Bible Commentaries
Mark 6

Verse 1

CHAPTER VI.

Our Lord's countrymen are astonished at his wisdom and mighty

works, and are offended at him, 1-4.

He works few miracles there, because of their unbelief, 5, 6.

He sends forth his disciples by two and two to preach, &c.,

7-11.

They depart, preach, and work miracles, 12, 13.

Different opinions of Christ, 14-16.

Account of the beheading of John Baptist, 17-29.

The disciples return, and give an account of their mission, 30.

He departs with them to a place of privacy, but the people

follow him, 31-33.

He has compassion on them, and miraculously feeds five thousand

with five loaves and two fishes, 34-44.

He sends the disciples by sea to Bethsaida, and himself goes

into a mountain to pray, 45, 46.

The disciples meet with a storm, and he comes to them walking

upon the water, and appeases the winds and the sea, 47-52.

They come into the land of Gennesaret, and he works many

miracles, 53-56.

NOTES ON CHAP. VI.

Verse Mark 6:1. And he went out from thence — That is, from Capernaum. Matthew 13:54; Matthew 13:54.

Verse 2

Verse Mark 6:2. Were astonished — επι τῃ διδαχῃ αυτου, at his doctrine, or teaching. This is added by the Codex Bezae and eight others, later Syriac, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala.

Verse 3

Verse Mark 6:3. Is not this the carpenter — Among the ancient Jews, every father was bound to do four things for his son.

1. To circumcise him.

2. To redeem him.

3. To teach him the law.

4. To teach him a trade.

And this was founded on the following just maxim: "He who teaches not his son to do some work, is as if he taught him robbery!" It is therefore likely that Joseph brought up our Lord to his own trade.

Joses — Several good MSS. read ιωσητος, Joset, and one, with several versions, reads Joseph.

Verse 4

Verse Mark 6:4-6. See this curious subject explained, Matthew 13:55-58.

Verse 5

Verse Mark 6:5. Mark 6:4; Mark 6:4.

Verse 6

Verse Mark 6:6. Mark 6:4; Mark 6:4.

Verse 7

Verse Mark 6:7. By two and two — That they might encourage and support each other; and to show that union among the ministers of the Gospel is essential to the promotion of the cause of truth. Luke 10:1; Luke 10:1.

Verse 8

Verse Mark 6:8. A staff only — It is likely he desired them to take only one with every two, merely for the purpose of carrying any part of their clothes on, when they should be obliged to strip them off by reason of the heat; for walking staves, or things of this kind, were forbidden, see Matthew 10:10. But, probably, no more is designed than simply to state that they must not wait to make any provision for the journey, but go off just as they were, leaving the provision necessary in the present case to the care of Divine Providence. St. James is represented in ancient paintings, as carrying a gourd bottle on a STAFF across his shoulder.

Verse 9

Verse Mark 6:9. Shod with sandals — The sandal seems to have been similar to the Roman solea, which covered only the sole of the foot, and was fastened about the foot and ankle with straps. The sandal was originally a part of the woman's dress; ancient authors represent them as worn only by women. In Matthew 10:10, the disciples are commanded to take no shoes, υποδηματα, which word is nearly of the same import with σανδαλια, sandals; but, as our Lord intimates to them that they should be free from all useless incumbrances, that they might fulfil his orders with the utmost diligence and despatch, so we may suppose that the sandal was a lighter kind of wear than the shoe: and indeed the word sandal, which is mere Chaldee, סנדל might be properly translated a light shoe; as it is compounded of סין sin, a shoe, (see Targum, Deuteronomy 25:9-10,) and דל dal, thin, slender, or mean, as being made, not only lighter than the hypodema or shoe, but (probably) also of meaner materials. See many excellent observations on this subject in Martinius's Etymolog. Lexicon, under the word Sandalium.

Verse 11

Verse Mark 6:11. And whosoever shall not receive you — Ὁς αν τοπος μη δεξηται, whatsoever PLACE will not receive you: this is the reading of BL, four others, and the later Syriac in the margin.

Verily, &c.] All this clause is omitted in BCDL, two others, one Arabic, one Persic, Coptic, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala but three. Mill and Beza approve of the omission, and Griesbach leaves it out of the text. It has probably been transferred here from Matthew 10:15. See this subject, from Mark 6:7-11, explained at large on Matthew 10:1-15.

Verse 13

Verse Mark 6:13. Anointed with oil many that were sick — This is only spoken of here, and in James 5:14. This ceremony was in great use among the Jews; and in certain cases it might be profitable. But in the cases mentioned here, which were merely miraculous, it could avail no more of itself than the imposition of hands. It was used symbolically, as an emblem of that ease, comfort, and joy, which they prayed God to impart to the sick. For various examples of its use among the Jews, see Lightfoot and Wetstein on this place.

Verse 14

Verse Mark 6:14. And king Herod heard? — την ακιην αοτου, his fame, is added by KM, fifteen others, and in the margin of several. It seems necessary to complete the sense.

Verse 15

Verse Mark 6:15. OR, as one of the prophets. — η, or, is omitted by ABCEGHKLMS-BHV, and one hundred others, Syriac, all the Arabic, all the Persic, Coptic, AEthiopic, Gothic, Slavonic, Vulgate, two Itala, Origen, Victor, and Theophylact. Bengel, Wetstein, and Griesbach leave it out of the text: the omission of it mends the sense much.

