Mark 9
PNTMark 9:1
He hath done all things well. Compare Genesis 1:31. He maketh both the deaf of hear, and the dumb to speak. Christ, ever since, has been engaged, spiritually, in the same work.
Mark 9:3
In the Coasts of Caesarea Philippi SUMMARY OF MARK 8: The Four Thousand Fed. At Dalmanutha. Seeking a Sign from Heaven. The Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida. Peter’s Confession at Caesarea Philippi. The Death and Burial of the Son of Man. Peter Rebuked. Taking the Cross and Following Christ. In those days. While Christ was in Decapolis. For notes on the feeding of the four thousand, see Matthew 15:32-38. This is not the same event as the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21 Mr 6:32-44 Lu 9:10-17 John 6:1-14). The Lord refers to both miracles, in Mr 8:19,20.
Mark 9:12
Into the parts of Dalmanutha. Matthew says “Magdala” (Matthew 15:39). Neither place exists now, but they are supposed to have been near each other on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee. Abbott suggests that they were two different names for the same place, a common circumstance.
Mark 9:13
The Pharisees came . . . seeking from him a sign from heaven. See notes on Matthew 16:1-4.
Mark 9:16
[The disciples] had forgotten to take bread. For notes on the warning against the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, see Matthew 16:5-12.
Mark 9:17
Leaven of Herod. Matthew says “Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6) instead of “Herod”. Herod was a Sadducee, and the Sadducees generally were his supporters.
Mark 9:24
He cometh to Bethsaida. Near the mouth of the upper Jordan into the lake. It was upon the eastern bank of the river. The account of the miracle that follows is only given by Mark. And they bring a blind man unto him. The people, not the disciples, brought him. He was brought (1) either because he could not find the way alone, or (2) because he had not faith that would induce him to go, and so was brought by the faith of his friends. This man was not born blind. He had evidently seen men and trees aforetime (Mr 8:24).
Mark 9:25
Led him out of the town. As he had taken the deaf man out of the crowd (Mr 7:33). The Lord often sought to escape publicity. When he had spit on his eyes. I suppose that this unusual course was intended to develop in the man the faith which the Lord made the usual condition of healing.
Mark 9:26
I see men as trees, walking. Certain moving forms about him, but without the power of discerning their shape or magnitude; trees he should have accounted them from their heights, but men from their motion.
Mark 9:27
He put [his] hands again upon his eyes. This is the only example of a “progressive” cure. I suppose that it was an example of progressive faith. The Lord could have healed him with a word, but he wished to save the soul as well as the body.
Mark 9:28
Sent him away to his house. Evidently he did not live in Bethsaida, as he was forbidden to go into the town, or to tell the story there.
Mark 9:29
Jesus went out . . . into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. For notes on Peter’s confession of Christ, see Matthew 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27. Caesarea Philippi was a heathen town, in the extreme north of Palestine, near the foot of Mount Hermon, and one of the sources of the Jordan.
Mark 9:33
He began to teach them, etc. For the first announcement of the suffering of our Lord, the rebuke of Peter, and the lesson concerning the cross, and saving the soul, see notes on Matthew 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
Mark 9:40
Whosoever there shall be ashamed of me, etc. This verse is peculiar to Mark in this connection, though given in Matthew 10:32-33, on which see notes.
Mark 9:42
The Transfiguration SUMMARY OF MARK 9: The Coming of the Kingdom. The Transfiguration. Moses and Elias. The Elias That Must Come. The Boy with the Dumb Spirit. The Condition of Receiving Christ’s Help. The Disciples Taught of Christ’s Sufferings. Who Shall Be Greatest?. The Narrowness of the Disciples Rebuked. A Cup of Cold Water in the Name of Christ. The Offending Hand or Eye. Till they have been seen the kingdom of God come with power. Compare Matthew 16:28 Lu 9:27. Matthew says, “Till they have seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom”; Luke, “Till they have seen the kingdom of God”. A comparison shows that the reference is to “the coming of the kingdom in power”. Of the twelve, one at a time was dead; the others had not tasted of death.
Mark 9:43
After six days. After six days intervening. Luke says, “About eight days” (Lu 9:28), he counting the one before and after the six days that intervened. For notes on the Transfiguration, see Matthew 17:1-13, and compare Lu 9:28-36.