Bible Commentaries
Mark 6

Introduction

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

1 Christ is contemned of his countrymen.

7 He giveth the twelve power over unclean spirits.

14 Divers opinions of Christ.

18 John Baptist is beheaded,

29 and buried.

30 The apostles return from preaching.

34 The miracle of five loaves and two fishes.

45 Christ walketh on the sea:

53 and healeth all that touch him.

Verse 1

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

Came into his own country. — See notes on Matthew 13:54-58.

Verses 7-11

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

Began to send them forth by two and two. — See notes on Matthew 10:1, &c.

Verse 12

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

That men should repent. — Thus the preaching of John the Baptist, of our Lord himself, and of his apostles now sent forth on an extensive mission through the towns and cities of the Jews, was in substance the same. All announced the approach of the kingdom of God, the commencement of Messiah’s saving reign; but all enjoy repentance as a preparation for it; to the humble and penitent only are the promises of salvation made, and to none but those who are consciously sick of sin can our Saviour prove a physician. The doctrine of repentance is as essential a part of true evangelical preaching now as it was then, and it will remain so to the end of time. He is not a true minister of Christ who speaks only of pardon and salvation: he must speak previously of men’s guilt and danger, and urge the consideration of that upon them until they feel it; or in vain will he dwell upon the gracious offices of Christ, and the provisions of the covenant of grace.

Verse 13

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

Anointed with oil. — Although various vegetable oils were used medicinally, it is not probable that the apostles used oil for the recovery of the sick persons. To be sure, if they applied it indiscriminately in all the complaints they met with, that would show that the cures could not arise from the natural virtue of the oil, which is not suitable to every complaint; but from the special force and efficacy given to it by God. It is, however, more probable that the oil was used symbolically. It was the emblem of gladness; and the outward sign of joy suitably expressed the delightful emotions of those who were healed in a moment, by the power of “the name” of Jesus, from the most torturing and depressing maladies. The papistical doctrine of extreme unction has no support from this passage. It does not indeed appear that the apostles, in anointing the sick, acted under the command of Christ, or that this was a religious rite at all. It was, most probably, the usual emblematical method of expressing joy upon receiving any particular blessing from God. But if it could be proved to have been an authorized religious rite as to the apostles in the miraculous cure of diseases, it is no precedent for us, who have not these powers, and it would therefore be absurd to use the sign without possessing the means of giving it import by realizing its meaning. But extreme unction is, by the confession of the papists themselves, an essentially different rite. It is not given for healing; it is postponed until there is no hope of life; and is an absurd and senseless anointing unto DEATH, which neither as a symbol, nor as a means of benefit, bears any resemblance to the unction mentioned in the text, and in the Epistle of St. James, or that practised by the primitive Christians.

Verse 14

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

And King Herod heard of him, &c. — See the notes on Matthew 14:1, &c.

Verse 20

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

Feared John. — He revered him for his eminent sanctity, and observed him; either he had regarded his advices formerly, or, which is the more probable sense, he had guarded him from injury and persecution. — These verbs are all, as Grotius observes, to be understood in the plusquam perfect, as frequent with the Hebrews and Hellenists. It was this reverence of Herod for John which had prevented Herodias from previously compassing his death. On account of his having spoken plainly to Herod on the unlawfulness of his marriage with Herodias, she had a quarrel against him, she was violently angry with him, and would have killed him, but she could not. She could not prevail upon Herod to put him to death; and so she resolved upon accomplishing that by stratagem which she had failed to accomplish by direct entreaty.

Verse 21

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

A convenient day. — Ημεοα ευκαιρος , a leisure or vacant day, that is, a festival: but the sense of convenient or opportune is perhaps to be preferred, as marking a design on the part of Herodias, to accomplish her wicked project on Herod’s birthday; so that the dancing of her daughter, and Herod’s entanglement in a rash vow, were less accidents of which she promptly availed herself, than parts of the plot previously laid, and foreseen as probable consequences. But see the notes on Matthew 14:6-12.

Verses 35-40

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

This is a desert place, &c. — On this miracle of feeding the five thousand, see the notes on Matthew 14:14-21. To this account however, St. Mark adds several circumstances, in his own vigorous and graphic method, he introduces the disciples saying, in answer to Christ, (who had said, Give ye them to eat,) Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? This Lightfoot has shown was with the Jews an expression for a considerable sum. He brings us also upon the spot, to see, as it were, the ORDER in which the Master of the feast had placed his guests, that he might distribute to them his bounty, and all might partake of it in a composed and thankful manner, as became so great an occasion. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies, συμποσια συμποσια , in rows, as at table; for to express distribution the Hebrews double the words; upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, πρασιαι πρασιαι , in squares, behind one another, like the beds of a garden, as the word signifies, by hundreds, and by fifties, so that they could be thus most conveniently served, and accurately counted.

Verse 47

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

The ship was in the midst of the sea. — See notes on Matthew 14:24-33.

Verse 52

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

For their heart was hardened. — This is given either as a reason for the excessive fear of the disciples in the storm, or for the excessive wonder they expressed when the wind was stilled by the word of Jesus. In either application it is apposite. Had they rightly considered the miracle of the loaves, they could scarcely have doubted of Christ’s care for them in the storm, or his ability to help them; and had they properly reflected upon the stupendous character of the miracle by which the five thousand were fed, — how that it proved that he possessed an absolute power over the elements of matter, they would have been equally impressed with that miracle as with the stilling of the storm. Right views, arising from calm and discerning consideration, would have rendered the miracle of the loaves more astonishing, and the calming of the wind and the sea, somewhat less so; for at the latter, says St. Mark, they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure; for their heart was hardened; that is, dull of apprehension, not wickedly insensible, the sense in which the same word is sometimes used; but inapt to learn, and slow to receive conviction, — a fault which the evangelists several times record against themselves and their fellow disciples with the utmost simplicity and humility.

Verses 53-56

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

Came into the land of Gennesaret. — This district extended about four miles along the north-western shore of the sea of Galilee, and was a most fertile, beautiful, and very populous tract of country. St.

Matthew states the powerful impression made upon the people by this visit of our Saviour; (see notes on Matthew 14:34-36;) but St. Mark is more circumstantial, and his description unites wonderful vigour and graphic delineation with brevity. Messengers run through the whole region round about to announce Christ’s arrival; to whatever place he was come, the people carry about the sick on couches; and through what ever city, village, or country he passes, they lay the sick in the streets, the market places, and roads, that is, by the wayside on which he was travelling, ranged, it should seem, on either hand; while their friends, or the sick themselves, beseech him that they might touch the border of his garment; and as many as touched him were made whole. What a scene! As he pursues his march of mercy, the sick lie before him along the streets and roads, in all the variety of disease, distortion, and pain, but, as he passes, they touch him and are healed; and he leaves behind him the monuments of his compassion, surrounded with their rejoicing friends, and all giving glory to God, saying, “It was never so seen in Israel.”