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Mark8

English Standard Version

1 , again a had gathered, they to , to him and to ,

2I have the , they with now to .

3 I their , they will the . of have from away.

4 , people with this ?

5 he , How do you ? , .

6 he the to the . he the , and having , he them them to the people; they the .

7 they a small fish. having them, he that should be them.

8 they were . they took the over, full.

9 people. he .

10 he the and the of .

11The to with , a to .

12 he in and , a ? , I to , will be to .

13 he , the , and the other .

14 they had to , they had only with them in the .

15 he , , Watch ; the of the the of .

16 they began the fact that they .

17 , of this, to , are you the that you ? Do you not ? ?

18 do you , do you ? do ?

19 I the the , how of broken did you take ? They to , .

20 the the , how of broken did you take ? they to him, .

21 he to , yet ?

22 came . some people to a .

23 he the by the and out the , when he had and his on , he , Do you ?

24 he and , I , but they look , .

25 Jesus his again; , sight was , he .

26 he , , Do even the .

27 the of . the he , that ?

28 they him, the ; say, ; and others, of the .

29 , do that ? , the .

30 he to no .

31 he to the of be the the the be , .

32 he . aside and to .

33 , he and , , ! you are your mind on the things of , on the things of .

34 the to him , he to , If , let him .

35 will , my the will .

36 does it a the ?

37 a in for ?

38For of of , of the of also be he the of the .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 8.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Four thousand fed by a miracle. (1–10). Christ cautions against the Pharisees and Herodians. (11–21). A blind man healed. (22–26). Peter's testimony to Christ. (27–33). Christ must be followed. (34–38).

vv1-10

Our Lord Jesus encouraged the meanest to come to him for life and grace. Christ knows and considers our frames. The bounty of Christ is always ready; to show that, he repeated this miracle. His favours are renewed, as our wants and necessities are. And those need not fear want, who have Christ to live upon by faith, and do so with thanksgiving.

vv11-21

Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?

vv22-26

Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends. Therein appeared the faith of those that brought him. If those who are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their friends and relations should pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord's miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but, like the light of the morning, it shines more and more to the perfect day, and then they see all things clearly. Slighting Christ's favours is forfeiting them; and he will make those who do so know the worth of privileges by the want of them.

Cross References

Mark 8

The parallel account of the feeding of the four thousand in Matthew's Gospel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v11Matthew 16:1-4thematic

The parallel account of the Pharisees demanding a sign from heaven.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v27Matthew 16:13-20thematic

The parallel account of Peter's confession of Christ and the subsequent rebuke.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v14Matthew 16:5thematic

The parallel account of the disciples forgetting to take bread in the boat.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v33Matthew 16:23thematic

Parallel account of Jesus rebuking Peter with 'Get thee behind me, Satan'.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v34Luke 9:23thematic

Parallel instruction on self-denial, taking up the cross, and following Jesus.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Mark 6:34thematic

Highlights Christ's deep compassion, previously shown in feeding the five thousand.

Supported by JFB

v4Psalms 78:19thematic

Echoes the disciples' unbelieving question, 'Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?'

Supported by Matthew Poole

v8Mark 8:19thematic

Jesus later contrasts the twelve baskets of the five thousand with the seven here.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v15Luke 12:1thematic

Jesus explicitly defines the leaven of the Pharisees as hypocrisy.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v18Isaiah 6:9allusion

Alludes to the prophetic judgment of having eyes but not seeing, and ears but not hearing.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v36Matthew 16:26thematic

Parallel question regarding the worthlessness of gaining the world at the cost of one's soul.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v38Luke 9:26thematic

Parallel warning about being ashamed of Christ and His words before His coming glory.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v42 Kings 4:42-44typology

Old Testament type where Elisha miraculously multiplies twenty loaves to feed one hundred men.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Proverbs 4:18thematic

Thematic parallel to the gradual healing of the blind man, shining brighter and brighter.

Supported by Matthew Henry