Mark 8
People's New Testament
In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
8:1 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 Mt 15:32-38. This is not the same event as the feeding of the five thousand (Mt 14:13-21 Mr 6:32-44 Lu 9:10-17 Joh 6:1-14). The Lord refers to both miracles, in Mr 8:19,20.

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
8:10 Into the parts of Dalmanutha. Matthew says Magdala (Mt 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.
And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
8:11-13 The Pharisees came... seeking from him a sign from heaven. See notes on Mt 16:1-4.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
8:11-13 The Pharisees came... seeking from him a sign from heaven. See notes on Mt 16:1-4.
And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
8:11-13 The Pharisees came... seeking from him a sign from heaven. See notes on Mt 16:1-4.
Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to take bread. For notes on the warning against the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, see Mt 16:5-12.
And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
8:15 Leaven of Herod. Matthew says Sadducees (Mt 16:6) instead of Herod. Herod was a Sadducee, and the Sadducees generally were his supporters.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
8:22 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).

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
8:23 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.

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
8:24 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.
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
8:25 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.
And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
8:26 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.
And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
8:27-30 Jesus went out... into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. For notes on Peter's confession of Christ, see Mt 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.
And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
8:27-30 Jesus went out... into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. For notes on Peter's confession of Christ, see Mt 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.
And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
8:27-30 Jesus went out... into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. For notes on Peter's confession of Christ, see Mt 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.
And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
8:27-30 Jesus went out... into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. For notes on Peter's confession of Christ, see Mt 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.
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
8:31-38 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 Mt 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
8:31-38 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 Mt 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
8:31-38 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 Mt 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
8:31-38 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 Mt 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
8:31-38 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 Mt 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
8:31-38 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 Mt 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
8:31-38 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 Mt 16:21-28. Compare Lu 9:22-27.
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
8:38 Whosoever there shall be ashamed of me, etc. This verse is peculiar to Mark in this connection, though given in Mt 10:32-33, on which see notes.
The People's New Testament by B.W. Johnson [1891]

Bible Hub
Mark 7
Top of Page
Top of Page