Mark 16:1-8
ON the Resurrection and order of Appearances, see the Chapter Comments for Matthew 28. This section does not tell of any appearance, and shows the usual independence in the story of the visit to the tomb.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON the Resurrection and order of Appearances, see the Chapter Comments for Matthew 28. This section does not tell of any appearance, and shows the usual independence in the story of the visit to the tomb.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:1. WHEN THE SABBATH WAS PAST. After sunset on Saturday. BOUGHT SPICES. Luke 22:56 does not necessarily imply that the preparation of spices took place on Friday, before the beginning of the Sabbath. Even if most of the women began the preparations at that time, these three were not thus en... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:2. VERY EARLY. In the East this would mean before sunrise, as the other accounts show. The anxious women would go to the tomb as soon as possible. WHEN THE SUN WAS RISEN. This may be taken literally as referring to the time when they reached the tomb, or less exactly ‘when the sun was abou... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:3. WHO SHALL roll, etc.? A natural and graphic touch in the narrative. The Lord had removed the difficulty, before it was actually encountered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:4. LOOKING UP. They may have been looking down before, absorbed in their conversation; the tomb was probably above them, cut horizontally in the face of the rock at a slight elevation. THEY SEE THAT THE STONE IS ROLLED BACK. Possibly ‘rolled up,' as if it had rested in a hollow at the door... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:5. AND ENTERING INTO THE TOMB. That it was of great size is evident. This entrance, as we think, took place after an interval, during which the three separated, after the angelic message mentioned in Matthew 28:2-7, the two Maries returning with the other women and entering the tomb. On the... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:6. BE NOT AMAZED. This is probably not identical with the message in Matthew 28:5-7, given outside the tomb, but a second one (reported by Luke also), which is, however, substantially a repetition of the previous one.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:7. BUT. Emphatic: instead of lingering here, GO TELL, etc. AND PETER. A special token of love to this one who had denied Him, and a recognition of his prominence among his equals. INTO GALILEE. Comp. Luke 24:6-7. The question: ‘Why seek ye the living,' etc., probably preceded the words:... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:8. AND FLED FROM THE TOMB. In a tumult of excitement. FOR TREMBLING AND ASTONISHMENT POSSESSED THEM. This was the reason of their fleeing. AND THEY SAID NOTHING TO ANY ONE; FOR THEY WERE AFRAID. Matthew twice (Matthew 28:8; Matthew 28:11) speaks of their going to deliver the message, henc... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:9. ON THE FIRST DAY, etc. Not the same expression as in Mark 16:2. The emphatic repetition suggests that the readers knew the sacredness of ‘the first day' among Christians. APPEARED FIRST. See the Chapter Comments on Matthew 28, and the full account of John (John 20:14-17). FROM WHOM HE... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GENUINENESS of Mark 16:9-20. This has been greatly doubted for the following reasons: (1.) They are not found in the two _oldest_ and best manuscripts of the New Testament (the Sinaitic and the Vatican); but in one of them (the Vatican) there is a column left blank after Mark 16:8, and the words... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:10. SHE WENT AND TOLD. Comp. John 20:18. Emphasis seems to rest on the word ‘she;' she was the first to tell them, the others probably returning later, after they had seen the Lord on the way (Matthew 28:9). THEM THAT HAD BEEN WITH HIM. An unusual expression for ‘disciples,' probably inclu... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:11. HAD BEEN SEEN OF HER. Another expression peculiar to this section. But ‘new facts, new words.' DISBELIEVED. A different form from ‘believed not' (Mark 16:12). Comp. Luke 24:11. Their disbelief has been overruled for good; it furnishes abundant proof that they did not _invent_ the story... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:12. AFTER THESE THINGS. This expression, peculiar to this section, marks definitely a _second_ appearance, after the ‘first' (Mark 16:9). The appearance to Peter is not mentioned; the author is emphasizing the unbelief of the eleven, so that he chooses a revelation to two, not of their numbe... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:13. THEY. Emphatic, giving prominence to these successive messages. THE REST, _i.e.,_ of ‘them that had been with Him' (Mark 16:10). AND THEM ALSO THEY BELIEVED NOT. Despite the repeated testimony. Luke (Luke 24:34) tells how these two met the company who told them, ‘The Lord is risen ind... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:14. AFTERWARD. ‘Later' not ‘last,' though the word may bear such a meaning. This was the last manifestation of that day, and is fully detailed by Luke (Luke 24:36, etc.) and John (John 20:19-23). Mark joins with it the last revelation of our Lord on earth. See on Mark 16:15. SAT AT MEAT. I... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:15. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM. There is no reference to the appearances in Galilee. The more important points of the revelations made on various occasions up to the time of the Ascension are summed up. These words may, however, have been uttered on one occasion. Comp. Matthew 28:19; but here the... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:16. HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTISED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT DISBELIEVETH SHALL BE CONDEMNED. The obvious lessons of this verse are pressing and practical. (1.) The belief is belief in Jesus of Nazareth, crucified and risen again, as _an all-sufficient Personal Saviour,_ It is belief of... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:16-18 are peculiar to this Gospel and quite characteristic. They may have been uttered on the mountain in Galilee, or more likely still, just before the Ascension, mentioned immediately afterwards (Mark 16:19). PREACH THE GOSPEL, proclaim the glad tidings; not simply give instruction in Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:17. AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE. This promise is to be taken literally; but is it to be limited to the Apostolic times, or is it to be extended to all Christians? In favor of the limitation may be urged: the reference to the _founding_ of the Church which runs through the... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:18. THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS. See Acts 28:3-5, where this promise was fulfilled in the case of Paul. We therefore retain the simple meaning: they shall take up serpents without injury, as a ‘sign.' As the word translated ‘take up' has a variety of secondary meanings, some explain it here,... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:19. So thou. This phrase, not found elsewhere in this Gospel, introduces the conclusion. THE LORD. A term of the highest reverence in this case. Jesus is inserted on good authority. AFTER HE HAD SPOKEN ONTO THEM. Both the time and place of the discourse are indefinite, and the fuller acc... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 16:20. AND THEY WENT FORTH. Not out of the room (Mark 16:14), but out into the world (Mark 16:15) to preach everywhere. The writer cannot mean that our Lord ascended from that room. EVERYWHERE. The gospel was diffused very rapidly, and at the date of Mark's Gospel the use of this general term... [ Continue Reading ]