Mark 9NKJV
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Mark9

New King James Version

1And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

2Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

3His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

4And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—

6because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

7And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

8Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

9Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

11And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

12Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

13But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

14And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.

15Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.

16And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

17Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

18And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

19He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

20Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

22And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”

26Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”

27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

28And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

30Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.

31For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”

32But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

33Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”

34But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

35And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

36Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,

37“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

38Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”

39But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

40For he who is not against us is on our side.

41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

42“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

44where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

46where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—

48where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

49“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

50Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 9.

Full AI study →

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The transfiguration. (1–13). An evil spirit cast out. (14–29). The apostles reproved. (30–40). Pain to be preferred to sin. (41–50).

vv1-13

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 Baptist.

vv14-29

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.

vv30-40

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.

Cross References

Mark 9
v11Malachi 4:5fulfillment

Scribes expected Elias based on Malachi's prophecy; Jesus explains how it was fulfilled in John.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v12Isaiah 53:3fulfillment

Predicts the Son of man must suffer many things and be set at nought (despised/rejected).

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v12Daniel 9:26fulfillment

The Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would be cut off and set at nought.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v44Isaiah 66:24quotation

Jesus directly quotes this verse describing the unending worm and unquenchable fire of judgment.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Exodus 34:29-35typology

Moses' shining face after being on the mountain typifies Christ's glorious transfiguration.

Supported by JFB

v11Matthew 17:11-13thematic

Parallel account of the disciples' question and Jesus' explanation regarding the coming of Elias.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v12Luke 1:17thematic

Angel explains John would go forth in the spirit and power of Elias.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v49Leviticus 2:13typology

The Old Testament law requiring every sacrificial offering to be seasoned with salt.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v1Matthew 16:28thematic

Parallel promise of some not tasting death before seeing the Son of man's kingdom.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v18Luke 9:39thematic

Parallel medical and physical details of the demoniac boy's violent seizures.

Supported by JFB

v33Matthew 18:1thematic

Parallel account of the disciples disputing who should be the greatest in the kingdom.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v38Numbers 11:26-29typology

Joshua's desire to forbid Eldad and Medad parallels John's desire to forbid the outside exorcist.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v32Luke 9:45thematic

Parallel noting the disciples' failure to understand and their fear to ask Jesus.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v43Matthew 5:29thematic

Parallel instruction from the Sermon on the Mount about cutting off offending body parts.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v50Matthew 5:13thematic

Parallel teaching on the goodness of salt and the danger of it losing its savor.

Supported by Matthew Henry