Mark 8:32. And he spake that saying openly.— Plainly and freely, παρρησια : our Lord thought fit to foretel his own sufferings plainly, to bear down any towering imaginations which might have sprung up in the apostles' minds from the preceding discourses; for their faith was now so confirmed, that they could bear the discovery. See John 10:24; John 11:14. read more
Mark 8:38. Whosoever therefore, &c.— Jesus fitly inculcated the necessity of self-denial from the consideration of a judgment to come; the most awful and important event in the whole compass of our duration, and which, the word of God directsustobelieve,willbeattendedwith the most awful circumstances. His intention was, that we should fortify ourselves with this reflection, that it is eligible to endure a littlenow, when that little, through grace, may preserve us from enduring unspeakably... read more
CHAPTER 8 :-. FOUR THOUSAND MIRACULOUSLY FED—A SIGN FROM HEAVEN SOUGHT AND REFUSED—THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES—A BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA RESTORED TO SIGHT. ( = Matthew 15:32-16). This section of miscellaneous matter evidently follows the preceding one in point of time, as will be seen by observing how it is introduced by Matthew. Feeding of the Four Thousand (Mark 8:1-9). read more
1. In those days the multitude being very great, &c. read more
2. I have compassion on the multitude—an expression of that deep emotion in the Redeemer's heart which always preceded some remarkable interposition for relief. (See Matthew 14:14; Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13; also Matthew 9:36, before the mission of the Twelve; compare Judges 2:18; Judges 10:16). because they have now been with me—in constant attendance. three days, and have nothing to eat: read more
3. And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way—In their eagerness they seem not to have thought of the need of provisions for such a length of time; but the Lord thought of it. In Matthew ( :-) it is, "I will not send them away fasting"—or rather, "To send them away fasting I am unwilling." read more
4. From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?—Though the question here is the same as when He fed the five thousand, they evidently now meant no more by it than that they had not the means of feeding the multitude; modestly leaving the Lord to decide what was to be done. And this will the more appear from His not now trying them, as before, by saying, "They need not depart, give ye them to eat"; but simply asking what they had, and then giving His directions. read more
5. And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven—It was important in this case, as in the former, that the precise number of the loaves should be brought out. Thus also does the distinctness of the two miracles appear. read more
9. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away—Had not our Lord distinctly referred, in this very chapter and in two successive sentences, to the feeding of the five thousand and of the four thousand as two distinct miracles, many critics would have insisted that they were but two different representations of one and the same miracle, as they do of the two expulsions of the buyers and sellers from the temple, at the beginning and end of our Lord's ministry. But even... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Mark 8:27
Mark 8:27. Whom do men say that I am?— See on Matthew 16:13; Matthew 16:28. It is remarkable, that the noble confession of St. Peter, recorded in St. Matthew, is suppressed here; which is a strong presumption that either St. Peter dictated this Gospel, or revised it, according to the ancient tradition. read more