Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Mark » Chapter 9 » Verse 1-50

Mark 9:1-50 King James Version (KJV)

1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.


Mark 9:1-50 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 he said G3004 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 there be G1526 some G5100 of them that stand G2476 here, G5602 which G3748 shall G1089 not G3364 taste G1089 of death, G2288 till G2193 G302 they have seen G1492 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 come G2064 with G1722 power. G1411

2 And G2532 after G3326 six G1803 days G2250 Jesus G2424 taketh G3880 with him Peter, G4074 and G2532 James, G2385 and G2532 John, G2491 and G2532 leadeth G399 them G846 up G399 into G1519 an high G5308 mountain G3735 apart G2596 G2398 by themselves: G3441 and G2532 he was transfigured G3339 before G1715 them. G846

3 And G2532 his G846 raiment G2440 became G1096 shining, G4744 exceeding G3029 white G3022 as G5613 snow; G5510 so as G3634 no G3756 fuller G1102 on G1909 earth G1093 can G1410 white G3021 them.

4 And G2532 there appeared G3700 unto them G846 Elias G2243 with G4862 Moses: G3475 and G2532 they were G2258 talking G4814 with Jesus. G2424

5 And G2532 Peter G4074 answered G611 and said G3004 to Jesus, G2424 Master, G4461 it is G2076 good G2570 for us G2248 to be G1511 here: G5602 and G2532 let us make G4160 three G5140 tabernacles; G4633 one G3391 for thee, G4671 and G2532 one G3391 for Moses, G3475 and G2532 one G3391 for Elias. G2243

6 For G1063 he wist G1492 not G3756 what G5101 to say; G2980 for G1063 they were sore G2258 afraid. G1630

7 And G2532 there was G1096 a cloud G3507 that overshadowed G1982 them: G846 and G2532 a voice G5456 came G2064 out of G1537 the cloud, G3507 saying, G3004 This G3778 is G2076 my G3450 beloved G27 Son: G5207 hear G191 him. G846

8 And G2532 suddenly, G1819 when they had looked round about, G4017 they saw G1492 no man G3762 any more, G3765 save G235 Jesus G2424 only G3441 with G3326 themselves. G1438

9 And G1161 as they G846 came down G2597 from G575 the mountain, G3735 he charged G1291 them G846 that G2443 they should tell G1334 no man G3367 what things G3739 they had seen, G1492 till G1508 G3752 the Son G5207 of man G444 were risen G450 from G1537 the dead. G3498

10 And G2532 they kept G2902 that saying G3056 with G4314 themselves, G1438 questioning one with another G4802 what G5101 the rising G450 from G1537 the dead G3498 should mean. G2076

11 And G2532 they asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Why G3754 say G3004 the scribes G1122 that G3754 Elias G2243 must G1163 first G4412 come? G2064

12 And G1161 he answered G611 and told G2036 them, G846 Elias G2243 verily G3303 cometh G2064 first, G4412 and restoreth G600 all things; G3956 and G2532 how G4459 it is written G1125 of G1909 the Son G5207 of man, G444 that G2443 he must suffer G3958 many things, G4183 and G2532 be set at nought. G1847

13 But G235 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 Elias G2243 is G2064 indeed G2532 come, G2064 and G2532 they have done G4160 unto him G846 whatsoever G3745 they listed, G2309 as G2531 it is written G1125 of G1909 him. G846

14 And G2532 when he came G2064 to G4314 his disciples, G3101 he saw G1492 a great G4183 multitude G3793 about G4012 them, G846 and G2532 the scribes G1122 questioning G4802 with them. G846

15 And G2532 straightway G2112 all G3956 the people, G3793 when they beheld G1492 him, G846 were greatly amazed, G1568 and G2532 running to G4370 him saluted G782 him. G846

16 And G2532 he asked G1905 the scribes, G1122 What G5101 question ye G4802 with G4314 them? G846

17 And G2532 one G1520 of G1537 the multitude G3793 answered G611 and said, G2036 Master, G1320 I have brought G5342 unto G4314 thee G4571 my G3450 son, G5207 which hath G2192 a dumb G216 spirit; G4151

18 And G2532 wheresoever G3699 G302 he taketh G2638 him, G846 he teareth G4486 him: G846 and G2532 he foameth, G875 and G2532 gnasheth G5149 with his G846 teeth, G3599 and G2532 pineth away: G3583 and G2532 I spake G2036 to thy G4675 disciples G3101 that G2443 they should cast G1544 him G846 out; G1544 and G2532 they could G2480 not. G3756

19 He answereth G611 him, G846 and G1161 saith, G3004 O G5599 faithless G571 generation, G1074 how long G2193 G4219 shall I be G2071 with G4314 you? G5209 how long G2193 G4219 shall I suffer G430 you? G5216 bring G5342 him G846 unto G4314 me. G3165

20 And G2532 they brought G5342 him G846 unto G4314 him: G846 and G2532 when he saw G1492 him, G846 straightway G2112 the spirit G4151 tare G4682 him; G846 and G2532 he fell G4098 on G1909 the ground, G1093 and wallowed G2947 foaming. G875

21 And G2532 he asked G1905 his G846 father, G3962 How long G4214 is it G2076 ago G5550 since G5613 this G5124 came G1096 unto him? G846 And G1161 he said, G2036 Of a child. G3812

22 And G2532 ofttimes G4178 it hath cast G906 him G846 into G2532 G1519 the fire, G4442 and G2532 into G1519 the waters, G5204 to G2443 destroy G622 him: G846 but G235 if G1536 thou canst G1410 do any thing, G1536 have compassion G4697 on G1909 us, G2248 and help G997 us. G2254

