Mark 9
Summary. In this chapter, the Lord Jesus gives more teachings to His disciples, and we should concentrate on what He teaches, for He is the bread of life. Also, the Lord Jesus predicts His resurrection after suffering, telling us to have hope. He has conquered all, even death. As a follower of the Lord Jesus, conquer your own fears as well; remember that the death of the flesh means being reborn into eternity, reborn with the Lord. There are four central teachings given in this chapter. 1) The Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus in front of the three disciples (Peter, John, and James), and the confirmation from the Father that the Lord Jesus is His beloved Son, and we should listen to Him. We should take notice here that the Father has spoken only a few times in the Bible. At this time, He has spoken for all humans: He has sent His Son to come down to save them, and that is why the word spoken to all is clear: “This is My Son the Beloved.” 2) The man in this chapter does not give up when the disciples fail to heal his boy; he went to the source of belief, and he put his trust in the Lord Jesus. By healing this boy, the Lord teaches all that not everything comes easily. When the problem comes your way, don’t let it overpower you; go pray and bring it to the Lord. Even the disciples learned that they needed to pray. 3) The Lord is preparing the disciples for His departure. When the time came for the Lord Jesus’ departure, the disciples would know that the Lord had told them in advance what would happen to Him, which would keep them calm and not alarmed; they needed this knowledge. 4) The Lord Jesus delivers teachings to His disciples about the kingdom of heaven: a) the Lord wants all disciples to start to think what it means to be great in the eyes of God: internal or outside; the Lord is teaching them what it means to be great, not as the world thinking but the way of the Lord thinking; b) the Lord teaches the disciples that the one that is “not against Us, is for Us”; c) the Lord teaches about how important is to eliminate unworthy actions and bad thoughts from our lives to ensure that we keep our walk with the Lord on the narrow way.
[1]
And He said to them, Truly I say to you, There are some here of those standing, who shall no not taste of death, until they see the kingdom of God come with power.
Comments Mark 9:1
For Mark 9:1 See Matthew 16:28 and Luke 9:27.
Q: Was this prophecy told to the people that are mentioned in Mark 8:34 (the crowd and His disciples)? A: This verse is a continuation of Chapter 8. The people who divided the chapter did not follow the usual place where it should end. This verse is supposed to belong to the previous chapter. Mark 9:1 should be part of Mark 8:34-38.
This part of the Scripture itself is given to humans to know that the death in this place does not relate to the death of the flesh, but instead to the deep death of the soul itself. As the verse tells us, some standing there would not taste death, but that is the death of the soul. In this verse, some among those standing there who pretend to believe, which they know in their hearts that they do not believe, but for the eyes of people, they want to be one with them, so they present themselves as the ones who believe in the true Word, those do not count in here (of having their soul see no death). Some from that crowd and from the disciples believe, and some do not; those who believe will not taste the death of their souls until they see the Lord Jesus Himself return to earth (Mark 8:37-38 makes this clear in this context).
Q: Was this prophecy told to the people that are mentioned in Mark 8:34 (the crowd and His disciples)? A: This verse is a continuation of Chapter 8. The people who divided the chapter did not follow the usual place where it should end. This verse is supposed to belong to the previous chapter. Mark 9:1 should be part of Mark 8:34-38.
This part of the Scripture itself is given to humans to know that the death in this place does not relate to the death of the flesh, but instead to the deep death of the soul itself. As the verse tells us, some standing there would not taste death, but that is the death of the soul. In this verse, some among those standing there who pretend to believe, which they know in their hearts that they do not believe, but for the eyes of people, they want to be one with them, so they present themselves as the ones who believe in the true Word, those do not count in here (of having their soul see no death). Some from that crowd and from the disciples believe, and some do not; those who believe will not taste the death of their souls until they see the Lord Jesus Himself return to earth (Mark 8:37-38 makes this clear in this context).
[2]
And after six days Jesus takes with Him Peter, and James, and John, and brings them up into a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them;
[3]
and His garments became radiant, exceedingly white, such as no fuller on the earth is able to whiten in this way.
[4]
And appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus .
[5]
And answering, Peter says 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 Elijah.
[6]
For he knew not what to answer; for they became terrified.
[7]
And there came a Cloud overshadowing them; and there came a Voice out of the Cloud , This is My Son the Beloved ; hear you Him .
[8]
And suddenly looking around, they saw no one anymore, except Jesus alone with them.
Comments Mark 9:2-8
For Mark 9:2-8 see Comments Matthew 17:1-8, and Comments Luke 9:28-36.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 9:2, Matthew 17:1, Luke 9:28. Combining these portions of Scripture, we understand that the Lord Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain to pray (See Comments Matthew 17:1). In Mark and Matthew, we are told that this event took place “after six days,” and in Luke, we are told that this event took place “about eight days after these sayings.” Pay attention as well that none of the Gospels specifies to which past event they relate the transfiguration. A difference of two days is not a long time; both “after six days” and “about eight days after these sayings” are correct. But for sure it is not less than six days. The length of time between the events was a minimum of six days, and the report came after six days.
