Mark 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 5:1-10 – Demon ‘Legion’ Expelled

CHAPTER FIVE:
A DEMON EXORCISED, A WOMAN HEALED,
AND A DEAD GIRL RAISED

[“Crowds Follow Miracle-Worker”]

Mark 5:1-10 – Demon ‘Legion’ Expelled

|| Matthew 8:28-34;[1] Luke 8:26-39

MK5:1 Now when they arrived on the other side of the sea they beached in the land of the Gadarenes.[2] MK5:2 And when Jesus stepped ashore instantly a man with an unclean demon approached him from among the graves. MK5:3 [This person] was living among the tombs and no one had been able to bind him, even with chains. MK5:4 For though he had been bound with shackles on hands and feet, he would snap the chains and break them to pieces. Nor could any one ever control him. MK5:5 He always stayed in the mountains and among the tombs day and night, shrieking and cutting himself with sharp stones. MK5:6 However, when he saw Jesus in the distance he ran up to him and fell at his feet.[3] MK5:7 And then he screamed at the top of his voice: “What is there between you and me, Jesus,[4] you Son of the Most High God?[5] I beg you before the God[6] not to torment me!”[7] MK5:8 Then Jesus said to him: “You unclean demon, come out of this man!” MK5:9 Then Jesus asked him: “What is your name?” And he answered: “Legion,[8] because there are many of us!” MK5:10 And the man kept begging Jesus again and again that he would not expel them from this country [of the Gadarenes].

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[1] Matthew 8:28-34: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Gadarenes: Some manuscripts have “Gerasenes.” Possibly an area out of Gerasa.

[3] Fell at his feet: Some versions say “worshipped” but the Greek is PROSEKYNESEN [bow + kiss] and means a respectful prostration. Whether is actions was generated by the poor man himself, or the demons within is not clear.

[4] What is there between you and me, Jesus: A statement of repellency suggesting there is no relationship between the two. It is likely the demons speak. Compare notes on this phrase in John 2:4. The man would not know who Jesus was but those who inhabit him do.

[5] Son of the Most High God: Possibly a reference to their knowledge of Christ’s pre-existence** among the sons of God. [Job 38:7; Proverbs 8:22-30] For details on the pre-existence of Christ compare notes on John 17:5. The demons do not call Jesus “God.”

[6] The God: TON THEON as in John 1:1b.

[7] Torment me: The English conveys a different idea than the original which has the idea of imprisonment or punishment. The other accounts mention the “abyss.” [Revelation 20:3]

[8] Legion: Or, 6,000!

**

Opposite to the Nazarene Friends and the idea of the translator of the Bible Version The Nazarene Commentary (Mark Heber Miller), the Christadelphian Biblestudents do not believe in such a pre-existence of Jesus Christ.

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Preceding

Matthew 8:28-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Demon-possessed of the Gadarenes

Mark 3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 3:7-12 – Crowds Follow Jesus

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Review Questions on Chapter Four

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Additional reading

1. Jesus the “God-Man”: Really?
2. About a man who changed history of humankind
3. Around pre-existence of Christ
4. Preexistence in the Divine purpose and Trinity
5. The Word being a quality or aspect of God Himself
6. Jesus begotten Son of God #8 Found Divinely Created not Incarnated
7. Jesus begotten Son of God #11 Existence and Genesis Raising up
8. Jesus begotten Son of God #13 Pre-existence excluding virginal birth of the Only One Transposed
9. Jesus begotten Son of God #20 Before and After

Mark 3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 3:13-19 – Formation of Group of the Apostles

Mark 3:13-19 – Formation of Group of the Apostles

|| Matthew 10:1-4;[1] Luke 6:12-16

MK3:13 Then Jesus went up into the mountains and summoned those he wanted and they came to visit him. MK3:14 He appointed[2] twelve to be his close companions[3] and in order to send them forth to preach. MK3:15 Also, they would have authority to heal sicknesses and exorcise demons. MK3:16 And Jesus appointed: Simon (also called Peter), MK3:17 James and John of Zebedee (he called them “Boanerges” meaning “Sons of Thunder”), MK3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon of Canaan, MK3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed him. Then he went home.

