Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 6
Overview:
Christ despised in his own country.
(1-6) The apostles sent
forth.
(7-13) John the Baptist Put to
Death.
(14-29) The
apostles return, Five thousand fed
By a
Miracle.
(30-44) Christ
walks
On The Sea, He heals those that touch him.
(45-56)
1-6 Our
Lord's countrymen tried to prejudice the minds of
people against him. Is not this the
Carpenter? Our
Lord Jesus
probably had worked in that business with his
Father. He thus
Put honour upon mechanics, and encouraged all persons who eat
By
the labour of their hands. It becomes the followers of
Christ to
content themselves with the satisfaction of doing good, although
they are denied the praise of it. How much did these Nazarenes
lose
By obstinate prejudices against
Jesus! May Divine
Grace
deliver us from that unbelief, which renders
Christ a savour of
Death, rather than of
Life to the soul. Let us, like our Master,
go and teach cottages and peasants the way of
Salvation.
7-13 Though the apostles were conscious to themselves of great
weakness, and expected
No worldly advantage, yet, in obedience to
their Master, and in dependence upon his strength, they went
out. They did not amuse people with curious matters, but told
them they must repent of their sins, and turn to
God. The
servants of
Christ may
Hope to turn many from
Darkness unto
God,
and to heal souls
By the power of the
Holy Ghost.
14-29 Herod feared
John while he lived, and feared him still
more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which
John
in his preaching taught him; but it is not enough to do many
things, we must have respect to all the
Commandments. Herod
respected
John, till he touched him in his
Herodias. Thus many
Love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved
Sin.
But it is better that sinners persecute ministers now for
faithfulness, than
Curse them eternally for unfaithfulness. The
ways of
God are unsearchable; but we may be sure he never can be
at a loss to repay his servants for what they endure or lose for
his sake.
Death could not come
So as to surprise this holy
Man;
and the triumph of the wicked was short.
30-44 Let not ministers do any thing or teach any thing, but
what they are willing should be told to their
Lord.
Christ
notices the frights of some, and the toils of others of his
disciples, and provides
Rest for those that are tired, and
Refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the
spiritual
Food of
Christ's
Word, and then he took care that they
should not want bodily
Food. If
Christ and his disciples
Put up
with mean things, surely we may. And this
Miracle shows that
Christ came into the world, not only to restore, but to preserve
and nourish spiritual
Life; in him there is enough for all that
come. None are sent empty away from
Christ but those who come to
him full of themselves. Though
Christ had
Bread enough at
command, he teaches us not to waste any of
God's bounties,
remembering how many are in want. We may, some time, need the
fragments that we now throw away.
45-56 The
Church is often like a ship at
Sea, tossed with
tempests, and not comforted: we may have
Christ for us, yet wind
and tide against us; but it is a comfort to
Christ's disciples
in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly
Mount,
interceding for them. And
No difficulties can hinder
Christ's
appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He
silenced their fears,
By making himself known to them. Our fears
are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially
our mistakes as to
Christ. Let the disciples have their Master
with them, and all is
Well. It is for want of rightly
understanding
Christ's former
Works, that we view his present
Works as if there never were the like before. If
Christ's
ministers now could cure people's bodily diseases, what
multitudes would flock after them! It is sad to think how much
more most care about their bodies than about their souls.