Mark 8

1 in illis diebus iterum cum turba multa esset nec haberent quod manducarent convocatis discipulis ait illis

2 misereor super turba quia ecce iam triduo sustinent me nec habent quod manducent

3 et si dimisero eos ieiunos in domum suam deficient in via quidam enim ex eis de longe venerunt

4 et responderunt ei discipuli sui unde istos poterit quis hic saturare panibus in solitudine

5 et interrogavit eos quot panes habetis qui dixerunt septem

6 et praecepit turbae discumbere supra terram et accipiens septem panes gratias agens fregit et dabat discipulis suis ut adponerent et adposuerunt turbae

7 et habebant pisciculos paucos et ipsos benedixit et iussit adponi

8 et manducaverunt et saturati sunt et sustulerunt quod superaverat de fragmentis septem sportas

9 erant autem qui manducaverunt quasi quattuor milia et dimisit eos

10 et statim ascendens navem cum discipulis suis venit in partes Dalmanutha

11 et exierunt Pharisaei et coeperunt conquirere cum eo quaerentes ab illo signum de caelo temptantes eum

12 et ingemescens spiritu ait quid generatio ista quaerit signum amen dico vobis si dabitur generationi isti signum

13 et dimittens eos ascendens iterum abiit trans fretum

14 et obliti sunt sumere panes et nisi unum panem non habebant secum in navi

15 et praecipiebat eis dicens videte cavete a fermento Pharisaeorum et fermento Herodis

16 et cogitabant ad alterutrum dicentes quia panes non habemus

17 quo cognito Iesus ait illis quid cogitatis quia panes non habetis nondum cognoscitis nec intellegitis adhuc caecatum habetis cor vestrum

18 oculos habentes non videtis et aures habentes non auditis nec recordamini

19 quando quinque panes fregi in quinque milia et quot cofinos fragmentorum plenos sustulistis dicunt ei duodecim

20 quando et septem panes in quattuor milia quot sportas fragmentorum tulistis et dicunt ei septem

21 et dicebat eis quomodo nondum intellegitis

22 et veniunt Bethsaida et adducunt ei caecum et rogabant eum ut illum tangeret

23 et adprehendens manum caeci eduxit eum extra vicum et expuens in oculos eius inpositis manibus suis interrogavit eum si aliquid videret

24 et aspiciens ait video homines velut arbores ambulantes

25 deinde iterum inposuit manus super oculos eius et coepit videre et restitutus est ita ut videret clare omnia

26 et misit illum in domum suam dicens vade in domum tuam et si in vicum introieris nemini dixeris

27 et egressus est Iesus et discipuli eius in castella Caesareae Philippi et in via interrogabat discipulos suos dicens eis quem me dicunt esse homines

28 qui responderunt illi dicentes Iohannem Baptistam alii Heliam alii vero quasi unum de prophetis

29 tunc dicit illis vos vero quem me dicitis esse respondens Petrus ait ei tu es Christus

30 et comminatus est eis ne cui dicerent de illo

31 et coepit docere illos quoniam oportet Filium hominis multa pati et reprobari a senioribus et a summis sacerdotibus et scribis et occidi et post tres dies resurgere

32 et palam verbum loquebatur et adprehendens eum Petrus coepit increpare eum

33 qui conversus et videns discipulos suos comminatus est Petro dicens vade retro me Satana quoniam non sapis quae Dei sunt sed quae sunt hominum

34 et convocata turba cum discipulis suis dixit eis si quis vult post me sequi deneget se ipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequatur me

35 qui enim voluerit animam suam salvam facere perdet eam qui autem perdiderit animam suam propter me et evangelium salvam eam faciet

36 quid enim proderit homini si lucretur mundum totum et detrimentum faciat animae suae

37 aut quid dabit homo commutationem pro anima sua

38 qui enim me confusus fuerit et mea verba in generatione ista adultera et peccatrice et Filius hominis confundetur eum cum venerit in gloria Patris sui cum angelis sanctis

39 et dicebat illis amen dico vobis quia sunt quidam de hic stantibus qui non gustabunt mortem donec videant regnum Dei veniens in virtute

Mark 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

Four thousand fed by a miracle. (1-10) Christ cautions against the Pharisees and Herodians. (11-21) A blind man healed. (22-26) Peter's testimony to Christ. (27-33) Christ must be followed. (34-38)

Verses 1-10 Our Lord Jesus encouraged the meanest to come to him for life and grace. Christ knows and considers our frames. The bounty of Christ is always ready; to show that, he repeated this miracle. His favours are renewed, as our wants and necessities are. And those need not fear want, who have Christ to live upon by faith, and do so with thanksgiving.

Verses 11-21 Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?

Verses 22-26 Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends. Therein appeared the faith of those that brought him. If those who are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their friends and relations should pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord's miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but, like the light of the morning, it shines more and more to the perfect day, and then they see all things clearly. Slighting Christ's favours is forfeiting them; and he will make those who do so know the worth of privileges by the want of them.

Verses 27-33 These things are written, that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. These miracles of our Lord assure us that he was not conquered, but a Conqueror. Now the disciples are convinced that Jesus is the Christ; they may bear to hear of his sufferings, of which Christ here begins to give them notice. He sees that amiss in what we say and do, of which we ourselves are not aware, and knows what manner of spirit we are of, when we ourselves do not. The wisdom of man is folly, when it pretends to limit the Divine counsels. Peter did not rightly understand the nature of Christ's kingdom.

Verses 34-38 Frequent notice is taken of the great flocking there was to Christ for help in various cases. All are concerned to know this, if they expect him to heal their souls. They must not indulge the ease of the body. As the happiness of heaven with Christ, is enough to make up for the loss of life itself for him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly object as we shall do at that great day.