Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Mark 5

Introduction

1  Christ delivering the possessed of the legion of devils,
13  they enter into the swine.
22  He is entreated by Jairus to go and heal his daughter.
25  He heals the woman of the bloody issue,
35  and raises from death Jairus' daughter.

Verse 1

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
4:35, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39

Verses 1-20

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
4:35, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39

Verse 2

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
out
Isaiah 65:4, Luke 8:27
a man
Matthew gives a brief account of two demoniacs who were dispossessed on this occasion; but Mark and Luke omit the mention of one (who was perhaps not so remarkable). That these wretched men were not merely mad, as some suppose, but really possessed of evil spirits, appears clearly from the language employed, as well as from the narrative itself. Matthew expressly affirms that they were "possessed with devils," or demoniacs, [?] Mark says he had "an unclean spirit," i.e., a fallen spirit; and Luke asserts, that he "had devils (or demons) a long time," and was called Legion, "because many devils were entered into him." With supernatural strength the demons burst asunder the chains and fetters with which he was bound; they address Christ as the "Son of the most high God;" they beseech him to suffer them to enter into the swine; and when he had given them leave, they "went out and entered into the swine," etc.
with
8, 1:23,26, 3:30, 7:25, Luke 9:42

Verse 3

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
9:18-22, Isaiah 65:4, Daniel 4:32,33, Luke 8:29

Verse 4

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
tame
James 3:7,8

Verse 5

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
crying
1 Kings 18:28, Job 2:7,8, John 8:44

Verse 6

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
he ran
Psalms 66:3; *marg:; Psalms 72:9, Luke 4:41, Acts 16:17, James 2:19

Verse 7

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
What
1:24, Hosea 14:8, Matthew 8:29, Luke 4:34
Son
3:11, 14:61, Matthew 16:16, John 20:31, Acts 8:37, 16:17
I adjure
1 Kings 22:16, Matthew 26:63, Acts 19:13
that
Genesis 3:15, Matthew 8:29, Luke 8:28, Romans 16:20, Hebrews 2:14, 2 Peter 2:4, 1 John 3:8, Jude 1:6, Revelation 12:12, 20:1-3

Verse 8

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
1:25, 9:25,26, Acts 16:18

Verse 9

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
What
Luke 8:30, 11:21-26
Legion
Matthew 12:45, 26:53

Verse 10

And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
13, 3:22

Verse 11

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
herd
Leviticus 11:7,8, Deuteronomy 14:8, Isaiah 65:4, 66:3, Matthew 8:30, Luke 8:32

Verse 12

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
Job 1:10-12, 2:5, Luke 22:31,32, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Peter 5:8

Verse 13

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
gave
1 Kings 22:22, Job 1:12, 2:6, Matthew 8:32, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 13:5-7, 20:7
the herd
John 8:44, Revelation 9:11

Verse 14

And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
Matthew 8:33, Luke 8:34

Verse 15

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
him that
4, Isaiah 49:24,25, Matthew 9:33, 12:29, Luke 8:35,36, 10:39, Colossians 1:13
and they
1 Samuel 6:20,21, 16:4, 1 Chronicles 13:12, 15:13, Job 13:11, Psalms 14:5, 2 Timothy 1:7

Verse 17

And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
7, 1:24, Genesis 26:16, Deuteronomy 5:25, 1 Kings 17:18, Job 21:14,15, Matthew 8:34, Luke 5:8, Luke 8:37, Acts 16:39

Verse 18

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
prayed
7,17, Psalms 116:12, Luke 8:38,39, 17:15-17, 23:42,43, Philippians 1:23,24

Verse 19

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Go home
Psalms 66:16, Isaiah 38:9-20, Daniel 4:1-3,37, 6:25-27, Jonah 2:1-10, John 4:29, Acts 22:1-21, 26:4-29

Verse 20

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Decapolis
7:31, Matthew 4:25

Verse 21

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
Matthew 9:1, Luke 8:40

Verses 21-43

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
Matthew 9:1, Luke 8:40

Verse 22

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
there
Matthew 9:18,19, Luke 8:41,42
rulers
Luke 13:14, Acts 13:15, 18:8,17
he fell
33, Matthew 2:11, Luke 5:8, 8:28, Acts 10:25,26, Revelation 22:8

