Christ healeth the bloody issue,

DOMINI 31.

Anno publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

b Matt. 9. 18.

21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Gadara was a town inhabited by heathens as well as Jews; and on that account, as well as on account of its distance from Judea, there was not the same danger in having it known there, before His time was come, that He worked miraculous cures, as there was from the same being publickly known in Judea and Galilee. Bp. Pearce.

22. And, behold, there cometh &c.] See notes at Matt. ix. 18-26.

26.-had suffered many things &c.] Had been a patient of many physicians, and had spent all that she had to procure relief; and yet her disease was rather increasing. Bp. Mann.

30.-knowing-that virtue had gone out &c.] It is evident from this, and other similar expressions, Luke vi. 19, that the "virtue," by which Jesus performed these miraculous cures, resided in Himself, which is

and raiseth Jairus' daughter.

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out. he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

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31.

never said of any of the Apostles or Prophets. The cures wrought by them are ascribed to God, as at Acts xix. 11, 12; but those wrought by Christ, to the divine virtue dwelling in Him; whence He so often declares, that "the Father dwelling in Him did the works," John xiv. 10. Dr. Whitby.

38.-and seeth the tumult,] It is still the custom in the East for multitudes to assemble in a place where a person had lately expired, and to bewail him in a noisy manner, which is deemed an honour to the deceased. Sir J. Chardin says, that the concourse of people on these occasions is sometimes incredible. Harmer.

40.-and them that were with him,] That is, St. Peter, St. James, and St. John, ver. 37. Our Saviour takes with Him as many witnesses as were sufficient to confirm the fact, and no more, lest He should seem to be desirous of vain-glory. Dr. Whitby.

K

Divers opinions of Christ.

Anno DOMINI 31.

i Luke 3. 19.

A. D. 30.

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, k Lev. 18. 16. k It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

A. D. 32.

21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the

15.-one of the prophets.] "One of the old Prophets," Luke ix. 8, particularly the Prophet Jeremiah, Matt. xvi. 14. Dr. Whitby.

19.—had a quarrel against him,] Bore a constant grudge against him: see the margin. Dr. S. Clarke.

20. For Herod feared John,] Although Herod felt the greatest indignation against John, for the freedom he had used in reproaching him for his licentious conduct; yet at the same time the character of that excellent man, his piety, his sanctity, his integrity, his disinterestedness, nay, even the courage which had so much offended and provoked him, commanded his respect and veneration, and excited his fears. Nor is this all; he not only feared John, but in some degree paid court to him. He frequently sent for him out of prison, and conversed with him, and, as the Evangelist expresses it, "observed" him; that is, listened to him with attention and with pleasure; nay, he went further still; "he did many things" which John exhorted and enjoined him to do. He perhaps shewed more attention to many of his publick duties, more gentleness to his subjects, more compassion to the poor, more equity in his judicial determinations, more regard to publick worship; and vainly hoped, perhaps, like many other audacious sinners, that this partial reformation, this half-way amendment, would avert the judgments with which John probably threatened him. But the main point, the great object of John's reprehension, the incestuous adultery in which he lived-that he would not part with; it was too precious, too favourite a sin to give up; too great a sacrifice to make to conscience and to God. What a picture does this hold out to us of that

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

Anno DOMINI 32.

one of his

27 And immediately the king sent || an executioner, and commanded Or, his head to be brought: and he went guard. and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

1

30 And the apostles gathered 1 Luke 9. 10. themselves together unto Jesus, and

strange thing called human nature, of that inconsistence, that contradiction, that contrariety, which sometimes take place in the heart of man, unsanctified and unsubdued by the power of divine grace! and what an exalted idea at the same time does it give us of the dignity of a truly religious character, like that of John, which compels even its bitterest enemies to reverence and to fear it; and forces even the most profligate and most powerful of men to pay an unwilling homage to excellence, at the very moment perhaps when they are meditating its destruction. Bp. Porteus.

21.—a convenient day] A day favourable to the designs of Herodias. Grotius.

