Mark 9

1 et post dies sex adsumit Iesus Petrum et Iacobum et Iohannem et ducit illos in montem excelsum seorsum solos et transfiguratus est coram ipsis

2 et vestimenta eius facta sunt splendentia candida nimis velut nix qualia fullo super terram non potest candida facere

3 et apparuit illis Helias cum Mose et erant loquentes cum Iesu

4 et respondens Petrus ait Iesu rabbi bonum est hic nos esse et faciamus tria tabernacula tibi unum et Mosi unum et Heliae unum

5 non enim sciebat quid diceret erant enim timore exterriti

6 et facta est nubes obumbrans eos et venit vox de nube dicens hic est Filius meus carissimus audite illum

7 et statim circumspicientes neminem amplius viderunt nisi Iesum tantum secum

8 et descendentibus illis de monte praecepit illis ne cui quae vidissent narrarent nisi cum Filius hominis a mortuis resurrexerit

9 et verbum continuerunt apud se conquirentes quid esset cum a mortuis resurrexerit

10 et interrogabant eum dicentes quid ergo dicunt Pharisaei et scribae quia Heliam oporteat venire primum

11 qui respondens ait illis Helias cum venerit primo restituet omnia et quomodo scriptum est in Filium hominis ut multa patiatur et contemnatur

12 sed dico vobis quia et Helias venit et fecerunt illi quaecumque voluerunt sicut scriptum est de eo

13 et veniens ad discipulos suos vidit turbam magnam circa eos et scribas conquirentes cum illis

14 et confestim omnis populus videns eum stupefactus est et adcurrentes salutabant eum

15 et interrogavit eos quid inter vos conquiritis

16 et respondens unus de turba dixit magister adtuli filium meum ad te habentem spiritum mutum

17 qui ubicumque eum adprehenderit adlidit eum et spumat et stridet dentibus et arescit et dixi discipulis tuis ut eicerent illum et non potuerunt

18 qui respondens eis dicit o generatio incredula quamdiu apud vos ero quamdiu vos patiar adferte illum ad me

19 et adtulerunt eum et cum vidisset illum statim spiritus conturbavit eum et elisus in terram volutabatur spumans

20 et interrogavit patrem eius quantum temporis est ex quo hoc ei accidit at ille ait ab infantia

21 et frequenter eum et in ignem et in aquas misit ut eum perderet sed si quid potes adiuva nos misertus nostri

22 Iesus autem ait illi si potes credere omnia possibilia credenti

23 et continuo exclamans pater pueri cum lacrimis aiebat credo adiuva incredulitatem meam

24 et cum videret Iesus concurrentem turbam comminatus est spiritui inmundo dicens illi surde et mute spiritus ego tibi praecipio exi ab eo et amplius ne introeas in eum

25 et clamans et multum discerpens eum exiit ab eo et factus est sicut mortuus ita ut multi dicerent quia mortuus est

26 Iesus autem tenens manum eius elevavit illum et surrexit

27 et cum introisset in domum discipuli eius secreto interrogabant eum quare nos non potuimus eicere eum

28 et dixit illis hoc genus in nullo potest exire nisi in oratione et ieiunio

29 et inde profecti praetergrediebantur Galilaeam nec volebat quemquam scire

30 docebat autem discipulos suos et dicebat illis quoniam Filius hominis tradetur in manus hominum et occident eum et occisus tertia die resurget

31 at illi ignorabant verbum et timebant eum interrogare

32 et venerunt Capharnaum qui cum domi esset interrogabat eos quid in via tractabatis

33 at illi tacebant siquidem inter se in via disputaverant quis esset illorum maior

34 et residens vocavit duodecim et ait illis si quis vult primus esse erit omnium novissimus et omnium minister

35 et accipiens puerum statuit eum in medio eorum quem cum conplexus esset ait illis

36 quisquis unum ex huiusmodi pueris receperit in nomine meo me recipit et quicumque me susceperit non me suscipit sed eum qui me misit

37 respondit illi Iohannes dicens magister vidimus quendam in nomine tuo eicientem daemonia qui non sequitur nos et prohibuimus eum

38 Iesus autem ait nolite prohibere eum nemo est enim qui faciat virtutem in nomine meo et possit cito male loqui de me

39 qui enim non est adversum vos pro vobis est

40 quisquis enim potum dederit vobis calicem aquae in nomine meo quia Christi estis amen dico vobis non perdet mercedem suam

41 et quisquis scandalizaverit unum ex his pusillis credentibus in me bonum est ei magis si circumdaretur mola asinaria collo eius et in mare mitteretur

42 et si scandalizaverit te manus tua abscide illam bonum est tibi debilem introire in vitam quam duas manus habentem ire in gehennam in ignem inextinguibilem

43 ubi vermis eorum non moritur et ignis non extinguitur

44 et si pes tuus te scandalizat amputa illum bonum est tibi claudum introire in vitam aeternam quam duos pedes habentem mitti in gehennam ignis inextinguibilis

45 ubi vermis eorum non moritur et ignis non extinguitur

46 quod si oculus tuus scandalizat te eice eum bonum est tibi luscum introire in regnum Dei quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis

47 ubi vermis eorum non moritur et ignis non extinguitur

48 omnis enim igne sallietur et omnis victima sallietur

49 bonum est sal quod si sal insulsum fuerit in quo illud condietis habete in vobis sal et pacem habete inter vos

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.