Mark 9

1 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, that there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God having come with power."

The Transfiguration

2 And after six days, Jesus took along Peter and James and John, and led them to a high mountain by themselves alone. And he was transfigured before them,

3 and his clothing became radiant--extremely white, like no cloth refiner on earth can {make so white}.

4 And Elijah appeared to them together with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answered [and] said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good [that] we are here! And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."

6 (For he did not know what he should answer, because they were terrified.)

7 And a cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!"

8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus alone.

9 And [as] they were coming down from the mountain, he ordered them that they should tell no one [the things] that they had seen, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 And they kept the matter to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead {meant}.

11 And they asked him, saying, "{Why do} the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

12 And he said to them, "Elijah indeed does come first [and] restores all [things]. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he should suffer many [things] and be treated with contempt?

13 But I tell you that indeed Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him."

A Demon-possessed Boy Healed

14 And [when they] came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

15 And immediately the whole crowd, [when they] saw him, were amazed, and ran up to [him] [and] greeted him.

16 And he asked them, "What are you arguing [about] with them?"

17 And one [individual] from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought to you my son who has {a spirit that makes him mute}.

18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes paralyzed. And I told your disciples that they should expel it, and they were not able [to do so].

19 And he answered them [and] said, "O unbelieving generation! {How long} will I be with you? {How long} must I put up with you? Bring him to me!"

20 And they brought him to him. And [when he] saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth.

21 And he asked his father how long it was since this had been happening to him. And he said, "From childhood.

22 And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able [to do] anything, have compassion on us [and] help us!"

23 But Jesus said to him, "If you are able! All [things] [are] possible for the one who believes!"

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out [and] said, "I believe! Help my unbelief!"

25 Now [when] Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!"

26 And it came out, screaming and convulsing [him] greatly, and he became as if [he were] dead, so that most [of them] said, "He has died!"

27 But Jesus took hold of his hand [and] raised him up, and he stood up.

28 And [after] he had entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why were we not able to expel it?"

29 And he said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer."

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Second Time

30 And from there they went out [and] passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

31 for he was teaching his disciples and was telling them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And [when he] is killed, after three days he will rise."

32 But they did not understand the statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

The Question About Who Is Greatest

33 And they came to Capernaum. And [after he] was in the house, he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?"

34 But they were silent, because they had argued with one another on the way [about] who [was] greatest.

35 And he sat down [and] called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all."

36 And he took a young child [and] had him stand {among them}. And taking him in his arms, he said to them,

37 "Whoever welcomes one of the young children such as these in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me."

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us."

39 But Jesus said, "Do not prevent him, because there is no one who does a miracle in my name and will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in [my] name because you are Christ's, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward.

Temptations to Sin

42 "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it is better for him if instead {a large millstone} is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.

43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better [for] you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell--into the unquenchable fire!

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better [for] you to enter into life lame than, having two feet, to be thrown into hell!

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better [for] you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell,

48 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.'

49 For everyone will be salted with fire.

50 Salt [is] good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Mark 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The transfiguration. (1-13) An evil spirit cast out. (14-29) The apostles reproved. (30-40) Pain to be preferred to sin. (41-50)

Verses 1-13 Here is a prediction of the near approach Christ's kingdom. A glimpse of that kingdom was given in the transfiguration of Christ. It is good to be away from the world, and alone with Christ: and how good to be with Christ glorified in heaven with all the saints! But when it is well with us, we are apt not to care for others, and in the fulness of our enjoyments, we forget the many wants of our brethren. God owns Jesus, and accepts him as his beloved Son, and is ready to accept us in him. Therefore we must own and accept him as our beloved Saviour, and must give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Christ does not leave the soul, when joys and comforts leave it. Jesus explained to the disciples the prophecy about Elias. This was very suitable to the ill usage of John Baptist.

Verses 14-29 The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains.

Verses 30-40 The time of Christ's suffering drew nigh. Had he been delivered into the hands of devils, and they had done this, it had not been so strange; but that men should thus shamefully treat the Son of man, who came to redeem and save them, is wonderful. Still observe that when Christ spake of his death, he always spake of his resurrection, which took the reproach of it from himself, and should have taken the grief of it from his disciples. Many remain ignorant because they are ashamed to inquire. Alas! that while the Saviour teaches so plainly the things which belong to his love and grace, men are so blinded that they understand not his sayings. We shall be called to account about our discourses, and to account for our disputes, especially about being greater than others. Those who are most humble and self-denying, most resemble Christ, and shall be most tenderly owned by him. This Jesus taught them by a sign; whoever shall receive one like this child, receives me. Many have been like the disciples, ready to silence men who have success in preaching to sinners repentance in Christ's name, because they follow not with them. Our Lord blamed the apostles, reminding them that he who wrought miracles in his name would not be likely to hurt his cause. If sinners are brought to repent, to believe in the Saviour, and to live sober, righteous, and godly lives, we then see that the Lord works by the preacher.

Verses 41-50 It is repeatedly said of the wicked, Their worm dieth not, as well as, The fire is never quenched. Doubtless, remorse of conscience and keen self-reflection are this never-dying worm. Surely it is beyond compare better to undergo all possible pain, hardship, and self-denial here, and to be happy for ever hereafter, than to enjoy all kinds of worldly pleasure for a season, and to be miserable for ever. Like the sacrifices, we must be salted with salt; our corrupt affections must be subdued and mortified by the Holy Spirit. Those that have the salt of grace, must show they have a living principle of grace in their hearts, which works out corrupt dispositions in the soul that would offend God, or our own consciences.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "make white like this"
• [b]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [c]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were coming down")
• [d]. Literally "is"
• [e]. Literally "[what is it] that"
• [f]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("does come") has been translated as a finite verb
• [g]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
• [h]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [i]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [j]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("ran up to") has been translated as a finite verb
• [k]. Literally "a mute spirit"
• [l]. Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [m]. *The words "[to do so]" are not in the Greek text but are implied
• [n]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [o]. Literally "until when"
• [p]. Literally "until when"
• [q]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [r]. *Here "[and]" is supplied and the following participle ("have compassion") has been translated as a finite verb and placed before the verb "help" in keeping with English style
• [s]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("cried out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [t]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [u]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [v]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("took hold of") has been translated as a finite verb
• [w]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had entered")
• [x]. Some manuscripts add "and fasting"
• [y]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("went out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [z]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("is killed") which is understood as temporal
• [aa]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was") which is understood as temporal
• [ab]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("sat down") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ac]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("took") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ad]. Literally "in the midst of them"
• [ae]. Literally "a millstone of a donkey"
• [af]. Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 44 after v. 43, "where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished" (identical to v. 48)
• [ag]. Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 46 after v. 45, "where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished" (identical to v. 48)
• [ah]. A quotation from Isa 66:24