Lange Commentary - Mark 1:29 - 1:35

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Lange Commentary - Mark 1:29 - 1:35


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

3. Healing among the Disciples; Healings and casting out of Demons in Capernaum; the first Return of Christ after He had thus dealt with the susceptible in that city. Mar_1:29-35

(Parallels: Mat_8:14-17; Luk_4:38-41)

29And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into thehouse of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30But Simon’s wife’s mother laysick of a fever; and anon they tell him of her. 31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered untothem. 32And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were dis-eased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and castout many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

See on Mat_8:14-17

Mar_1:29. They entered into.—Jesus, Peter, and Andrew are meant; the two latter as the ordinary occupants of the house, which Peter or both possessed in Capernaum (see on Matthew). In addition came James and John. Thus the Lord was with the collective four disciples who had been called.

Mar_1:30. And anon they tell him of her.—Here also we have åὐèÝùò thrice in rapid succession. Immediately into the house, immediately to the matter in hand, immediately healed. Matthew transfers this miracle to a later period (see on Matthew). Starke for the sake of harmony: “It may have been that the mother-in-law of Peter twice had the fever, and that Christ healed her twice.” (!)

Mar_1:32. At even, when the sun did set.—The full close of the Sabbath. “Judœos religio tenebat, quominus ante exitum. Sabbati œgrotos suos afferrent.” Wetstein.

Mar_1:34. Sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils.—The physically sick and the demoniacs clearly distinguished (Mar_1:34; Mat_8:16); just as they are in relation to the opposite charisms which were given with respect to them, 1Co_12:9-10.—And He healed many.—Not as opposed to all who were brought to Him, but to describe the abundance and variety of the healings which took place so late in the evening.

Mar_1:35. Into a solitary place.—To a secret place in the wilderness. It is to be noted that Jesus, according to Mark, thrice in quick succession, withdrew into the wilderness, Mar_1:12; Mar_1:35; Mar_1:45. Here we can understand only a solitude near Capernaum. That He thus took up His abode time after time in the wilderness, declared his supremacy over the demons of the wilderness. He made the desert place a temple of God by His prayers.

DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL

1. The succession of events marks the development of Christ’s work: 1. The synagogue at home. 2. The house of Peter, as the hearth of the new community of disciples at its outset. 3. The whole town of Capernaum. 4. The entire land of Galilee.—The progression of the influence of our Lord’s preaching: 1. His fame goes out through all Galilee. 2. The whole town of Capernaum presses for help at His door, yea, into His doors. 3. All seek Him after He had withdrawn. 4. Even in the wilderness they come to Him from all parts.

2. In order that they may punctiliously guard their own rest on the Sabbath, the people of Capernaum wait till evening with their sufferers, and rob the Lord of His rest in the night.

HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL

Jesus the Saviour of the new as of the old community (Peter’s house, the synagogue).—And they told Him of her: with faith waxes intercession.—Peter, as householder, a type of the ecclesiastic at home: 1. He is not hindered from his calling by domestic trouble (he also went into the synagogue); but, 2. he took his domestic trouble with him into his calling (he prayed the Lord for the sick).—The people at Capernaum seeking help; or, Christ the true Physician: 1. As the revealer of human misery; 2. as the marvellous deliverer from it.—An evening and a morning in the life of Jesus; or, His holy day’s work: 1. Closed in the blessing of toil; 2. renewed in devotion.—The rapid diffusion of Christ’s work and influence: 1. Through the believing house; 2. through the susceptible town; 3. through the amazed land.—New seclusion for new conflicts.—Private prayer the source of Christ’s victories.—The Lord’s early hours.—His morning devotion.—The significance of morning in the kingdom of God: 1. A festal time in the life of Jesus; 2. an image of His whole life; 3. a blessed time in the life of Christians; 4. figure of their regeneration and their eternity.—How Christ sanctifies all times and all places.

Starke:—Quesnel:—The dwelling of a poor fisherman pleases Christ more than a great palace.—Osiander:—God is oftener in little huts than in rich palaces.—Christianity and household life agree well together.—Marriage unfits no man for the ministry.—Compassionate love suffers not the wretched long to wait, but thinks at once of help.—Quesnel:—The love of Jesus is never weary.—There are always wretched ones in this vale of tears, who stand in need of the help of the Most High.—Christ the most approved Physician.—It does not become the man spiritually possessed of the devil to reveal Christ.—Early hours must be thought much of.—For prayer even sleep must be abridged.

Gerlach:—The gracious love of Christ amidst the household necessities of the poor and neglected.—Lisco:—Jesus connects together prayer and work, solitude and public life, in order to do good.—Euth. Zig.:—We must shun the praise of men, and thank God in silent secrecy.

Footnotes:

Mar_1:34.—Some Codd. add, “that He was Christ.”