23 G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto him, G846 If G1487 thou canst G1410 believe, G4100 all things G3956 are possible G1415 to him G846 that believeth. G4100

24 And G2532 straightway G2112 the father G3962 of the child G3813 cried out, G2896 and said G3004 with G3326 tears, G1144 Lord, G2962 I believe; G4100 help thou G997 mine G3450 unbelief. G570

25 When G1161 Jesus G2424 saw G1492 that G3754 the people G3793 came running together, G1998 he rebuked G2008 the foul G169 spirit, G4151 saying G3004 unto him, G846 Thou dumb G216 and G2532 deaf G2974 spirit, G4151 I G1473 charge G2004 thee, G4671 come G1831 out of G1537 him, G846 and G2532 enter G1525 no more G3371 into G1519 him. G846

26 And G2532 the spirit cried, G2896 and G2532 rent G4682 him G846 sore, G4183 and came out of him: G1831 and G2532 he was G1096 as G5616 one dead; G3498 insomuch G5620 that G3754 many G4183 said, G3004 He is dead. G599

27 But G1161 Jesus G2424 took G2902 him G846 by the hand, G5495 and lifted G1453 him G846 up; G1453 and G2532 he arose. G450

28 And G2532 when he G846 was come G1525 into G1519 the house, G3624 his G846 disciples G3101 asked G1905 him G846 privately, G2596 G2398 Why G3754 could G1410 not G3756 we G2249 cast G1544 him G846 out? G1544

29 And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 This G5124 kind G1085 can G1410 come forth G1831 by G1722 nothing, G3762 but G1508 by G1722 prayer G4335 and G2532 fasting. G3521

30 And G2532 they departed G1831 thence, G1564 and passed G3899 through G1223 Galilee; G1056 and G2532 he would G2309 not G3756 that G2443 any man G5100 should know G1097 it.

31 For G1063 he taught G1321 his G846 disciples, G3101 and G2532 said G3004 unto them, G846 G3754 The Son G5207 of man G444 is delivered G3860 into G1519 the hands G5495 of men, G444 and G2532 they shall kill G615 him; G846 and G2532 after that he is killed, G615 he shall rise G450 the third G5154 day. G2250

32 But G1161 they understood not G50 that saying, G4487 and G2532 were afraid G5399 to ask G1905 him. G846

33 And G2532 he came G2064 to G1519 Capernaum: G2584 and G2532 being G1096 in G1722 the house G3614 he asked G1905 them, G846 What G5101 was it that ye disputed G1260 among G4314 yourselves G1438 by G1722 the way? G3598

34 But G1161 they held their peace: G4623 for G1063 by G1722 the way G3598 they had disputed G1256 among G4314 themselves, G240 who G5101 should be the greatest. G3187

35 And G2532 he sat down, G2523 and called G5455 the twelve, G1427 and G2532 saith G3004 unto them, G846 If any man G1536 desire G2309 to be G1511 first, G4413 the same shall be G2071 last G2078 of all, G3956 and G2532 servant G1249 of all. G3956

36 And G2532 he took G2983 a child, G3813 and set G2476 him G846 in G1722 the midst G3319 of them: G846 and G2532 when he had taken G1723 him G846 in his arms, G1723 he said G2036 unto them, G846

37 Whosoever G3739 G1437 shall receive G1209 one G1520 of such G5108 children G3813 in G1909 my G3450 name, G3686 receiveth G1209 me: G1691 and G2532 whosoever G3739 G1437 shall receive G1209 me, G1691 receiveth G1209 not G3756 me, G1691 but G235 him that sent G649 me. G3165

38 And G1161 John G2491 answered G611 him, G846 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 we saw G1492 one G5100 casting out G1544 devils G1140 in thy G4675 name, G3686 and G3739 he followeth G190 not G3756 us: G2254 and G2532 we forbad G2967 him, G846 because G3754 he followeth G190 not G3756 us. G2254

39 But G1161 Jesus G2424 said, G2036 Forbid G2967 him G846 not: G3361 for G1063 there is G2076 no man G3762 which G3739 shall do G4160 a miracle G1411 in G1909 my G3450 name, G3686 that G2532 can G1410 lightly G5035 speak evil G2551 of me. G3165

40 For G1063 he that G3739 is G2076 not G3756 against G2596 us G2257 is G2076 on G5228 our G2257 part. G5228

41 For G1063 whosoever G3739 G302 shall give G4222 you G5209 a cup G4221 of water G5204 to drink G4222 in G1722 my G3450 name, G3686 because G3754 ye belong G2075 to Christ, G5547 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 he shall G622 not G3364 lose G622 his G846 reward. G3408

42 And G2532 whosoever G3739 G302 shall offend G4624 one G1520 of these little ones G3398 that believe G4100 in G1519 me, G1691 it is G2076 better G2570 G3123 for him G846 that G1487 a millstone G3037 G3457 were hanged G4029 about G4012 his G846 neck, G5137 and G2532 he were cast G906 into G1519 the sea. G2281

43 And G2532 if G1437 thy G4675 hand G5495 offend G4624 thee, G4571 cut G609 it G846 off: G609 it is G2076 better G2570 for thee G4671 to enter G1525 into G1519 life G2222 maimed, G2948 than G2228 having G2192 two G1417 hands G5495 to go G565 into G1519 hell, G1067 into G1519 the fire G4442 that never shall be quenched: G762

44 Where G3699 their G846 worm G4663 dieth G5053 not, G3756 and G2532 the fire G4442 is G4570 not G3756 quenched. G4570

45 And G2532 if G1437 thy G4675 foot G4228 offend G4624 thee, G4571 cut G609 it G846 off: G609 it is G2076 better G2570 for thee G4671 to enter G1525 halt G5560 into G1519 life, G2222 than G2228 having G2192 two G1417 feet G4228 to be cast G906 into G1519 hell, G1067 into G1519 the fire G4442 that never shall be quenched: G762

