Mark 5

Mark 5:2

2.—a man with an unclean spirit.] St. Matthew mentions two persons possessed with devils. It is probable that one of them was of greater note in the country, or was more remarkable for the effects of his possession by the unclean spirit (ver. 4.) than the other; on which account St. Mark and St. Luke speak only of one, and wholly omit the mention of the other. Dr. Whitby. Respecting this transaction, see notes at Matt. viii. 28—32.

Mark 5:3

3. Is not this the carpenter, &c.] We should observe here the strict impartiality of the Evangelist; and his consciousness that nothing could derogate from the dignity of his Master. Abp. Newcome.

Mark 5:4

4.—A prophet is not without honour, &c.] This was a familiar proverb with the Jews and other nations, and is to be taken in a comparative sense, and with some limitations, as marking what is apt to take place in the ordinary course of things. Beausole.

Mark 5:5

5.—in the mountains.] The tombs being cut in the sides of mountains. Bp. Pearce.

5.—he could there do no mighty work.] They were so prejudiced against Him, that they gave Him no opportunity of working miracles. Bp. Mann. Or rather, they wanted that faith which was the condition on which our Saviour thought fit to vouchsafe His mercies; as it was not suitable to the designs of Providence, that those

who were so backward to believe, should have many mighty works done among them. Bp. Pearce, Dr. Whitby.

He could not, with propriety and wisdom, perform any miracles among them, on account of their unworthiness. Abp. Newcome.

—a few sick folk.] Those who had faith enough to induce Him to heal them. Bp. Pearce.

Mark 5:7

7.—thou torment me not.] “Before the time,” Matt. viii. 29. Here was such a reference to the final sentence which Christ was to pass on these evil spirits at the end of the world, Jude 6, as could not be dictated by lunacy: it may be questioned if the person speaking, or any of the hearers but Christ Himself, understood the full meaning of it. Dr. Doddridge.

Mark 5:8

8. And commanded them &c.] On Christ’s first instructions to His Apostles, see notes at Matt. x.

Mark 5:9

9.—My name is Legion.] The Roman legion consisted at that period of six thousand men: the word was usual with the Jews to express a great number. Dr. Lightfoot.

Mark 5:10

10.—not send them away] “Into the deep,” as St. Luke expresses, chap. viii. 31. The devils seem to have known that they were there to be tormented or punished after the day of general judgment. See Jude 6. Bp. Pearce.

10.—there abide &c.] He enjoins them not to go from one house to another to seek for better entertainment, Luke x. 7, 8, but to be content with what they might find in the first house that would receive them. Bp. Mann.

Mark 5:11

11.—for a testimony against them.] As a testimony of their unbelief, and as a declaration that they are unworthy of intercourse with you: an act which may lead them to reflection. Abp. Newcome.

Mark 5:13

13.—anointed with oil] It seems to have been customary with the Jews to anoint sick persons with oil, in order to effect their recovery. See James v. 14, 15. The virtues which attended the use of it in the Apostles must have been supernatural, for the cures were certain and constant. Dr. Whitby.

Mark 5:14

14. And king Herod heard of him.] On the remaining part of this chapter, see notes at Matt. xiv.

Divers opinions of Christ. CHAP. VI. John Baptist is beheaded, and buried.

Anne DOMINI 31. therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Mark 5:15

15.—one of the prophets.] “One of the old Prophets,” Luke ix. 8, particularly the Prophet Jeremiah, Matt. xvi. 14. Dr. Whitby.

Mark 5:17

17.—to pray him to depart] They were afraid of His power, and did not think themselves safe while He remained in their country. See Luke v. 8. Bp. Mann.

Mark 5:19

19.—tell them how great things &c.] Jesus had usually commanded the person healed not to divulge the miracle; but in this instance He commanded the contrary. The reason of this seems to have been, that

Christ healeth the bloody issue, and raiseth Jairus’ daughter. Anno DOMINI 31.

publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

19.—had a quarrel against him.] Bore a constant grudge against him: see the margin. Dr. S. Clarke.

