Mark 8
Summary. Again, in this chapter, we see that the Lord Jesus continues to travel, proclaim the gospel, and show mercy. Three significant points stand out in this chapter: 1) Peter’s confession of the Lord Jesus as the Christ the Son of the Living God, which was given to Peter by the mercy of the Father as the first disciple to get this knowledge; we can say that at this point Peter has experienced a new birth (not the baptism in the Holy Spirit). 2) The Lord Jesus teaches His disciples that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be mocked, and be killed; however, He will rise again after three days. Finally, 3) The Lord Jesus teaches the multitudes what it means to become a follower of Him: deny yourself; take up your cross and follow Him; be ready to suffer tribulations for the gospel and the Lord Jesus’ sake. In this chapter, it also warns us to be aware of false teachings, which will spread erroneous ways of thinking and wrong principles that will grow like weeds in the soul. These wrong ways will occupy the room in our souls, and the Word of God itself will have no room to grow because the mind always thinks of human teachings before God’s teaching. The eyes that look to be lifted by humans and want to be praised by humans will be like leaven in the bread. Other events given in this chapter are: 1) The Lord Jesus shows mercy and compassion on the crowd that gathered around Him and feeds them; 2) The Lord Jesus interacts with the Pharisees and warns them that no sign from heaven will be given; 3) The Lord Jesus shows mercy and heals a blind man at Bethsaida. He restores his sight and gives him clarity of mind when he sees things, so he can understand what he sees.
[1]
In those days, again a great multitude being, and not having what they might eat, having called the disciples, He says to them,
[2]
I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me already three days, and have nothing that they might eat;
[3]
and if I send them away not eating to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from far.
[4]
And His disciples answered Him , From where shall anyone be able to satisfy these with bread here in a desert place?
[5]
And He asked them, How many loaves do you have? And they said, Seven.
[6]
And He commands the multitude to sit down on the ground; and having taken the seven loaves, having given thanks, He broke and gave to His disciples, that they might set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
[7]
And they had a few small fishes; and having blessed them, He commanded to set these also before them.
[8]
And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets.
[9]
And they were about four thousand; and He sent them away.
Comments Mark 8:1-9
For Mark 8:1-9, see Comments Matthew 15:32-38. The event described in Mark is the same as the feeding event in Matthew. Although there may be slight differences in the details, the overall meaning remains the same; it is the same event.
Comparison Analysis Mark 8:1-3, Matthew 15:32-33. These passages of Scripture convey the same meaning, showing the Lord Jesus’ compassion for the multitude. See Comments Matthew 15:32-33.
Mark 8:4, Matthew 15:34. These verses have the same meaning. See Comments Matthew 15:34. Here in this place, we should add that all the disciples are common men. Facing difficulties makes humans forget even what they have seen with their own eyes; it simply doesn’t stick in their minds. These disciples are common men; they have already forgotten what happened, and they will always ask this question.
Mark 8:5-7, Matthew 15:35-36. Both passages of Scripture show that the Lord feeds the multitude using seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. See Comments Matthew 15:35-36.
Mark 8:8, Matthew 15:37. These verses show that the people present there ate and were satisfied. See Comments Matthew 15:37.
Mark 8:9, Matthew 15:38. In Mark 8:9, we are told that there were about four thousand, and in Matthew 15:38, we are told that there were four thousand men, besides women and children. Combining these verses, we can conclude that both Gospels refer to four thousand family heads.
Q: In Mark 8:9, some translations mention “four thousand people.” How should we understand these verses in Matthew and Mark? A: Men and people make a difference. Think of the word men: just men or not. Then think of the word people: who are they? Combine their meanings, and then you’ll know the difference. A family itself: one man has brothers, a woman has family; would it mean all of those together as one family? All these will make a big difference in the amount of people. Matthew and Mark refer to this large amount of people in different ways: one mentions only men, and the other uses the term “people.” Combine both together, and imagine the multitude; a lot of people who were there that will be fed from the Lord. Men or people all eat until they are full; that is the main point. Also, remember that the Bible uses the term “man” to count as a family. If a man has more than one wife, how many women will count for one man? That is also the way to think about it, but the Bible counts the man as the head of the family. When we say people as one head of the family, but the Bible does not mention how big his family was, imagine that as well.
