Mark 14

1 erat autem pascha et azyma post biduum et quaerebant summi sacerdotes et scribae quomodo eum dolo tenerent et occiderent

2 dicebant enim non in die festo ne forte tumultus fieret populi

3 et cum esset Bethaniae in domo Simonis leprosi et recumberet venit mulier habens alabastrum unguenti nardi spicati pretiosi et fracto alabastro effudit super caput eius

4 erant autem quidam indigne ferentes intra semet ipsos et dicentes ut quid perditio ista unguenti facta est

5 poterat enim unguentum istud veniri plus quam trecentis denariis et dari pauperibus et fremebant in eam

6 Iesus autem dixit sinite eam quid illi molesti estis bonum opus operata est in me

7 semper enim pauperes habetis vobiscum et cum volueritis potestis illis benefacere me autem non semper habetis

8 quod habuit haec fecit praevenit unguere corpus meum in sepulturam

9 amen dico vobis ubicumque praedicatum fuerit evangelium istud in universum mundum et quod fecit haec narrabitur in memoriam eius

10 et Iudas Scariotis unus de duodecim abiit ad summos sacerdotes ut proderet eum illis

11 qui audientes gavisi sunt et promiserunt ei pecuniam se daturos et quaerebat quomodo illum oportune traderet

12 et primo die azymorum quando pascha immolabant dicunt ei discipuli quo vis eamus et paremus tibi ut manduces pascha

13 et mittit duos ex discipulis suis et dicit eis ite in civitatem et occurret vobis homo laguenam aquae baiulans sequimini eum

14 et quocumque introierit dicite domino domus quia magister dicit ubi est refectio mea ubi pascha cum discipulis meis manducem

15 et ipse vobis demonstrabit cenaculum grande stratum et illic parate nobis

16 et abierunt discipuli eius et venerunt in civitatem et invenerunt sicut dixerat illis et praeparaverunt pascha

17 vespere autem facto venit cum duodecim

18 et discumbentibus eis et manducantibus ait Iesus amen dico vobis quia unus ex vobis me tradet qui manducat mecum

19 at illi coeperunt contristari et dicere ei singillatim numquid ego

20 qui ait illis unus ex duodecim qui intinguit mecum in catino

21 et Filius quidem hominis vadit sicut scriptum est de eo vae autem homini illi per quem Filius hominis traditur bonum ei si non esset natus homo ille

22 et manducantibus illis accepit Iesus panem et benedicens fregit et dedit eis et ait sumite hoc est corpus meum

23 et accepto calice gratias agens dedit eis et biberunt ex illo omnes

24 et ait illis hic est sanguis meus novi testamenti qui pro multis effunditur

25 amen dico vobis quod iam non bibam de genimine vitis usque in diem illum cum illud bibam novum in regno Dei

26 et hymno dicto exierunt in montem Olivarum

27 et ait eis Iesus omnes scandalizabimini in nocte ista quia scriptum est percutiam pastorem et dispergentur oves

28 sed posteaquam resurrexero praecedam vos in Galilaeam

29 Petrus autem ait ei et si omnes scandalizati fuerint sed non ego

30 et ait illi Iesus amen dico tibi quia tu hodie in nocte hac priusquam bis gallus vocem dederit ter me es negaturus

31 at ille amplius loquebatur et si oportuerit me simul conmori tibi non te negabo similiter autem et omnes dicebant

32 et veniunt in praedium cui nomen Gethsemani et ait discipulis suis sedete hic donec orem

33 et adsumit Petrum et Iacobum et Iohannem secum et coepit pavere et taedere

34 et ait illis tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem sustinete hic et vigilate

35 et cum processisset paululum procidit super terram et orabat ut si fieri posset transiret ab eo hora

36 et dixit Abba Pater omnia possibilia tibi sunt transfer calicem hunc a me sed non quod ego volo sed quod tu

37 et venit et invenit eos dormientes et ait Petro Simon dormis non potuisti una hora vigilare

38 vigilate et orate ut non intretis in temptationem spiritus quidem promptus caro vero infirma

39 et iterum abiens oravit eundem sermonem dicens

40 et reversus denuo invenit eos dormientes erant enim oculi illorum ingravati et ignorabant quid responderent ei