Verse 19

Verse 19. Would have killed — εζητει, SOUGHT to kill him. C and five of the Itala.

See the whole of this account, from Mark 6:17-29, explained on Matthew 14:2-12.

Verse 21

Verse 21. Lords — μεγιστασιν, probably governors of particular districts.

High captains — χιλιαρχοις; literally, chiefs or captains over a thousand men, military chiefs.

Chief estates — πρωτοις; probably such as might be called nobles by title only, having no office civil or military; probably magistrates. See KYPKE an the place.

Verse 23

Verse 23. Unto the half of my kingdom. — A noble price for a dance! This extravagance in favour of female dancers has the fullest scope in the east, even to the present day. M. Anquetil du Perron, in the preliminary discourse to his Zend Avesta, p. 344 and 345, gives a particular account of the dancers at Surat. This account cannot be transcribed in a comment on the Gospel of God, however illustrative it might be of the conduct of Herodias and her daughter Salome: it is too abominable for a place here. He observes, that the rich vie with each other in the presents they make to the dancing girls of money and jewels; and that persons of opulence have even ruined themselves by the presents they made to those victims of debauch. He mentions a remarkable case, which may throw light on this passage: "That the dancer Laal-koner gained such a complete ascendancy over the Mogul Emperor Maaz-eddin, that he made her joint governess of the empire with himself."

Verse 26

Verse 26. For their sakes which sat with him — Probably these persons joined in with the request, and were glad of this opportunity to get this light of Israel extinguished; he being a public reprover of all their vices.

Verse 30

Verse 30. The apostles gathered themselves together — For they went different ways before, by two and two, Mark 6:7; and now they return and meet Christ at Capernaum.

Verse 31

Verse 31. Rest a while — Rest is necessary for those who labour; and a zealous preacher of the Gospel will as often stand in need of it as a galley slave.

Verse 33

Verse 33. The people — Or, οχλοι, the multitudes. This is wanting in many MSS., but it seems necessary to make the sense clear. There is scarcely a verse in the whole New Testament that has suffered so much from transcribers as this verse. Amidst the abundance of various readings, one can scarcely tell what its original state was. The various readings may be seen in Griesbach.

Verse 34

Verse 34. Much people, &c.] See this miracle explained on Matthew 14:14, &c.

Verse 40

Verse 40. By hundreds, and by fifties. — "That is," says Mr. Wesley, "fifty in a rank, and a hundred in file. So, a hundred multiplied by fifty, made just five thousand." But if they sat fifty deep, how could the disciples conveniently serve them with the bread and fish?

Verse 41

Verse 41. And blessed — I think the word God should be inserted here, as in Matthew 14:19. See the note there. The food we receive from God is already blessed, and does not stand in need of being blessed by man; but God, who gives it, deserves our warmest thanksgivings, as frequently as we are called to partake of his bounty.

Verse 43

Verse 43. Twelve baskets — These were either the baskets used by the disciples, see Matthew 14:20, or baskets belonging to some of the multitude, who might have brought some with them to carry provisions, or other things necessary for the sick, whom they brought to Christ to be healed.

Verse 44

Verse 44. Were about five thousand — ωσει, about, is omitted by a great majority of the best MSS. and by the principal versions. It is wanting in several editions: Bengel, Wetstein, and Griesbach, leave it out of the text. It is omitted by some in the parallel place, Matthew 14:21, but it stands without any variation in Luke 9:14, and John 6:10. This miracle is mentioned by all the four evangelists. It is one of the most astonishing that Christ has wrought. It is a miracle which could not be counterfeited, and a full proof of the divinity of Christ.

Verse 45

Verse 45. To the other side before unto Bethsaida — John says, John 6:17, to Capernaum. It is probable our Lord ordered them to steer to one or other of these two places, which were about four miles distant, and on the same side of the sea of Galilee.

Verse 47

Verse 47. The ship was in the midst of the sea — See all the parts of this wonderful transaction considered, on Matthew 14:22-33.

Verse 49

Verse 49. They supposed it had been a spirit — That is, by whom the storm had been raised.

Verse 52

Verse Mark 6:52. Their heart was hardened. — See this explained Matthew 14:33.

Verse 53

Verse Mark 6:53. The land of Gennesaret — This country lay on the coast of the sea of Galilee: it is described by Josephus as being exceedingly pleasant and fertile. It had its name of Gennesaret from גן, gen, a garden, and סר sar, a prince, either because the king had a garden there, or because of its great fertility.

Verse 54

Verse Mark 6:54. They knew him — επιγνοντες, They recollected him; for he had before preached and wrought miracles in different places of the same country.

Verse 56

Verse Mark 6:56. Villages — Probably small towns near cities.

Country — Villages at a distance from cities and large public towns. See the notes on Matthew 14:34-36.

Christ went about doing good - he confined his ministry and miracles to no place - wherever he went, they stood in need of his help; and whenever they required his assistance, they had it granted immediately. Our Lord's conduct, in these respects, is a perfect pattern for every preacher of his Gospel.