Comparison Analysis Mark 8:1-3, Matthew 15:32-33. These passages of Scripture convey the same meaning, showing the Lord Jesus’ compassion for the multitude. See Comments Matthew 15:32-33.
Mark 8:4, Matthew 15:34. These verses have the same meaning. See Comments Matthew 15:34. Here in this place, we should add that all the disciples are common men. Facing difficulties makes humans forget even what they have seen with their own eyes; it simply doesn’t stick in their minds. These disciples are common men; they have already forgotten what happened, and they will always ask this question.
Mark 8:5-7, Matthew 15:35-36. Both passages of Scripture show that the Lord feeds the multitude using seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. See Comments Matthew 15:35-36.
Mark 8:8, Matthew 15:37. These verses show that the people present there ate and were satisfied. See Comments Matthew 15:37.
Mark 8:9, Matthew 15:38. In Mark 8:9, we are told that there were about four thousand, and in Matthew 15:38, we are told that there were four thousand men, besides women and children. Combining these verses, we can conclude that both Gospels refer to four thousand family heads.
Q: In Mark 8:9, some translations mention “four thousand people.” How should we understand these verses in Matthew and Mark? A: Men and people make a difference. Think of the word men: just men or not. Then think of the word people: who are they? Combine their meanings, and then you’ll know the difference. A family itself: one man has brothers, a woman has family; would it mean all of those together as one family? All these will make a big difference in the amount of people. Matthew and Mark refer to this large amount of people in different ways: one mentions only men, and the other uses the term “people.” Combine both together, and imagine the multitude; a lot of people who were there that will be fed from the Lord. Men or people all eat until they are full; that is the main point. Also, remember that the Bible uses the term “man” to count as a family. If a man has more than one wife, how many women will count for one man? That is also the way to think about it, but the Bible counts the man as the head of the family. When we say people as one head of the family, but the Bible does not mention how big his family was, imagine that as well.
[10]
And straightaway having entered into the boat with His disciples, He came into the district of Dalmanutha.
[11]
And the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him , seeking from Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him .
[12]
And having sighed deeply in His Spirit , He says, Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, No sign will be given to this generation.
Comments Mark 8:10-12
For Mark 8:11-12 see also Comments Matthew 16:1-4.
Passage Analysis Mark 8:10, Matthew 15:39. Here in Mark, we are told that the Lord Jesus went by boat with His disciples to the region of Dalmanutha. In Matthew, we are told that the Lord Jesus went by boat to the region of Magadan. The regions of Magadan and Dalmanutha are two different regions. From Mark 8:10, we see that the Lord went “immediately (straightaway)” to the region of Dalmanutha. Combining these two verses, we can understand that after the feeding of the four thousand, the Lord travelled first to the region of Dalmanutha and, after a while, to the region of Magadan. Matthew tells us about the destination further away, while Mark tells us about the closer destination.
Mark 8:11. When the Lord travels to many places, He will receive questions because of the mighty works that He has performed. In this place, He performs mighty works; in another place, He performs mighty works. People in both places will ask the same questions; many questions people ask Him.
Mark 8:12. “And having sighed deeply in His spirit.” We should pay attention to the word “sighed.” The main thing to think about is: who signed, human or God? The Lord Jesus, who is God in human form, sighed deeply in His Spirit. Now, distinguish between the human form and the heavenly form; which of these forms sighed deeply in the Spirit? If it is in heavenly form who sighed, everything will be open to the Spirit of God, and He knows everything before it happens (so He doesn’t need to sigh). If it is in human form who sighed, it is troublesome for the Spirit of the Lord Jesus who has come in human form. Because the Lord Jesus was willing to limit His power in human form, take notice of this point as well. Make the difference between the God in heaven and the God in human form. When you make that difference, it will be clear to all how much the Lord Jesus loves us to come down and take the form of a human to close the gap between humans and God. In the Lord Jesus alone have tested the form of the dust of the earth and had not received the appreciation.
