Categoría: EVANGELIO SEGÚN SAN MARCOS

The Bible – New Testament

Saint Mark

Chapter 4

1

¹ On another occasion he began to teach by the sea. ² A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.

2

And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them,

3

³ «Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

4

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

6

And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.

7

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.

8

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.»

9

He added, «Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.»

10

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables.

11

⁴ He answered them, «The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables,

12

so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.'»

13

⁵ Jesus said to them, «Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

14

The sower sows the word.

15

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them.

16

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

17

But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

18

Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word,

19

but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.

20

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.»

21

He said to them, «Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

22

For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.

23

Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.»

24

He also told them, «Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.

25

To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.»

26

He said,»This is how it is with the kingdom of God; ⁶ it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

27

and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.

28

Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.»

30

He said, «To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it?

31

It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

32

⁷ But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.»

33

With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.

34

Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

35

⁸ On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, «Let us cross to the other side.»

36

Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him.

37

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

38

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, «Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?»

39

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, «Quiet! Be still!» ⁹ The wind ceased and there was great calm.

40

Then he asked them, «Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?»

41

¹⁰ They were filled with great awe and said to one another, «Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?»

 
1 [1-34] In parables (2): see the note on ⇒ Matthew 13:3. The use of parables is typical of Jesus’ enigmatic method of teaching the crowds (⇒ Mark 4:2-9, ⇒ 12) as compared with the interpretation of the parables he gives to his disciples (⇒ Mark 4:10-25, ⇒ 33-34) to each group according to its capacity to understand (⇒ Mark 4:9-11). The key feature of the parable at hand is the sowing of the seed (3), representing the breakthrough of the kingdom of God into the world. The various types of soil refer to the diversity of response accorded the word of God (⇒ Mark 4:4-7). The climax of the parable is the harvest of thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold, indicating the consummation of the kingdom (⇒ Mark 4:8). Thus both the present and the future action of God, from the initiation to the fulfillment of the kingdom, is presented through this and other parables (⇒ Mark 4:26-29, ⇒ 30-32).

2 [1] By the sea: the shore of the Sea of Galilee or a boat near the shore (⇒ Mark 2:13; ⇒ 3:7-8) is the place where Mark depicts Jesus teaching the crowds. By contrast the mountain is the scene of Jesus at prayer (⇒ Mark 6:46) or in the process of forming his disciples (⇒ Mark 3:13; ⇒ 9:2).

3 [3-8] See the note on ⇒ Matthew 13:3-8.

4 [11-12] These verses are to be viewed against their background in ⇒ Mark 3:6, ⇒ 22 concerning the unbelief and opposition Jesus encountered in his ministry. It is against this background that the distinction in Jesus’ method becomes clear of presenting the kingdom to the disbelieving crowd in one manner and to the disciples in another. To the former it is presented in parables and the truth remains hidden; for the latter the parable is interpreted and the mystery is partially revealed because of their faith; see the notes on ⇒ Matthew 13:11 and ⇒ Matthew 13:13.

5 [13-20] See the note on ⇒ Matthew 13:18-23.

6 [26-29] Only Mark records the parable of the seed’s growth. Sower and harvester are the same. The emphasis is on the power of the seed to grow of itself without human intervention (⇒ Mark 4:27). Mysteriously it produces blade and ear and full grain (⇒ Mark 4:28). Thus the kingdom of God initiated by Jesus in proclaiming the word develops quietly yet powerfully until it is fully established by him at the final judgment (⇒ Mark 4:29); cf ⇒ Rev 14:15.

7 [32] The universality of the kingdom of God is indicated here; cf ⇒ Ezekiel 17:23; ⇒ 31:6; ⇒ Daniel 4:17-19.

8 [⇒ 4:35-⇒ 5:43] After the chapter on parables, Mark narrates four miracle stories: ⇒ Mark 4:35-41; ⇒ 5:1-20; and two joined together in ⇒ Mark 5:21-43. See also the notes on ⇒ Matthew 8:23-34 and ⇒ 9:8-26.

9 [39] Quiet! Be still!: as in the case of silencing a demon (⇒ Mark 1:25), Jesus rebukes the wind and subdues the turbulence of the sea by a mere word; see the note on ⇒ Matthew 8:26.

10 [41] Jesus is here depicted as exercising power over wind and sea. In the Christian community this event was seen as a sign of Jesus’ saving presence amid persecutions that threatened its existence.

The Bible – New Testament

Saint Mark

Chapter 3

1

¹ Again he entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.

