Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 9
Overview:
The
Transfiguration.
(1-13) An evil
Spirit cast out.
(14-29)
The apostles reproved.
(30-40) Pain to be preferred to
Sin.
(41-50)
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 the Baptist.
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.
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.
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.