Lectionary Calendar

Monday, January 20th, 2025
the Second Week after Epiphany

Attention!

Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Bible Commentaries
Mark 9

MarkMrk 8 MarkMrk MarkMrk 10

Search for…

Resource Toolbox

Print version Copyright Bibliography

Verses 2-13

Jesus is transfigured on the mountain

Matthew 17:1-13	Mark 9:2-13	Luke 9:28-36
Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,	Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves:	Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun,	and he was transfigured before them.	Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered,
and his raiment was white as the light.	Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.	and his raiment [was] white [and] glistering.
Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.	Mark 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.	Luke 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Luke 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. Luke 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him,

Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.	Mark 9:5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.	Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:
	Mark 9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.	not knowing what he said.
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:	Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them:	Luke 9:34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.	and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.	Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Matthew 17:6 And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. Matthew 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Matthew 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.	Mark 9:8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.	Luke 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept [it] close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
		End Luke’s Account

Matthew 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.	Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
	Mark 9:10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
Matthew 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?	Mark 9:11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Matthew 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.	Mark 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
Matthew 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.	Mark 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Matthew 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 14-29

Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy

Matthew 17:14-21	Mark 9:14-29	Luke 9:37-43
Matthew 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude,	Mark 9:14 And when he came to [his] disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.	Luke 9:37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

Mark 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to [him] saluted him. Mark 9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

Matthew 17:14 there came to him a [certain] man, kneeling down to him, and saying,	Mark 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said,	Luke 9:38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying,
Matthew 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son:	Master, I have brought unto thee my son,	Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
for he is lunatick,	which hath a dumb spirit;	Luke 9:39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him,
and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.	Mark 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away:	and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
Matthew 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.	and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.	Luke 9:40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.	Mark 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.	Luke 9:41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
	Mark 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.	Luke 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare [him].

Mark 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. Mark 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, [Thou] dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Luke 9:42 And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

Mark 9:26 And [the spirit] cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?	Mark 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?	Luke 9:43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
		End Luke’s Account

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 30-32

Jesus predicts his death

Matthew 17:22-23	Mark 9:30-32	Luke 9:44-45
Matthew 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee,	Mark 9:30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know [it].
Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:	Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men,	Luke 9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Matthew 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.	and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
	Mark 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.	Luke 9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 33-41

The disciples argue about who would be the greatest

Matthew 18:1-6	Mark 9:33-41	Luke 9:46-50
Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?	Mark 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?	Luke 9:46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

Mark 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who [should be] the greatest. Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, [the same] shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

Mark 9:36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Luke 9:47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Mark 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Luke 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

The disciples forbid another to use Jesus’ name

Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.	Luke 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.	Luke 9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not:
Mark 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.	for he that is not against us is for us.
	End Luke’s Account

Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 43-50

Jesus warns against temptation

Matthew 18:7-9

Mark 9:43-50

Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Matthew 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast [them] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.		Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

	Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
	Mark 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
	Mark 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Matthew 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.	Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
	Mark 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Parable of the salt	Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?	Mark 9:50 Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it?	Luke 14:34 Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.	Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.	Luke 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; [but] men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

return to 'Top of Page'

MarkMrk 8 MarkMrk MarkMrk 10

Bibliographical Information
"Commentary on Mark 9". "The Gospels Compared". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tgc/mark-9.html. 2014.

Matthew 16:21-28	Mark 8:31-38	Luke 9:22-27
Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.	Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.	Luke 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.	Mark 8:32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.	Mark 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.	Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.	Luke 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.	Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.	Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?	Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?	Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?	Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
	Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,	Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.	when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.	when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Matthew 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.	Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.	Luke 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

Bible Commentaries
Mark 9

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

Verse 1

Verses 2-13

Verses 14-29

Verses 30-32

Verses 33-41

Verses 43-50

Bible CommentariesMark 9

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

Verse 1

Verses 2-13

Verses 14-29

Verses 30-32

Verses 33-41

Verses 43-50

Bible Commentaries
Mark 9