Mark 9

1 (8-39) And he said to them: Amen f say to you that there are some of them that stand here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God coming in power.

2 (9-1) And after six days, Jesus taketh with him Peter and James and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves, and was transfigured before them.

3 (9-2) And his garments became shining and exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller upon earth can make white.

4 (9-3) And there appeared to them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

5 (9-4) And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

6 (9-5) For he knew not what he said: for they were struck with fear.

7 (9-6) And there was a cloud overshadowing them. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my most beloved Son. Hear ye him.

8 (9-7) And immediately looking about, they saw no man any more, but Jesus only with them.

9 (9-8) And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them not to tell any man what things they had seen, till the Son of man shall be risen again from the dead.

10 (9-9) And they kept the word to themselves; questioning together what that should mean, when he shall be risen from the dead.

11 (9-10) And they asked him, saying: Why then do the Pharisees and scribes say that Elias must come first?

12 (9-11) Who answering, said to then: Elias, when he shall come first, shall restore all things; and as it is written of the Son of man that he must suffer many things and be despised.

13 (9-12) But I say to you that Elias also is come (and they have done to him whatsoever they would), as it is written of him.

14 (9-13) And coming to his disciples he saw a great multitude about them and the scribes disputing with them.

15 (9-14) And presently all the people, seeing Jesus, were astonished and struck with fear: and running to him, they saluted him.

16 (9-15) And he asked them: What do you question about among you?

17 (9-16) And one of the multitude, answering, said: Master, I have brought my son to thee, having a dumb spirit.

18 (9-17) Who, wheresoever he taketh him, dasheth him: and he foameth and gnasheth with the teeth and pineth away. And I spoke to thy disciples to cast him out: and they could not.

19 (9-18) Who answering them, said: O incredulous generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me.

20 (9-19) And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit troubled him and being thrown down upon the ground, he rolled about foaming.

21 (9-20) And he asked his father: How long time is it since this hath happened unto him? But he sad: From his infancy.

22 (9-21) And oftentimes hath he cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him. But if thou canst do any thing, help us, having compassion on us.

23 (9-22) And Jesus saith to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 (9-23) And immediately the father of the boy crying out, with tears said: I do believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.

25 (9-24) And when Jesus saw the multitude running together, he threatened the unclean spirit, saying to him: Deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him and enter not any more into him.

26 (9-25) And crying out and greatly tearing him, he went our of him. And he became as dead, so that many said: He is dead.

27 (9-26) But Jesus taking him by the hand, lifted him up. And he arose.

28 (9-27) And when he was come into the house, his disciples secretly asked him: Why could not we cast him out?

29 (9-28) And he said to them: This kind can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

30 (9-29) And departing from thence, they passed through Galilee: and he would not that any man should know it.

31 (9-30) And he taught his disciples and said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day.

32 (9-31) But they understood not the word: and they were afraid to ask him.

33 (9-32) And they came to Capharnaum. And when they were in the house, he asked them: What did you treat of in the way?

34 (9-33) But they held their peace, for in the way they had disputed among themselves, which of them should be the greatest.

35 (9-34) And sitting down, he called the twelve and saith to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all and be minister of all.

36 (9-35) And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them. Whom when he had embraced, he saith to them:

37 (9-36) Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name receiveth me. And whosoever shall receive me receiveth not me but him that sent me.

38 (9-37) John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us: and we forbade him.

39 (9-38) But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name and can soon speak ill of me.

40 (9-39) For he that is not against you is for you.

41 (9-40) For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ: amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

42 (9-41) And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me: it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea.

43 (9-42) And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire:

44 (9-43) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.

45 (9-44) And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting than having two feet to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire:

46 (9-45) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.

47 (9-46) And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire:

48 (9-47) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.

49 (9-48) For every one shall be salted with fire: and every victim shall be salted with salt.

50 (9-49) Salt is good. But if the salt become unsavoury, wherewith will you season it? Have salt in you: and have peace among you.

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.