46 Where G3699 their G846 worm G4663 dieth G5053 not, G3756 and G2532 the fire G4442 is G4570 not G3756 quenched. G4570

47 And G2532 if G1437 thine G4675 eye G3788 offend G4624 thee, G4571 pluck G1544 it G846 out: G1544 it is G2076 better G2570 for thee G4671 to enter G1525 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 with one eye, G3442 than G2228 having G2192 two G1417 eyes G3788 to be cast G906 into G1519 hell G1067 fire: G4442

48 Where G3699 their G846 worm G4663 dieth G5053 not, G3756 and G2532 the fire G4442 is G4570 not G3756 quenched. G4570

49 For G1063 every one G3956 shall be salted G233 with fire, G4442 and G2532 every G3956 sacrifice G2378 shall be salted G233 with salt. G251

50 Salt G217 is good: G2570 but G1161 if G1437 the salt G217 have lost G1096 his saltness, G358 wherewith G1722 G5101 will ye season G741 it? G846 Have G2192 salt G217 in G1722 yourselves, G1438 and G2532 have peace G1514 one G240 with G1722 another. G240


Mark 9:1-50 American Standard (ASV)

1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand `by', who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them;

3 and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

6 For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid.

7 And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.

8 And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead.

10 And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead should mean.

11 And they asked him, saying, `How is it' that the scribes say that Elijah must first come?

12 And he said unto them, Elijah indeed cometh first, and restoreth all things: and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be set at nought?

13 But I say unto you, that Elijah is come, and they have also done unto him whatsoever they would, even as it is written of him.

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them.

15 And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

16 And he asked them, What question ye with them?

17 And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;

18 and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able.

19 And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child.

22 And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.

24 Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and `the boy' became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.

28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, `How is it' that we could not cast it out?

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.

30 And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise again.

32 But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way?

34 But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who `was' the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.

36 And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and taking him in his arms, he said unto them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

38 John said unto him, Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followed not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us is for us.

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

42 And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

43 And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

44 `where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.'

45 And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell.

46 `where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.'

47 And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell;

48 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

49 For every one shall be salted with fire.

50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.


Mark 9:1-50 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And he said to them, `Verily I say to you, That there are certain of those standing here, who may not taste of death till they see the reign of God having come in power.'

2 And after six days doth Jesus take Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up to a high mount by themselves, alone, and he was transfigured before them,

3 and his garments became glittering, white exceedingly, as snow, so as a fuller upon the earth is not able to whiten `them'.

4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answering saith to Jesus, `Rabbi, it is good to us to be here; and we may make three booths, for thee one, and for Moses one, and for Elijah one:'

6 for he was not knowing what he might say, for they were greatly afraid.

7 And there came a cloud overshadowing them, and there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, `This is My Son -- the Beloved, hear ye him;'

8 and suddenly, having looked around, they saw no one any more, but Jesus only with themselves.

9 And as they are coming down from the mount, he charged them that they may declare to no one the things that they saw, except when the Son of Man may rise out of the dead;

10 and the thing they kept to themselves, questioning together what the rising out of the dead is.

11 And they were questioning him, saying, that the scribes say that Elijah it behoveth to come first.

12 And he answering said to them, `Elijah indeed, having come first, doth restore all things; and how hath it been written concerning the Son of Man, that many things he may suffer, and be set at nought?

13 But I say to you, That also Elijah hath come, and they did to him what they willed, as it hath been written of him.'

14 And having come unto the disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them,

15 and immediately, all the multitude having seen him, were amazed, and running near, were saluting him.

16 And he questioned the scribes, `What dispute ye with them?'

17 and one out of the multitude answering said, `Teacher, I brought my son unto thee, having a dumb spirit;

18 and wherever it doth seize him, it doth tear him, and he foameth, and gnasheth his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples that they may cast it out, and they were not able.'

19 And he answering him, said, `O generation unbelieving, till when shall I be with you? till when shall I suffer you? bring him unto me;'

20 and they brought him unto him, and he having seen him, immediately the spirit tare him, and he, having fallen upon the earth, was wallowing -- foaming.

21 And he questioned his father, `How long time is it since this came to him?' and he said, `From childhood,

22 and many times also it cast him into fire, and into water, that it might destroy him; but if thou art able to do anything, help us, having compassion on us.'

23 And Jesus said to him, `If thou art able to believe! all things are possible to the one that is believing;'

24 and immediately the father of the child, having cried out, with tears said, `I believe, sir; be helping mine unbelief.'

25 Jesus having seen that a multitude doth run together, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, `Spirit -- dumb and deaf -- I charge thee, come forth out of him, and no more thou mayest enter into him;'

26 and having cried, and rent him much, it came forth, and he became as dead, so that many said that he was dead,

27 but Jesus, having taken him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.

28 And he having come into the house, his disciples were questioning him by himself -- `Why were we not able to cast it forth?'

29 And he said to them, `This kind is able to come forth with nothing except with prayer and fasting.'

30 And having gone forth thence, they were passing through Galilee, and he did not wish that any may know,

31 for he was teaching his disciples, and he said to them, `The Son of Man is being delivered to the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and having been killed the third day he shall rise,'

32 but they were not understanding the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

33 And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he was questioning them, `What were ye reasoning in the way among yourselves?'

34 and they were silent, for with one another they did reason in the way who is greater;

35 and having sat down he called the twelve, and he saith to them, `If any doth will to be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all.'

