Bible Commentaries
Mark 14

Introduction

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

1 A conspiracy against Christ.

3 Precious ointment is poured on his head by a woman.

10 Judas selleth his Master for money.

12 Christ himself foretelleth how he shall be betrayed of one of his disciples:

22 after the passover prepared, and eaten, instituteth his supper:

26 declareth aforehand the flight of all his disciples, and Peter’s denial.

43 Judas betrayeth him with a kiss. He is apprehended in the garden,

53 falsely accused, and impiously condemned of the Jews council:

65 shamefully abused by them:

66 and thrice denied of Peter.

Verse 3

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

An alabaster box of ointment of spikenard. — The plant from which this oil was made is called narda spicata, and the oil, unguentum nardi spicatæ. It was often adulterated, which caused stress to be laid upon any allusion to it when pure: pura distillans tempora nardo. Here St. Mark uses the term πιστικης , genuine, unadulterated, and therefore adds πολυτελους , of great value. This was done in honour of our Lord’s character, and expressed the highest sense of its dignity. On this transaction see the notes on Matthew 26:6-13.

Verse 12

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

When they killed the passover. — See the notes on Matthew 26:17, &c.

Verse 13

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

A man with a pitcher of water, &c. — In St. Matthew it is, “Go into the city to such a man,” meaning, no doubt, not any person described by name and residence, but such a one as should be indicated by some sign, This sign was, meeting a man bearing a vessel of water, no doubt a servant of the host upon whose house our Lord had fixed; for this servant they were commanded to follow, so that they were to fix upon the house into which he should turn; and say to the owner of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, &c. — This mode of address shows that the man knew Christ, and was himself probably either a disciple or a friend.

The καταλυματα , guest chambers, were prepared by the Jews resident in Jerusalem, for those who came up to celebrate the passover, without any remuneration except the skins of the lambs sacrificed.

Verse 15

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

A large upper room furnished. — Εστρωμενον , that is, having the couches round the table, spread with their proper cushions and coverings for the guests to recline upon, after their manner of eating at table.

Verse 18

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

One of you which eateth with me, &c. — See the notes on Matthew 26:21, &c.

Verse 27

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered — See notes on Matthew 26:31.

Verse 30

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

This day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. — With the Jews the day commenced at six in the evening; the day therefore had then begun; and extended through the natural night, and the day following to the same hour in the evening.

Verse 32

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

Gethsemane. — See notes on Matthew 26:36-46.

Verse 36

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

Abba, Father. — In Matthew it is simply Father. The word used by our Lord would be Abba, and St. Mark retains this and adds ο πατηρ , as the explanation; hence, the, latter is in the nominative, not in the vocative.

Verse 43

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

Cometh Judas, one of the twelve. — See the note on Matthew 26:47, &c.

Verse 51

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

There followed him a certain young man, &c. — Who this young man might be has given rise to many conjectures. Some have thought St. John, others St. James; some an accidental spectator, roused out of sleep by the tumult; others a Roman soldier not on duty. Against his being an apostle or one of the disciples it is urged that in the preceding verse it is said, And they all forsook him and fled. Still if he stood in no relation to Christ and his disciples, no reason seems to appear why the incident should be mentioned, or why there was an attempt made to arrest him. The probability is, that he was one of the apostles, one who, upon recovering from his first alarm, took heart and followed Christ. Both Peter and John did this, but no others; and as John was younger than Peter, he was most probably the person. The sindon, or linen cloth, was either a night robe, or the regular outer garment; probably the former, as it is particularly noticed. Laying hold of him slows the eagerness of the officers to apprehend the disciple as well as the Master; and his hasty flight leaving his linen robe in their hands, the fear created by their furious temper. The reason for noticing the incident is therefore apparent.

Verse 52

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

And fled from them naked. — To be naked does not always, in Scripture, signify to be without all clothing; but only without the upper robe.

Verse 53

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

And they led Jesus away to the high priest. — See the notes on Matthew 26:57-75.

Verse 72

Watson - Exposition of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark

And when he thought thereon, he wept. — Some take επιβαλλω here in the sense of throwing the robe over the head or face, which was often done by deeply affected mourners; so that it would be, covering himself with his robe, he wept. Others render, he wept abundantly, or, he began to weep, or, and rushing out, he wept. Wetstein and Campbell support our translation, when he thought thereon; and Kypke adduces examples from Greek authors in support of this interpretation.