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[1] Matthew 10:1-4: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Appointed: Or, ordained.

[3] Close companions: Or, be with him, associate with him. In Luke 12:32 Jesus calls these his “little flock.”

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Preceding

Matthew 19:27-29 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: We Have Left Everything for You!

Mark 3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 3:1-6 – A Withered Hand Cured on the Sabbath

Mark 3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 3:7-12 – Crowds Follow Jesus

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Related

Mark 3:13-19 – Who were the twelve apostles?

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:32-34 – A Variety of Sicknesses Cured

Mark 1:32-34 – A Variety of Sicknesses Cured

|| Matthew 8:16[1]

MK1:32 When it was evening and the sun had set, people came bringing Jesus all who were sick and the demonized. MK1:33 The whole town was gathered at the door. MK1:34 And Jesus cured many suffering badly with various sicknesses. He exorcised many demons and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.[2]

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[1] Matthew 8:16: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] They knew who He was: The Christ pre-existed in heaven before coming to earth. Compare notes on John 17:5 and Philippians 2:5-7.

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Preceding

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:1-8 – The Beginning of the Good News

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:9-11 – An Approved Son Baptized

Nazarene Commentary Luke 3:3-6 – John Preaches Baptism of Repentance

Mark 1 – Additional Bible Students notes on Mark 1:9-11 – An Approved Son Baptized

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:12-13 – Tempted by the Devil

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:14-15 – Kingdom Has Drawn Near

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:16-21 – Becoming Fishers of Men

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:22-28 – Teaching in a Synagogue

Mark 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 1:29-31 – Peter’s Mother-in-law Healed

 

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Related

1. Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021 Gospel (Mk 1:29-39) On leaving the synagogue
2. The Healing Authority of Christ
3. The Healing Power of Jesus
4. Morning Musing: Mark 6:56
5. Something to Live For

Matthew 17:14-21 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:14-21 – Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed

|| Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43

MT17:14 Now as they approached the crowd a [father] knelt down before[1] Jesus, MT17:15 saying, “Master, show mercy[2] to my moonstruck[3] son who suffers terribly.[4] He often falls into fire or water.[5] MT17:16 I brought him to your disciples[6] but they were unable to cure him.” MT17:17 So Jesus responded: “O faithless and twisted[7] generation, how long must I remain with you?[8] Bring him to me right here!” MT17:18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it left the boy. The boy was cured from that hour. MT17:19 Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and asked, “Why were we unable to exorcise the demon?” MT17:20 Jesus told them: “It was because of your tiny faith.[9] I tell you this truth: If you even possessed faith the size of a mustard seed[10] you would say to this mountain,[11] ‘Transfer from here to there!’ and it would be transported. Nothing would be impossible for you [disciples].” MT17:21 [[“However, this kind of demon is exorcised only by prayer and fasting.”]][12]

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[1] A [father] knelt down before: Or, NOR: a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.

[2] Show mercy: Or, WEY: have pity.

[3] Moonstruck: The Greek is SELENIAZETAI. Or, KJV: lunatick; ASV: epileptic; LB: mentally deranged. The word only occurs in Matthew (Matthew 4:24). In Mark the boy is possessed by a mute spirit (Mark 9:18).

[4] Suffers terribly: Or, KJV: sore vexed; ASV: suffereth grievously; NEB: bad fits; WMS: excruciating pain.

[5] He often falls into fire or water: Or, KNX: often throw himself into. Mark 9:18 says,

“Wherever it seizes him it dashes him to the ground.” It is the demon that drives the youth to burn or drown himself. The demons wish to escape but cannot (Compare Luke 9:37).

[6] Disciples: Since Jesus has been with the three (Peter, James, John) this may mean the other nine apostles.