2

They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.

3

He said to the man with the withered hand, «Come up here before us.»

4

Then he said to them, «Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?» But they remained silent.

5

Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, «Stretch out your hand.» He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

6

² The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

7

³ Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people (followed) from Galilee and from Judea.

8

Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.

9

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him.

10

He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.

11

⁴ And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, «You are the Son of God.»

12

He warned them sternly not to make him known.

13

He went up the mountain ⁵ and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

14

He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) that they might be with him ⁶ and he might send them forth to preach

15

and to have authority to drive out demons:

16

⁷ (he appointed the twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter;

17

James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder;

18

Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,

19

and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

20

^8 9 He came home. Again (the) crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.

21

When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, «He is out of his mind.»

22

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, «He is possessed by Beelzebul,» ¹⁰ and «By the prince of demons he drives out demons.»

23

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, «How can Satan drive out Satan?

24

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

25

And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

26

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him.

27

But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

28

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them.

29

But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit ¹¹ will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.»

30

For they had said, «He has an unclean spirit.»

31

His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.

32

A crowd seated around him told him, «Your mother and your brothers ¹² (and your sisters) are outside asking for you.»

33

But he said to them in reply, «Who are my mother and (my) brothers?»

34

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, «Here are my mother and my brothers.

35

(For) whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.»

 
1 [1-5] Here Jesus is again depicted in conflict with his adversaries over the question of sabbath-day observance. His opponents were already ill disposed toward him because they regarded Jesus as a violator of the sabbath. Jesus’ question Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil? places the matter in the broader theological context outside the casuistry of the scribes. The answer is obvious. Jesus heals the man with the withered hand in the sight of all and reduces his opponents to silence; cf ⇒ John 5:17-18.

2 [6] In reporting the plot of the Pharisees and Herodians to put Jesus to death after this series of conflicts in Galilee, Mark uses a pattern that recurs in his account of later controversies in Jerusalem (⇒ Mark 11:17-18; ⇒ 12:13-17). The help of the Herodians, supporters of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, is needed to take action against Jesus. Both series of conflicts point to their gravity and to the impending passion of Jesus.

3 [7-19] This overview of the Galilean ministry manifests the power of Jesus to draw people to himself through his teaching and deeds of power. The crowds of Jews from many regions surround Jesus (⇒ Mark 3:7-12). This phenomenon prepares the way for creating a new people of Israel. The choice and mission of the Twelve is the prelude (⇒ Mark 3:13-19).

4 [11-12] See the note on ⇒ Mark 1:24-25.

5 [13] He went up the mountain: here and elsewhere the mountain is associated with solemn moments and acts in the mission and self-revelation of Jesus (⇒ Mark 6:46; ⇒ 9:2-8; ⇒ 13:3). Jesus acts with authority as he summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

6 [14-15] He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him: literally «he made,» i.e., instituted them as apostles to extend his messianic mission through them (⇒ Mark 6:7-13). See the notes on ⇒ Matthew 10:1 and ⇒ 10:2-4.

7 [16] Simon, whom he named Peter: Mark indicates that Simon’s name was changed on this occasion. Peter is first in all lists of the apostles (⇒ Matthew 10:2; ⇒ Luke 6:14; ⇒ Acts 1:13; cf ⇒ 1 Cor 15:5-8).

8 [20-35] Within the narrative of the coming of Jesus’ relatives (⇒ Mark 3:20-21) is inserted the account of the unbelieving scribes from Jerusalem who attributed Jesus’ power over demons to Beelzebul (⇒ Mark 3:22-30); see the note on ⇒ Mark 5:21-43. There were those even among the relatives of Jesus who disbelieved and regarded Jesus as out of his mind (⇒ Mark 3:21). Against this background, Jesus is informed of the arrival of his mother and brothers [and sisters] (⇒ Mark 3:32). He responds by showing that not family ties but doing God’s will (35) is decisive in the kingdom; cf the note on ⇒ Matthew 12:46-50.

9 [20] He came home: cf ⇒ Mark 2:1-2 and see the note on ⇒ Mark 2:15.

10 [22] By Beelzebul: see the note on ⇒ Matthew 10:25. Two accusations are leveled against Jesus: (1) that he is possessed by an unclean spirit, and (2) by the prince of demons he drives out demons. Jesus answers the second charge by a parable (⇒ Mark 3:24-27) and responds to the first charge in ⇒ Mark 3:28-29.