Passage Analysis Mark 8:10, Matthew 15:39. Here in Mark, we are told that the Lord Jesus went by boat with His disciples to the region of Dalmanutha. In Matthew, we are told that the Lord Jesus went by boat to the region of Magadan. The regions of Magadan and Dalmanutha are two different regions. From Mark 8:10, we see that the Lord went “immediately (straightaway)” to the region of Dalmanutha. Combining these two verses, we can understand that after the feeding of the four thousand, the Lord travelled first to the region of Dalmanutha and, after a while, to the region of Magadan. Matthew tells us about the destination further away, while Mark tells us about the closer destination.
Mark 8:11. When the Lord travels to many places, He will receive questions because of the mighty works that He has performed. In this place, He performs mighty works; in another place, He performs mighty works. People in both places will ask the same questions; many questions people ask Him.
Mark 8:12. “And having sighed deeply in His spirit.” We should pay attention to the word “sighed.” The main thing to think about is: who signed, human or God? The Lord Jesus, who is God in human form, sighed deeply in His Spirit. Now, distinguish between the human form and the heavenly form; which of these forms sighed deeply in the Spirit? If it is in heavenly form who sighed, everything will be open to the Spirit of God, and He knows everything before it happens (so He doesn’t need to sigh). If it is in human form who sighed, it is troublesome for the Spirit of the Lord Jesus who has come in human form. Because the Lord Jesus was willing to limit His power in human form, take notice of this point as well. Make the difference between the God in heaven and the God in human form. When you make that difference, it will be clear to all how much the Lord Jesus loves us to come down and take the form of a human to close the gap between humans and God. In the Lord Jesus alone have tested the form of the dust of the earth and had not received the appreciation.
[13]
And having left them, He again entering into the boat departed to the other side.
[14]
And they forgot to take loaves; and they had not in the boat with them except one loaf.
[15]
And He instructed them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.
[16]
And they reasoned with one another, because, they have no loaves.
[17]
And having known it, He says to them, Why do you reason because you have no loaves? Do you not yet perceive, nor understand? Do you have your heart hardened?
[18]
Having eyes, do you see not? And having ears, do you hear not? And do you remember not?
[19]
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They say to Him , Twelve.
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Also, when the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? And they say to Him , Seven.
[21]
And He said to them, Do you not yet understand?
Comments Mark 8:13-21
For Mark 8:13-21 see Comments Matthew 16:5-12.
Q: In this Bible passage, when it says, “the leaven of the Pharisees” and “the leaven of Herod,” should we understand this as referring to two different kinds of teaching? A: These two types of people have two types of teachings, and they stand against each other. Between those two, their teaching cannot be combined as each group lifts itself up. But the Lord Jesus’ teaching is one teaching only. Among the Father, the Lord Jesus Himself, and the Holy Spirit, there is one teaching only, no difference: Three in One but unity in the Father.
Q: In this Bible passage, when it says, “the leaven of the Pharisees” and “the leaven of Herod,” should we understand this as referring to two different kinds of teaching? A: These two types of people have two types of teachings, and they stand against each other. Between those two, their teaching cannot be combined as each group lifts itself up. But the Lord Jesus’ teaching is one teaching only. Among the Father, the Lord Jesus Himself, and the Holy Spirit, there is one teaching only, no difference: Three in One but unity in the Father.
[22]
And they come to Bethsaida. And they bring to Him a blind man, and begged Him that He might touch him.
[23]
And having taken hold of the blind man by the hand, He led him out of the village; and having spit upon his eyes, having laid the hands upon him, He asked him, Do you see anything?
[24]
And having looked up he said, I see people; for I perceive them as trees, walking.
[25]
Then again, He laid the hands upon his eyes; and he saw clearly, and he was restored, and saw distinctly everything.