36 And having taken a child, he set him in the midst of them, and having taken him in his arms, said to them,

37 `Whoever may receive one of such children in my name, doth receive me, and whoever may receive me, doth not receive me, but Him who sent me.'

38 And John did answer him, saying, `Teacher, we saw a certain one in thy name casting out demons, who doth not follow us, and we forbade him, because he doth not follow us.'

39 And Jesus said, `Forbid him not, for there is no one who shall do a mighty work in my name, and shall be able readily to speak evil of me:

40 for he who is not against us is for us;

41 for whoever may give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because ye are Christ's, verily I say to you, he may not lose his reward;

42 and whoever may cause to stumble one of the little ones believing in me, better is it for him if a millstone is hanged about his neck, and he hath been cast into the sea.

43 `And if thy hand may cause thee to stumble, cut it off; it is better for thee maimed to enter into the life, than having the two hands, to go away to the gehenna, to the fire -- the unquenchable --

44 where there worm is not dying, and the fire is not being quenched.

45 `And if thy foot may cause thee to stumble, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into the life lame, than having the two feet to be cast to the gehenna, to the fire -- the unquenchable --

46 where there worm is not dying, and the fire is not being quenched.

47 And if thine eye may cause thee to stumble, cast it out; it is better for thee one-eyed to enter into the reign of God, than having two eyes, to be cast to the gehenna of the fire --

48 where their worm is not dying, and the fire is not being quenched;

49 for every one with fire shall be salted, and every sacrifice with salt shall be salted.

50 The salt `is' good, but if the salt may become saltless, in what will ye season `it'? Have in yourselves salt, and have peace in one another.'


Mark 9:1-50 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And he said to them, Verily I say unto you, There are some of those standing here that shall not taste death until they shall have seen the kingdom of God come in power.

2 And after six days Jesus takes with [him] Peter and James and John, and takes them up on a high mountain by themselves apart. And he was transfigured before them:

3 and his garments became shining, exceeding white [as snow], such as fuller on earth could not whiten [them].

4 And there appeared to them Elias with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answering says to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we should be here; and let us make three tabernacles, for thee one, and for Moses one, and for Elias one.

6 For he knew not what he should say, for they were filled with fear.

7 And there came a cloud overshadowing them, and there came a voice out of the cloud, *This* is my beloved Son: hear him.

8 And suddenly having looked around, they no longer saw any one, but Jesus alone with themselves.

9 And as they descended from the mountain, he charged them that they should relate to no one what they had seen, unless when the Son of man should be risen from among [the] dead.

10 And they kept that saying, questioning among themselves, what rising from among [the] dead was.

11 And they asked him saying, Why do the scribes say that Elias must first have come?

12 And he answering said to them, Elias indeed, having first come, restores all things; and how is it written of the Son of man that he must suffer much, and be set at nought:

13 but I say unto you that Elias also is come, and they have done to him whatever they would, as it is written of him.

14 And when he came to the disciples he saw a great crowd around them, and scribes disputing against them.

15 And immediately all the crowd seeing him were amazed, and running to [him], saluted him.

16 And he asked them, What do ye question with them about?

17 And one out of the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought to thee my son, who has a dumb spirit;

18 and wheresoever it seizes him it tears him, and he foams and gnashes his teeth, and he is withering away. And I spoke to thy disciples, that they might cast him out, and they could not.

19 But he answering them says, O unbelieving generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him to me.

20 And they brought him to him. And seeing him the spirit immediately tore him; and falling upon the earth he rolled foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long a time is it that it has been like this with him? And he said, From childhood;

22 and often it has cast him both into fire and into waters that it might destroy him: but if thou couldst [do] anything, be moved with pity on us, and help us.

23 And Jesus said to him, The 'if thou couldst' is [if thou couldst] believe: all things are possible to him that believes.

24 And immediately the father of the young child crying out said [with tears], I believe, help mine unbelief.

25 But Jesus, seeing that [the] crowd was running up together, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, *I* command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And having cried out and torn [him] much, he came out; and he became as if dead, so that the most said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus, having taken hold of him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.

28 And when he was entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Wherefore could not *we* cast him out?

29 And he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.

30 And going forth from thence they went through Galilee; and he would not that any one knew it;

31 for he taught his disciples and said to them, The Son of man is delivered into men's hands, and they shall kill him; and having been killed, after three days he shall rise again.

32 But they understood not the saying, and feared to ask him.

33 And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he asked them, Of what were ye reasoning by the way?

34 And they remained silent, for by the way they had been reasoning with one another who [was] greatest.

35 And sitting down he called the twelve; and he says to them, If any one would be first, he shall be last of all, and minister of all.

36 And taking a little child he set it in their midst, and having taken it in his arms he said to them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receives me; and whosoever shall receive me, does not receive me, but him who sent me.

38 And John answered him saying, Teacher, we saw some one casting out demons in thy name, who does not follow us, and we forbad him, because he does not follow us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no one who shall do a miracle in my name, and be able soon [after] to speak ill of me;

40 for he who is not against us is for us.

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in [my] name, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

42 And whosoever shall be a snare to one of the little ones who believe [in me], it were better for him if a millstone were hung about his neck, and he cast into the sea.

43 And if thy hand serve as a snare to thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having thy two hands to go away into hell, into the fire unquenchable;

44 [where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched].

45 And if thy foot serve as a snare to thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life lame, than having thy two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire unquenchable;

46 [where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched].

47 And if thine eye serve as a snare to thee, cast it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire,

48 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.

49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

50 Salt [is] good, but if the salt is become saltless, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.


Mark 9:1-50 World English Bible (WEB)

1 He said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power."

2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.

3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter answered Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

6 For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid.

7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."