Mark 9:2b-3, Matthew 17:2, Luke 9:29. By combining these passages of Scripture, we understand that the Lord Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Specifically, while the Lord Jesus was praying, “the appearance of His face became altered,” “and His face shone as the sun,” and “His garments became radiant, exceedingly white” (see Comments Matthew 17:2).
Mark 9:4, Matthew 17:3, Luke 9:30-31. The key point of these passages of Scripture is that Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and “they were talking with Jesus.” In Luke 9:31, we are told that Moses and Elijah “spoke of His departure.” The nature of talking was way more, but only what humans should know is given here. Many details have not been mentioned; only a small portion of the conversation has been written. The conversation was long, and not all the details of the meeting between the Lord Jesus and these two (Moses and Elijah) have been put down for humans to know (see Comments Matthew 17:3).
Mark 9:5-6, Matthew 17:4, Matthew 17:6, Luke 9:32-34. In this place, we can concentrate on the word “terrified” (or “extremely afraid”). Imagine when humans feel terrified: in this place, it clearly shows that the disciples were terrified, but even in that terrified state, their hearts still want to please the Lord. Now, Peter himself offers to build a house; he is terrified but still wants to do work. Humans should think on this, beyond the fear, the heart should feel that you belong to the Lord; be living and praising God, that all creatures should do, because He is the One who gives to all breath. You come from Him, and you are in Him, don’t let the fear be the weapon of the dark side to take the heart that wants to glorify the One who created you (see Comments Matthew 17:4-7).
Mark 9:7, Matthew 17:5, Luke 9:34-35. All of the gospels state that the Father has declared the Lord Jesus to be His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased (See Comments Matthew 17:5).
Mark 9:8, Matthew 17:6-8, Luke 9:36. See Comments Matthew 17:6-9.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 9:2, Matthew 17:1, Luke 9:28. Combining these portions of Scripture, we understand that the Lord Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain to pray (See Comments Matthew 17:1). In Mark and Matthew, we are told that this event took place “after six days,” and in Luke, we are told that this event took place “about eight days after these sayings.” Pay attention as well that none of the Gospels specifies to which past event they relate the transfiguration. A difference of two days is not a long time; both “after six days” and “about eight days after these sayings” are correct. But for sure it is not less than six days. The length of time between the events was a minimum of six days, and the report came after six days.
Mark 9:2b-3, Matthew 17:2, Luke 9:29. By combining these passages of Scripture, we understand that the Lord Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Specifically, while the Lord Jesus was praying, “the appearance of His face became altered,” “and His face shone as the sun,” and “His garments became radiant, exceedingly white” (see Comments Matthew 17:2).
Mark 9:4, Matthew 17:3, Luke 9:30-31. The key point of these passages of Scripture is that Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and “they were talking with Jesus.” In Luke 9:31, we are told that Moses and Elijah “spoke of His departure.” The nature of talking was way more, but only what humans should know is given here. Many details have not been mentioned; only a small portion of the conversation has been written. The conversation was long, and not all the details of the meeting between the Lord Jesus and these two (Moses and Elijah) have been put down for humans to know (see Comments Matthew 17:3).
Mark 9:5-6, Matthew 17:4, Matthew 17:6, Luke 9:32-34. In this place, we can concentrate on the word “terrified” (or “extremely afraid”). Imagine when humans feel terrified: in this place, it clearly shows that the disciples were terrified, but even in that terrified state, their hearts still want to please the Lord. Now, Peter himself offers to build a house; he is terrified but still wants to do work. Humans should think on this, beyond the fear, the heart should feel that you belong to the Lord; be living and praising God, that all creatures should do, because He is the One who gives to all breath. You come from Him, and you are in Him, don’t let the fear be the weapon of the dark side to take the heart that wants to glorify the One who created you (see Comments Matthew 17:4-7).
Mark 9:7, Matthew 17:5, Luke 9:34-35. All of the gospels state that the Father has declared the Lord Jesus to be His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased (See Comments Matthew 17:5).
Mark 9:8, Matthew 17:6-8, Luke 9:36. See Comments Matthew 17:6-9.
[9]
And as they were coming down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no one what they had seen, except when the Son of Man should have risen out from the dead.
[10]
And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising out from the dead it is.
[11]
And they asked Him , saying, that the scribes say that Elijah must come first.
[12]
And He said to them, Elijah indeed having come first, restores all things; and how has it been written of the Son of Man , that He should suffer many things and be despised?
[13]
But I say to you, that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they desired, as it has been written of him.
Comments Mark 9:9-13
For Mark 9:9-13 see Comments Matthew 17:9-13.
