Mark 6
6
The Rejection at Nazareth. 1#Mt 13:54–58; Lk 4:16–30. He departed from there and came to his native place,#His native place: the Greek word patris here refers to Nazareth (cf. Mk 1:9; Lk 4:16, 23–24) though it can also mean native land. accompanied by his disciples. 2#See note on Mt 13:54–58. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 3#15:40; Mt 12:46; Jn 6:42. Is he not the carpenter,#Is he not the carpenter?: no other gospel calls Jesus a carpenter. Some witnesses have “the carpenter’s son,” as in Mt 13:55. Son of Mary: contrary to Jewish custom, which calls a man the son of his father, this expression may reflect Mark’s own faith that God is the Father of Jesus (Mk 1:1, 11; 8:38; 13:32; 14:36). The brother of James…Simon: in Semitic usage, the terms “brother,” “sister” are applied not only to children of the same parents, but to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters; cf. Gn 14:16; 29:15; Lv 10:4. While one cannot suppose that the meaning of a Greek word should be sought in the first place from Semitic usage, the Septuagint often translates the Hebrew ’āh by the Greek word adelphos, “brother,” as in the cited passages, a fact that may argue for a similar breadth of meaning in some New Testament passages. For instance, there is no doubt that in v. 17, “brother” is used of Philip, who was actually the half-brother of Herod Antipas. On the other hand, Mark may have understood the terms literally; see also Mk 3:31–32; Mt 12:46; 13:55–56; Lk 8:19; Jn 7:3, 5. The question of meaning here would not have arisen but for the faith of the church in Mary’s perpetual virginity. the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4#A prophet is not without honor except…in his own house: a saying that finds parallels in other literatures, especially Jewish and Greek, but without reference to a prophet. Comparing himself to previous Hebrew prophets whom the people rejected, Jesus intimates his own eventual rejection by the nation especially in view of the dishonor his own relatives had shown him (Mk 3:21) and now his townspeople as well. #Jn 4:44. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 5So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,#He was not able to perform any mighty deed there: according to Mark, Jesus’ power could not take effect because of a person’s lack of faith. apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6He was amazed at their lack of faith.
The Mission of the Twelve. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching. 7#Mt 10:1, 9–14; Lk 9:15; 10:4–11. He summoned the Twelve#The preparation for the mission of the Twelve is seen in the call (1) of the first disciples to be fishers of men (Mk 1:16–20), (2) then of the Twelve set apart to be with Jesus and to receive authority to preach and expel demons (Mk 3:13–19). Now they are given the specific mission to exercise that authority in word and power as representatives of Jesus during the time of their formation. and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8#In Mark the use of a walking stick (Mk 6:8) and sandals (Mk 6:9) is permitted, but not in Mt 10:10 nor in Lk 10:4. Mark does not mention any prohibition to visit pagan territory and to enter Samaritan towns. These differences indicate a certain adaptation to conditions in and outside of Palestine and suggest in Mark’s account a later activity in the church. For the rest, Jesus required of his apostles a total dependence on God for food and shelter; cf. Mk 6:35–44; 8:1–9. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 9They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. 10#Remaining in the same house as a guest (Mk 6:10) rather than moving to another offering greater comfort avoided any impression of seeking advantage for oneself and prevented dishonor to one’s host. Shaking the dust off one’s feet served as testimony against those who rejected the call to repentance. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. 11Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” 12So they went off and preached repentance. 13#Anointed with oil…cured them: a common medicinal remedy, but seen here as a vehicle of divine power for healing. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick#Jas 5:14. and cured them.
Herod’s Opinion of Jesus.#The various opinions about Jesus anticipate the theme of his identity that reaches its climax in Mk 8:27–30. 14King Herod#King Herod: see note on Mt 14:1. heard about it, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying,#Mt 14:1–12. “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”#Lk 9:7–8. 15Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”#Mt 16:14. 16But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
The Death of John the Baptist.#Similarities are to be noted between Mark’s account of the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist in this pericope, and that of the passion of Jesus (Mk 15:1–47). Herod and Pilate, each in turn, acknowledges the holiness of life of one over whom he unjustly exercises the power of condemnation and death (Mk 6:26–27; 15:9–10, 14–15). The hatred of Herodias toward John parallels that of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus. After the deaths of John and of Jesus, well-disposed persons request the bodies of the victims of Herod and of Pilate in turn to give them respectful burial (Mk 6:29; 15:45–46). 17Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.#Lk 3:19–20. 18John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”#Lv 18:16. 19Herodias#Herodias: see note on Mt 14:3. harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. 22Herodias’s own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 23He even swore [many things] to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.”#Est 5:3. 24She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 26The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27#Lk 9:9. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
The Return of the Twelve. 30The apostles#Apostles: here, and in some manuscripts at Mk 3:14, Mark calls apostles (i.e., those sent forth) the Twelve whom Jesus sends as his emissaries, empowering them to preach, to expel demons, and to cure the sick (Mk 6:13). Only after Pentecost is the title used in the technical sense. gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught.#Lk 9:10. 31#The withdrawal of Jesus with his disciples to a desert place to rest attracts a great number of people to follow them. Toward this people of the new exodus Jesus is moved with pity; he satisfies their spiritual hunger by teaching them many things, thus gradually showing himself the faithful shepherd of a new Israel; cf. Nm 27:17; Ez 34:15. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.#3:20; Mt 14:13; Lk 9:10. 32So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.#Mt 14:13–21; Lk 9:10–17; Jn 6:1–13. 33People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand. 34When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35#See note on Mt 14:13–21. Compare this section with Mk 8:1–9. The various accounts of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, two each in Mark and in Matthew and one each in Luke and in John, indicate the wide interest of the early church in their eucharistic gatherings; see, e.g., Mk 6:41; 8:6; 14:22; and recall also the sign of bread in Ex 16; Dt 8:3–16; Ps 78:24–25; 105:40; Wis 16:20–21. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. 36Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” 38He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” 39So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. 40#The people…in rows by hundreds and by fifties: reminiscent of the groupings of Israelites encamped in the desert (Ex 18:21–25) and of the wilderness tradition of the prophets depicting the transformation of the wasteland into pastures where the true shepherd feeds his flock (Ez 34:25–26) and makes his people beneficiaries of messianic grace. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. 41Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to [his] disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.#On the language of this verse as eucharistic (cf. Mk 14:22), see notes on Mt 14:19, 20. Jesus observed the Jewish table ritual of blessing God before partaking of food. 42They all ate and were satisfied. 43And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. 44Those who ate [of the loaves] were five thousand men.