24. said unto her mother, What shall I ask?] Most mothers, it is probable, on such an occasion, would have asked for a daughter some situation of high rank or power. But Herodias had a passion to gratify, stronger perhaps than any other, when it takes full possession of the human heart, and that was revenge. She had been mortally injured, as she conceived, by the Baptist, who had attempted to break her present infamous connexion with Herod; and accordingly gave way to all the fury of her resentment. Bp. Porteus.

26.—yet for his oath's sake, &c.] Thus, when a deed of extraordinary wickedness was to be perpetrated, he made religion a cover for it. As if wrong became right, when acted in the name of God; and as if it were more acceptable in His sight to massacre a Prophet, than to repent of a rash oath, made at a drunken entertainment. Bp. Horre.

30.- gathered themselves together &c.] They had been sent forth, by "two and two," ver. 7. and now

Anno DOMINI

32.

m Matt. 14. 13.

n Matt. 9. 36.

o Matt. 14. 15.

told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

m

32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

34" And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

35° And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing

to eat.

37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and The Roman buy two hundred || pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

penny is sevenpence halfpenny; as Matt. 18. 28.

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

were all returned and consequently gathered together. See Luke ix. 10. Bp. Pearce.

37.-two hundred pennyworth] The worth of two hundred Roman denarii, amounting to about 67. 9s. 2d. of our money. Bp. Pearce.

48.- and would have passed by them.] See Luke xxiv. 28. Thus He gave His disciples time to view Him distinctly and composedly; and St. Peter particularly an opportunity of addressing Him. Abp. Newcome.

Christ walketh on the sea.

42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

Anno DOMINI 32.

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away Or, the people.

46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

over against Bethsaida.

47 P And when even was come, p Matt. 14.23. the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: It is I; be not afraid.

51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

53 And when they had passed q Matt.14.34. over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country,

52. For they considered not &c.] Their heart was hardened, not from wilful obstinacy, but from the slowness of their apprehension and capacity. They did not consider, as they ought to have done, that nothing could be difficult to power such as that which had performed the miracle of the loaves. Bp. Mann.

The Pharisees reproved.

Anno DOMINI 32.

1 Or, it.

a Matt. 15. 1.

| Or,

common.

1 Or. diligently: in the original, with the fist:

up to the elbow.

4 And when they come from the Theophylact, market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there Sextarius, be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of || tables.

is about a

pint and an half. Or, beds.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worChap. VII. ver. 1. Then came together &c.] Respecting the matters contained in this chapter, see notes at Matt. xv.

3. For the Pharisees, &c.] St. Matthew (chap. xv. 1,2.) recorded this cavil of the Pharisees against the disciples of Jesus for eating with unclean hands; but he does not detail the customs of the Jews which gave the foundation for it, as St. Mark here does. St. Matthew was not only a Jew himself, but it appears from the whole structure of his Gospel, that he wrote for Jews. This explanation therefore, if given by him, would have been unnatural, as not being required by the readers whom he addressed. But in St. Mark, who intended his narrative for general circulation, and who himself travelled to distant countries in the service of Christianity, the explanation here given was most properly added. Archdeacon Paley.

wash their hands oft,] The word in the original here translated " oft," is rendered in the margin, "with

Meat defileth not the man.

Anno

ship me, teaching for doctrines the DOMINI commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many other such like things ye do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well ye | reject the commandment or of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

32.

frustrate.

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is © Cor- e Matt. 15. 5. ban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

14 ¶ And when he had called all d Matt. 15.10. the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? the fist," with a handful of water. Bp. Pearce. the wrist. Drs. Hammond and Whitby.

Up to

4. —from the market,] Or publick place where people assemble themselves; they imagined that they might in such places have contracted a defilement. Bp. Pearce.

and of tables.] More properly "couches," on which they reclined at their meals, Lev. xv. 4. These it was their custom to wash, lest any unclean person might have sat on them. Le Clerc.

9.- Full well ye reject &c.] Ye do not only prefer these impositions of men before the commandments of God, to the great neglect and omission of your duty; but ye even directly transgress, and act plainly in contradiction to the commandments of God, when some tradition happens to be contrary to them. Dr. S. Clarke.

12. -ye suffer him no more &c.] Ye pronounce that he is no more bound to do any thing for his father and mother. Bp. Pearce.