Passage Analysis Mark 9:9, Matthew 17:9. The Lord Jesus charges these disciples not to tell what they have seen until He has risen from the dead, since no one will understand or believe. Moses and Elijah, about those two, people have been taught from a young age how important they are. If the disciples go to tell people that those two have come to meet with the Lord Jesus and have paid their respects to the Lord, people out there will not be able to accept it, especially the scribes and Pharisees and all the teachers of the Law. Then it will be a collision, attacking straight to the faith of those people who have learned from a young age who those two figures are. At this point, the Lord does not want that kind of argument arising; later, after the resurrection, this will be discussed. (See also Comments Matthew 17:8-9).
Mark 9:10. Note that even the disciples did not understand what the rising from the dead meant. It was not the time for the disciples to understand what rising from the dead should mean.
Mark 9:11, Matthew 17:10. See Comments Matthew 17:10. It was the teaching of old times: who comes before whom. Here, we clearly see that man’s teaching and the Lord’s teaching are not the same.
Mark 9:12-13, Matthew 17:11-13. See Comments Matthew 17:11-13. The Lord Jesus has been “despised” by those who disrespect Him. They have seen miracles, but their hearts are hardened, and they have rejected Him from the depths of their souls, and that is why they crucified the Lord of Life. If His teaching has place in their hearts, they would not crucify the Lord. As it is written, the Son of Man had to suffer, and they have read this portion of Scripture as well, but it has no meaning for them. The guilt is on themselves; they reject what they read. The Lord Jesus did not come to condemn them; they condemned themselves, because they had the written word, but they did not believe. They claim to be the Lawkeepers, yet here they disobey the Law, thereby condemning themselves.
Passage Analysis Mark 9:9, Matthew 17:9. The Lord Jesus charges these disciples not to tell what they have seen until He has risen from the dead, since no one will understand or believe. Moses and Elijah, about those two, people have been taught from a young age how important they are. If the disciples go to tell people that those two have come to meet with the Lord Jesus and have paid their respects to the Lord, people out there will not be able to accept it, especially the scribes and Pharisees and all the teachers of the Law. Then it will be a collision, attacking straight to the faith of those people who have learned from a young age who those two figures are. At this point, the Lord does not want that kind of argument arising; later, after the resurrection, this will be discussed. (See also Comments Matthew 17:8-9).
Mark 9:10. Note that even the disciples did not understand what the rising from the dead meant. It was not the time for the disciples to understand what rising from the dead should mean.
Mark 9:11, Matthew 17:10. See Comments Matthew 17:10. It was the teaching of old times: who comes before whom. Here, we clearly see that man’s teaching and the Lord’s teaching are not the same.
Mark 9:12-13, Matthew 17:11-13. See Comments Matthew 17:11-13. The Lord Jesus has been “despised” by those who disrespect Him. They have seen miracles, but their hearts are hardened, and they have rejected Him from the depths of their souls, and that is why they crucified the Lord of Life. If His teaching has place in their hearts, they would not crucify the Lord. As it is written, the Son of Man had to suffer, and they have read this portion of Scripture as well, but it has no meaning for them. The guilt is on themselves; they reject what they read. The Lord Jesus did not come to condemn them; they condemned themselves, because they had the written word, but they did not believe. They claim to be the Lawkeepers, yet here they disobey the Law, thereby condemning themselves.
[14]
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them.
[15]
And straightaway all the multitude, having seen Him , were greatly amazed, and running to Him welcomed Him .
[16]
And He asked them, What do you question with them?
[17]
And one of the multitude answered Him , Teacher , I brought to Thee my son, having a dumb spirit;
[18]
and whenever if it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams, and grinds his teeth, and is withering away; and I spoke to Thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they had no power.
[19]
And answering him, He says, O unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to Me .
[20]
And they brought him to Him ; and having seen Him , straightaway the spirit tore him grievously; and having fallen upon the ground, he began rolling around foaming.
[21]
And He asked his father, How long time is it since this has been with him? And he said, From childhood.
[22]
And often it throws him both into the fire and into waters, that it might destroy him; but if Thou can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
[24]
Straightaway the father of the child having cried out, was saying, I believe; help my unbelief!
[25]
And Jesus having seen that a multitude was running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, Mute and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
[26]
And having cried out, and torn him much, it came out; and he became as if dead, insomuch that many said that he was dead.
[27]
But Jesus having taken him by the hand, raised him up; and he arose.
[28]
And He having entered into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why were we not able to cast it out?
[29]
And He said to them, This kind is able to go out by nothing, except by prayer.
Comments Mark 9:14-29
For Mark 9:14-29 see Comments Matthew 17:14-19, and Comments Luke 9:37-42.
Passage Analysis
Mark 9:14-16, Matthew 17:14a, Luke 9:37. When the Lord Jesus, Peter, James, and John came down from the mountain to the other disciples, they saw a crowd and scribes questioning them.
“…were greatly amazed, and running to Him welcomed Him.” Pay attention to the word “amazed.” Why do people feel amazed about seeing the Lord Jesus? There must be something about the Lord Jesus to stir people’s hearts to be amazed. They are amazed at the way of the Lord Jesus. People are mainly amazed by the way the Lord Jesus looked. He is a common man, but there is something special about that common way and the things they heard about Him, and that is why they are amazed.
