HAD HIS HAND WITHERED (εξηραμμενην εχων την χειρα). He had his ( THE in the Greek, common idiom with article as possessive) hand (right hand, Luke 6:6) in a withered state, perfect passive participle (adjective ξηραν in Matthew and Luke), showing that it was not congenital, but the result of inju... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WATCHED (παρετηρουν). Imperfect tense, were watching on the side (or sly). Luke uses the middle voice, παρετηρουντο, to accent their personal interest in the proceedings. It was the sabbath day and in the synagogue and they were there ready to catch him in the act if he should dare to violat... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND FORTH (εγειρε εις το μεσον). Step into the middle of the room where all can see. It was a bold defiance of the Christ's spying enemies. Wycliff rightly puts it:THEY ASPIEDEN HIM . They played the spy on Jesus. One can see the commotion among the long-bearded hypocrites at this daring act... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY HELD THEIR PEACE (ο δε εσιωπων). Imperfect tense. In sullen silence and helplessness before the merciless questions of Jesus as the poor man stood there before them all. Jesus by his pitiless alternatives between doing good (αγαθοποιεω, late Greek word in LXX and N.T.) and doing evil (κα... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD LOOKED ROUND ON THEM WITH ANGER (περιβλεψαμενος αυτους μετ' οργης). Mark has a good deal to say about the looks of Jesus with this word (Mark 3:5; Mark 3:34; Mark 5:37; Mark 9:8; Mark 10:23; Mark 11:11) as here. So Luke only once, Luke 6:10. The eyes of Jesus swept the room all round a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STRAIGHTWAY WITH THE HERODIANS TOOK COUNCIL (ευθυς μετα των Hηρωιδιανων). The Pharisees could stand no more. So out they stalked at once in a rage of madness (Luke 6:11) and outside of the synagogue took counsel (συμβουλιον εποιησαν) or gave counsel (συμβουλιον εδιδουν, as some MSS. have it, i... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHDREW TO THE SEA (ανεχωρησεν εις την θαλασσαν). Evidently Jesus knew of the plot to kill him, "perceiving it" (Matthew 12:15). "He and His would be safer by the open beach" (Swete). He has the disciples with him. Vincent notes that on eleven occasions Mark mentions the withdrawals of Jesus to e... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARING WHAT GREAT THINGS HE DID (ακουοντες οσα ποιε). Masculine plural present participle, though πληθος is neuter singular (construction according to sense in both number and gender). This crowd by the sea came from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond Jordan (Decapolis and Perea), Tyre an... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT A LITTLE BOAT SHOULD WAIT ON HIM (ινα πλοιαριον προσκαρτερη αυτω). The boat was to keep close (note present tense subjunctive of προσκαρτερεω) to the shore in constant readiness and move as Jesus did. Whether he needed it or not is not told, but it was there at hand.LEST THEY SHOULD THRONG H... [ Continue Reading ]
PRESSED UPON HIM (επιπιπτειν αυτω). Were falling upon him to such an extent that it was dangerous. They were not hostile, but simply intensely eager, each to have his own case attended to by Jesus.THAT THEY MIGHT TOUCH HIM (ινα αυτου αψωντα). If only that much. They hoped for a cure by contact... [ Continue Reading ]
WHENSOEVER THEY BEHELD HIM (οταν αυτον εθεωρουν). Imperfect indicative with οταν of repeated action. They kept falling down before him (προσεπιπτον) and crying, (εκραζον) and he kept charging or rebuking (επιτιμα) them, all imperfects. The unclean spirits (demons) recognize Jesus as the Son of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GOETH UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN (αναβαινε εις το ορος). So Matthew (Matthew 5:1) and Luke (Luke 6:12), "to pray" Luke adds. Historical present so common in Mark's vivid narrative. Neither Gospel gives the name of the mountain, assuming it as well known, probably not far from the lake.WHOM HE HIMSEL... [ Continue Reading ]
HE APPOINTED TWELVE (εποιησεν δωδεκα). This was a second selection out of those invited to the hills and after the night of prayer and after day came (Luke 6:13). Why he chose twelve we are not told, probably because there were twelve tribes in Israel. It was a good round number at any rate. They... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON HE SURNAMED PETER (επεθηκεν ονομα τω Σιμων Πετρον). The Greek idiom seems awkward, but it is not. Peter is in apposition with _name_ or ονομα (accusative). This surname Jesus gave in addition (επεθηκεν) to Simon (dative case). Here then is a direct reference to what is told in John 1:42 whe... [ Continue Reading ]
BOANERGES, WHICH IS SONS OF THUNDER (Βοανηργες ο εστιν υιο βροντης). This Hebrew nickname is given only by Mark and the reason for it is not clear. It may refer to the fiery temperament revealed in Luke 9:34 when James and John wanted to call down fire on the Samaritan villages that were unfriend... [ Continue Reading ]
HE COMETH INTO A HOUSE (ερχετα εις οικον). Historical present again and no article with noun. He comes home from the mountain, probably the house of Simon as in Mark 1:29. Mark passes by the Sermon on the Mount given by Matthew and Luke on the mountain (plateau on the mountain in Luke). We have t... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT THEY COULD NOT SO MUCH AS EAT BREAD (ωστε μη δυνασθα αυτους μηδε αρτον φαγειν). Note infinitive with ωστε. Apparently Jesus and the disciples indoors with the great crowd in the house and at the door as in Mark 1:32; Mark 2:2 to which Mark refers by "again." The jam was so great that they... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FRIENDS (ο παρ' αυτου). The phrase means literally "those from the side of him (Jesus)." It could mean another circle of disciples who had just arrived and who knew of the crowds and strain of the Galilean ministry who now come at this special juncture. But the idiom most likely means the kin... [ Continue Reading ]
IN PARABLES (εν παραβολαις). In crisp pungent thrusts that exposed the inconsistencies of the scribes and Pharisees. See on Mark 3:13 for discussion of the wordPARABLE (παραβολη, placing beside for comparison). These short parabolic quips concern Satan's casting out (εκβαλλε, the very word used... [ Continue Reading ]
SPOIL (διαρπασα). Plunder, compound verb, thoroughly ransack. Picture of Satan plundering the demons, the very tools (σκευη) by which he carried on his business. A _reductio ad absurdum_. Jesus is the conqueror of Satan, not in league with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
GUILTY OF AN ETERNAL SIN (ενοχος εστιν αιωνιου αμαρτηματος). The genitive of the penalty occurs here with ενοχος. In saying that Jesus had an unclean spirit (verse Mark 3:30) they had attributed to the devil the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the unpardonable sin and it can be committed today b... [ Continue Reading ]
STANDING WITHOUT (εξω στηκοντες). A late present from the perfect εστηκα. Pathetic picture of the mother and brothers standing on the outside of the house thinking that Jesus inside is beside himself and wanting to take him home. They were crowded out.THEY SENT UNTO HIM, CALLING HIM (απεστειλαν... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS SITTING ABOUT HIM (εκαθητο περ αυτον). They sat in a circle (κυκλω) around Jesus with the disciples forming a sort of inner circle.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING ROUND ON THEM (περιβλεψαμενος). Another of Mark's life-like touches. Jesus calls those who do the will of God his mother, brothers, and sisters. This does not prove that the sisters were actually there. The brothers were hostile and that gives point to the tragic words of Jesus. One's hea... [ Continue Reading ]