8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only.

9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

10 They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the "rising from the dead" meant.

11 They asked him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

12 He said to them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?

13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him."

14 Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.

15 Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him greeted him.

16 He asked the scribes, "What are you asking them?"

17 One of the multitude answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;

18 and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren't able."

19 He answered him, "Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me."

20 They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.

21 He asked his father, "How long has it been since this has come to him?" He said, "From childhood.

22 Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."

23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, "I believe. Help my unbelief!"

25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!"

26 Having cried out, and convulsed greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, "He is dead."

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.

28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?"

29 He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting."

30 They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it.

31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, "The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again."

32 But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?"

34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.

35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."

36 He took a little child, and set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,

37 "Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me."

38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone who doesn't follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow us."

39 But Jesus said, "Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

40 For whoever is not against us is on our side.

41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's, most assuredly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

42 Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.

43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna,{Gehenna is a word for Hell that originated as the name for a place where live babies were thrown crying into the fire under the arms of the idol, Moloch, to die. This place was so despised by the people after the righteous King Josiah abolished this hideous practice, that not only was it made into a garbage heap, but dead bodies of diseased animals and executed criminals were thrown there and burned.} into the unquenchable fire,

44 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'

45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched--

46 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'

47 If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,

48 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'

49 For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."


Mark 9:1-50 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And he said to them, Truly I say to you, There are some here who will have no taste of death till they see the kingdom of God come with power.

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and made them go up with him into a high mountain by themselves: and he was changed in form before them:

3 And his clothing became shining, very white, as no cleaner on earth would make it.

4 And there came before them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tents; one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

6 Because he was not certain what to say, for they were in great fear.

7 And a cloud came over them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, give ear to him.

8 And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any longer, but Jesus only with themselves.

9 And while they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to give word to any man of the things they had seen, till the Son of man had come back from the dead.

10 And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the coming back from the dead might be.

11 And they put a question to him, saying, Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?

12 And he said to them, Truly, Elijah does come first, and puts all things in order; and how is it said in the Writings that the Son of man will go through much sorrow and be made as nothing?

13 But I say to you that Elijah has come, and they have done to him whatever they were pleased to do, even as the Writings say about him.

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great mass of people about them, and scribes questioning them.

15 And straight away all the people, when they saw him, were full of wonder, and running to him, gave him worship.

16 And he said, What are you questioning them about?

17 And one of the number said to him in answer, Master, I came to you with my son, who has in him a spirit which takes away his power of talking;

18 And wherever it takes him, it puts him down violently, streaming at the lips and twisted with pain; and his strength goes from him; and I made a request to your disciples to send it out, and they were not able.

19 And he said to them in answer, O generation without faith, how long will I have to be with you? how long will I put up with you? let him come to me.

20 And they took him to him: and when he saw him, the spirit in him straight away became violent; and he went down on the earth, rolling about and streaming at the lips.

21 And Jesus questioning the father said, How long has he been like this? And he said, From a child.

22 And frequently it has sent him into the fire and into the water, for his destruction; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us, and give us help.

23 And Jesus said to him, If you are able! All things are possible to him who has faith.

24 Straight away the father of the child gave a cry, saying, I have faith; make my feeble faith stronger.

25 And when Jesus saw that the people came running together, he gave orders to the unclean spirit, saying to him, You, spirit, who are the cause of his loss of voice and hearing, I say to you, come out of him, and never again go into him.

26 And after crying out and shaking him violently, it came out: and the child became like one dead; so that most of them said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, lifting him up; and he got up.

28 And when he had gone into the house, his disciples said to him privately, Why were we unable to send it out?

29 And he said to them, Nothing will make this sort come out but prayer.

30 And they went out from there, through Galilee; and it was his desire that no man might have knowledge of it;

31 For he was giving his disciples teaching, and saying to them, The Son of man is given up into the hands of men, and they will put him to death; and when he is dead, after three days he will come back from the dead.

32 But the saying was not clear to them, and they were in fear of questioning him about it.

33 And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house, he put the question to them, What were you talking about on the way?

34 But they said nothing: because they had had an argument between themselves on the way, about who was the greatest.

35 And seating himself, he made the twelve come to him; and he said to them, If any man has the desire to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all.

36 And he took a little child, and put him in the middle of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

37 Whoever will give honour to one such little child in my name, gives honour to me: and whoever gives honour to me, gives honour not to me, but to him who sent me.

38 John said to him, Master, we saw one driving out evil spirits in your name: and we said that he might not, because he is not one of us.

39 But Jesus said, Say not so: for there is no man who will do a great work in my name, and be able at the same time to say evil of me.

40 He who is not against us is for us.

41 Whoever gives you a cup of water, because you are Christ's, truly I say to you, he will in no way be without his reward.

42 And whoever is a cause of trouble to one of these little ones who have faith in me, it would be better for him if a great stone was put round his neck and he was dropped into the sea.

43 And if your hand is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off; it is better for you to go into life with one hand than to have two hands and go into hell, into the eternal fire.

44 []

45 And if your foot is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off: it is better for you to go into life with one foot than to have two feet and go into hell.

46 []

47 And if your eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out: it is better for you to go into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to go into hell,

48 Where their worm is ever living and the fire is not put out.

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 Salt is good; but if the taste goes from it, how will you make it salt again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.

Commentary on Mark 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 9

Mr 9:1-13. Jesus Is TransfiguredConversation about Elias. ( = Mt 16:28-17:13; Lu 9:27-36).

See on Lu 9:27-36.

Mr 9:14-32. Healing of a Demoniac BoySecond Explicit Announcement of His Approaching Death and Resurrection. ( = Mt 17:14-23; Lu 9:37-45).