In the past, those people (scribes, elders, and Pharisees) behaved differently: the way they walked, the way they ate, and the way they put themselves up to look holy. And when people looked at them, they could see right away that they were a different class of people. However, the disciples behaved like ordinary people, just as the Lord Jesus did, unlike the others. The main thing here is that people do not feel greatly amazed just by looking, but they feel amazed at the Lord Jesus by their hearts as well. This is why the amazement comes in: the Lord Jesus acts as a common man and does not make Himself of a different class; the amazement is there. We, as believers, should be the same: don’t lift yourself up; even if you know that at the end you are with or not with them. Lower or higher class has no meaning in the place at the end when we will be with the Lord for eternity.
“What do you question with them?” This is a general question the Lord Jesus put to everyone present there: disciples and people who stayed around; it is just a general question. Mainly, the crowd was arguing, in the way of unbelieving, against what the disciples were doing. Nobody agrees with the way the disciples behave; it is not general and is mainly unlike the scribes or the elders. Another way you can say it is that the disciples are unique, which is why the arguments come.
Mark 9:17-18, Matthew 17:14b-16, Luke 9:38-40. In these verses, pay attention; the disciples may fail people, but the one who has a heart for the Lord will pass through the failure and come to the source of belief, not the disciples, but the Master Himself. These verses clearly tell us that all humans should do the same: you have someone teaching in the front, but the One you should come to is the One up there above all, not the teacher of the Word you see, but the Word itself. (See Comments Matthew 9:14-16).
Mark 9:19, Matthew 17:17, Luke 9:41. See Comments Matthew 17:17. This here is a rebuke, but not specific to the person; the Lord Jesus rebukes the group. That is why it uses the term “generation”. The Lord Jesus doesn’t want anyone to feel discouraged.
Mark 9:20, Luke 9:42a. These verses show the boy’s illness. This passage clearly tells us that this sickness is not natural. To make the boy roll, foaming around his mouth, this is not a natural sickness. As the Bible says, it is a dark spirit attacking this boy. This kind of sickness can only be healed by prayer and by the Holy Word of the Lord. But also keep in mind that these kinds of sicknesses no longer exist; the Holy Spirit occupies the earth, and those unnatural things have been subdued, so we don’t encounter them these days.
Mark 9:21-22a, Matthew 17:15. In this place, it is clear that the dark side has only one thing they want to do: destroy the work of the Lord. Remember, the Lord has created humans after the image of the Lord, and that is why evil hates humans. The dark side only wants to destroy the work of the Lord, and here it shows clearly what they want. See Comments Matthew 17:15-16.
Mark 9:22b-24. “But if Thou can do anything …” The man has faith, but he says this because he wants to know the Lord’s will, whether the Lord wants to heal or not. But not that the Lord can’t do, he just begged for mercy. Here, it clearly shows the man’s faith and humbleness, asking for compassion.
“I believe; help my unbelief!” This is the heart of this passage: the man asks for help to have faith, even to overcome his fear, because he does not know the Lord’s will. So he asks for help to have the belief as the Lord has said, “to one believing.” The Lord Jesus’ saying “to one believing” has struck the man’s heart.
Mark 9:25-27, Matthew 17:18, Luke 9:42b-43. Mark provides more details about the boy’s healing, but the main point of these verses in all Gospels is that “Jesus rebuked the demonic spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.” (See Comments Matthew 17:18).
“And Jesus having seen that a multitude was running together …” This is the place to prove that the Lord Jesus did not come to make a show. The Lord healed the boy instantly. He did not show people how He can order and heal by the Word of order, but people will see the result only.
“Mute and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter no more into him.” Pay attention to the last part, which says, “Enter no more.” This is a command from the Lord Jesus for the spirit not to enter again, and the boy will never suffer again; this is a confirmation of the order that the dark must obey. Only humans disobey the Lord; here is the place humans should think about: read and think about this passage; listen and obey is the key, humans should do so as well.
Mark 9:28, Matthew 17:19. See Comments Matthew 17:19.
Mark 9:29, Matthew 17:20-21. See Comments Matthew 17:20, and Comments Matthew 17:21.
Passage Analysis
Mark 9:14-16, Matthew 17:14a, Luke 9:37. When the Lord Jesus, Peter, James, and John came down from the mountain to the other disciples, they saw a crowd and scribes questioning them.
“…were greatly amazed, and running to Him welcomed Him.” Pay attention to the word “amazed.” Why do people feel amazed about seeing the Lord Jesus? There must be something about the Lord Jesus to stir people’s hearts to be amazed. They are amazed at the way of the Lord Jesus. People are mainly amazed by the way the Lord Jesus looked. He is a common man, but there is something special about that common way and the things they heard about Him, and that is why they are amazed.
