphasised in Mark. See Mark 1:1; Mark 1:45; Mark 4:1; Mark 5:17;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And the Pharisees_ Our Lord seems purposely to have avoided sailing to Bethsaida or Capernaum, which lay a little north of Magdala, and which had become the head-quarters of the Pharisees; but they h...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἘΞΗ͂ΛΘΟΝ. As if from an ambush. ΟἹ ΦΑΡΙΣΑΙ͂ΟΙ. Mt. adds the Sadducees, and he does so six times. Mk and Lk. mention the Sadducees only once, Jn not at all. _They began_ once more _to question with Hi...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    10–13. ANOTHER ATTACK OF THE PHARISEES Matthew 15:39...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 10. And straightway He entered into a ship with His disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11. And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with Him, seeking of Him a sign from h...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS IS OUR POWERFUL LORD -- MARK 8:1-21:_ The multitudes of people still followed Jesus. Great leaders always train others. Therefore, Jesus did much of what He did through His apostles. He had pit...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΞΉΛΘΟΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΕΞΈΡΧΟΜΑΙ (G1831) выходить, идти" наружу, ΉΡΞΑΝΤΟ _aor. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΆΡΧΟΜΑΙ mm начинать. ΣΥΖΗΤΕΪΝ _praes. act. inf. от_ ΣΥΖΗΤΈΩ (G4802) обсуждать, спорить, возра...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BEGAN TO QUESTION WITH HIM,— Συζητειν, _to dispute._ Heylin. This may refer to the ancient method of disputation, which was carried on by question and answer. Dr. Doddridge renders it _began to examin...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _SUMMARY 7:24_8:13 This section contains an account of three more remarkable miraclesthe expulsion of a demon from the Gentile woman's daughter; the restoration of speech and hearing to the deaf stamm...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    4. THE DEMAND FOR A SIGN 8:11-13 _TEXT 8:11-13_ And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. AND THE PHARISEES CAME FORTH, AND BEGAN TO QUESTION WITH HIM, SEEKING OF HIM A SIGN FR...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    31-37 Compare Mat_15:29-31. 32 The meeting with the Greek woman of Syro-Phoenicia suggests a phase of kingdom service for which Israel, in our Lord's day, was utterly incapable. In Jehovah's day the L...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FEEDING THE FOUR THOUSAND. THE SIGN FROM HEAVEN. HEALING OF A BLIND MAN. CONFESSION OF PETER 1-10. Feeding the four thousand (Matthew 15:32). See on Mt....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A SIGN FROM HEAVEN SOUGHT (Matthew 16:1). See on Mt....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST IN THE BIBLE: MARK’S GOSPEL _KEITH SIMONS_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 8 FOOD FOR 4000 PEOPLE VERSES 1-10 Jesus gave food to a large crowd that did not h...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 8:11-21 (MARK 8:11) THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES "And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with Him, seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him. And He sighed deeply in His spi...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Pharisees seek a sign_ (Matthew 16:1-4)....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἐξῆλθον οἱ φ., the Pharisees went out, from their seat in the Holy Land into the heathen Decapolis, otherwise carefully shunned, in their zeal against Jesus. So Weiss (in Meyer)....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE DEMAND FOR SIGNS REBUKED Mark 8:1-21 Notice the Master's tender considerateness, Mark 8:1-9. He would not have the people faint on their way home. There are distinct differences between this mira...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This was the second miracle of feeding. Our Lord knew whence these people came, and was solicitous for them on their long journey home if they departed without food. The miracle was the result. The wa...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (1) And the Pharisees (b) came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. (1) The stubborn enemies of the doctrine of the Gospel, giving no credit to the...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Jesus Christ did not consent to the petition they made him, because there will be another time for signs and wonders, viz. his second coming, when the powers of heaven shall be moved, and the moon ref...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (11) And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. (12) And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek af...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It is remarkable how tradition has contrived to injure the truth in touching the question of the method of the gospel we now enter on; for the current view which comes down to us from the ancients, st...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    We shall find in chapter 8 another example of that which we have been noticing. Jesus leads the blind man out of the town. He does not forsake Israel wherever there is faith; but He separates the one...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THE PHARISEES CAME FORTH,.... Out of their houses; who dwelt in the coasts of Magdala, and parts of Dalmanutha, and came to Jesus, hearing of his being arrived in their neighbourhood: AND BEGAN T...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. Ver. 11. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 16:1 _"_...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He entered into a ship, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha_ Matthew says that, having fed the multitude, he _took ship_, and _came into the coasts of Magdala:_ but the evangelists may easily be re...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    A sign sought. Matthew 16:1-4....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES. Request for a sign from heaven:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND THE PHARISEES CAME FORTH, AND BEGAN TO QUESTION WITH HIM, SEEKING OF HIM A SIGN FROM HEAVEN, TEMPTING HIM....

