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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 8:22 - 8:26
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_8:22-26
22And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. 23Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?" 24And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around." 25Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. 26And He sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village."
Mar_8:22 "a blind man" One of Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah was that He would bring sight to the blind (cf. Isa_29:18 to Isa_35:5; Isa_42:7; Isa_42:16; Isa_42:18-19).
Physical blindness is an OT metaphor for spiritual blindness (cf. Isa_56:10; Isa_59:10). This same play on physical and spiritual blindness is graphically seen in John 9. This is obviously related to the disciples' blindness in Mar_8:15; Mar_8:18.
Mar_8:23 "brought him out of the village" This was for the purpose of putting the man at ease and keeping the healing a secret (cf. Mar_7:33; Mar_8:26).
▣ "spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him" These were both cultural ways of healing, one physical and one spiritual. It was meant to build the man's faith. See hyperlink at Mar_7:32.
Mar_8:24 "'I see men, for I see them like trees'" Jesus was not limited in power, but was working with this man's faith. This is the only partial healing or healing in stages that is recorded in the Gospels.
Mar_8:25 This verse starts with Jesus laying hands on the man's eyes. Then the action switches to the man (cf. NJB). He must focus and look intently (cf. Mat_7:5). When he cooperates, his sight immediately is restored.
Mar_8:26 This refers to Mark's repeated references to Jesus emphatically telling people He healed not to broadcast their healing. The Textus Receptus (i.e., KJV or NKJV) even adds a phrase making this more specific. Jesus did not want to be known as a healer. He used healing to show the mercy of God, build the disciples' faith, and confirm His teaching ministry.