11 [29] Whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit: this sin is called an everlasting sin because it attributes to Satan, who is the power of evil, what is actually the work of the holy Spirit, namely, victory over the demons.

12 [32] Your brothers: see the note on ⇒ Mark 6:3.

The Bible – New Testament

Saint Mark

Chapter 12

1

¹ He began to speak to them in parables. «A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey.

2

At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard.

3

But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

4

Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully.

5

He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed.

6

He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’

7

But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

8

So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9

What (then) will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others.

10

Have you not read this scripture passage: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

11

by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?»

12

They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.

13

^2 3 They sent some Pharisees and Herodians to him to ensnare him in his speech.

14

They came and said to him, «Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?»

15

Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, «Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.»

16

They brought one to him and he said to them, «Whose image and inscription is this?» They replied to him, «Caesar’s.»

17

So Jesus said to them, «Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’ They were utterly amazed at him.

18

⁴ Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and put this question to him,

19

saying, «Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’

20

Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants.

21

So the second married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise.

22

And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died.

23

At the resurrection (when they arise) whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.»

24

Jesus said to them, «Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?

25

When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.

26

As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, (the) God of Isaac, and (the) God of Jacob’?

27

He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.»

28

⁵ One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, «Which is the first of all the commandments?»

29

Jesus replied, «The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!

30

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

31

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.»

32

The scribe said to him, «Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’

33

And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.»

34

And when Jesus saw that (he) answered with understanding, he said to him, «You are not far from the kingdom of God.» And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

35

⁶ As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, «How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David?

36

David himself, inspired by the holy Spirit, said: ‘The Lord said to my lord, «Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.»‘

37

David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?» (The) great crowd heard this with delight.

38

⁷ In the course of his teaching he said, «Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces,

39

seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.

40

They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.»

41

⁸ He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

42

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

43

Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, «Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.

44

For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.»

 
1 [1-12] The vineyard denotes Israel (⇒ Isaiah 5:1-7). The tenant farmers are the religious leaders of Israel. God is the owner of the vineyard. His servants are his messengers, the prophets. The beloved son is Jesus (⇒ Mark 1:11; ⇒ 9:7; ⇒ Matthew 3:17; ⇒ 17:5; ⇒ Luke 3:22; ⇒ 9:35). The punishment of the tenants refers to the religious leaders, and the transfer of the vineyard to others refers to the people of the new Israel.

2 [13-34] In the ensuing conflicts (cf also ⇒ Mark 2:1-⇒ 3:6) Jesus vanquishes his adversaries by his responses to their questions and reduces them to silence (⇒ Mark 12:34).

3 [13-17] See the note on ⇒ Matthew 22:15-22.

4 [18-27] See the note on ⇒ Matthew 22:23-33.

5 [28-34] See the note on ⇒ Matthew 22:34-40.

6 [35-37] Jesus questions the claim of the scribes about the Davidic descent of the Messiah, not to deny it (⇒ Matthew 1:1; ⇒ Acts 2:20, ⇒ 34; ⇒ Romans 1:3; ⇒ 2 Tim 2:8) but to imply that he is more than this. His superiority derives from his transcendent origin, to which David himself attested when he spoke of the Messiah with the name «Lord» (Ps 110, 1). See also the note on ⇒ Matthew 22:41-46.

7 [38-40] See the notes on ⇒ Mark 7:1-23 and ⇒ Matthew 23:1-39.

8 [41-44] See the note on ⇒ Luke 21:1-4.

The Bible – New Testament

Saint Mark

Chapter 10

1

He set out from there and went into the district of Judea (and) across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

2

¹ The Pharisees approached and asked, «Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?» They were testing him.

3

He said to them in reply, «What did Moses command you?»

4

They replied, «Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.»

5

But Jesus told them, «Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment.

6

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.

7

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife),

8

and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

9

Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.»

10

In the house the disciples again questioned him about this.

11

He said to them, «Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her;

12

and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.»

13

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.

14

When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, «Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

15

Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child ² will not enter it.»

16

Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

17

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, «Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?»

18

Jesus answered him, «Why do you call me good? ³ No one is good but God alone.

19

You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.'»

20

He replied and said to him, «Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.»

21

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, «You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.»

22

At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23

⁴ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, «How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!»

24

The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, «Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

25

It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.»

26

They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, «Then who can be saved?»

27

Jesus looked at them and said, «For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.»

28

Peter began to say to him, «We have given up everything and followed you.»

29

Jesus said, «Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel

30

who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.

31

But many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first.»

32

They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him.

