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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:1-8

Parallel passages: Matthew 3:1-12 ; Luke 3:1-18 . The ministry of John the Baptist. I. THE BEGINNING OF ST . MARK 'S MEMOIR . 1 . The commencement. It is a remarkable circumstance and a curious coincidence that the first words of this Gospel are an echo of Peter's confession, in that confession, as recorded by St. Matthew, Peter expresses his belief in the very remarkable words, "Thou art the Christ , the Son of the living God. " In nearly the same words St.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:2-8

The ministry of the forerunner. This evangelist enters, upon his treatise with no further preface than is to be found in the first verse. He has to tell the good news concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God. And he begins his narrative at once, with an account of the ministry of that grand, heroic prophet, whose great distinction it was to be the herald of the Messiah, and whose greatness was in nothing more apparent than in this—he was willing to be superseded by his Lord, and to be lost... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:4-8

The ministry of John. I. OF WHAT IT CONSISTED . In each Gospel the descriptions are very general, and look as if they had been foreshortened in order to give due prominence to the gospel narrative that had to follow. Yet a fairly complete impression may be received of his main doctrines and rules of discipline. Generally in his ministry there are four elements discoverable. 1 . Exhortation. A direct appeal to the moral sense, the chief note of which was "Repent." It is a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:6

Clothed with camel's hair . This was a rough, coarse garment, characteristic of the doctrine which John taught, namely, penitence and contempt of the world. Camels abounded in Syria. And a leathern girdle about his loins . Not only the prophets, but the Jews and the inhabitants of Syria generally, used a girdle to keep the long flowing garment more closely about them, so as to leave them more free for journeying or for labour. Thus our Lord says ( Luke 12:35 ), "Let your loins be girded... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:7

The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. This was the menial office of the slave, whose business it was to take off? and put on the shoes of his master, stooping down with all humility and respect for this purpose. Thus John confessed that he was the servant of Christ, and that Christ was his Lord. In a mystical sense the shoes denote the humanity of Christ, which by its union with the Word became of the highest dignity and majesty. St. Bernard says, "The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:8

I baptized you with water; but he shall baptize you with [or in ] the Holy Ghost . It is as though he said, "Christ will pour his Holy Spirit so abundantly upon you, that he will cleanse you from all your sins, and fill you with holiness and love and all his other excellent graces. " Christ did this visibly on the day of Pentecost. And this he does invisibly in the. sacrament of Holy Baptism, and in the rite of Confirmation, which is the completion of the sacrament of Baptism. John... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 1:8

John's baptism and Christ's. I. THE GRAND RELIGIOUS NEED OF MAN IS PURIFICATION . The existence of so many ceremonial religions is a presumption in favor of this. They all speak of offenses in man which require expiation. But the knowledge of the true character of sin is revealed by the Law ( Romans 3:19 ). Sin itself, of course, exists anterior to the knowledge of the Law of Moses, because of the "law of God written upon the heart." In Psalms 14:1-7 the universal... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 1:4-8

See the notes at Matthew 3:3, Matthew 3:5-6, Matthew 3:11. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 1:5-8

Mark 1:5-8. There went out to him all Judea, &c. So disposed were the people to receive his baptism. See note on Matthew 3:5. The latchet of whose shoes, &c. That is, whose servant I am not worthy to be, or to perform for him the meanest offices. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost The promise of which is made to you and your children, Acts 2:39; where see the note, and on Matthew 3:11. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 1:1-8

15. Preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-17; John 1:19-28)The preaching of John soon attracted opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. They sent representatives to question him and then report back on what he taught and who he claimed to be. John denied that he was promoting himself as some new leader in Israel. He did not consider himself to be either the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15,Deuteronomy 18:18 or the ‘Elijah’ promised in Malachi 4:5. He was only a... read more

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