View Mark 8 in the note window.
1: (Mt 15:32).
8: So they did eat - This miracle was intended to demonstrate,
that Christ was the true bread which cometh down from heaven;
for he who was almighty to create bread without means to support
natural life, could not want power to create bread without means
to support spiritual life. And this heavenly bread we stand so
much in need of every moment, that we ought to be always praying,
Lord, evermore give us this bread.
11: Tempting him - That is, trying to ensnare him.(Mt 16:1).
12: (Mt 16:4).
15: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod, or of
the Sadducees; two opposite extremes.
17-18: Our Lord here affirms of all the apostles, (for the
question is equivalent to an affirmation,) That their hearts
were hardened; that having eyes they saw not, having ears they
heard not; that they did not consider, neither understand: the
very same expressions that occur in the thirteenth of Matthew.
And yet it is certain they were not judicially hardened.
Therefore all these strong expressions do not necessarily
import any thing more than the present want of spiritual
understanding.
23: He led him out of the town - It was in just displeasure
against the inhabitants of Bethsaida for their obstinate
infidelity, that our Lord would work no more miracles among
them, nor even suffer the person he had cured, either to go
into the town, or to tell it to any therein.
24: I see men as trees walking - He distinguished men from trees
only by their motion.
27: (Mt 16:13, Lu 9:18).
30: He enjoined them silence for the present,
- That he might not encourage the people to set him up for
a temporal king;
- That he might not provoke the scribes and Pharisees to
destroy him before the time and,
- That he might not forestall the bright evidence which was
to be given of his Divine character after his resurrection.
31: (Mt 16:21,Lu 9:22.)
32: He spake that saying openly - Or in express terms. Till now
he had only intimated it to them. And Peter taking hold of him
- Perhaps by the arms or clothes.
33: Looking on his disciples - That they might the more observe
what he said to Peter.
34: And when he called the people - To hear a truth of the last
importance, and one that equally concerned them all. Let him
deny himself - His own will, in all things small and great,
however pleasing, and that continually: And take up his cross
- Embrace the will of God, however painful, daily, hourly,
continually. Thus only can he follow me in holiness to glory.
35: (Mt 16:25,Lu 9:24,Lu 17:33,Joh 12:25).
38: Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words - That is,
avowing whatever I have said (particularly of self denial and
the daily cross) both by word and action.(Mt 10:32,Lu 9:26,Lu 12:8).
