Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 8
Overview:
Four thousand fed
By a
Miracle.
(1-10) Christ cautions against
the
Pharisees and
Herodians.
(11-21) A
Blind Man healed.
(22-26)
Peter's
Testimony to
Christ.
(27-33) Christ must be followed.
(34-38)
1-10 Our
Lord Jesus encouraged the meanest to come to him for
Life and
Grace.
Christ knows and considers our frames. The
bounty of
Christ is always ready; to show that, he repeated this
Miracle. His favours are renewed, as our wants and necessities
are. And those need not fear want, who have
Christ to live upon
By Faith, and do
So with thanksgiving.
11-21 Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though
ever
So unreasonable.
Christ refused to answer their demand. If
they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we
have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and
others
By their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and
Enmity to
the
Gospel! When we forget the
Works of
God, and distrust him,
we should chide ourselves severely, as
Christ here reproves his
disciples. How is it that we
So often mistake his meaning,
disregard his warnings, and distrust his
Providence?
22-26 Here is a
Blind Man brought to
Christ By his friends.
Therein appeared the
Faith of those that brought him. If those
who are spiritually
Blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their
friends and relations should pray for them, that
Christ would be
pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was
not usual in our
Lord's miracles.
Christ showed in what method
those commonly are healed
By his
Grace, who
By nature are
spiritually
Blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but,
like the
Light of the morning, it shines more and more to the
perfect
Day, and then they see all things clearly. Slighting
Christ's favours is forfeiting them; and he will make those who
do
So know the worth of privileges
By the want of them.
27-33 These things are written, that we may believe that
Jesus
is the
Christ, the
Son of God. These miracles of our
Lord assure
us that he was not conquered, but a Conqueror. Now the disciples
are convinced that
Jesus is the
Christ; they may
Bear to hear of
his sufferings, of which
Christ here begins to give them notice.
He sees that amiss in what we say and do, of which we ourselves
are not aware, and knows what manner of
Spirit we are of, when
we ourselves do not. The
Wisdom of
Man is folly, when it
pretends to limit the Divine counsels.
Peter did not rightly
understand the nature of
Christ's kingdom.
34-38 Frequent notice is taken of the great flocking there was
to
Christ for help in various cases. All are concerned to know
this, if they expect him to heal their souls. They must not
indulge the ease of the body. As the happiness of
Heaven with
Christ, is enough to make up for the loss of
Life itself for
him,
So the gain of all the world in
Sin, will not make up for
the ruin of the soul
By Sin. And there is a
Day coming, when the
cause of
Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it
mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view
every earthly object as we shall do at that great
Day.