The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 8:31-33

31 Then he began to teach them that the son of man must suffer many things, and should be reproved of the Elders, and of the high Priests, and of the Scribes, and be slain, and within three days rise again.
32 And he spake that thing boldly. Then Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him.
33 Then he turned back and looked on his disciples, and rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou understandest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.

Notes from GNV Translation:
Verse 31 - Christ suffered all that he suffered for us, not unwillingly neither unawares, but foreknowing it, and willingly.

Verse 32 - None are more mad than they that are wise beside the word of God.

Verse 33 - This is not godly, but worldly wisdom.

Brethren:
Make note of the connection between the words “rise again” (rebirth), and being mindful of the things that are of God. It was His plan for this happen, and as such it was His wisdom that drew up the plan for redemption.

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 8:27-30

27 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?
28 And they answered, Some say, John Baptist: and some, Elijah: and some, one of the Prophets.
29 And he said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Then Peter answered, and said unto him, Thou art that Christ.
30 And he sharply charged them, that concerning him they should tell no man.



Related Scripture
Verse 29 – John 1:41, 4:42, 6:69, 11:27

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 8:22-25

22 And he came to Bethsaida, and they brought a blind man unto him, and desired him to touch him.
23 Then he took the blind by the hand, and led him out of the town, and spat in his eyes, and put his hands upon him, and asked him, if he saw ought.
24 And he looked up, and said, I see men: for I see them walking like trees.
25 After that, he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look again. And he was restored to his sight, and saw every man afar off clearly.

“His sight was not yet clear, but he interpreted what it told him rightly. The naturalness of this description of the first impression of the restored sense strikes every reader. From the point of view which looks on our Lord’s miracles as having a symbolic character, and being, as it were, acted parables, we may see in it that which represents an analogous stage in the spiritual growth of men, when truths for which before they had no faculty of vision are seen for the first time, but are not as yet apprehended in their full or definite proportions. They need a second touch of the Divine Hand, the passing away of another film of ignorance or prejudice, and then they too see all things clearly.”

C.J. Ellicott

“He saw some objects at a little distance from him, which, by their motion, he supposed to be men; otherwise his sight was so imperfect, that he could not have distinguished them from trees: he was capable of discerning the bulk of their bodies, and that they walked, or moved forward; but he could not distinguish the particular parts of their bodies; they seemed to be like trunks of trees, in an erect posture, and which he should have took for such, had it not been for their walking. As this man immediately, upon Christ's putting spittle on his eyes, and laying his hands on him, had sight given him, though it was very obscure and glimmering; so, as soon as ever the Gospel comes with power, it dispels the darkness of the mind, and introduces light; though at first it is but very small; it is let in gradually: the sinner is first convinced of the evil of his actions, and then of the sinfulness of his nature; he first sees the ability and suitableness of Christ as a Saviour, and after that his willingness, and his interest in him as such; and all this is commonly before he is so well acquainted with the dignity and infiniteness of his person, as the Son of God: and it is some time before he has his spiritual senses exercised to discern between good and evil, between truth and error; or arrives to a clear and distinct knowledge of Gospel truths, and a stability in them. Hence it is, that such are greatly harassed with Satan's temptations; are disquieted in their souls; are filled with doubts and fears, and are in danger of being imposed upon by false teachers.” - John Gill

The Gospel According to Luke

Chapter 2:1-20

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there came a decree from Augustus Caesar, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (This first taxing was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 Therefore went all to be taxed, every man to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of a city called Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David,)
5 To be taxed with Mary that was given him to wife, which was with child.
6 And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her first begotten son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a cratch, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore afraid.
10 Then the Angel said unto them, Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people,
11 That is, that unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign to you, Ye shall find the babe swaddled, and laid in a cratch.
13 And straightway there was with the Angel a multitude of heavenly soldiers, praising God, and saying,
14 Glory be to God in the high heavens, and peace in earth, and toward men good will.
15 And it came to pass when the Angels were gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said one to another, Let us go then unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed unto us.
16 So they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph and the babe laid in the cratch.
17 And when they had seen it, they published abroad the thing that was told them of that child.
18 And all that heard it, wondered at the things which were told them of the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God, for all that they had heard and seen, as it was spoken unto them.

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 8:11-12

11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to dispute with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, and tempting him.
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

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 7:24-30

24 And from thence he rose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would that no man should have known: but he could not be hid.
25 For a certain woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came, and fell at his feet,
26 (And the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by nation) and she besought him that he would cast out the devil out of her daughter.
27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be fed: for it is not good to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto whelps.
28 Then she answered, and said unto him, Truth, Lord: yet indeed the whelps eat under the table of the children’s crumbs.
29 Then he said unto her, For this saying go thy way: the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30 And when she was come home to her house, she found the devil departed, and her daughter lying on the bed.



“Our Lord directed his apostles, and they proceeded: as he himself was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he ordered his disciples to go to them, and preach the Gospel to them, and work miracles among them; and not go in the way of the Gentiles, nor into any of the cities of the Samaritans; but when they had gone through the cities of Judea, he ordered them, after his resurrection, to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem: and this order they observed in other places, where there were Jews; they first preached to them, and then to the Gentiles; knowing that it was necessary, that the word of God should be first spoken to them; and it was the power of God to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile: and the expression here used, though it gives the preference to the Jew, does not exclude the Gentile; nay, it supposes, that after the Jews had had the doctrines of Christ, confirmed by his miracles, sufficiently ministered unto them, for the gathering in the chosen ones among them, and to leave the rest inexcusable; and so long as until they should despise it, and put it away from them, judging themselves unworthy of it; that then the Gentiles should have plenty of Gospel provisions set before them, and should eat of them, and be filled; and should have a large number of miracles wrought among them, and a fullness of the blessings of grace bestowed on them. The Jews are meant, who were the children of God by national adoption; who were first to be filled with the doctrines and miracles of Christ, before the Gentiles.” John Gill - Theologian

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 7:15, 19-23

15 There is nothing without a man, that can defile him, when it entereth into him: but the things which proceed out of him, are they which defile the man.

19 Because it entered not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught which is the purging of all meats?

20 Then he said, That which cometh out of man, that defileth man.

21 For from within, even out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness, a wicked eye, backbiting, pride, foolishness.

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.

“ Corrupt customs are best cured by rectifying corrupt notions.Now that which he goes about to set them right in, is, what the pollution is, which we are in danger of being damaged by. Not by the meat we eat, though it be eaten with unwashen hands; that is but from without, and goes through a man. But, it is by the breaking out of the corruption that is in our hearts; the mind and conscience are defiled, guilt is contracted, and we become odious in the sight of God by that which comes out of us; our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, these defile us, and these only. Our care must therefore be, to wash our heart from wickedness.”

Matthew Henry - Theologian