In the past, those people (scribes, elders, and Pharisees) behaved differently: the way they walked, the way they ate, and the way they put themselves up to look holy. And when people looked at them, they could see right away that they were a different class of people. However, the disciples behaved like ordinary people, just as the Lord Jesus did, unlike the others. The main thing here is that people do not feel greatly amazed just by looking, but they feel amazed at the Lord Jesus by their hearts as well. This is why the amazement comes in: the Lord Jesus acts as a common man and does not make Himself of a different class; the amazement is there. We, as believers, should be the same: don’t lift yourself up; even if you know that at the end you are with or not with them. Lower or higher class has no meaning in the place at the end when we will be with the Lord for eternity.
“What do you question with them?” This is a general question the Lord Jesus put to everyone present there: disciples and people who stayed around; it is just a general question. Mainly, the crowd was arguing, in the way of unbelieving, against what the disciples were doing. Nobody agrees with the way the disciples behave; it is not general and is mainly unlike the scribes or the elders. Another way you can say it is that the disciples are unique, which is why the arguments come.
Mark 9:17-18, Matthew 17:14b-16, Luke 9:38-40. In these verses, pay attention; the disciples may fail people, but the one who has a heart for the Lord will pass through the failure and come to the source of belief, not the disciples, but the Master Himself. These verses clearly tell us that all humans should do the same: you have someone teaching in the front, but the One you should come to is the One up there above all, not the teacher of the Word you see, but the Word itself. (See Comments Matthew 9:14-16).
Mark 9:19, Matthew 17:17, Luke 9:41. See Comments Matthew 17:17. This here is a rebuke, but not specific to the person; the Lord Jesus rebukes the group. That is why it uses the term “generation”. The Lord Jesus doesn’t want anyone to feel discouraged.
Mark 9:20, Luke 9:42a. These verses show the boy’s illness. This passage clearly tells us that this sickness is not natural. To make the boy roll, foaming around his mouth, this is not a natural sickness. As the Bible says, it is a dark spirit attacking this boy. This kind of sickness can only be healed by prayer and by the Holy Word of the Lord. But also keep in mind that these kinds of sicknesses no longer exist; the Holy Spirit occupies the earth, and those unnatural things have been subdued, so we don’t encounter them these days.
Mark 9:21-22a, Matthew 17:15. In this place, it is clear that the dark side has only one thing they want to do: destroy the work of the Lord. Remember, the Lord has created humans after the image of the Lord, and that is why evil hates humans. The dark side only wants to destroy the work of the Lord, and here it shows clearly what they want. See Comments Matthew 17:15-16.
Mark 9:22b-24. “But if Thou can do anything …” The man has faith, but he says this because he wants to know the Lord’s will, whether the Lord wants to heal or not. But not that the Lord can’t do, he just begged for mercy. Here, it clearly shows the man’s faith and humbleness, asking for compassion.
“I believe; help my unbelief!” This is the heart of this passage: the man asks for help to have faith, even to overcome his fear, because he does not know the Lord’s will. So he asks for help to have the belief as the Lord has said, “to one believing.” The Lord Jesus’ saying “to one believing” has struck the man’s heart.
Mark 9:25-27, Matthew 17:18, Luke 9:42b-43. Mark provides more details about the boy’s healing, but the main point of these verses in all Gospels is that “Jesus rebuked the demonic spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.” (See Comments Matthew 17:18).
“And Jesus having seen that a multitude was running together …” This is the place to prove that the Lord Jesus did not come to make a show. The Lord healed the boy instantly. He did not show people how He can order and heal by the Word of order, but people will see the result only.
“Mute and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter no more into him.” Pay attention to the last part, which says, “Enter no more.” This is a command from the Lord Jesus for the spirit not to enter again, and the boy will never suffer again; this is a confirmation of the order that the dark must obey. Only humans disobey the Lord; here is the place humans should think about: read and think about this passage; listen and obey is the key, humans should do so as well.
Mark 9:28, Matthew 17:19. See Comments Matthew 17:19.
Mark 9:29, Matthew 17:20-21. See Comments Matthew 17:20, and Comments Matthew 17:21.
[30]
From there having gone forth, they were passing through Galilee; and He did not want that any person should know it.
[31]
For He taught His disciples, and said to them, The Son of Man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they will kill Him ; and having been killed, on the third day He will rise again.
[32]
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask Him .
Comments Mark 9:30-32
For Mark 9:30-32 see Comments Matthew 17:22-23, and Comments Luke 9:43-45.
Mark 9:30. “He did not want that any person should know it.” The Lord did not hide where He was going. Still, sometimes, He didn’t want people just to go around Him because He needed time to be alone with the disciples to teach them. If people were around, the disciples would not get what they needed. The Lord Jesus here did not want people to know the pattern of traveling because when people make a guess, they would go ahead and wait there. They reached there before the Lord went, and sometimes, the Lord would not have enough time to teach the disciples. He did not have much time to teach them, and that was why sometimes it said He did not want anyone to know.
Mark 9:32. As we have seen before, the disciples were common men. The time would come when their fear would trouble their heart of faith, and the Lord wanted them to know that He never left them; that was why the Lord told them ahead that in three days, He would rise again to give them assurance in their hearts.