33

«Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles

34

who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.»

35

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, «Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.»

36

He replied, «What do you wish (me) to do for you?»

37

They answered him, «Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.»

38

⁵ Jesus said to them, «You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?»

39

They said to him, «We can.» Jesus said to them, «The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;

40

but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.»

41

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.

42

⁶ Jesus summoned them and said to them, «You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt.

43

But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;

44

whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.

45

For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.»

46

⁷ They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging.

47

On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, «Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.»

48

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, «Son of David, have pity on me.»

49

Jesus stopped and said, «Call him.» So they called the blind man, saying to him, «Take courage; get up, he is calling you.»

50

He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

51

Jesus said to him in reply, «What do you want me to do for you?» The blind man replied to him, «Master, I want to see.»

52

Jesus told him, «Go your way; your faith has saved you.» Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

 
1 [2-9] In the dialogue between Jesus and the Pharisees on the subject of divorce, Jesus declares that the law of Moses permitted divorce (⇒ Deut 24:1) only because of the hardness of your hearts (⇒ Mark 10:4-5). In citing ⇒ Genesis 1:27 and ⇒ 2:24 Jesus proclaims permanence to be the divine intent from the beginning concerning human marriage (⇒ Mark 10:6-8). He reaffirms this with the declaration that what God has joined together, no human being must separate (⇒ Mark 10:9). See further the notes on ⇒ Matthew 5:31-32; ⇒ 19:3-9.

2 [15] Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child: i.e., in total dependence upon and obedience to the gospel; cf ⇒ Matthew 18:3-4.

3 [18] Why do you call me good?: Jesus repudiates the term «good» for himself and directs it to God, the source of all goodness who alone can grant the gift of eternal life; cf ⇒ Matthew 19:16-17.

4 [23-27] In the Old Testament wealth and material goods are considered a sign of God’s favor (⇒ Job 1:10; ⇒ Psalm 128:1-2; ⇒ Isaiah 3:10). The words of Jesus in ⇒ Mark 10:23-25 provoke astonishment among the disciples because of their apparent contradiction of the Old Testament concept (⇒ Mark 10:24.26). Since wealth, power, and merit generate false security, Jesus rejects them utterly as a claim to enter the kingdom. Achievement of salvation is beyond human capability and depends solely on the goodness of God who offers it as a gift (⇒ Mark 10:27).

5 [38-40] Can you drink the cup . . . I am baptized?: the metaphor of drinking the cup is used in the Old Testament to refer to acceptance of the destiny assigned by God; see the note on Ps 11, 6. In Jesus’ case, this involves divine judgment on sin that Jesus the innocent one is to expiate on behalf of the guilty (⇒ Mark 14:24; ⇒ Isaiah 53:5). His baptism is to be his crucifixion and death for the salvation of the human race; cf ⇒ Luke 12:50. The request of James and John for a share in the glory (⇒ Mark 10:35-37) must of necessity involve a share in Jesus’ sufferings, the endurance of tribulation and suffering for the gospel (⇒ Mark 10:39). The authority of assigning places of honor in the kingdom is reserved to God (⇒ Mark 10:40).

6 [42-45] Whatever authority is to be exercised by the disciples must, like that of Jesus, be rendered as service to others (⇒ Mark 10:45) rather than for personal aggrandizement (⇒ Mark 10:42-44). The service of Jesus is his passion and death for the sins of the human race (⇒ Mark 10:45); cf ⇒ Mark 14:24; ⇒ Isaiah 53:11-12; ⇒ Matthew 26:28; ⇒ Luke 22:19-20.

7 [46] See the notes on ⇒ Matthew 9:27-31 and ⇒ 20:29-34.

The Bible – New Testament

Saint Mark

Chapter 9

1

¹ He also said to them, «Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.»

2

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

3

and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

4

Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.

5

³ Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, «Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.»

6

He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.

7

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; ⁴ then from the cloud came a voice, «This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.»

8

Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

9

⁵ As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10

So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

11

Then they asked him, «Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?»

12

He told them, «Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?

13

But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.»

14

⁶ When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

15

Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him.

16

He asked them, «What are you arguing about with them?»

17

Someone from the crowd answered him, «Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.

18

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.»

19

He said to them in reply, «O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.»

20

They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth.

21

Then he questioned his father, «How long has this been happening to him?» He replied, «Since childhood.

22

It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.»

23

Jesus said to him, » ‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.»

24

Then the boy’s father cried out, «I do believe, help my unbelief!»

25

Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, «Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!»

