Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 5
Overview:
The demoniac healed.
(1-20) A
Woman healed.
(21-34) The
Daughter of
Jairus raised.
(35-43)
1-20 Some openly wilful sinners are like this madman. The
commands of the
Law are as chains and fetters, to restrain
sinners from their wicked
Courses; but they break those
Bands in
sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the
Devil in them.
A
Legion of soldiers consisted of six thousand men, or more.
What multitudes of fallen spirits there must be, and all enemies
to
God and
Man, when here was a
Legion in one
Poor wretched
Creature! Many there are that rise up against us. We are not a
match for our spiritual enemies, in our own strength; but in the
Lord, and in the power of his might, we shall be able to stand
against them, though there are legions of them. When the vilest
transgressor is delivered
By the power of
Jesus from the
Bondage
of
Satan, he will gladly sit at the feet of his Deliverer, and
hear his
Word, who delivers the wretched slaves of
Satan, and
Numbers them among his saints and servants. When the people
found that their
Swine were lost, they had a dislike to
Christ.
Long-suffering and
Mercy may be seen, even in the corrections
By
which men lose their property while their lives are saved, and
warning given them to seek the
Salvation of their souls. The
Man
joyfully proclaimed what great things
Jesus had done for him.
All men marvelled, but few followed him. Many who cannot but
wonder at the
Works of
Christ, yet do not, as they ought, wonder
after him.
21-34 A despised
Gospel will go where it will be better
received. One of the rulers of a
Synagogue earnestly besought
Christ for a little
Daughter, about twelve years old, who was
dying. Another cure was wrought
By the way. We should do good,
not only when in the
House, but when we walk
By the way, De
6:7. It is common with people not to apply to
Christ till they
have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as
certainly they will, physicians of
No value. Some run to
diversions and gay company; others plunge into business, or even
into intemperance; others go about to establish their own
Righteousness, or
Torment themselves
By vain superstitions. Many
perish in these ways; but none will ever find
Rest to the soul
By such devices; while those whom
Christ heals of the disease of
Sin, find in themselves an entire change for the better. As
secret
Acts of
Sin,
So secret
Acts of
Faith, are known to the
Lord Jesus. The
Woman told all the
Truth. It is the will of
Christ that his people should be comforted, and he has power to
command comfort to troubled spirits. The more simply we depend
On Him, and expect great things from him, the more we shall find
in ourselves that he is become our
Salvation. Those who,
By
Faith, are healed of their spiritual diseases, have reason to go
in peace.
35-43 We may suppose
Jairus hesitating whether he should ask
Christ to go
On or not, when told that his
Daughter was dead.
But have we not as much occasion for the
Grace of
God, and the
comfort of his
Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and
Christian friends, when
Death is in the
House, as when sickness
is there?
Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at
such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not. He raised
the dead
Child to
Life By a
Word of power. Such is the
Gospel
Call to those who are
By nature dead in trespasses and sins. It
is
By the
Word of
Christ that spiritual
Life is given. All who
saw it, and heard of it, admired the
Miracle, and Him that
wrought it. Though we cannot now expect to have our dead
children or relatives restored, we may
Hope to find comfort
under our trials.