Healing of the Demoniac Boy (Mr 9:14-29).

14. And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them—This was "on the next day, when they were come down from the hill" (Lu 9:37). The Transfiguration appears to have taken place at night. In the morning, as He came down from the hill on which it took place—with Peter, and James, and John—on approaching the other nine, He found them surrounded by a great multitude, and the scribes disputing or discussing with them. No doubt these cavillers were twitting the apostles of Jesus with their inability to cure the demoniac boy of whom we are presently to hear, and insinuating doubts even of their Master's ability to do it; while they, zealous for their Master's honor, would no doubt refer to His past miracles in proof of the contrary.

15. And straightway all the people—the multitude.

when they beheld him, were greatly amazed—were astounded.

and running to him saluted him—The singularly strong expression of surprise, the sudden arrest of the discussion, and the rush of the multitude towards Him, can be accounted for by nothing less than something amazing in His appearance. There can hardly be any doubt that His countenance still retained traces of His transfiguration-glory. (See Ex 34:29, 30). So Bengel, De Wette, Meyer, Trench, Alford. No wonder, if this was the case, that they not only ran to Him, but saluted Him. Our Lord, however, takes no notice of what had attracted them, and probably it gradually faded away as He drew near; but addressing Himself to the scribes, He demands the subject of their discussion, ready to meet them where they had pressed hard upon His half-instructed and as yet timid apostles.

16. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?—Ere they had time to reply, the father of the boy, whose case had occasioned the dispute, himself steps forward and answers the question; telling a piteous tale of deafness, and dumbness, and fits of epilepsy—ending with this, that the disciples, though entreated, could not perform the cure.

17. And one of the multitude answered, and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son—"mine only child" (Lu 9:38).

which hath a dumb spirit—a spirit whose operation had the effect of rendering his victim speechless, and deaf also (Mr 9:25). In Matthew's report of the speech (Mt 17:15), the father says "he is lunatic"; this being another and most distressing effect of the possession.

18. And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away—rather, "becomes withered," "dried up," or "paralyzed"; as the same word is everywhere else rendered in the New Testament. Some additional particulars are given by Luke, and by our Evangelist below. "Lo," says he in Lu 9:39, "a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly [or with difficulty] departeth from him."

and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not—Our Lord replies to the father by a severe rebuke to the disciples. As if wounded at the exposure before such a multitude, of the weakness of His disciples' faith, which doubtless He felt as a reflection on Himself, He puts them to the blush before all, but in language fitted only to raise expectation of what He Himself would do.

19. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation—"and perverse," or "perverted" (Mt 17:17; Lu 9:41).

how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?—language implying that it was a shame to them to want the faith necessary to perform this cure, and that it needed some patience to put up with them. It is to us surprising that some interpreters, as Chrysostom and Calvin, should represent this rebuke as addressed, not to the disciples at all, but to the scribes who disputed with them. Nor does it much, if at all, mend the matter to view it as addressed to both, as most expositors seem to do. With Bengel, De Wette, and Meyer, we regard it as addressed directly to the nine apostles who were unable to expel this evil spirit. And though, in ascribing this inability to their "want of faith" and the "perverted turn of mind" which they had drunk in with their early training, the rebuke would undoubtedly apply, with vastly greater force, to those who twitted the poor disciples with their inability, it would be to change the whole nature of the rebuke to suppose it addressed to those who had no faith at all, and were wholly perverted. It was because faith sufficient for curing this youth was to be expected of the disciples, and because they should by that time have got rid of the perversity in which they had been reared, that Jesus exposes them thus before the rest. And who does not see that this was fitted, more than anything else, to impress upon the by-standers the severe loftiness of the training He was giving to the Twelve, and the unsophisticated footing He was on with them?

Bring him unto me—The order to bring the patient to Him was instantly obeyed; when, lo! as if conscious of the presence of his Divine Tormentor, and expecting to be made to quit, the foul spirit rages and is furious, determined to die hard, doing all the mischief he can to this poor child while yet within his grasp.

20. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him—Just as the man with the legion of demons, "when he saw Jesus, ran and worshipped Him" (Mr 5:6), so this demon, when he saw Him, immediately "tare him." The feeling of terror and rage was the same in both cases.

and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming—Still Jesus does nothing, but keeps conversing with the father about the case—partly to have its desperate features told out by him who knew them best, in the hearing of the spectators; partly to let its virulence have time to show itself; and partly to deepen the exercise of the father's soul, to draw out his faith, and thus to prepare both him and the by-standers for what He was to do.

21. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child, &c.—Having told briefly the affecting features of the case, the poor father, half dispirited by the failure of the disciples and the aggravated virulence of the malady itself in presence of their Master, yet encouraged too by what he had heard of Christ, by the severe rebuke He had given to His disciples for not having faith enough to cure the boy, and by the dignity with which He had ordered him to be brought to Him—in this mixed state of mind, he closes his description of the case with these touching words:

22. but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us—"us," says the father; for it was a sore family affliction. Compare the language of the Syrophœnician woman regarding her daughter, "Lord, help me." Still nothing is done: the man is but struggling into faith: it must come a step farther. But he had to do with Him who breaks not the bruised reed, and who knew how to inspire what He demanded. The man had said to Him, "If Thou canst do."

23. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe—The man had said, "If Thou canst do anything." Jesus replies.

all things are possible to him that believeth—"My doing all depends on thy believing." To impress this still more, He redoubles upon the believing: "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Thus the Lord helps the birth of faith in that struggling soul; and now, though with pain and sore travail, it comes to the birth, as Trench, borrowing from Olshausen, expresses it. Seeing the case stood still, waiting not upon the Lord's power but his own faith, the man becomes immediately conscious of conflicting principles, and rises into one of the noblest utterances on record.

24. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe: help thou mine unbelief—that is, "It is useless concealing from Thee, O Thou mysterious, mighty Healer, the unbelief that still struggles in this heart of mine; but that heart bears me witness that I do believe in Thee; and if distrust still remains, I disown it, I wrestle with it, I seek help from Thee against it." Two things are very remarkable here: First, The felt and owned presence of unbelief, which only the strength of the man's faith could have so revealed to his own consciousness. Second, His appeal to Christ for help against his felt unbelief—a feature in the case quite unparalleled, and showing, more than all protestations could have done, the insight he had attained into the existence of a power in Christ more glorious them any he had besought for his poor child. The work was done; and as the commotion and confusion in the crowd was now increasing, Jesus at once, as Lord of spirits, gives the word of command to the dumb and deaf spirit to be gone, never again to return to his victim.

26. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him; and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead—The malignant, cruel spirit, now conscious that his time was come, gathers up his whole strength, with intent by a last stroke to kill his victim, and had nearly succeeded. But the Lord of life was there; the Healer of all maladies, the Friend of sinners, the Seed of the woman, "the Stronger than the strong man armed," was there. The very faith which Christ declared to be enough for everything being now found, it was not possible that the serpent should prevail. Fearfully is he permitted to bruise the heel, as in this case; but his own head shall go for it—his works shall be destroyed (1Jo 3:8).

27. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28. Why could not we cast him out?

29. And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting—that is, as nearly all good interpreters are agreed, "this kind of evil spirits cannot be expelled," or "so desperate a case of demoniacal possession cannot be cured, but by prayer and fasting." But since the Lord Himself says that His disciples could not fast while He was with them, perhaps this was designed, as Alford hints, for their after-guidance—unless we take it as but a definite way of expressing the general truth, that great and difficult duties require special preparation and self-denial. But the answer to their question, as given in Mt 17:20, 21 is fuller: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief. For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Mt 17:20). See on Mr 11:23. "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" (Mt 17:21), that is, though nothing is impossible to faith, yet such a height of faith as is requisite for such triumphs is not to be reached either in a moment or without effort—either with God in prayer or with ourselves in self-denying exercises. Luke (Lu 9:43) adds, "And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God"—"at the majesty" or "mightiness of God," in this last miracle, in the Transfiguration, &c.; or, at the divine grandeur of Christ rising upon them daily.

Second Explicit Announcement of His Approaching Death and Resurrection (Mr 9:30-32).

30. And they departed thence, and passed—were passing along.

through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it—By comparing Mt 17:22, 23 and Lu 9:43, 44 with this, we gather, that as our Lord's reason for going through Galilee more privately than usual on this occasion was to reiterate to them the announcement which had so shocked them at the first mention of it, and thus familiarize them with it by little and little, so this was His reason for enjoining silence upon them as to their present movements.

31. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them—"Let these sayings sink down into your ears" (Lu 9:44); not what had been passing between them as to His grandeur, but what He was now to utter.

The Son of man is delivered—The use of the present tense expresses how near at hand He would have them to consider it. As Bengel says, steps were already in course of being taken to bring it about.

into the hands of men—This remarkable antithesis, "the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men," it is worthy of notice, is in all the three Evangelists.

and they shall kill him—that is, "Be not carried off your feet by all that grandeur of Mine which ye have lately witnessed, but bear in mind what I have already told you and now distinctly repeat, that that Sun in whose beams ye now rejoice is soon to set in midnight gloom."

and after he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

32. But they understood not that saying—"and it was hid from them, [so] that they preceived it not" (Lu 9:45).

and were afraid to ask him—Their most cherished ideas were so completely dashed by such announcements, that they were afraid of laying themselves open to rebuke by asking Him any questions. But "they were exceeding sorry" (Mt 17:23). While the other Evangelists, as Webster and Wilkinson remark, notice their ignorance and their fear, Matthew, who was one of them, retains a vivid recollection of their sorrow.

Mr 9:33-50. Strife among the Twelve Who Should Be Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, with Relative TeachingIncidental Rebuke of John for Exclusiveness. ( = Mt 18:1-9; Lu 9:46-50).

Strife among the Twelve, with Relative Teaching (Mr 9:33-37).

33. What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?—From this we gather that after the painful communication He had made to them, the Redeemer had allowed them to travel so much of the way by themselves; partly, no doubt, that He might have privacy for Himself to dwell on what lay before Him, and partly that they might be induced to weigh together and prepare themselves for the terrible events which He had announced to them. But if so, how different was their occupation!

34. But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest—From Mt 18:1 we should infer that the subject was introduced, not by our Lord, but by the disciples themselves, who came and asked Jesus who should be greatest. Perhaps one or two of them first referred the matter to Jesus, who put them off till they should all be assembled together at Capernaum. He had all the while "perceived the thought of their heart" (Lu 9:47); but now that they were all together "in the house," He questions them about it, and they are put to the blush, conscious of the temper towards each other which it had kindled. This raised the whole question afresh, and at this point our Evangelist takes it up. The subject was suggested by the recent announcement of the Kingdom (Mt 16:19-28), the transfiguration of their Master, and especially the preference given to three of them at that scene.

35. If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all—that is, "let him be" such: he must be prepared to take the last and lowest place. See on Mr 10:42-45.

