THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
*MARK

Mark 9

2The transfiguration of Christ: 11he instructeth his disciples concerning the coming of Elias: 14he casteth out a dumb and deaf spirit: 30he foretelleth his own death and resurrection; 33checketh the ambition of his disciples; 38bidding them to hinder no one from working miracles in his name, and warning them to avoid offences.


1AND hea said unto them, 1Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that 2stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come 3with power.

a Mat. 16:28; Luke 9:27.

1 See hereof the annotations at Mat. 16 on verse 28.

2 That is, are present.

3 Gr. in power, that is, powerfully, in order that none shall be able to withstand the same.

2¶Andb4after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

b Mat. 17:1; Luke 9:28.

4 See hereof, as also of the entire transfiguration of Christ, the annotations at Mat. 17 on verse 1, etc.

3And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fullerc on earth can white them.

c bleacher or cleaner of cloth*

4And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were 5talking with Jesus.

5 Of what they spoke, see Luke 9:31.

5And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three 6tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

6 Or, booths.

6For he wistd not 7what to say; for they were sore 8afraid.

d knew*

7 Or, what he would say.

8 The Greek word signifies, as it were, to be beside one’s self for fear, or to be exceedingly afraid.

7And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, Thise is my beloved Son: hearf him.

e Isa. 42:1; Mat. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; 9:35; Col. 1:13; 2 Peter 1:17.

f Deut. 18:19.

8And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

9Andg as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

g Mat. 17:9; Luke 9:36.

10And they kept 9that saying with themselves, questioning one with another 10what the rising from the dead should mean.

9 That is, this matter. An Hebrew phrase.

10 This was asked by them, not that they doubted of the general resurrection from the dead, for, that was well known to the Jews, John 11:24; Acts 23:8; but because they understood not how the Messiah would die and rise again, before He would set up His Kingdom.

11¶And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes thath Elias must first come?

h Mal. 4:5; Mat. 11:14; Luke 1:17.

12And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and 11howi it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and 12be set at nought.

11 Or, as.

i Psalm 22:6; Isa. 53:4; Dan. 9:26.

12 Or, be despised, or, esteemed as nothing, that is, vilified to the utmost.

13But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed,j ask it is written of him.

j chose, pleased

k Mal. 4:5, 6.

14¶And when he came to his 13disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes 14questioning with them.

13 Namely, the other nine, who had not been with Christ on the Mount.

14 That is, disputing.

15And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, 15were greatly amazed,l and running to him saluted him.

15 It seems hereby that there remained some splendor yet in Christ’s face, such as was in that of Moses, Exod. 34:29, 30, whereat they were amazed.

l terrified, fearful*

16And he asked the scribes, What question ye 16with them?

16 Other: one with another.

17Andm one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a 17dumb spirit;

m Mat. 17:14; Luke 9:37, 38.

17 Gr. speechless, that is, one who had taken from him or hindered his speech.

18And 18wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and 19pineth away: and I 20spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

18 Or, when.

19 That is, pines or consumes away through this torment.

20 That is, requested of them.

19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

20And they brought him unto him: andn when he saw him, straightway the spirit 21tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

n Mark 1:26.

21 Of this word see Mark 1:26. The devil shows here the more his cruelty, because he knew he must abandon the field. See Rev. 12:12.

21And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, 22to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

22 That is, to put an end to him.

23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, allo things are possible to him that believeth.

o Luke 17:6.

24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26And 23the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

23 Or, he. Namely, the unclean spirit.

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

28Andp when 24he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

p Mat. 17:19.

24 Namely, Jesus.

29And he said unto them, 25This kind can come forth by nothing, but 26by prayer and fasting.

25 Namely, of devils.

26 Or, by praying and fasting. See Mat. 17:21.

30¶Andq they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

q Mat. 16:21; 17:22; 20:18; Mark 8:31; 10:33; Luke 9:22; 18:31; 24:7.

31For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man 27is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

27 Or, shall be delivered over.

32But they understood not 28that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

28 That is, that matter. For, the words they understood well enough in some sort, but they comprehended not, nor laid to heart the matter itself, seeing they always fancied to themselves a worldly kingdom under Christ, Mat. 17:23.

33¶Andr he came to Capernaum: and being in 29the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

r Mat. 18:1; Luke 9:46; 22:24.

29 Namely, where He was wont to make His abode. See Mat. 4:13.

34But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, Ifs any man desire to be first, 30the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

s Mat. 20:27; Mark 10:43.

30 Or, let him be, that is, he ought so to behave himself as if he were the last of all, and servant of all, Mat. 20:26.

36And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had takent him in his arms, he said unto them,

t Mark 10:16.

37Whosoeveru shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth 31not me, but him that sent me.

u Mat. 18:5; Luke 9:48; John 13:20.

31 That is, not so much Me, or not Me only.

38¶Andv John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

v Luke 9:49.

39Butw Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a 32miracle in my name, that can 33lightly speak evil of me.

w 1 Cor. 12:3.

32 That is, powerful work, or sign of wonder.

33 That is, slander or curse; seeing he acknowledges by his deed that this power comes from Me.

40For he that is not 34against us is on our part.

34 That is, he who not only does not set himself against us, but likewise does that whereby the honor of My name is advanced, although he does not follow our company. So that here He does not speak of those who keep themselves neutral in the case of Christ, whom we see elsewhere reproved, Mat. 12:30. Others read against thee, and for thee.

4135For whosoeverx shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

35 Here Christ again continues the discourse which He had broken off in verse 37, as appears by Mat. 10:42.

x Mat. 10:42.

42Andy whosoever shall offend one of these 36little ones that believe in me, it is 37better for him that a millstone were 38hanged about his neck, 39and he were cast into the sea.

y Mat. 18:6; Luke 17:2.

36 That is, who are not only little in respect of age, but likewise the little or lowly minded, or who esteem but little of themselves.

37 Gr. more good.

38 Gr. laid.

39 Namely, than that he would give offense.

43Andz if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life 40maimed, than having two hands 41to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

z Deut. 13:6; Mat. 5:30; 18:8.

40 That is, having but one hand, as the following words do also hold forth.

41 See thereof the exposition at Mat. 5 on verse 22.

44Whereaa their 42worm dieth not, and the 43fire is not quenched.

aa Isa. 66:24.

42 That is, their racking conscience, which, like a worm, shall always gnaw at them, Rom. 2:5, 9.

43 That is, the punishment of God’s wrath, which is called here an unquenchable fire, because the pain of fire is most unbearable, and this punishment never ceases, Jer. 7:20; Rev. 20:10.

45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter haltab into life, than having two feet to be cast into 44hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

ab lame, crippled*

44 Or, gehenna of fire. See Mat. 5:22.

46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

49For 45every one shall be salted with 46fire, andac47every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

45 Gr. all.

46 The Word of God is compared to fire, Jer. 23:29, to the powerful working of the Holy Ghost, Mat. 3:11, to cross and persecution, 1 Peter 1:7, by which three things everyone is tried and purified who shall escape hell fire, and thus become spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God, as the outward sacrifices were to be prepared with salt, and offered by fire, Lev. 2:13.

ac Lev. 2:13.

47 Gr. all.

5048Saltadis good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Haveae49salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

48 See the exposition hereof at Mat. 5 on verse 13.

ad Mat. 5:13; Luke 14:34.

ae Rom. 12:18; Heb. 12:14.

49 That is, wisdom and prudence out of and according to the Word of God, Col. 4:6.