Mark Chapter 6
1 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.
2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?" and, "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands?
3 Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" They were offended at him.
4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and amongst his own relatives, and in his own house."
5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.
6 He marvelled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,
9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.
10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for that city!"
12 They went out and preached that people should repent.
13 They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.
14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, "John the Baptiser has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
15 But others said, "He is Elijah." Others said, "He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets."
16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, "This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."
17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her.
18 For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
19 Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't,
20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you."
23 He swore to her, "Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."
24 She went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" She said, "The head of John the Baptiser."
25 She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptiser on a platter."
26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn't wish to refuse her.
27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
29 When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
30 The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.
31 He said to them, "You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
33 They saw them going, and many recognised him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, "This place is deserted, and it is late in the day.
36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat."
37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?"
38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go see." When they knew, they said, "Five, and two fish."
39 He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish amongst them all.
42 They all ate, and were filled.
43 They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.
44 Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.
46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
47 When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them,
49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
50 for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."
51 He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed amongst themselves, and marvelled;
52 for they hadn't understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
54 When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognised him,
55 and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where they heard he was.
56 Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.
Footnotes
- Verse 33 (They)
- Textus Receptus reads "The multitudes" instead of "They"
- Verse 37 (Denarii)
- 200 denarii was about 7 or 8 months wages for an agricultural labourer.
- Verse 44 (were five thousand)
- Textus Receptus adds "about"
- Verse 48
- See Job 9:8
- Verse 50 (It is I)
- or, "I AM!"
- Verse 56 (fringe)
- or, tassel
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Mark Chapter 6 Guide
"He could there do no mighty work." Not that He in Himself was unable, for His hands laid on a few sick folk brought healing, but that the condition of wilful and persistent unbelief limited the power of the people to receive.
This is the first sending forth of the twelve. There are three definite points of equipment, and they cover the whole area of necessity, from minute detail to the utmost limit of their work.
- They were "to go shod with sandals."
- They were to go two by two.
- They were to go provided with His authority. His parting instructions were very simple, yet drastic. They went, and preached, and healed.
The fame of Jesus spread, and reached the court of Herod. He, utterly depraved, and unscrupulous, trembled with fear. Why should Herod have feared? The very fame of Jesus was a continuity of the messages of the forerunner; and Herod, unable to recognize the King, feared the gruesome reappearance of the dead. So does sin make cowards of men when the Light approaches.
The messengers returned to tell Jesus their doings and teachings, and they went away together. The crowds saw them departing, and outran them round the shore. When He saw that waiting multitude, with its deep need, He was moved with compassion and "began to teach them many things." Then He fed them. Then He sent the disciples away. The reason for this is found in John 6:14-15, where we are told, "They would have taken Him by force and made Him a King." He would have no kingship based only on a selfish satisfaction.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Mark Chapter 6 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Christ despised in his own country. -- (1-6)
- The apostles sent forth. -- (7-13)
- John the Baptist put to death. -- (14-29)
- The apostles return, Five thousand fed by a miracle. -- (30-44)
- Christ walks on the sea, He heals those that touch him. -- (45-56)
Verses 1-6
Our Lord's countrymen tried to prejudice the minds of people against him. Is not this the carpenter? Our Lord Jesus probably had worked in that business with his father. He thus put honour upon mechanics, and encouraged all persons who eat by the labour of their hands. It becomes the followers of Christ to content themselves with the satisfaction of doing good, although they are denied the praise of it. How much did these Nazarenes lose by obstinate prejudices against Jesus! May Divine grace deliver us from that unbelief, which renders Christ a savour of death, rather than of life to the soul. Let us, like our Master, go and teach cottages and peasants the way of salvation.
Verses 7-13
Though the apostles were conscious to themselves of great weakness, and expected no wordly advantage, yet, in obedience to their Master, and in dependence upon his strength, they went out. They did not amuse people with curious matters, but told them they must repent of their sins, and turn to God. The servants of Christ may hope to turn many from darkness unto God, and to heal souls by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Verses 14-29
Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taught him; but it is not enough to do many things, we must have respect to all the commandments. Herod respected John, till he touched him in his Herodias. Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin. But it is better that sinners persecute ministers now for faithfulness, than curse them eternally for unfaithfulness. The ways of God are unsearchable; but we may be sure he never can be at a loss to repay his servants for what they endure or lose for his sake. Death could not come so as to surprise this holy man; and the triumph of the wicked was short.
Verses 30-44
Let not ministers do any thing or teach any thing, but what they are willing should be told to their Lord. Christ notices the frights of some, and the toils of others of his disciples, and provides rest for those that are tired, and refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the spiritual food of Christ's word, and then he took care that they should not want bodily food. If Christ and his disciples put up with mean things, surely we may. And this miracle shows that Christ came into the world, not only to restore, but to preserve and nourish spiritual life; in him there is enough for all that come. None are sent empty away from Christ but those who come to him full of themselves. Though Christ had bread enough at command, he teaches us not to waste any of God's bounties, remembering how many are in want. We may, some time, need the fragments that we now throw away.
Verses 45-56
The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted: we may have Christ for us, yet wind and tide against us; but it is a comfort to Christ's disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them. And no difficulties can hinder Christ's appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He silenced their fears, by making himself known to them. Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well. It is for want of rightly understanding Christ's former works, that we view his present works as if there never were the like before. If Christ's ministers now could cure people's bodily diseases, what multitudes would flock after them! It is sad to think how much more most care about their bodies than about their souls.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.