Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The office of
John the Baptist.
(1-8) The
Baptism and
Temptation of
Christ.
(9-13) Christ preaches and calls
disciples.
(14-22) He casts out an unclean
Spirit.
(23-28) He
heals many diseased.
(29-39) He heals a leper.
(40-45)
1-8. Isaiah and
Malachi each spake concerning the beginning of
the
Gospel of
Jesus Christ, in the ministry of
John. From these
prophets we may observe, that
Christ, in his
Gospel, comes among
us, bringing with him a treasure of
Grace, and a
Sceptre of
government. Such is the corruption of the world, that there is
great opposition to his progress. When
God sent his Son into the
world, he took care, and when he sends him into the
Heart, he
takes care, to prepare his way before him.
John thinks himself
unworthy of the meanest office about
Christ. The most eminent
saints have always been the most humble. They feel their need of
Christ's atoning
Blood and sanctifying
Spirit, more than others.
The great promise
Christ makes in his
Gospel to those who have
repented, and have had their sins forgiven them, is, they shall
be baptized with the
Holy Ghost; shall be purified
By his
graces, and refreshed
By his comforts. We use the ordinances,
Word, and sacraments without profit and comfort, for the most
part, because we have not of that Divine
Light within us; and we
have it not because we ask it not; for we have his
Word that
cannot fail, that our heavenly
Father will give this
Light, his
Holy
Spirit, to those that ask it.
9-13 Christ's
Baptism was his first public appearance, after he
had long lived unknown. How much hidden worth is there, which in
this world is not known! But sooner or later it shall be known,
as
Christ was. He took upon himself the likeness of sinful
Flesh; and thus, for our sakes, he sanctified himself, that we
also might be sanctified, and be baptized with him, Joh 17:19.
See how honourably
God owned him, when he submitted to
John's
Baptism. He saw the
Spirit descending upon him like a
Dove. We
may see
Heaven opened to us, when we perceive the
Spirit
descending and working upon us.
God's good work in us, is sure
evidence of his good will towards us, and preparations for us.
As to
Christ's
Temptation,
Mark notices his being in the
Wilderness and that he was with the wild beasts. It was an
instance of his
Father's care of him, which encouraged him the
more that his
Father would provide for him. Special protections
are earnests of seasonable supplies. The
Serpent tempted the
first
Adam in the garden, the Second
Adam in the
Wilderness;
with different success indeed; and ever since he still tempts
the children of both, in all places and conditions. Company and
Conversation have their temptations; and being alone, even in a
Wilderness, has its own also.
No place or state exempts,
No
business, not lawful labouring,
Eating, or drinking, not even
fasting and praying; often in these duties there are the most
assaults, but in them is the sweetest victory. The ministration
of the good angels is matter of great comfort in reference to
the malignant designs of the evil angels; but much more does it
comfort us, to have the indwelling of
God the Holy
Spirit in our
hearts.
14-22 Jesus began to preach in
Galilee, after that
John was
Put
in
Prison. If some be laid aside, others shall be raised up, to
carry
On the same work. Observe the great truths
Christ
preached.
By Repentance we give
Glory to our Creator whom we
have offended;
By Faith we give
Glory to our
Redeemer who came
to save us from our sins.
Christ has joined these two together,
and let
No Man think to
Put them asunder.
Christ puts honour
upon those who, though mean in this world, are diligent in their
business and kind to one another. Industry and unity are good
and pleasant, and the
Lord Jesus commands a blessing
On them.
Those whom
Christ calls, must leave all to follow him; and
By
his
Grace he makes them willing to do
So. Not that we must needs
go out of the world, but we must sit loose to the world; forsake
every thing that is against our duty to
Christ, and that cannot
be kept without hurt to our souls.
Jesus strictly kept the
Sabbath Day,
By applying himself unto, and abounding in the
Sabbath work, in order to which the
Sabbath Rest was appointed.
There is much in the doctrine of
Christ that is astonishing; and
the more we hear it, the more cause we see to admire it.
23-28 The
Devil is an unclean
Spirit, because he has lost all
the purity of his nature, because he
Acts in direct opposition
to the Holy
Spirit of
God, and
By his suggestions defiles the
spirits of men. There are many in our assemblies who quietly
attend under merely formal teachers; but if the
Lord come with
Faithful ministers and holy doctrine, and
By his convincing
Spirit, they are ready to say, like this
Man, What have we to do
with thee,
Jesus of
Nazareth!
No disorder could enable a
Man to
know
Jesus to be the Holy One of
God. He desires to have nothing
to do with
Jesus, for he despairs of being saved
By him, and
dreads being destroyed
By him. See whose language those speak,
that say to the Almighty, Depart from us. This unclean
Spirit
hated and dreaded
Christ, because he knew him to be a Holy One;
for the
Carnal mind is
Enmity against
God, especially against
his
Holiness. When
Christ By his
Grace delivers souls out of the
hands of
Satan, it is not without tumult in the soul; for that
spiteful enemy will disquiet those whom he cannot destroy. This
Put all who saw it upon considering, What is this new doctrine?
A work as great often is wrought now, yet men treat it with
contempt and neglect. If this were not
So, the
Conversion of a
notorious wicked
Man to a sober, righteous, and godly
Life,
By
the preaching of a crucified
Saviour, would cause many to ask,
What doctrine is this?
29-39 Wherever
Christ comes, he comes to do good. He cures,
that we may
Minister to him, and to others who are his, and for
his sake. Those kept from public ordinances
By sickness or other
real hindrances, may expect the
Saviour's gracious presence; he
will soothe their sorrows, and abate their pains. Observe how
numerous the patients were. When others speed
Well with
Christ,
it should quicken us in seeking after him.
Christ departed into
a solitary place. Though he was in
No danger of distraction, or
of
Temptation to vain-
Glory, yet he retired. Those who have the
most business in public, and of the best kind, must yet
sometimes be alone with
God.
40-45 We have here
Christ's cleansing of a leper. It teaches us
to apply to the
Saviour with great
Humility, and with full
submission to his will, saying, "
Lord, if thou wilt," without
any doubt of
Christ's readiness to help the distressed. See also
what to expect from
Christ; that according to our
Faith it shall
be to us. The
Poor leper said, If thou wilt.
Christ readily
wills favours to those who readily refer themselves to his will.
Christ would have nothing done that looked like seeking praise
of the people. But
No reasons now exist why we should hesitate
to spread the praises of
Christ.