The
Gospel According to Mark
Chapter
8:11-12
12 Then he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, Why doth this generation seek a sign? Verily I say unto you, a sign shall not be given unto this generation.
Brethren:
Faith in
Christ comes from within, that is to say from the Holy Spirit, there
is no need for a sign. And was not the Pharisees, so blind as to not
see all the works that had already been done? Were they not already
deaf to the teachings of Christ in their synagogues, in the open
places, in the towns and cities? Nay, their hearts were steeled and
hardened against Him.
“ Mark
informs us that it occasioned grief and bitter vexation to our Lord,
when he saw those ungrateful men obstinately resist God. And
certainly all who are desirous to promote the glory of God, and who
feel concern about the salvation of men, ought to have such feelings
that nothing would inflict on their hearts a deeper wound than to see
unbelievers purposely blocking up against themselves the way of
believing, and employing all their ingenuity in obscuring by their
clouds the brightness of the word and works of God. The words, in
his spirit, appear to me to be added emphatically, to inform us
that this groan proceeded from the deepest affection of his heart,
and that no sophist might allege that Christ resorted to outward
attitudes to express a grief which he did not inwardly feel; for that
holy soul, which was guided by the zeal of the Spirit, must have been
moved by deep sadness at the sight of such wicked obstinacy.” -
John Calvin
“In
his human soul; and which shows that he had one, and was subject to
grief and sorrow, and all passions and infirmities, excepting sin.
This deep sigh was on account of the hardness of their hearts, the
malignity of their minds, and insincerity of their intentions; who
had no view to come at truth by this inquiry, but to ensnare him.
[However], many have been shown among them, and they will not
believe.” - John Gill
No comments:
Post a Comment