41 et venit tertio et ait illis dormite iam et requiescite sufficit venit hora ecce traditur Filius hominis in manus peccatorum

42 surgite eamus ecce qui me tradit prope est

43 et adhuc eo loquente venit Iudas Scarioth unus ex duodecim et cum illo turba cum gladiis et lignis a summis sacerdotibus et a scribis et a senioribus

44 dederat autem traditor eius signum eis dicens quemcumque osculatus fuero ipse est tenete eum et ducite

45 et cum venisset statim accedens ad eum ait rabbi et osculatus est eum

46 at illi manus iniecerunt in eum et tenuerunt eum

47 unus autem quidam de circumstantibus educens gladium percussit servum summi sacerdotis et amputavit illi auriculam

48 et respondens Iesus ait illis tamquam ad latronem existis cum gladiis et lignis conprehendere me

49 cotidie eram apud vos in templo docens et non me tenuistis sed ut adimpleantur scripturae

50 tunc discipuli eius relinquentes eum omnes fugerunt

51 adulescens autem quidam sequebatur illum amictus sindone super nudo et tenuerunt eum

52 at ille reiecta sindone nudus profugit ab eis

53 et adduxerunt Iesum ad summum sacerdotem et conveniunt omnes sacerdotes et scribae et seniores

54 Petrus autem a longe secutus est eum usque intro in atrium summi sacerdotis et sedebat cum ministris et calefaciebat se ad ignem

55 summi vero sacerdotes et omne concilium quaerebant adversum Iesum testimonium ut eum morti traderent nec inveniebant

56 multi enim testimonium falsum dicebant adversus eum et convenientia testimonia non erant

57 et quidam surgentes falsum testimonium ferebant adversus eum dicentes

58 quoniam nos audivimus eum dicentem ego dissolvam templum hoc manufactum et per triduum aliud non manufactum aedificabo

59 et non erat conveniens testimonium illorum

60 et exsurgens summus sacerdos in medium interrogavit Iesum dicens non respondes quicquam ad ea quae tibi obiciuntur ab his

61 ille autem tacebat et nihil respondit rursum summus sacerdos interrogabat eum et dicit ei tu es Christus Filius Benedicti

62 Iesus autem dixit illi ego sum et videbitis Filium hominis a dextris sedentem Virtutis et venientem cum nubibus caeli

63 summus autem sacerdos scindens vestimenta sua ait quid adhuc desideramus testes

64 audistis blasphemiam quid vobis videtur qui omnes condemnaverunt eum esse reum mortis

65 et coeperunt quidam conspuere eum et velare faciem eius et colaphis eum caedere et dicere ei prophetiza et ministri alapis eum caedebant

66 et cum esset Petrus in atrio deorsum venit una ex ancillis summi sacerdotis

67 et cum vidisset Petrum calefacientem se aspiciens illum ait et tu cum Iesu Nazareno eras

68 at ille negavit dicens neque scio neque novi quid dicas et exiit foras ante atrium et gallus cantavit

69 rursus autem cum vidisset illum ancilla coepit dicere circumstantibus quia hic ex illis est

70 at ille iterum negavit et post pusillum rursus qui adstabant dicebant Petro vere ex illis es nam et Galilaeus es

71 ille autem coepit anathematizare et iurare quia nescio hominem istum quem dicitis

72 et statim iterum gallus cantavit et recordatus est Petrus verbi quod dixerat ei Iesus priusquam gallus cantet bis ter me negabis et coepit flere

Mark 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Christ anointed at Bethany. (1-11) The passover, Jesus declares that Judas would betray him. (12-21) The Lord's supper instituted. (22-31) Christ's agony in the garden. (32-42) He is betrayed and taken. (43-52) Christ before the high priest. (53-65) Peter denies Christ. (66-72)

Verses 1-11 Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious attention to the notice of believers in all ages. Those who honour Christ he will honour. Covetousness was Judas' master lust, and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master; the devil suited his temptation to that, and so conquered him. And see what wicked contrivances many have in their sinful pursuits; but what appears to forward their plans, will prove curses in the end.

Verses 12-21 Nothing could be less the result of human foresight than the events here related. But our Lord knows all things about us before they come to pass. If we admit him, he will dwell in our hearts. The Son of man goes, as it is written of him, as a lamb to the slaughter; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! God's permitting the sins of men, and bringing glory to himself out of them, does not oblige them to sin; nor will this be any excuse for their guilt, or lessen their punishment.

