Mark 7

Mark 7:2

And preserved him - Against all the malice and contrivances of Herodias. And when he heard him - Probably sending for him, at times, during his imprisonment, which continued a year and a half. He heard him gladly - Delusive joy! While Herodias lay in his bosom.

Mark 7:3

A convenient day - Convenient for her purpose. His lords, captains, and principal men of Galilee - The great men of the court, the army, and the province.

Mark 7:5

To the half of my kingdom - A proverbial expression.

Mark 7:8

Yet for his oath’s sake, and for the sake of his guests - Herod’s honour was like the conscience of the chief priests, Matthew 27:6. To shed innocent blood wounded neither one nor the other.

Mark 7:12

Lu 9:10.

Mark 7:13

Matthew 14:13; John 6:1.

Mark 7:14

They departed - Across a creek or corner of the lake.

Mark 7:16

Coming out - of the vessel.

Mark 7:22

They sat down in ranks - The word properly signifies a parterre or bed in a garden; by a metaphor, a company of men ranged in order, by hundreds and by fifties - That is, fifty in rank, and a hundred in file. So a hundred multiplied by fifty, make just five thousand.

Mark 7:25

Full of the fragments - of the bread.

Mark 7:27

He constrained his disciples - Who did not care to go without him. Matthew 14:22.

Mark 7:28

Matthew 14:23; John 6:15.

Mark 7:30

And he saw them - For the darkness could veil nothing from him. And would have passed by them - That is, walked, as if he was passing by.

Mark 7:34

Their heart was hardened - And yet they were not reprobates. It means only, they were slow and dull of apprehension.

Mark 7:35

Matthew 14:34; John 6:21.