36. And he took a child—"a little child" (Mt 18:2); but the word is the same in both places, as also in Lu 9:47.

and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms—This beautiful trait is mentioned by out Evangelist alone.

he said unto them—Here we must go to Matthew (Mt 18:3, 4) for the first of this answer: "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven:" that is, "Conversion must be thorough; not only must the heart be turned to God in general, and from earthly to heavenly things, but in particular, except ye be converted from that carnal ambition which still rankles within you, into that freedom from all such feelings which ye see in this child, ye have neither part nor lot in the kingdom at all; and he who in this feature has most of the child, is highest there." Whosoever, therefore, shall "humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven": "for he that is [willing to be] least among you all, the same shall be great" (Lu 9:48).

37. Whosoever shall receive one of such children—so manifesting the spirit unconsciously displayed by this child.

in my name—from love to Me.

receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but Him that sent me—(See on Mt 10:40).

Incidental Rebuke of John for Exclusiveness (Mr 9:38-41).

38. And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us—The link of connection here with the foregoing context lies, we apprehend, in the emphatic words which our Lord had just uttered, "in My name." "Oh," interposes John—young, warm, but not sufficiently apprehending Christ's teaching in these matters—"that reminds me of something that we have just done, and we should like to know if we did right. We saw one casting out devils "in Thy name," and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. Were we right, or were we wrong?" Answer—"Ye were wrong." "But we did it because he followeth not us." "No matter."

39. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me—soon, that is, readily "speak evil of me."

40. For he that is not against us is on our part—Two principles of immense importance are here laid down: "First, No one will readily speak evil of Me who has the faith to do a miracle in My name; and second, If such a person cannot be supposed to be against us, ye are to consider him for us." Let it be carefully observed that our Lord does not say this man should not have "followed them," nor yet that it was indifferent whether he did or not; but simply teaches how such a person was to be regarded, although he did not—namely, as a reverer of His name and a promoter of His cause.

41. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward—(See on Mt 10:42).

Continuation of Teaching Suggested by the Disciples' Strife (Mr 9:42-50).

What follows appears to have no connection with the incidental reproof of John immediately preceding. As that had interrupted some important teaching, our Lord hastens back from it, as if no such interruption had occurred.

42. For whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me—or, shall cause them to stumble; referring probably to the effect which such unsavory disputes as they had held would have upon the inquiring and hopeful who came in contact with them, leading to the belief that after all they were no better than others.

it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck—The word here is simply "millstone," without expressing of which kind. But in Mt 18:6 it is the "ass-turned" kind, far heavier than the small hand-mill turned by female slaves, as in Lu 17:35. It is of course the same which is meant here.

and he were cast into the sea—meaning, that if by such a death that stumbling were prevented, and so its eternal consequences averted, it would be a happy thing for them. Here follows a striking verse in Mt 18:7, "Woe unto the world because of offences!" (There will be stumblings and falls and loss of souls enough from the world's treatment of disciples, without any addition from you: dreadful will be its doom in consequence; see that ye share not in it). "For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" (The struggle between light and darkness will inevitably cause stumblings, but not less guilty is he who wilfully makes any to stumble).

43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell—See Mt 5:29, 30. The only difference between the words there and here is that there they refer to impure inclinations; here, to an ambitious disposition, an irascible or quarrelsome temper, and the like: and the injunction is to strike at the root of such dispositions and cut off the occasions of them.

47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire—On the words "hell" and "hell-fire," or "the hell of fire," see on Mt 5:22.

48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched—See on Mt 5:30; The "unquenchablesness" of this fire has already been brought before us (see on Mt 3:12); and the awfully vivid idea of an undying worm, everlastingly consuming an unconsumable body, is taken from the closing words of the evangelical prophet (Isa 66:24), which seem to have furnished the later Jewish Church with its current phraseology on the subject of future punishment (see Lightfoot).

49. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt—A difficult verse, on which much has been written—some of it to little purpose. "Every one" probably means "Every follower of mine"; and the "fire" with which he "must be salted" probably means "a fiery trial" to season him. (Compare Mal 3:2, &c.). The reference to salting the sacrifice is of course to that maxim of the Levitical law, that every acceptable sacrifice must be sprinkled with salt, to express symbolically its soundness, sweetness, wholesomeness, acceptability. But as it had to be roasted first, we have here the further idea of a salting with fire. In this case, "every sacrifice," in the next clause, will mean, "Every one who would be found an acceptable offering to God"; and thus the whole verse may perhaps be paraphrased as follows: "Every disciple of Mine shall have a fiery trial to undergo, and everyone who would be found an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God, must have such a salting, like the Levitical sacrifices." Another, but, as it seems to us, farfetched as well as harsh, interpretation—suggested first, we believe, by Michaelis, and adopted by Alexander—takes the "every sacrifice which must be salted with fire" to mean those who are "cast into hell," and the preservative effect of this salting to refer to the preservation of the lost not only in but by means of the fire of hell. Their reason for this is that the other interpretation changes the meaning of the "fire," and the characters too, from the lost to the saved, in these verses. But as our Lord confessedly ends His discourse with the case of His own true disciples, the transition to them in Mr 9:48 is perfectly natural; whereas to apply the preservative salt of the sacrifice to the preserving quality of hell-fire, is equally contrary to the symbolical sense of salt and the Scripture representations of future torment. Our Lord has still in His eye the unseemly jarrings which had arisen among the Twelve, the peril to themselves of allowing any indulgence to such passions, and the severe self-sacrifice which salvation would cost them.

50. Salt is good; but if the salt have lost his saltness—its power to season what it is brought into contact with.

wherewith will ye season it?—How is this property to be restored? See on Mt 5:13.

Have salt in yourselves—See to it that ye retain in yourselves those precious qualities that will make you a blessing to one another, and to all around you.

and—with respect to the miserable strife out of which all this discourse has sprung, in one concluding word.

have peace one with another—This is repeated in 1Th 5:13.