The Walking on the Water.#See note on Mt 14:22–33. 45Then he made his disciples get into the boat#Mt 14:22–32; Jn 6:15–21. and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,#To the other side toward Bethsaida: a village at the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. while he dismissed the crowd. 46#He went off to the mountain to pray: see Mk 1:35–38. In Jn 6:15 Jesus withdrew to evade any involvement in the false messianic hopes of the multitude. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. 47When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 48Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.#Walking on the sea: see notes on Mt 14:22–33 and on Jn 6:19. He meant to pass by them. 49But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 50#It is I, do not be afraid!: literally, “I am.” This may reflect the divine revelatory formula of Ex 3:14; Is 41:4, 10, 14; 43:1–3, 10, 13. Mark implies the hidden identity of Jesus as Son of God. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 51He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were [completely] astounded. 52They had not understood the incident of the loaves.#They had not understood…the loaves: the revelatory character of this sign and that of the walking on the sea completely escaped the disciples. Their hearts were hardened: in Mk 3:5–6 hardness of heart was attributed to those who did not accept Jesus and plotted his death. Here the same disposition prevents the disciples from comprehending Jesus’ self-revelation through signs; cf. Mk 8:17. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.#4:13.
The Healings at Gennesaret. 53#Mt 14:34–36. After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. 54As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. 55They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.#5:27–28; Acts 5:15.
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Mark 6: NABRE
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
St Mark 6
6
1AND going out from thence, he went into his own country; and his disciples followed him.
2And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were in admiration at his doctrine, saying: How came this man by all these things? and what wisdom is this that is given to him, and such mighty works as are wrought by his hands?
3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him.
4And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.
5And he could not do any miracles there, only that he cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them.
6And he wondered because of their unbelief, and he went through the villages round about teaching.
7And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
8And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only: no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse,
9But to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats.
10And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place.
11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them.
12And going forth they preached that men should do penance:
13And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
14And king Herod heard, (for his name was made manifest,) and he said: John the Baptist is risen again from the dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him.
15And others said: It is Elias. But others said: It is a prophet, as one of the prophets.
16Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead.
17For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
18For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
19Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death, and could not.
20For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.
21And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.
22And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.
24Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But she said: The head of John the Baptist.
25And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.
26And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:
27But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.
28And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
30And the apostles coming together unto Jesus, related to him all things that they had done and taught.
31And he said to them: Come apart into a desert place, and rest a little. For there were many coming and going: and they had not so much as time to eat.
32And going up into a ship, they went into a desert place apart.
33And they saw them going away, and many knew: and they ran flocking thither on foot from all the cities, and were there before them.
34And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
35And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past:
36Send them away, that going into the next villages and towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat.
37And he answering said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said to him: Let us go and buy bread for two hundred pence, and we will give them to eat.
38And he saith to them: How many loaves have you? go and see. And when they knew, they say: Five, and two fishes
39And he commanded them that they should make them all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
41And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes: looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave to his disciples to set before them: and the two fishes he divided among them all.
42And they all did eat, and had their fill.
43And they took up the leavings, twelve full baskets of fragments, and of the fishes.
44And they that did eat, were five thousand men.
45And immediately he obliged his disciples to go up into the ship, that they might go before him over the water to Bethsaida, whilst he dismissed the people.
46And when he had dismissed them, he went up to the mountain to pray.
47And when it was late, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and himself alone on the land.
48And seeing them labouring in rowing, (for the wind was against them,) and about the fourth watch of the night, he cometh to them walking upon the sea, and he would have passed by them.
49But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out.
50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he spoke with them, and said to them: Have a good heart, it is I, fear ye not.
51And he went up to them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were far more astonished within themselves:
52For they understood not concerning the loaves; for their heart was blinded.
53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Genezareth, and set to the shore.
54And when they were gone out of the ship, immediately they knew him:
55And running through that whole country, they began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
56And whithersoever he entered, into towns or into villages or cities, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.