Bible Commentaries

Tempting

See on Matthew 6:13.

Bill ( βιβλίον )

See on Matthew 19:7. Diminutive. Lit., a little book; Lat., libellus, from which comes our word libel, a written accusation. Accordingly Wyc. has a libel of forsaking, and Tynd. a testimonial of her divorcement.

Shall cleave

See on Matthew 19:5. Tynd.,bide by.

Shall be one flesh ( ἔσονται εἰς σάρκα μίαν )

Lit., “shall be unto one flesh.” The preposition expresses more graphically than the A. V. the becoming of one from two. So Rev., shall become.

What

Regarding the two as one.

They brought ( προσέφερον )

Imperfect tense; they were bringing, as he went on his way. Similarly, were rebuking, as they were successively brought.

Took them in his arms

See on Mark 9:36.

Put his hands upon them and blessed them

The best texts read κατευλόγει τιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας ἐπ ' αὐτά ,blessed them, laying his hands upon them; including the laying on of hands in the blessing. The compound rendered blessed occurs only here in the New Testament. It is stronger than the simple form, and expresses the earnestness of Christ's interest. Alford rendersfervently blessed.

Running and kneeled

Two details peculiar to Mark.

Why callest thou, etc

Compare Matthew 19:17. The renderings of the A. V. and Rev. here are correct. There is no change of reading as in Matthew, where the text was altered to conform it to Mark and Luke.

He was sad ( στυγνάσας )

Applied to the sky in Matthew 16:3; lowering. The word paints forcibly the gloom which clouded his face.

Needle ( ῥαφίδος )

A word stigmatized by the grammarians as unclassical. One of them (Phrynichus) says, “As for ῥαφίς , nobody would know what it is.” Matthew also uses it. See on Matthew 19:24. Luke uses βελόνης , the surgical needle. See on Luke 18:25.

Houses, etc

These details are peculiar to Mark. Note especially with persecutions, and see Introduction. With beautiful delicacy the Lord omits wives; so that Julian's scoff that the Christian has the promise of a hundred wives is without foundation.

Were amazed

The sudden awe which fell on the disciples is noted by Mark only.

Which are accounted to rule

Wyc., that seem to have princehead on folks.

Minister

See on Mark 9:35.

For many ( ἀντὶ πολλῶν )

For, in the sense of over against, instead of; not on behalf of.

Son of Timaeus

Mark, as usual, is particular about names.

Blind

Diseases of the eye are very common in the East. Thomson says of Ramleh, “The ash-heaps are extremely mischievous; on the occurrence of the slightest wind the air is filled with a fine, pungent dust, which is very injurious to the eyes. I once walked the streets counting all that were either blind or had defective eyes, and it amounted to about one-half the male population. The women I could not count, for they are rigidly veiled” (“Land and Book”). Palgrave says that ophthalmia is fearfully prevalent, especially among children. “It would be no exaggeration to say that one adult out of every five has his eyes more or less damaged by the consequences of this disease” (“Central and Eastern Arabia”).

Beggar

See on Matthew 5:3.

sa40

Rose ( ἀναστὰς )

The best texts read ἀναπήδησας leaped up, or, as Rev., sprang up.