[26]
And He sent him to his home, saying, Do not even enter into the village.
Comments Mark 8:22-26
The healing of the blind man at Bethsaida is given only here in the Gospel of Mark.
Passage Analysis
Mark 8:23. “And having taken … out of the village ...” People will just see the result, but not how the Lord Jesus healed the man. The Lord Jesus did not come to be famous or make a show, so He took this man out of the village to heal him (see Comments Mark 7:36).
“And having spit upon his eyes …” Here, the Lord Jesus uses the same way as in Mark 7:31-37, where He healed a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment (see Comments Mark 7:31-36).
Q: Why does the Lord Jesus ask in this verse, “Do you see anything?” A: The Bible does not clearly tell us about this man himself. The Bible always says that healing is according to a person’s faith, but in this case, it doesn’t tell us much about the man. This healing could lead to many speculations, but all things are according to faith.
Mark 8:24. “I see people; for I perceive them as trees, walking.” Also, remember the blind man’s hand has touched everything. He can see now with his eyes, but he doesn’t understand what he sees, since he used to understand by hand touching. When you see by hand touching, the shape of the objects is not clear. When the man first sees objects with his eyes, not by hand, how can he interpret what he sees and match it against what he used to see by hand? He touched people; he touched the objects. Now he uses his eyes to see; nothing will be clear. That is why the second touch from the Lord Jesus is needed to help the man bring together the eyes-seeing and hand-seeing, so they come together, and he knows what he sees. Remember the confusion of mind as well: the man sees by hand and becomes the man who sees by eyes; it is a common confusion.
Mark 8:25. This second touch from the Lord Jesus was done to eliminate the confusion and make the man see distinctly. Now, the second touch helps two seeing to become one. There is no longer confusion between hand-seeing and eye-seeing; the man can continue to live further in life. In the brain, the Lord Jesus made two things become one, with no crossing to be used; that is why the Bible says that the man saw everything distinctly.
Mark 8:26. "... Do not even enter the village"; Q: Why would the Lord command him not even to enter the village? A: Now the Lord Jesus wants to help the man, not create confusion for himself. He is not yet ready to know the difference between good people and bad people. If he goes to the village, people will ask him questions, which can confuse him and even shake his faith; that is human weakness. When the ear has heard many things, even what you know by heart can become confused, and the man who was blind, his confusion will be even easier; he can get easily mixed up. The Lord Jesus did not tell him to follow Him. He told him to go “to his home” and live life normally without fear. And as he would be walking along in his life, people would ask, and the answer would come from his heart, not from his head.
Passage Analysis
Mark 8:23. “And having taken … out of the village ...” People will just see the result, but not how the Lord Jesus healed the man. The Lord Jesus did not come to be famous or make a show, so He took this man out of the village to heal him (see Comments Mark 7:36).
“And having spit upon his eyes …” Here, the Lord Jesus uses the same way as in Mark 7:31-37, where He healed a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment (see Comments Mark 7:31-36).
Q: Why does the Lord Jesus ask in this verse, “Do you see anything?” A: The Bible does not clearly tell us about this man himself. The Bible always says that healing is according to a person’s faith, but in this case, it doesn’t tell us much about the man. This healing could lead to many speculations, but all things are according to faith.
Mark 8:24. “I see people; for I perceive them as trees, walking.” Also, remember the blind man’s hand has touched everything. He can see now with his eyes, but he doesn’t understand what he sees, since he used to understand by hand touching. When you see by hand touching, the shape of the objects is not clear. When the man first sees objects with his eyes, not by hand, how can he interpret what he sees and match it against what he used to see by hand? He touched people; he touched the objects. Now he uses his eyes to see; nothing will be clear. That is why the second touch from the Lord Jesus is needed to help the man bring together the eyes-seeing and hand-seeing, so they come together, and he knows what he sees. Remember the confusion of mind as well: the man sees by hand and becomes the man who sees by eyes; it is a common confusion.
