Bible Commentaries
Mark 14

Verse 1

Matthew 26:1 ; Luke 22:1 .

Verse 3

And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

Matthew 26:6.

Verse 4

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

Some had indignation — Being incited thereto by Judas: and said - Probably to the women.

Verse 10

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

Judas went to the chief priests — Immediately after this reproof, having anger now added to his covetousness. Matthew 26:14; Luke 22:3.

Verse 12

And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

Matthew 26:17; Luke 22:7.

Verse 13

And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man — It was highly seasonable for our Lord to give them this additional proof both of his knowing all things, and of his influence over the minds of men.

Verse 15

And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

Furnished — The word properly means, spread with carpets.

Verse 17

And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

Matthew 26:20; Luke 22:14.

Verse 24

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

This is my blood of the New Testament — That is, this I appoint to be a perpetual sign and memorial of my blood, as shed for establishing the new covenant, that all who shall believe in me may receive all its gracious promises.

Verse 25

Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, till I drink it new in the kingdom of God — That is, I shall drink no more before I die: the next wine I drink will not be earthly, but heavenly.

Verse 26

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Matthew 26:30; Luke 22:39; John 18:1.

Verse 27

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

This night — The Jews in reckoning their days began with the evening, according to the Mosaic computation, which called the evening and the morning the first day, Genesis 1:5. And so that which after sunset is here called this night is, Mark 14:30, called to-day. The expression there is peculiarly significant. Verily I say to thee, that thou thyself, confident as thou art, to-day, even within four and twenty hours; yea, this night, or ever the sun be risen, nay, before the cock crow twice, before three in the morning, wilt deny me thrice. Our Lord doubtless spoke so determinately, as knowing a cock would crow once before the usual time of cock crowing. By Mark 13:35, it appears, that the third watch of the night, ending at three in the morning, was commonly styled the cock crowing. Zechariah 13:7.

Verse 32

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

Matthew 26:36.

Verse 33

And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

Sore amazed — The original word imports the most shocking amazement, mingled with grief: and that word in the next verse which we render sorrowful intimates, that he was surrounded with sorrow on every side, breaking in upon him with such violence, as was ready to separate his soul from his body.

Verse 36

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Abba, Father — St. Mark seems to add the word Father, by way of explication.

Verse 37

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

Saith to Peter — The zealous, the confident Peter.

Verse 43

And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

Matthew 26:47; Luke 22:47; John 18:2.

Verse 44

And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.

Whomsoever I shall kiss — Probably our Lord, in great condescension, had used (according to the Jewish custom) to permit his disciples to do this, after they had been some time absent.

Verse 47

And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Matthew 26:51; Luke 22:49; John 18:10.

Verse 51

And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:

A young man — It does not appear, that he was one of Christ’s disciples. Probably hearing an unusual noise, he started up out of his bed, not far from the garden, and ran out with only the sheet about him, to see what was the matter.

And the young men laid hold on him — Who was only suspected to be Christ’s disciple: but could not touch them who really were so.

Verse 53

And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

Matthew 26:57; Luke 22:54; John 18:12.

Verse 55

And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

All the council sought for witness and found none — What an amazing proof of the overruling providence of God, considering both their authority, and the rewards they could offer, that no two consistent witnesses could be procured, to charge him with any gross crime. Matthew 26:59.

Verse 56

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

Their evidences were not sufficient — The Greek words literally rendered are, Were not equal: not equal to the charge of a capital crime: it is the same word in the59th verse.

Verse 58

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

We heard him say — It is observable, that the words which they thus misrepresented, were spoken by Christ at least three years before, John 2:19. Their going back so far to find matter for the charge, was a glorious, though silent attestation of the unexceptionable manner wherein he had behaved, through the whole course of his public ministry.

Verse 61

But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

Matthew 26:63; Luke 22:67.

Verse 66

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

Matthew 26:69; Luke 22:56; John 18:25.

Verse 72

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

And he covered his head — Which was a usual custom with mourners, and was fitly expressive both of grief and shame.