Bible Commentaries
Mark 6

The Bible Study New TestamentBible Study NT

Verse 1

1.

Jesus left that place. Left Capernaum. Went back to his home town. Back to Nazareth.

Verse 2

2.

On the Sabbath day. See notes on Matthew 13:53-58. This was the second time he was rejected here (Luke 4:19-29).

Verse 3

3.

Isn’t he the carpenter? This shows that Jesus had worked at the same “trade” as Joseph (his legal father). It was the custom for every Jew to be taught a “trade.” [Brothers and sisters, see note on John 2:12.]

Verse 5

5.

He was not able. Matthew says they did not have faith. Jesus did not lack the ability to perform miracles, but it would be useless to do so, because these people had already decided not be believe.

Verse 6

6.

He was greatly surprised. See note on Matthew 8:10. To the villages around there. He spent no more time with them, but took his ministry into new areas.

Verse 7

7.

He called the twelve disciples together. See Matthew 10:0 for a full account of this (and notes there).

Verse 8

8.

Except a walking stick. Each one would already have a walking stick. The emphasis is on speed, and the fact that the people should take care of them.

Verse 9

9.

Wear sandals. This was symbolic (also Mark 6:8). They were to dress like “poor people.”

Verse 13

13.

And rubbed oil on many sick people. Oil was symbolic of God’s grace. Using it pointed to God as the Healer. [Also called “anointing,”]

Verse 14

14.

Now King Herod heard about all this. See notes on Matthew 14:1-12 about Herod’s reaction and John the Baptist’s death.

Verse 17

17.

Because of Herodias. This immoral woman was responsible for John being in prison.

Verse 19

19.

Wanted to kill him. Because John had exposed her sin. But she did not have the authority to do it.

Verse 20

20.

Herod was afraid of John. Both because he knew John to be a holy man, and also because of public opinion.

Verse 21

21.

Finally Herodias got her chance. This implies she had been constantly thinking about it and planning his death.

Verse 27

27.

So he sent off a guard. Custom made the captain of the guard the one who did the execution.

Verse 31

31.

Let us go off by ourselves. For notes on the feeding of the Five Thousand, see Matthew 13:13-21. All four Gospels give this account.

Verse 32

32.

To a lonely place. To the small plain of Butaiha just east of where the Jordan flows into the lake of Galilee. No one lived in that area.

Verse 45

45.

And go ahead of him to Bethsaida. For notes on Jesus walking on the water, see Matthew 14:22-23. John says they went toward Capernaum. That was their destination, but on the way, they sailed along the coast in the northwest direction. They expected to meet Jesus at Bethsaida, and continue on to Capernaum. The ruins of Bethsaida are found near the place where the Jordan flows into Lake Galilee, close to the scene of the miracle.

Verse 53

53.

And came to land at Gennesaret. Just south of Capernaum on the shore of Lake Galilee. See notes on Matthew 14:34-36.

Bibliographical Information
Ice, Rhoderick D. "Commentary on Mark 6". "The Bible Study New Testament". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ice/mark-6.html. College Press, Joplin, MO. 1974.