Mark 5:20

20. For Herod feared John.] Although Herod felt the greatest indignation against John, for the freedom he had used in reproaching him for his licentious conduct; yet at the same time the character of that excellent man, his piety, his sanctity, his integrity, his disinterestedness, nay, even the courage which had so much offended and provoked him, commanded his respect and veneration, and excited his fears. Nor is this all; he not only feared John, but in some degree paid court to him. He frequently sent for him out of prison, and conversed with him, and, as the Evangelist expresses it, “observed” him; that is, listened to him with attention and with pleasure; nay, he went further still; “he did many things” which John exhorted and enjoined him to do. He perhaps shewed more attention to many of his publick duties, more gentleness to his subjects, more compassion to the poor, more equity in his judicial determinations, more regard to publick worship; and vainly hoped, perhaps, like many other audacious sinners, that this partial reformation, this half-way amendment, would avert the judgments with which John probably threatened him. But the main point, the great object of John’s reprehension, the incestuous adultery in which he lived—that he would not part with; it was too precious, too favourite a sin to give up; too great a sacrifice to make to conscience and to God. What a picture does this hold out to us of that

strange thing called human nature, of that inconsistency, that contradiction, that contrariety, which sometimes take place in the heart of man, unsanctified and unsubdued by the power of divine grace! and what an exalted idea at the same time does it give us of the dignity of a truly religious character, like that of John, which compels even its bitterest enemies to reverence and to fear it; and forces even the most profligate and most powerful of men to pay an unwilling homage to excellence, at the very moment perhaps when they are meditating its destruction. Bp. Porteus.

Mark 5:21

21.—a convenient day] A day favourable to the designs of Herodias. Grotius.

24.—said unto her mother, What shall I ask? Most mothers, it is probable, on such an occasion, would have asked for a daughter some situation of high rank or power. But Herodias had a passion to gratify, stronger perhaps than any other, when it takes full possession of the human heart, and that was revenge. She had been mortally injured, as she conceived, by the Baptist, who had attempted to break her present infamous connexion with Herod; and accordingly gave way to all the fury of her resentment. Bp. Porteus.

Mark 5:22

22. And, behold, there cometh &c.] See notes at Matt. ix. 18-26.

Mark 5:26

26.-had suffered many things &c.] Had been a patient of many physicians, and had spent all that she had to procure relief; and yet her disease was rather increasing. Bp. Mann.

26.—yet for his oath’s sake, &c.] Thus, when a deed of extraordinary wickedness was to be perpetrated, he made religion a cover for it. As if wrong became right, when acted in the name of God; and as if it were more acceptable in His sight to massacre a Prophet, than to repent of a rash oath, made at a drunken entertainment. Bp. Horne.

Mark 5:30

30.-knowing-that virtue had gone out &c.] It is evident from this, and other similar expressions, Luke vi. 19, that the “virtue,” by which Jesus performed these miraculous cures, resided in Himself, which is

never said of any of the Apostles or Prophets. The cures wrought by them are ascribed to God, as at Acts xix. 11, 12; but those wrought by Christ, to the divine virtue dwelling in Him; whence He so often declares, that “the Father dwelling in Him did the works,” John xiv. 10. Dr. Whitby.

30.—gathered themselves together &c.] They had been sent forth, by “two and two,” ver. 7. and now

K 2 The miracle of five loaves and two fishes. S. MARK. Christ walketh on the sea. And DOMINI 32. told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

Mark 5:37

37. — two hundred pennyworth] The worth of two hundred Roman denarii, amounting to about 6l. 9s. 2d. of our money. Bp. Pearce.

Mark 5:38

38.-and seeth the tumult,] It is still the custom in the East for multitudes to assemble in a place where a person had lately expired, and to bewail him in a noisy manner, which is deemed an honour to the deceased. Sir J. Chardin says, that the concourse of people on these occasions is sometimes incredible. Harmer.

Mark 5:40

40.-and them that were with him,] That is, St. Peter, St. James, and St. John, ver. 37. Our Saviour takes with Him as many witnesses as were sufficient to confirm the fact, and no more, lest He should seem to be desirous of vain-glory. Dr. Whitby.

K Christ is contemned of his countrymen. He sendeth out the twelve. Anno DOMINI 21.

Mark 5:43

43.—that no man should know it.] See note at Matt. viii. 4. An additional reason for the injunction of secrecy in this instance may have been, to prevent the dead being brought to Him to be restored to life. His miracles were designed principally as proofs of His mission, and were not intended to alter the order of nature, on every request made to Him. Le Clerc.

Chap. VI. ver. 1.—from thence,—into his own country.] That is, from Capernaum to Nazareth. Respecting this transaction, see notes at Matt. xiii. 54—57.

Mark 5:48

48. — and would have passed by them.] See Luke xxiv. 28. Thus He gave His disciples time to view Him distinctly and composedly; and St. Peter particularly an opportunity of addressing Him. Abp. Newcome.

Mark 5:52

52. — For they considered not &c.] Their heart was hardened, not from wilful obstinacy, but from the slowness of their apprehension and capacity. They did not consider, as they ought to have done, that nothing could be difficult to power such as that which had performed the miracle of the loaves. Bp. Mann.

Mark 5:54

54. — they knew him,] The people of those parts knew him. Bp. Mann.