Verse 23

And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
besought
7:25-27, 9:21,22, 2 Samuel 12:15,16, Psalms 50:15, 107:19, Luke 4:38, 7:2,3,12, John 4:46,47, 11:3
lay thy hands
6:5,6,13, 16:18, 2 Kings 5:11, Matthew 8:3, Luke 4:40, 13:13, Acts 28:8, James 5:14,15

Verse 24

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
went
Luke 7:6, Acts 10:38
and thronged
31, 3:9,10,20, Luke 8:42,45, 12:1, 19:3

Verse 25

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
a certain
Matthew 9:20-22, Luke 8:43,44
an issue
Leviticus 15:19,20,25-27
twelve
Luke 13:11, John 5:5,6, Acts 4:22, 9:33,34

Verse 26

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
had suffered
No person will wonder at this account when he considers the therapeutics of the Jewish physicians, in reference to diseases of this kind (for an account of which, see Drs. Lightfoot and Clarke). She was, therefore, a fit patient for the Great Physician.
Job 13:4, Jeremiah 8:22, 30:12,13, 51:8
nothing
Psalms 108:12

Verse 27

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
touched
6:56, 2 Kings 13:21, Matthew 14:36, Acts 5:15, 19:12

Verse 29

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
straightway
Exodus 15:26, Job 33:24,25, Psalms 30:2, 103:3, 107:20, 147:3
fountain
Leviticus 20:18
plague
34, 3:10, 1 Kings 8:37, Luke 7:21

Verse 30

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
virtue
Luke 6:19, 8:46, 1 Peter 2:9; *marg:

Verse 31

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
Thou seest
Luke 8:45, 9:12

Verse 33

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
the woman
4:41, Luke 1:12,29, 8:47
and told
Psalms 30:2, 66:16, 103:2-5, 116:12-14

Verse 34

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Daughter
Matthew 9:2,22, Luke 8:48
thy faith
10:52, Luke 7:50, 8:48, 17:19, 18:42, Acts 14:9
go
1 Samuel 1:17, 20:42, 2 Kings 5:19, Ecclesiastes 9:7

Verse 35

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
there came
Luke 8:49
thy daughter
John 5:25, 11:25
why
Luke 7:6,7, John 11:21,32,39
the Master
10:17, Matthew 26:18, John 11:28

Verse 36

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
only
34, 9:23, 2 Chronicles 20:20, Matthew 9:28,29, 17:20, Luke 8:50, John 4:48-50, 11:40, Romans 4:18-24

Verse 37

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
he suffered
Luke 8:51, Acts 9:40
save
9:2, 14:33, 2 Corinthians 13:1

Verse 38

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
and seeth
Jeremiah 9:17-20, Matthew 9:23,24, 11:17, Luke 8:52,53, Acts 9:39

Verse 39

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
not dead
Daniel 12:2, John 11:11-13, Acts 20:10, 1 Corinthians 11:30, 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14, 5:10

Verse 40

And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
they
Genesis 19:14, Nehemiah 2:19, Job 12:4, Psalms 22:7, 123:3,4, Luke 16:14, Acts 17:32
when
2 Kings 4:33, Matthew 7:6, 9:24,25, Luke 8:53,54
he taketh
He took just so many as prudence required, and as were sufficient to prove the reality of the cure; to have permitted the presence of more, might have savoured of ostentation.

Verse 41

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
took
1:31, Acts 9:40,41
Talitha cumi
[Talitha cumi;] which is pure Syriac, the same as in the Syriac version, the proper translation of which is given by the evangelist.
Damsel
1:41, Genesis 1:3, Psalms 33:9, Luke 7:14,15, 8:54,55, John 5:28,29, 11:43,44, Romans 4:17, Philippians 3:21

Verse 42

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
1:27, 4:41, 6:51, 7:37, Acts 3:10-13

Verse 43

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
he charged
1:43, 3:12, 7:36, Matthew 8:4, 9:30, 12:16-18, 17:9, Luke 5:14, 8:56, John 5:41
and commanded
This was to shew that she had not only returned to life, but was also restored to perfect health; and to intimate, that though raised to life by extraordinary power, she must be continued in existence, as before, by the use of ordinary means. The advice of a heathen, on another subject, is quite applicable: Nec Deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus inciderit. "When the miraculous power of God is necessary, let it be resorted to; when not necessary, let the ordinary means be used." To act otherwise would be to tempt God.
Given
Luke 24:30,42,43, Acts 10:41

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