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    TITLE: Deep in his spirit TEXT: Mark 8:9-12 PROPOSITION: We must learn to share our deep feelings with others. QUESTION: What? KEY WORD: Feelings SCRIPTURE READING: Same INTRODUCTION: 1. We are often...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    11-21 Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lam...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MARK 8:10...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Mark 8:11 Then G2532 Pharisees G5330 out G1831 (G5627) and G2532 began G756 (G5662) dispute G4802 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And the Pharisees came forth and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.' On His arrival the Pharisees came and began to dispute with Him. How genuine they were w...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PHARISEES COME SEEKING A SIGN (8:11-13). The stubbornness of the Pharisees is now contrasted with the willingness of the people in Decapolis to receive Him, and to recognise the sign that He gave...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    ON the whole section, see notes on Matthew 16:1-12....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Mark 8:11. AND THE PHARISEES. Matthew: ‘with the Sadducees.' But the former were the leaders. The skeptical Sadducees were entirely hypocritical in asking a sign from heaven. CAME FORTH. Spying hosti...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Compare notes on Matthew 15:21-39. The miracle (Mark 7:32-37) is peculiar to Mark and of special interest....

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    AND THE PHARISEES CAME FORTH (κα εξηλθον ο Φαρισαιο). At once they met Jesus and opened a controversy. Matthew 16:1 adds "and Sadducees," the first time these two parties appear together against Jes...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Mark 8:1. In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now b...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: 4000 fed. Meaning of leaven explained. Blind man outside Bethsaida healed. Peter's confession of faith. The value of a soul. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Peter, disciples, Satan, blind man, Pharisees...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Mark 8:10. _He came into the parts of Dalmanutha,_ situate beyond the Jordan, where Tiberias and Magdala were considerable towns. Mark 8:12. _There shall no sign be given to this generation. Matthew...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    11-13. SOME PHARISEES CAME TO JESUS. See notes _on_ Matthew 16:1-4....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him._ SEEKING SIGN I. The unreasonableness of this request. 1. In other matters they were not scrupulous of evidence-tradition. 2. They had the signs o...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MARK—NOTE ON MARK 8:11 The Pharisees demand not just a miracle but a SIGN FROM HEAVEN. But they didn’t have the one thing that Jesus required: a fundamental change of heart....

  • The Gospels Compared

    RELIGIOUS LEADERS ASK FOR A SIGN MATTHEW 16:1-4; MARK 8:11-13; MATTHEW 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven....

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 8 1 _Christ feedeth the people miraculously_ : 10 _refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees_ : 14 _admonisheth his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ Mark 8:10. DALMANUTHA.—“Has been identified with the modern _Ain-el-Bârideh_, the ‘cold fountain,’ a glen which opens upon the lake about a mile from Magdala.” Cp. Mat...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MARK 8:1, MARK 8:2 The opening words of the first verse seem to imply that our Lord remained for some time on this, the north-east, side of the Sea of Galilee. THE MULTITUDE BEING VERY GRE...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn now in our Bibles to Mark's gospel, chapter 8. Now, Mark has already told us how that Jesus fed five thousand men beside the women and children with five loaves and two fish. Now we find a...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 10:9; Acts 5:9;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Began. The beginnings of things seem to have a peculiar interest for Mark. See Mark 1:1; Mark 1:45; Mark 4:1; Mark 5:17;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Tempting him — That is, trying to ensnare him. Matthew 16:1....

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Did Jesus contradict Himself by saying there would be no sign given (cf. Matthew 12:38-39)? PROBLEM: In Mark, the Pharisees ask for a sign from Jesus, but He says that no sign shall be given to that...

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Old Testament