Mark 9:30. “He did not want that any person should know it.” The Lord did not hide where He was going. Still, sometimes, He didn’t want people just to go around Him because He needed time to be alone with the disciples to teach them. If people were around, the disciples would not get what they needed. The Lord Jesus here did not want people to know the pattern of traveling because when people make a guess, they would go ahead and wait there. They reached there before the Lord went, and sometimes, the Lord would not have enough time to teach the disciples. He did not have much time to teach them, and that was why sometimes it said He did not want anyone to know.
Mark 9:32. As we have seen before, the disciples were common men. The time would come when their fear would trouble their heart of faith, and the Lord wanted them to know that He never left them; that was why the Lord told them ahead that in three days, He would rise again to give them assurance in their hearts.
[33]
And they came to Capernaum; and having been in the house He was asking them, What were you discussing on the way?
[34]
But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on the way which was greatest.
[35]
And having sat down, He called the twelve; and He says to them, If anyone wishes to be first, he will be last of all, and servant of all.
[36]
And having taken a little child, He set him in the midst of them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them,
[37]
Whoever shall receive one of such little children in My name, receives Me ; and whoever shall receive Me , receives not Me , but the One having sent Me .
Comments Mark 9:33-37
For Mark 9:33-37 see Comments Matthew 18:1-5, and Comments Luke 9:46-48.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 9:33-34, Matthew 18:1, Luke 9:46-47a. See Comments Matthew 18:1. As they were walking along, passed the town Capernaum itself, on the way which was outside already, this event happened, not in the town itself, outside of the town.
Q: How do we put together these verses? In Matthew, it says, “came the disciples to Jesus, saying,” and in Mark, it says, “but they were silent”? A: You can notice as well now, not exactly the same time that these sayings happened; traveling time asking and entering into the house asking, and between these times, the disciples had questions among themselves; now not two directions, it is three directions of thinking. But, also, in this place, it clearly tells us that the Lord has not been with them at all times. The disciples go, and the Lord goes, and they have a meeting spot; now it shows that way.
Q: For Matthew 18:1, did the disciples come to the Lord Jesus with the question directly, and when? A: What happens in Matthew happens before what happens in Mark; there is a short time of separation between them.
Q: Why in the house did the Lord ask them again what they were arguing about? A: Because the disciples did not want the Lord to know they were arguing about the problem of their hearts between them. They didn’t want this to be a problem for the Lord to get involved; they wanted to solve it by themselves. But when the Lord puts Himself in between them, it stops the time of disciples’ argument with each other. It makes them think about what really happened during the time of their arguing. They come to the conclusion that the Lord wasn’t with them in some portion when they were arguing, but He knows about it. The Lord wasn’t with them, but He knows, so it makes them think about this as well.
Mark 9:35. This verse clearly states that if you put yourself to be important, you won’t be first in the kingdom of God; you will be the one behind everyone. In this world, humble yourself and let someone else lift you up because when someone lifts you up, it means you have something people see and agree with. If your actions show that you glorify the Lord in people’s eyes, you are above all because you are serving the Most High King. See also Comments Matthew 20:25-26.
Mark 9:36, Matthew 18:2-4, Luke 9:47b. The Lord took the child to Him, as the child was there, He had the child in His arms, as He talked to the disciples, the child is in His arms, and the disciples were watching the child. He teaches the disciples, who are in front of the child; the Kingdom of Heaven accepts the child first; if all take the child as an example, they all will enter as well. The children can be afraid if they don’t know the person, but because the heart of the child is innocent, they can feel the Lord, so the child has no fear and trusts the Lord. See Comments Matthew 18:2-4.
Mark 9:37, Matthew 18:5, Luke 9:48. See Comments Matthew 18:5.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 9:33-34, Matthew 18:1, Luke 9:46-47a. See Comments Matthew 18:1. As they were walking along, passed the town Capernaum itself, on the way which was outside already, this event happened, not in the town itself, outside of the town.
Q: How do we put together these verses? In Matthew, it says, “came the disciples to Jesus, saying,” and in Mark, it says, “but they were silent”? A: You can notice as well now, not exactly the same time that these sayings happened; traveling time asking and entering into the house asking, and between these times, the disciples had questions among themselves; now not two directions, it is three directions of thinking. But, also, in this place, it clearly tells us that the Lord has not been with them at all times. The disciples go, and the Lord goes, and they have a meeting spot; now it shows that way.
Q: For Matthew 18:1, did the disciples come to the Lord Jesus with the question directly, and when? A: What happens in Matthew happens before what happens in Mark; there is a short time of separation between them.
Q: Why in the house did the Lord ask them again what they were arguing about? A: Because the disciples did not want the Lord to know they were arguing about the problem of their hearts between them. They didn’t want this to be a problem for the Lord to get involved; they wanted to solve it by themselves. But when the Lord puts Himself in between them, it stops the time of disciples’ argument with each other. It makes them think about what really happened during the time of their arguing. They come to the conclusion that the Lord wasn’t with them in some portion when they were arguing, but He knows about it. The Lord wasn’t with them, but He knows, so it makes them think about this as well.
