Mark 9

Mark 9:3

Matthew 15:32.

Mark 9:10

So they did eat - This miracle was intended to demonstrate, that Christ was the true bread which cometh down from heaven; for he who was almighty to create bread without means to support natural life, could not want power to create bread without means to support spiritual life. And this heavenly bread we stand so much in need of every moment, that we ought to be always praying, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Mark 9:13

Tempting him - That is, trying to ensnare him. Matthew 16:1.

Mark 9:14

Matthew 16:4.

Mark 9:17

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod, or of the Sadducees; two opposite extremes.

Mark 9:19

Our Lord here affirms of all the apostles, (for the question is equivalent to an affirmation,) That their hearts were hardened; that having eyes they saw not, having ears they heard not; that they did not consider, neither understand: the very same expressions that occur in the thirteenth of Matthew. And yet it is certain they were not judicially hardened. Therefore all these strong expressions do not necessarily import any thing more than the present want of spiritual understanding.

Mark 9:20

Our Lord here affirms of all the apostles, (for the question is equivalent to an affirmation,) That their hearts were hardened; that having eyes they saw not, having ears they heard not; that they did not consider, neither understand: the very same expressions that occur in the thirteenth of Matthew. And yet it is certain they were not judicially hardened. Therefore all these strong expressions do not necessarily import any thing more than the present want of spiritual understanding.

Mark 9:25

He led him out of the town - It was in just displeasure against the inhabitants of Bethsaida for their obstinate infidelity, that our Lord would work no more miracles among them, nor even suffer the person he had cured, either to go into the town, or to tell it to any therein.

Mark 9:26

I see men as trees walking - He distinguished men from trees only by their motion.

Mark 9:29

Matthew 16:13; Lu 9:18.

Mark 9:32

He enjoined them silence for the present, That he might not encourage the people to set him up for a temporal king; That he might not provoke the scribes and Pharisees to destroy him before the time and, That he might not forestall the bright evidence which was to be given of his Divine character after his resurrection.

Mark 9:33

Matthew 16:21; Lu 9:22.

Mark 9:34

He spake that saying openly - Or in express terms. Till now he had only intimated it to them. And Peter taking hold of him - Perhaps by the arms or clothes.

Mark 9:35

Looking on his disciples - That they might the more observe what he said to Peter.

Mark 9:36

And when he called the people - To hear a truth of the last importance, and one that equally concerned them all. Let him deny himself - His own will, in all things small and great, however pleasing, and that continually: And take up his cross - Embrace the will of God, however painful, daily, hourly, continually. Thus only can he follow me in holiness to glory.

Mark 9:37

Matthew 16:25; Lu 9:24; Lu 17:33; John 12:25.

Mark 9:40

Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words - That is, avowing whatever I have said (particularly of self denial and the daily cross) both by word and action. Matthew 10:32; Lu 9:26; Lu 12:8.

Mark 9:42

Till they see the kingdom of God coming with power - So it began to do at the day of pentecost, when three thousand were converted to God at once.

Mark 9:43

By themselves - That is, separate from the multitude: Apart - From the other apostles: and was transfigured - The Greek word seems to refer to the form of God, and the form of a servant, (mentioned by St. Paul, Philippians 2:6,7,) and may intimate, that the Divine rays, which the indwelling God let out on this occasion, made the glorious change from one of these forms into the other. Matthew 17:1; Lu 9:28.

Mark 9:44

White as snow, such as no fuller can whiten - Such as could not be equalled either by nature or art.

Mark 9:45

Elijah - Whom they expected: Moses, whom they did not.

Mark 9:48

There came a (bright, luminous) cloud, overshadowing them - This seems to have been such a cloud of glory as accompanied Israel in the wilderness, which, as the Jewish writers observe, departed at the death of Moses. But it now appeared again, in honour of our Lord, as the great Prophet of the Church, who was prefigured by Moses. Hear ye him - Even preferably to Moses and Elijah.