Bible Commentaries

The Transfiguration

[An Analysis]

Mark 9:42).

(4) There are more good people in the world than are gathered around conventional standards.—"Because he followeth not us." We are all prone to make ourselves the standard of measurement. This may be more than weak, it may be sinful. Sects seldom know much of each other. Their mutual animosity is in proportion to their mutual ignorance. Sectarianism is hateful; denominationalism may be convenient and even useful.

(5) Long before men reach the point of miracles, they may reach the point of acceptance with Jesus Christ.—The man in the text had been working a miracle; but Jesus says that the gift of a cup of water shall be treated as a miracle of love. See the variety of work: one man casts out a devil, another gives a cup of water! They are both servants in the same household.

As an interlocution between Christ and the Church, see the infinite superiority of the Master! He speaks the noble word of charity. He draws within his love the strange worker. It is better to fall into the hands of God than into the hands of man! Thanks be to God, the Church is not to pronounce the decisive word!

The42nd verse must be guarded from selfish and paltry interpretation. It is easy to offend some people. We may offend a man's vanity, and it is right to do so: we may offend his ignorance, and have the Master's approval,—we are not to offend the Christ that is in any man; we are not to discourage him in doing good; we are not to grieve the Holy Ghost that is in him.

43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

44. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

45. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

46. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

49. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

50. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

A perusal of distinguished commentaries has not made the whole meaning of some of these expressions plain to us. We question whether "the kingdom of God" ( Mark 9:47) and "hell fire" ( Mark 9:47) refer to the future and invisible state. The whole expression is figurative. A man does not enter into heaven because he has one eye, nor is he cast into hell because he has two eyes. The hand, foot, and eye, are not to be taken literally, but symbolically; otherwise what a spectacle would the Church present! The meaning may be this: It is better for thee to mortify every passion in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, so as to enter into true life, than to gratify every lust so as to create within thee corruption full of worms, and a heat terrible as hell. The heart of a depraved man is a Gehenna. There the worm dieth not, and the fire is never quenched. The salt of Christ's presence and discipline can alone save the heart from loathsome corruption.

Homiletic use may be made of the symbolism:—

(1) The hand,—strife, defiance, theft, oppression, etc.

(2) The foot—trespass, wandering instability, supposed solidity of position, etc.

(3) The eye,—covetousness, lust, the fallacy of appearances, the temptation of the visible as against the invisible, etc.

The49th verse has been variously commented upon, thus:—"By salt understand the spirit of wisdom and grace, seasoning the effect, and by fire tribulation, whereby the patience of the faithful is exercised, that they may have a perfect worker." (Beda.) "Salt is just reproof, which is to be tempered with love, and wherewith our love is to be seasoned." (Jerome.) "It is an exhortation to the vigour of faith, by which others are preserved also, when we use our gift to season them; and lest the acrimony of salt should be too acting, he adds the other member of love." (Calvin.) "The interpretation of the sacrifice of the condemned—and the fire and salt as eternal fire—except in the case of the salt having lost its savour, is contrary to the whole symbolism of Scripture, and to the exhortation with which this verse ends: "Have this grace of God—this Spirit of adoption—this pledge of the covenant, in yourselves;—and," with reference to the strife out of which the discourse sprung,—"have peace with one another."" (Alford.)

General Note on the Ninth Chapter

The transfiguration may be compared to the full noontide light. The scene is one blaze of such glory as the disciples had never beheld. The conversation in passing through Galilee is full of the shadows which point towards eventide. The miracle which intervenes shows Christ at work, though the shadows were lengthening; the conversation which follows shows Christ teaching the very doctrines which would be best illustrated by the humiliation which he had predicted. In this chapter we have brilliant light, solemn shadows, noble service, pathetic instruction. Learn how to meet death, viz, in the midst of holy labour, and in the strength of holy principle.