Mark 9:35. This verse clearly states that if you put yourself to be important, you won’t be first in the kingdom of God; you will be the one behind everyone. In this world, humble yourself and let someone else lift you up because when someone lifts you up, it means you have something people see and agree with. If your actions show that you glorify the Lord in people’s eyes, you are above all because you are serving the Most High King. See also Comments Matthew 20:25-26.
Mark 9:36, Matthew 18:2-4, Luke 9:47b. The Lord took the child to Him, as the child was there, He had the child in His arms, as He talked to the disciples, the child is in His arms, and the disciples were watching the child. He teaches the disciples, who are in front of the child; the Kingdom of Heaven accepts the child first; if all take the child as an example, they all will enter as well. The children can be afraid if they don’t know the person, but because the heart of the child is innocent, they can feel the Lord, so the child has no fear and trusts the Lord. See Comments Matthew 18:2-4.
Mark 9:37, Matthew 18:5, Luke 9:48. See Comments Matthew 18:5.
[38]
John said to Him , Teacher , we saw someone casting out demons in Thy name; and we forbade him, because he was not following Us .
[39]
And Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no one who will do a mighty work in My name, and will be able quickly to speak evil of Me .
[41]
For whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because you are in Christ ’s name, truly I say to you, that he shall not lose his reward.
Comments Mark 9:38-41
Passage Analysis
Mark 9:38.“We forbade him, because he was not following Us.” People have misused this verse. When someone glorifies the Lord, no one knows the person’s heart; only the Lord knows it. The way of worshiping may be different in the eyes of humans; some use their own way to justify someone else’s doing, but the Lord uses only the heart. Someone may be sitting down, or someone else may be standing up, but if the heart glorifies the Lord, the position does not matter. Even cloth wearing, people use their own minds; the Lord never has anything asking about you must dress in a specific way (dress modestly but not the kind of dress; the disciples themselves dressed just to cover the body; the type of dress or the color are not related to the heart). You must dress your heart, not the body, and that is what counts; here, it clearly tells that the Lord did not look to the outside but to the heart.
Mark 9:41. As the Word tells us, because you belong to Christ’s name, someone does good to someone. Because you belong to Christ, that person has done it to Christ, the good thing; if they are not against you, it links as well together here. If because of who you are, they are not against you, that does not count here; it only counts when “you are in Christ’s name.”
Passage Analysis
Mark 9:38.“We forbade him, because he was not following Us.” People have misused this verse. When someone glorifies the Lord, no one knows the person’s heart; only the Lord knows it. The way of worshiping may be different in the eyes of humans; some use their own way to justify someone else’s doing, but the Lord uses only the heart. Someone may be sitting down, or someone else may be standing up, but if the heart glorifies the Lord, the position does not matter. Even cloth wearing, people use their own minds; the Lord never has anything asking about you must dress in a specific way (dress modestly but not the kind of dress; the disciples themselves dressed just to cover the body; the type of dress or the color are not related to the heart). You must dress your heart, not the body, and that is what counts; here, it clearly tells that the Lord did not look to the outside but to the heart.
Mark 9:41. As the Word tells us, because you belong to Christ’s name, someone does good to someone. Because you belong to Christ, that person has done it to Christ, the good thing; if they are not against you, it links as well together here. If because of who you are, they are not against you, that does not count here; it only counts when “you are in Christ’s name.”
[42]
And whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him if rather a great millstone is put about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
[43]
And if your hand should cause you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than having two hands to go into the hell, into the unquenchable fire;
[44]
where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
[45]
And if your foot should cause you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than having two feet to be thrown into the hell, into the unquenchable fire;
[46]
where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
[47]
And if your eye should cause you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be thrown into hell;
[48]
where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
[49]
For everyone will be salted with fire.
[50]
Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
Comments Mark 9:42-50
Q: Are the teachings from this portion of Scripture, Mark 9:39-50, given by the Lord in the context of Mark 9:38? A: They come together as a pair; you can’t separate them out. One supports another; we can notice that. This discussion was a continuation of the discussion that took place in the house (See Mark 9:33). One question raised to the Lord can lead to many answers.
Passage Analysis
Mark 9:42. See Comments Matthew 18:6.
Mark 9:43-46. See Comments Matthew 18:8.
“To go into the hell, into the unquenchable fire.” There are no human words that can explain hell, and not even the human imagination can picture how hell would be. Just only know that the torturing there is more than human words can describe, more than words can tell the feeling of those tortures, being tortured until you want to die again, but you already died, you cannot die again; how much torture would that be? But, the Lord has already shown the way out and not to go to be tortured in hell; come it is easy, just listen and obey; the Lord did not ask you to do hard work, just listen and obey.
Mark 9:47-48. See Comments Matthew 18:9.
“Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.” Now, it does not talk about the worms of the earth; now, the Lord talks about the thought of the heart that tries to fight back the Lord’s teaching. You are on this earth; your heart always fights back the work of the Lord: that is the worm of the soul. When you build up that thought of fighting back the work of the Lord, that thought does not just damage the flesh but damages your soul as well; those worms won’t die when you breed them into your soul; they will clench in it until the judgment time comes.
Mark 9:49. According to the verse itself, pay attention to the word “everyone”; everyone in the world? No, in this place, everyone refers to everyone who takes the Word seriously and goes to be baptized in the water. When you go under the water baptism, you become a new person; these verses refer to everyone who has been baptized. “Will be salted with fire.” The Holy Word is the fire of God, who cleanses and purifies the soul, and the salt is the Holy Word itself. If you go and give someone the Bible, you give them the salt; when that person reads the Holy Word, the Holy Word instantly turns to be the cleansing fire that cleanses from the inside out. The salt and fire are together: one refers to the Bible as the Holy Word and another refers to the Holy Word as the Holy Spirit.
Mark 9:50. See also Matthew 5:13.
“Salt is good.” The salt will preserve life, and that is why it is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, it isn’t the salt itself that lost the saltiness; the person who received the salt couldn’t feel the taste of salt. In this place, when the salt “becomes unsalty,” that means when the person receives the Holy Word and turns away, not just turns away alone but blasphemes against God; after receiving the Holy Word, the salt has lost its saltiness in that person’s soul; it can’t make it salty again, that person will be lost eternally.
“Have salt in yourselves.” Now, the Holy Word tells you to meditate on the Word; don’t take it lightly. The Holy Word is heavy for the soul, and it will sink down into your heart and will go until your soul. Only the Holy Word can reach your soul, but if you don’t meditate, it doesn’t reach far into the soul; it just stays in the body, not deep enough. Be salty by meditating on the Holy Word, and then you can be saltier; keep the salt into your soul.
Passage Analysis
Mark 9:42. See Comments Matthew 18:6.
Mark 9:43-46. See Comments Matthew 18:8.
“To go into the hell, into the unquenchable fire.” There are no human words that can explain hell, and not even the human imagination can picture how hell would be. Just only know that the torturing there is more than human words can describe, more than words can tell the feeling of those tortures, being tortured until you want to die again, but you already died, you cannot die again; how much torture would that be? But, the Lord has already shown the way out and not to go to be tortured in hell; come it is easy, just listen and obey; the Lord did not ask you to do hard work, just listen and obey.
Mark 9:47-48. See Comments Matthew 18:9.
“Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.” Now, it does not talk about the worms of the earth; now, the Lord talks about the thought of the heart that tries to fight back the Lord’s teaching. You are on this earth; your heart always fights back the work of the Lord: that is the worm of the soul. When you build up that thought of fighting back the work of the Lord, that thought does not just damage the flesh but damages your soul as well; those worms won’t die when you breed them into your soul; they will clench in it until the judgment time comes.
Mark 9:49. According to the verse itself, pay attention to the word “everyone”; everyone in the world? No, in this place, everyone refers to everyone who takes the Word seriously and goes to be baptized in the water. When you go under the water baptism, you become a new person; these verses refer to everyone who has been baptized. “Will be salted with fire.” The Holy Word is the fire of God, who cleanses and purifies the soul, and the salt is the Holy Word itself. If you go and give someone the Bible, you give them the salt; when that person reads the Holy Word, the Holy Word instantly turns to be the cleansing fire that cleanses from the inside out. The salt and fire are together: one refers to the Bible as the Holy Word and another refers to the Holy Word as the Holy Spirit.
Mark 9:50. See also Matthew 5:13.
“Salt is good.” The salt will preserve life, and that is why it is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, it isn’t the salt itself that lost the saltiness; the person who received the salt couldn’t feel the taste of salt. In this place, when the salt “becomes unsalty,” that means when the person receives the Holy Word and turns away, not just turns away alone but blasphemes against God; after receiving the Holy Word, the salt has lost its saltiness in that person’s soul; it can’t make it salty again, that person will be lost eternally.
“Have salt in yourselves.” Now, the Holy Word tells you to meditate on the Word; don’t take it lightly. The Holy Word is heavy for the soul, and it will sink down into your heart and will go until your soul. Only the Holy Word can reach your soul, but if you don’t meditate, it doesn’t reach far into the soul; it just stays in the body, not deep enough. Be salty by meditating on the Holy Word, and then you can be saltier; keep the salt into your soul.
Life and Faith Applications. 1) The Word of the Lord is written, the voice of the Lord is in your heart, and the mind needs to learn to listen not by ear but by heart; not by the physical heart but by the heart of your soul. 2) Be in prayer and bring all your problems into your prayer. When you pray, you have private time with the Lord; you can’t be closer than that. 3) Trust in the Lord and do not be afraid to come to the Lord Jesus. 4) Cut useless activities from your life and spend more time reading and meditating on the Word. 5) No one knows a person’s heart; only the Lord knows it; do not judge the way others worship.