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.
8:111 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."
8:152 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.
8:163 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.
8:224 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.
8:265 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.
8:276 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.
8:307 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.
8:318 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.
8:329 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.
8:3410 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.
8:3611 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.
