Mark 8 Bible Commentary

8:3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will ^a faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

(a) Literally, "they will fall apart", or "be dissolved", for when men faint they tear their muscles.

8:11 ¹ And the Pharisees ^b came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

(1) The stubborn enemies of the doctrine of the Gospel, giving no credit to the miracles already done, require new ones: but Christ, being angry with them, utterly forsakes them.
(b) A common saying which the Hebrews use, by which is meant that the Pharisees went from their houses to purposely engage him.

8:12 And he ^c sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, ^d There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

(c) These sighs came from the centre of his heart for the Lord was very much moved with the great unbelief of these men.
(d) Literally, "If a sign be given". It is an abbreviated kind of speech very common among the Hebrews; it is the same as when we say, "Let me be taken for a liar", or something similar. And when they speak out the whole, they say, "The Lord do such and such by me."

8:15 ² And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and [of] the leaven of Herod.

(2) We must especially take heed of those who corrupt the word of God, no matter what their position is in the Church or in civil politics.

8:16 ³ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, [It is] because we have no bread.

(3) They that have their minds fixed on earthly things are utterly blinded to heavenly things, even though they are plainly set before them.

8:21 And he said unto them, ^c How is it that ye do not understand?

(c) How does it come to pass that you do not understand these things which are so plain and evident.

8:22 ⁴ And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

(4) A true image of our regeneration, which Christ, separating us from the world, works and accomplishes in us gradually.

8:24 And he looked up, and said, I ^f see men as trees, walking.

(f) He perceived men moving but at the same time could not discern their bodies.

8:25 After that he put [his] hands again upon his eyes, and made him ^g look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

(g) He commanded him to try again, to determine whether or not he could indeed see well.

8:26 ⁵ And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell [it] to any in the town.

(5) Christ will not have his miracles to be separated from his doctrine.

8:27 ⁶ And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

(6) Many praise Christ, who yet nonetheless rob him of his praise.

8:30 ⁷ And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

(7) Christ has appointed certain times for the preaching of the gospel, and therefore here defers it to a more appropriate time, lest sudden haste should rather hinder than further the mystery of his coming.

8:31 ⁸ And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

(8) All that Christ suffered for us he suffered not unwillingly, neither as being unaware, but foreknowing it and willingly.

8:32 ⁹ And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

(9) None are more mad than they that are wise without the word of God.

8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou ^h savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

(h) This is not godly, but worldly wisdom.

8:34 ¹⁰ And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

(10) The disciples of Christ must bear bravely whatever burden the Lord lays upon them, and subdue the desires of the flesh.

8:36 ¹¹ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

(11) They are the most foolish of all men who purchase the pleasures of this life with the loss of everlasting bliss.