Mark 9

Mark 9:1

VErily I say unto you] Matthew 16:28.

Mark 9:2

And after six days] Matthew 17:1.

Mark 9:3

his raiment became shining] It did as it were sparkle. The heavenly glory of Christ, which should within a shert space be abafed upon the crosse, is avouched by visible signes, by the presence and talk of Elias and Moses, and by the voice of the Father himself, before three of his disciples, which are withesses, against whom lieth no exception.

Mark 9:5

and let us make] Or, theresore let us make, as 1 Corinthians 5:13.

Mark 9:6

for they were sore afraid] They were as beside themselves for fear.

Mark 9:9

he charged them that they should tell no man] See Notes on chap. 8. 30.

Mark 9:10

they kept that saying with themselves] Even very hardly, as it were.

what the rising from the dead should mean] Not the generall resurrection, which they believed, John 11:24. but the raising of Christ in particular, the killing of whom could not yet sink into their mindes, v. 32. Luke 18:34.

Mark 9:11

Why say the scribes] Or, What is the matter that the scribes say. How can the Messias suffer, seeing Elias is not come?

Mark 9:12

restoreth] Or, fulfilleth, Mal. 4. 5, 6.

how it is written] Isaiah 53:24.

and be set at nought] Adde, So will they do to Elias also See v. 13.

Mark 9:13

But I say unto you] The foolish opinion of the Rabbines is here refelled, touching Elias coming, which was, That either Elias should return again, or that his soul should enter into some other body.

that Elias is indeed come] John Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elias, is himself slain by Herod; and therefore now the Messias may be slain also.

as it is written of him] His name Elias, attributed to John, shewed, that he should not want Ahabs and Jezebels to persecute him.

Mark 9:14

And when he came] Matth 17. 14.

to his disciples] To the nine that went not up with him into the mount.

and the scribes questioning with them] Christ sheweth by a miracle, even to the unworthy, that he is come to bridle the rage of Satan.

Mark 9:16

with them] Or, among your selves.

Mark 9:17

which hath a dumb spirit] A spirit which makes my son dumb.

Mark 9:18

he teareth him] Or, dasheth him] Vexeth him inwardly, as the collick useth to do.

and he fometh] Or, so that he fometh.

Mark 9:20

when he saw him] So soon as Jesus had looked upon the boy that was brought unto him, the devil began to rage after this manner.

Mark 9:22

into the fire] Gr. both into the fire: or, even into the fire.

Mark 9:23

If thou canst believe] Gr, This if thou: That is, I can do this thing for thee, if thou believe.

all things are possible to him that believeth] There is nothing but Christ can and will do for them that trust in him.

Mark 9:24

help thou mine unbelief] Supply with thy goodnesse what is defective in my faith.

Mark 9:25

that the people came running togetber] Toward him, to see what would be done.

Mark 9:26

and rent him sore] The neerer the vertue of Christ is, the more outragiously doth Satan rage. See notes on chap. 1. 26.

Mark 9:28

Why] See on v. 11.

Mark 9:29

but by prayer and fasting] We have need not onely of faith and prayer, but also of fasting and extraordinary humiliation, to cast Satan out of his old possession.

Mark 9:30

And] Matthew 17:22.

and passed thorow Galilee] Gr. passed aside thorow, chap. 11. 20. and 15. 21, 29. They passed by by-ways thorow Galilee, shunning the common roads, because he would be private with his disciples. See chap. 2. 23.

Mark 9:31

For] Christ did withdraw himself now from the frequent company of men, and from publike preaching, to prepare himself for his approaching death, and to dispose his disciples to it.

he taught his disciples] See our slothfulnesse, that must so often be taught the same thing!

Mark 9:32

And he came] Matthew 18:1.

and being in the house] Where he was wont to make his abode.

Mark 9:34

who should be the greatest] In the temporall kingdom of the Messias, which they yet expected, Acts 1:6.

Mark 9:35

If any man desire to he first] In my Kingdom they that have highest places, must not look for most honour; but take most pains for the good of others.

Mark 9:36

when he had taken him in his arms] Or, embreced him, as in the Greek, Proverbs 6:10.

Mark 9:37

one of such children] One like these little ones, v. 41.

recerveth not me, but him that sent me] He doth not onely receive me, but also him that sent me.

Mark 9:38

And John answered him] Luke 9. 49.

we for bad him] Out of unadvised regard of their Masters honour, Numbers 11:28. Philippians 1:18.

Mark 9:39

for there is no man] 1 Corinthians 12:3.

in my Name] God, who is the author of an ordinary vocation, worketh also extraordinarily, so oft as it pleaseth him: but an extraordinary vocation is tried by the doctrine and the effects.

lightly] Gr. quickly. He shall finde much labour first to quiet his conscience, and use much violence to enforce it.

Mark 9:40

he that is not against, is on our part] Is to be esteemed among such as favour me in this furious age.

Mark 9:41

For whosoever] Matthew 10:42.

he shall not lose his reward] He sheweth how needfull it is to surther the work of the Gospel by all means, because they that any way further it shal be sure to receive some reward or other.

Mark 9:42

And Whosoever] Matthew 18:6.

whosoever shall offend] God is so severe a revenger of offences, that it is better to suffer any losse, then to be an occasion of offence unto any.

Mark 9:43

And if thy hand] Matthew 5:29. and Matthew 18:8.

offend thee] Or, cause thee to offend.

to go] Gr. to go away.

Mark 9:44

Where] Isaiah 66:24.

their worm dieth not] Their worm who shall be cast into that flame.

Mark 9:47

offend thee] Or, cause thee to offend, as v. 43.

Mark 9:49

For every one shall be salted with fire] As every meatoffering in the law was to be seasoned with salt: so must we be feasoned with the graces of Gods Spirit, which work like fire, Matthew 3:11. that we may please God.

and every sacrifice] Leviticus 2:13.

Mark 9:50

Salt is geod] Matthew 5:13.

but if the salt have lost his salinesse] If ministers, who should season others, be naught, Who shall mend them?

Have salt in your selves] Keep grace; yet lose not peace, Hebrews 12:14.