[7] Faithless and twisted: Or, RHM: faithless and perverted; BER: unbelieving and rebellious; KNX: misguided; GDSP: unbelieving, obstinate. It is hard to imagine Jesus includes his disciples though they are part of that generation.

[8] How long must I remain with you: Perhaps some frustration? The Nazarene knows from Daniel 9:26 that his days are numbered.

[9] Tiny faith: The Greek is OLIGO(=small)PISTIAN(=faith/belief) here in the W&H text. The Received Text uses APISTIAN (unbelief, non-faith). Or, ASV: little faith; NEB: your faith is too weak; RIEU: lack of faith. To Jesus faith or belief has varying size and strength.

[10] Size of a mustard seed: Do we see Jesus pinch his two fingers together indicating the size? Use find or search on the word mustard for notes elsewhere.

[11] This mountain: Having just come down from Mount Hermon can we see Jesus point to that 9,000-foot peak? This is an absurdum or hyperbole, an exaggerated metaphor. Note something similar at Zechariah 4:7 and 1 Corinthians 13:2. Compare Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23; Luke 17:6.

[12] [[…]]: א, B, Sy^c,s omit verse 21; C, D, W, Vg, Sy^p, Arm add the phrase as in the KJV.

A Mustard Seed

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Preceding

Matthew 17:1-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Transfiguration Vision

Matthew 17:10-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Elijah Has Already Come

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Related

1. Today’s Meditation (9.12.18)
2. Faith
3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed
4. The tiniest seed
5. Little Faith and the Blessings that Come From it
6. Mountains Moving
7. “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things?” ~Jesus
8. Matthew 17, the Ttansfiguration, the healing of a boy with a demon, the “temple tax”.
9. Pass the Mustard
10. Mustard Seed Faith
11. Small Faith
12. Mustard Seed Size Faith
13. Sunday, November 25, 2018 [postponed from 18 November]
14. Mark 4 – Jesus jokes about a mustard seed
15. Tree vs Herbs
16. Mustard Seed Faith 1
17. Mustard Seed Faith 2
18. Mustrd Seed Faith 3
19. The Mustard Seed Luke 17:5-6 NKJV 5) And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6) So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree
20. The Power of a Mustard Seed
21. It starts with a small seed
22. The Tiny Seed of Faith
23. Shrimp & the Mustard Seed
24. Faith or Just Hope?
25. Consider the Mustard Seed
26. Fairy Floss Faith or Mustard Seed Faith
27. Faith Like A Mustard Tree
28. We Are the Branches
29. Speak To The Mountains!
30. Mountains Moving
31. 8/14/18 | Mustard Seed Faith
32. Praying :: With the Faith of a Mustard Seed
33. Lord, Increase Our Faith
34. Lord I believe. Help my unbelief!

Matthew 12:22-30 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: the Charge of Demonism

Matthew 12:22-30 – The Charge of Demonism

|| Mark 3:23-30; Luke 11:14-23

MT12:22 Then they approached Jesus with a demonized person[1] – blind and mute – and he cured him, so the speechless man spoke[2] and began seeing. MT12:23 And the crowds were beside themselves[3] and were saying, “Is this person not the Son of David?”[4] MT12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this,[5] they said, “This fellow does not exorcise demons save by Beelzebul,[6] the ruler of the demons.” MT12:25 Realizing their thoughts, Jesus told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be devastated.[7] Every town or house divided against itself will not remain standing. MT12:26 And so if Satan[8] exorcised Satan he was divided against himself. So, how would his kingdom[9] remain standing? MT12:27 And, if I am exorcising demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons[10] exorcise?[11] Therefore, they will be your judges.[12] MT12:28 But, if I exorcise demons by God’s Pneuma,[13] really the Realm of the God has passed you by.[14] MT12:29 Or, how is anyone able to enter a powerful person’s[15] home and grab his [valuable] cups[16] without first binding the powerful person? And only then can his home be pillaged.[17] MT12:30 The person not with me is against me,[18] and the person not assembling with me scatters.[19]

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Jesus Heals a Demon-possessed Boy – 1684 – folio from Walters manuscript W.592,

[1] Demonized person: Or, KJV: possessed with a devil; WEY: demoniac. Compare Matthew 9:32.