26

Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, «He is dead!»

27

But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

28

When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, «Why could we not drive it out?»

29

⁷ He said to them, «This kind can only come out through prayer.»

30

They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.

31

He was teaching his disciples and telling them, «The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.»

32

But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

33

⁸ They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, «What were you arguing about on the way?»

34

But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

35

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, «If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.»

36

Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them,

37

«Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.»

38

⁹ John said to him, «Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.»

39

Jesus replied, «Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.

40

For whoever is not against us is for us.

41

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

42

«Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

43

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, ¹⁰ into the unquenchable fire.

44

¹¹

45

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.

47

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,

48

where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

49

¹² «Everyone will be salted with fire.

50

Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.»

 
1 [1] There are some standing . . . come in power: understood by some to refer to the establishment by God’s power of his kingdom on earth in and through the church; more likely, as understood by others, a reference to the imminent parousia.

2 [2-8] Mark and ⇒ Matthew 17:1 place the transfiguration of Jesus six days after the first prediction of his passion and death and his instruction to the disciples on the doctrine of the cross; ⇒ Luke 9:28 has «about eight days.» Thus the transfiguration counterbalances the prediction of the passion by affording certain of the disciples insight into the divine glory that Jesus possessed. His glory will overcome his death and that of his disciples; cf ⇒ 2 Cor 3:18; ⇒ 2 Peter 1:16-19. The heavenly voice (⇒ Mark 9:7) prepares the disciples to understand that in the divine plan Jesus must die ignominiously before his messianic glory is made manifest; cf ⇒ Luke 24:25-27. See further the note on ⇒ Matthew 17:1-8.

3 [5] Moses and Elijah represent respectively law and prophecy in the Old Testament and are linked to Matthew. Sinai; cf ⇒ Exodus 19:16-⇒ 20:17; ⇒ 1 Kings 19:2, ⇒ 8-14. They now appear with Jesus as witnesses to the fulfillment of the law and the prophets taking place in the person of Jesus as he appears in glory.

4 [7] A cloud came, casting a shadow over them: even the disciples enter into the mystery of his glorification. In the Old Testament the cloud covered the meeting tent, indicating the Lord’s presence in the midst of his people (⇒ Exodus 40:34-35) and came to rest upon the temple in Jerusalem at the time of its dedication (⇒ 1 Kings 8:10).

5 [9-13] At the transfiguration of Jesus his disciples had seen Elijah. They were perplexed because, according to the rabbinical interpretation of ⇒ Malachi 3:23-24, Elijah was to come first. Jesus’ response shows that Elijah has come, in the person of John the Baptist, to prepare for the day of the Lord. Jesus must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt (⇒ Mark 9:12) like the Baptist (⇒ Mark 9:13); cf ⇒ Mark 6:17-29.

6 [14-29] The disciples’ failure to effect a cure seems to reflect unfavorably on Jesus (⇒ Mark 9:14-18, ⇒ 22). In response Jesus exposes their lack of trust in God (⇒ Mark 4:19) and scores their lack of prayer (⇒ Mark 4:29), i.e., of conscious reliance on God’s power when acting in Jesus’ name. For Matthew, see the note on ⇒ Matthew 17:14-20. ⇒ Luke 9:37-43 centers attention on Jesus’ sovereign power.

7 [29] This kind can only come out through prayer: a variant reading adds «and through fasting.»

8 [33-37] Mark probably intends this incident and the sayings that follow as commentary on the disciples’ lack of understanding (⇒ Mark 9:32). Their role in Jesus’ work is one of service, especially to the poor and lowly. Children were the symbol Jesus used for the anawim, the poor in spirit, the lowly in the Christian community.

9 [38-41] Jesus warns against jealousy and intolerance toward others, such as exorcists who do not follow us. The saying in ⇒ Mark 9:40 is a broad principle of the divine tolerance. Even the smallest courtesies shown to those who teach in Jesus’ name do not go unrewarded.

10 [43,45,47] Gehenna: see the note on ⇒ Matthew 5:22.

11 [44,46] These verses, lacking in some important early manuscripts, are here omitted as scribal additions. They simply repeat ⇒ Mark 9:48 itself a modified citation of ⇒ Isaiah 66:24.

12 [49] Everyone will be salted with fire: so the better manuscripts. Some add «every sacrifice will be salted with salt.» The purifying and preservative use of salt in food (⇒ Lev 2:13) and the refinement effected through fire refer here to comparable effects in the spiritual life of the disciples of Jesus.