Mark 8:25. This second touch from the Lord Jesus was done to eliminate the confusion and make the man see distinctly. Now, the second touch helps two seeing to become one. There is no longer confusion between hand-seeing and eye-seeing; the man can continue to live further in life. In the brain, the Lord Jesus made two things become one, with no crossing to be used; that is why the Bible says that the man saw everything distinctly.
Mark 8:26. "... Do not even enter the village"; Q: Why would the Lord command him not even to enter the village? A: Now the Lord Jesus wants to help the man, not create confusion for himself. He is not yet ready to know the difference between good people and bad people. If he goes to the village, people will ask him questions, which can confuse him and even shake his faith; that is human weakness. When the ear has heard many things, even what you know by heart can become confused, and the man who was blind, his confusion will be even easier; he can get easily mixed up. The Lord Jesus did not tell him to follow Him. He told him to go “to his home” and live life normally without fear. And as he would be walking along in his life, people would ask, and the answer would come from his heart, not from his head.
[27]
And Jesus went forth, and His disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way, He asked His disciples, saying to them, Who do people say that I am?
[28]
And they answered Him , saying, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets.
[29]
And He questioned them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answering, says to Him , Thou are the Christ .
Comments Mark 8:27-30
For Mark 8:27-30 see Comments Matthew 16:13-20, and Comments Luke 9:18-20.
Because of Peter’s heart, the Father has revealed the truth about Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God to Peter. Note that this paragraph talks about the disciples, and John the Baptist is not one of the Lord Jesus’ disciples. John is the messenger of the Lord.
Mark 8:30. This warning was given because the Lord Jesus must take the suffering, as confirmed in the Bible (see Comments Matthew 16:20). In the next verse (Mark 8:31), the Lord Jesus teaches about His suffering that He must take.
Because of Peter’s heart, the Father has revealed the truth about Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God to Peter. Note that this paragraph talks about the disciples, and John the Baptist is not one of the Lord Jesus’ disciples. John is the messenger of the Lord.
Mark 8:30. This warning was given because the Lord Jesus must take the suffering, as confirmed in the Bible (see Comments Matthew 16:20). In the next verse (Mark 8:31), the Lord Jesus teaches about His suffering that He must take.
[31]
And He began to teach them, that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things, and to be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and to be killed, and after three days to rise.
[33]
And having turned, and having looked upon His disciples, He rebuked Peter, and said, Get behind Me , Satan; for you think not the things of God , but the things of men.
Comments Mark 8:31-33
For Mark 8:31-33 see Comments Matthew 16:21-23, and Comments Luke 9:21-22.
Mark 8:33. "But He turning about, and seeing His disciples, rebuked Peter..."; Q: Why is it mentioned explicitly in Mark, “and having looked upon His disciples”? A: To understand the difference between Matthew and Mark, link only one point: the rebuke helped other disciples as well; it did not help only Peter. This rebuke would later help all of them.
Mark 8:33. "But He turning about, and seeing His disciples, rebuked Peter..."; Q: Why is it mentioned explicitly in Mark, “and having looked upon His disciples”? A: To understand the difference between Matthew and Mark, link only one point: the rebuke helped other disciples as well; it did not help only Peter. This rebuke would later help all of them.
[34]
And having called to Him the multitude with His disciples, He said to them, If anyone wishes to come after Me , let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross, and let him follow Me .
[35]
For whoever may wish to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life on account of Me and of the gospel he will save it.
[36]
For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and to lose his soul?
[37]
For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
[38]
For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when He shall come in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Life and Faith Applications. 1) Do not seek to challenge the Word of God. 2) Be aware of many false teachings that are there to lift up men; use the Bible to help you in discerning. 3) Confess the Lord Jesus as the Son of the Living God and give Him glory, and use the Bible to be the guide in discerning all things men try to teach. If their teaching goes against the Word of God, go away from there; they can pull you into their trap; don’t let your curiosity lead you to fall. 4) Following the Lord Jesus is not easy, but it is not too difficult; if we don’t give up, we will find the Lord Jesus at the end of our journey.