Mark 5

Chap. V. Ver. 1—13. ‘This chapter calls us to contemplate the varied glories of our Redeemer’s power and love; and each of the instances here set before us, may be considered, not only as a miracle, but also as an emblem of his gracious operations on the souls of men.—If a legion of apostate spirits were combined against one man, who can conceive the numbers, which there are in this wicked world, of which their great leader is ‘the god’ and ‘prince!’ Ver. 21—34. ‘Our blessed Lord will not obtrude himself on those who are not disposed to entertain him; nor refuse his presence and salvation to any whose hearts are prepared to welcome him. The example before us may instruct us to receive and encourage those, who seem humbly to rely on Christ for pardon and grace; though in many respects mistaken and defective—In proportion as our faith in Christ brings peace into our conscience, and destroys the love and

Ver. 2.

A man with.—[St. Matthew gives a brief account of two demon] power of sin, it is proved to be genuine: and the more singly we depend on him, and expect great things from him; the more evidently we shall find that he is become our salvation. But, whilst we have the benefit, he will secure to himself the glory, of all that he does for us: and he will at length bring to light, in numberless instances, the ‘virtue that hath gone forth from him,’ to heal those hidden evils of the heart, under which his people had groaned for years before they sought to him. Yet, while multitudes throng around him, as it were, by crowding the places where the gospel is preached; only here and there one thus ‘touches him,’ in humble faith, as the lives of most too plainly testify.—Humble souls, therefore, in seeking to him, are apt to tremble and fear, lest he should abhor or destroy them; whilst his heart yearns with pity, and he is about to say to them, as to his children, ‘Be of good comfort, destruction was no more than a proper manifestation of the justice of God.’—

Notes on the verses

Chap. V. Ver. 1. And they came over unto the other side, &c.—The parallel history to this has been considered, (Matthew 8:28), &c. mention of one, (who was perhaps not so remarkable,) in order to record that of many who were [there] on this occasion; but Mark and Luke omit the other more fully. ‘That these wretched men were not merely mad, as some suppose, but really possessed of evil spirits, appears clearly from the language employed, as well as from the narrative itself. St. Matthew expressly affirms that they were ‘‘possessed with devils,” or demoniacs. St. Mark says, he had “an unclean spirit,” i.e. a fallen spirit: and St. Luke asserts, that he ‘‘had devils (or demons) a long time,”

and was called Legion, ‘‘because many devils were entered into him.’’ With supernatural strength the demons burst asunder the chains and fetters with which he was bound; they address Christ as the “Son of the most high God;’’ they beseech him to suffer them to enter into the swine; and when he had given them leave, they “went out and entered into the swine,” &c.]—Bagster. Ver. 13. Down go, steep place.— Wesley, “down the steep;” i.e. the shelving coast.: see also Ver. 16. Swine—[These swine were in all probability Jewish property, and kept and used in express violation of the law of God; and, therefore, their

Ver. 20. Decapolis—That is, the ten cities, a district of country beyond Jordan, so called from its containing ten principal towns.

Ver. 22, One of the rulers.—Large synagogues had sometimes several elders, or rulers: the name of this man is here given—Jairus. Ver. 26. Had suffered many.—[No person will wonder at this account, when he considers the therapeutics of the Jewish Physicians, in reference to diseases of this kind; (for an account of which, see Drs. Lightfoot and Clarke;) from some of their nostrums, she could not have been bettered; from others, she must have been made worse; from all, she must have suffered many things: and, from the persons employed, the expense of the medicaments and the number of years she was afflicted, it is perfectly credible that she had spent all that she had. She was, therefore, a fit patient for the Great Physician.]

—Bagster. Ver. 29. Of that plague.—Campbell, ‘‘Delivered from that scourge, meaning the very distressing complaint called by physicians dysenteria san- = 1071 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. 48 Christ walketh on the sea: 53 and healeth all that touch him. gets he went out from thence, and came into his own country, and his disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things?

and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of ‘James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended 4 at him. 5 But Jesus said unto them, ‘A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’ 5 And he could there do no mighty work, go in peace, thy faith hath saved thee.’ For he will honour that faith, which honours him, by seeking from him all the blessings which he is exalted to bestow. Ver. 35—43. ‘The Lord will not let any one, who waits on him, be a loser by his kindness to others: his delays are intended to render his favours more precious; he waits for our extremities, that he may manifest his glory, and encourage our faith and hope.

He regards no application to him as a trouble, and no case can be desperate which he undertakes: we should not therefore yield to fear, but desire and pray to be

Ver. 35. Thy daughter is dead.—This message is not mentioned in the account of Matthew, but is perfectly consistent with it. Ver. 40. Them that were with him.—Namely, Peter, James, and John. (He took just so many as prudence required, and as were sufficient to prove the reality of the cure; to have permitted the presence of more, might have savoured of ostentation.)—Bagster. Ver. 41. Talitha cumi.—The [Aramaic] words rendered, ‘Damsel, arise.’ Ver. 43, And commanded.—[This was to show that she had not only returned to life, but was also restored to perfect health; and to intimate, that though raised to life by extraordinary power, she must be continued in existence before, by the use of ordinary means.

The advice of a heathen, on another subject, is quite applicable: “When the miraculous power of God is necessary, let it be resorted to; when not necessary, let the ordinary means be used.”’—Horace. To act otherwise would be to tempt God.]—Bagster. On Ver. 1-6. And he went out from thence, &c.—See Mat. xiii. Ver. 3. Is not this the carpenter?—Justin Martyr, in his dialogues with Trypho, expressly says, that Jesus assisted his father in his trade of a carpenter, making agricultural tools, &c.—It is also said that among the Jews it was infamous for a father not to bring up his children to some trade. (Grotius in (Matthew 13:55).) But why then reproach Jesus on that account? It was probably on account of his mean line of business.

He was not a master builder. Little did they think that this despised Jesus had made the world, and was born to judge it! Ep. 6.15. Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. strengthened in faith, in the most difficult circumstances; and he will then fulfil his word, and all our expectations grounded on it.’—T. Scott.