[2] Speechless man spoke: We wonder at his first words.

[3] Beside themselves: Or, KJV: the people were amazed; WMS: dumbfounded; PME: wild with excitement.

[4] The Son of David: One of the earliest designations given Jesus (Matthew 1:1). Note, Joseph is also so-called (Matthew 1:20). See footnotes on Matthew 9:27.

[5] Pharisees heard this: The whole incident must drive them wild with hatred: they see the miracle and note the crowd’s reaction. The focus is on the Nazarene and this arouses their jealousy.

[6] Beelzebul: See footnotes on Matthew 10:25. Jesus makes it clear this is a cryptic name for Satan.

[7] Devastated: Or, KJV: brought to desolation; WEY: in which civil war rages; GDSP: destruction; PME: bound to collapse.

[8] Satan: The Jewish clergy have really called Jesus Satan. This is about the worst accusation that can be made against a godly person. It is even beyond “apostate.” See the notes on Matthew 4:10 and 5:22.

[9] His kingdom: Satan has his own kingdom and there are those within the realm of that kingdom. These are those he rules over and who have becomes “sons of the wicked one.” The major characteristic which differentiates the two kingdoms is hatred and love (Matthew 13:38; John 8:44; 1 John 3:10).

[10] Your sons: The rabbis were called “father” and thus their own disciples were their children or sons. Or, NJB: your experts; WEY: your disciples. Compare 1 Kings 20:35; 2 Kings 2:3.

[11] Exorcise: Josephus records a case of casting out demons (Antiquities 8. 2. 5). He also reports the Jewish rabbis used a herb or drug Macherus (Wars of the Jews 7. 6. 3). In the Jewish apocryphal book Tobit there is an example of the exorcism of a maiden with whom a wicked demon was in love (Tobit 6:16; 8:1-4).

[12] They will be your judges: It is possible the “they” are the rabbis own “sons” who will critique their master’s words and actions in this accusation. Or, RIEU: you stand condemned by them; NEB: if this is your argument, they themselves will refute you.

[13] By God’s Pneuma: In Luke 11:19, 20 this is God’s “finger.” Thus, the Pneuma or Spirit is likened to God’s finger, a very small part of all that God is.

[14] Passed you by: Or, KJV: comes unto you; RHM: has come upon you unawares; MOF: reached you already; GDSP: overtaken you; PME: swept over you unawares. As matters develop the Pharisees are in a highly dangerous situation with relation to God and the unforgivable sin: they have called Jesus an apostate and demonized (Matthew 5:22). It is possible, therefore, that their opportunity to become part of the realm of Nazarene profession (the Christian Church) is dim indeed. They may have missed their opportunity (Matthew 23:13, 15, 33).

[15] Powerful person’s: Or, strong man’s. Compare Isaiah 49:24-26.

[16] Grab his [valuable] cups: Or, KJV: spoil his goods; RHM: seize his goods; TCNT: carry of his goods.

[17] Home be pillaged: Or, KJV: spoil his house; MON: rob his house; WMS: make a clean sweep of his house; WEY: ransack his house.

[18] Not with me is against me: Compare Luke 9:50.

[19] Not assembling with me scatters: Or, GDSP: anyone who does not join me in gathering, scatters; BAS: he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away. The Greek is SYNAGON related to “synagogue.” How does one gather or assemble with Christ?

 

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Preceding

Matthew 12:1-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Something Greater than the Temple

Matthew 12:9-21 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Is It Lawful to Cure on the Sabbath?

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Related

1. casting out demons and the battle of the wills
2. March 30, 2018: “Possession”
3. SGW, 2-16-18, Luke 11:14-28
4. Fourth Monday in Ordinary Time