Verses 22-31 The Lord's supper is food for the soul, therefore a very little of that which is for the body, as much as will serve for a sign, is enough. It was instituted by the example and the practice of our Master, to remain in force till his second coming. It was instituted with blessing and giving of thanks, to be a memorial of Christ's death. Frequent mention is made of his precious blood, as the price of our redemption. How comfortable is this to poor repenting sinners, that the blood of Christ is shed for many! If for many, why not for me? It was a sign of the conveyance of the benefits purchased for us by his death. Apply the doctrine of Christ crucified to yourselves; let it be meat and drink to your souls, strengthening and refreshing your spiritual life. It was to be an earnest and foretaste of the happiness of heaven, and thereby to put us out of taste for the pleasures and delights of sense. Every one that has tasted spiritual delights, straightway desires eternal ones. Though the great Shepherd passed through his sufferings without one false step, yet his followers often have been scattered by the small measure of sufferings allotted to them. How very apt we are to think well of ourselves, and to trust our own hearts! It was ill done of Peter thus to answer his Master, and not with fear and trembling. Lord, give me grace to keep me from denying thee.

Verses 32-42 Christ's sufferings began with the sorest of all, those in his soul. He began to be sorely amazed; words not used in St. Matthew, but very full of meaning. The terrors of God set themselves in array against him, and he allowed him to contemplate them. Never was sorrow like unto his at this time. Now he was made a curse for us; the curses of the law were laid upon him as our Surety. He now tasted death, in all the bitterness of it. This was that fear of which the apostle speaks, the natural fear of pain and death, at which human nature startles. Can we ever entertain favourable, or even slight thoughts of sin, when we see the painful sufferings which sin, though but reckoned to him, brought on the Lord Jesus? Shall that sit light upon our souls, which sat so heavy upon his? Was Christ in such agony for our sins, and shall we never be in agony about them? How should we look upon Him whom we have pierced, and mourn! It becomes us to be exceedingly sorrowful for sin, because He was so, and never to mock at it. Christ, as Man, pleaded, that, if it were possible, his sufferings might pass from him. As Mediator, he submitted to the will of God, saying, Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt; I bid it welcome. See how the sinful weakness of Christ's disciples returns, and overpowers them. What heavy clogs these bodies of ours are to our souls! But when we see trouble at the door, we should get ready for it. Alas, even believers often look at the Redeemer's sufferings in a drowsy manner, and instead of being ready to die with Christ, they are not even prepared to watch with him one hour.

Verses 43-52 Because Christ appeared not as a temporal prince, but preached repentance, reformation, and a holy life, and directed men's thoughts, and affections, and aims to another world, therefore the Jewish rulers sought to destroy him. Peter wounded one of the band. It is easier to fight for Christ than to die for him. But there is a great difference between faulty disciples and hypocrites. The latter rashly and without thought call Christ Master, and express great affection for him, yet betray him to his enemies. Thus they hasten their own destruction.

Verses 53-65 We have here Christ's condemnation before the great council of the Jews. Peter followed; but the high priest's fire-side was no proper place, nor his servants proper company, for Peter: it was an entrance into temptation. Great diligence was used to procure false witnesses against Jesus, yet their testimony was not equal to the charge of a capital crime, by the utmost stretch of their law. He was asked, Art thou the Son of the Blessed? that is, the Son of God. For the proof of his being the Son of God, he refers to his second coming. In these outrages we have proofs of man's enmity to God, and of God's free and unspeakable love to man.

Verses 66-72 Peter's denying Christ began by keeping at a distance from him. Those that are shy of godliness, are far in the way to deny Christ. Those who think it dangerous to be in company with Christ's disciples, because thence they may be drawn in to suffer for him, will find it much more dangerous to be in company with his enemies, because there they may be drawn in to sin against him. When Christ was admired and flocked after, Peter readily owned him; but will own no relation to him now he is deserted and despised. Yet observe, Peter's repentance was very speedy. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall; and let him that has fallen think of these things, and of his own offences, and return to the Lord with weeping and supplication, seeking forgiveness, and to be raised up by the Holy Spirit.