Mark 7 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 7:31-37 – Deaf Ears and Dumb Speech

Mark 7:31-37 – Deaf Ears and Dumb Speech

MK7:31 On his return journey from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon Jesus arrived at the Sea of Galilee through the middle of the area of Decapolis.[1] MK7:32 Now people brought to him a deaf person who was unable to speak, and they begged him to lay his hands on him. MK7:33 Now Jesus took him aside from the crowd and put his fingers into his ears and then having spit he touched the man’s tongue. MK7:34 Then looking up toward heaven, Jesus said to him: “Ephphatha!” (That is, “Be opened!”) MK7:35 And, the man’s hearing powers were restored and his tongued was untied and he began to speak normally. MK7:36 Then Jesus ordered all of them not to tell anyone,[2] but the more he discouraged them, the more they would spread the news far and wide. MK7:37 They were all amazed beyond description, and in astonishment they said: “He has done everything excellently, for he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

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[1] Through the middle of the area of Decapolis: An area of Ten Towns south of Galilee, thus Jesus returned from the south-west. The account here is unique to Mark.

[2] Not to tell anyone: Perhaps “reverse psychology” for the affect is always the same.

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Preceding

Mark 7 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 7:1-8 – Vain Worship and Human Doctrines

Mark 7 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 7:9-16 – Invalidating God’s Word

Mark 7 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 7:17-23 – How to Defile the Heart

Mark 7 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 7:24-30 – A Syro-phoenician Woman

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:45-52 – Walking Across the Sea

Mark 6:45-52 – Walking Across the Sea

|| Matthew 14:22, 23;[1] John 6:16-21

MK6:45 Afterward Jesus told his disciples to board the fishing boat and go ahead across to Bethsaida,[2] while he dismissed the crowd. MK6:46 When Jesus had sent them all away he went into the mountains alone to pray. MK6:47 Now during the night[3] the boat was in the middle of the open sea and Jesus was alone on the shore. MK6:48 Then, at the pre-dawn hours beholding the disciples straining at the oars against opposing winds, Jesus approached them walking upon the sea intending to just pass them by.[4] MK6:49 However, when the disciples saw him walking upon the sea, at first thinking it was a phantom,[5] they screamed in fear. MK6:50 But they all did see Jesus and were very troubled. So instantly Jesus called to them and said: “Take courage! It is me![6] Do not be afraid!” MK6:51 Now Jesus approached them in the boat and the wind suddenly stopped. The disciples were awestruck [[and marveled]].[7] MK6:52 For they had not perceived the meaning of the loaves because their hearts were dull of understanding.[8]

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[1] Matthew 14:22, 23: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Bethsaida: At the northern beginning of the Sea of Galilee where the Jordan enters the lake. [Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 28 [ii, 1]]

[3] During the night: After midnight and more likely between 3-6 AM.

[4] Intending to just pass them by: Or, KJV: would have passed by them; ALF: he was purposing to pass by them; KNX: made as if to pass them by.

[5] Phantom: Or, spirit, apparition, ghost. The Greek is PHANTASMA.

[6] It is me: Or, it is I, I am [he]. The Greek is EGO EIMI.

[7] The bracketed is not in some texts.

[8] Dull of understanding: Or, heart was hardened, minds were closed, blinded.

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Preceding

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:1-6 – A Prophet Without Honor

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:7-13 – Apostles Sent Out by Twos

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:14-20 – King Herod Marvels About Jesus

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:21-29 – A Birthday Beheading

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:30-34 – Jesus Pities Sheep Without Shepherd

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:35-44 – 5000 Fed

Matthew 14:23-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Walking on Water

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:35-41 – Who is This?

Mark 4:35-41 – Who is This?

|| Matthew 8:18, 23, 27;[1] Luke 8:22-25

MK4:35 Now that same day when it was night-time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us go across the Sea of Galilee.” MK4:36 So after they dismissed the crowds, the disciples took Jesus away aboard a fishing boat. Also, other small fishing boats went with them. MK4:37 But, a great windstorm came up and the waves were smashing into the boat so that it was swamped. MK4:38 Jesus himself was in the stern asleep with his head on a cushion.[2] His disciples woke him up and yelled: “Lord, do you not care if we all perish!” MK4:39 So Jesus rose and then rebuked the wind, speaking to the sea: “Hush! Be quiet!” And the wind did stop and a perfect calm came over the sea. MK4:40 Jesus said to them: “Why are you so frightened? Have you no faith?” MK4:41 Then they were awestruck and said to one another: “Who really is this [person] that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

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[1] Matthew 8:18, 23, 27: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] With his head on a cushion: This little detail is not mentioned in Matthew and Luke.

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Preceding

Matthew 8:18-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Two Would-be Followers

Matthew 8:23-27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Calms a Stormy Sea

Matthew 14 – Faith Small and Great – Key words: Dynamic Works

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:1-9 – Teaching in Parables

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:10-13 – How Will You Understand?

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:14-20 – Sower Parable Explained

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:21-23 – Light Exposes

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:24, 25 – Hearing and Responsibility

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:26-29 – The Sleeping Farmer

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:30-32 – Kingdom Like a Mustard Seed

Mark 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 4:33-34 – Public Parables, Private Teachings

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Additional reading

1. Fear in your own heart or outside of it
2. Why are you afraid?
3. So many being afraid – reason enough to step in the boat with Christ
4. “In The Midst Of The Storm”
5. Today’s thought “Stormy winds fulfilling his word” (February 2)
6. Today’s thought “Who then is this?” (February 8)

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Related articles

1. 3rd week of ordinary time – cycle 1- Saturday-gospel-reading Mark 4:35-41
2. Mark 4:35-41, let’s start
3. Mark 4:35-41 and some hard stuff
4. Mark 4:35-41 and a dead calm
5. Before and After Mark 4:35-41
6. Mark 4:35-41 and Footnotes
7. Text Study for Mark 4:35-41 (Pt. 1); 4 Pentecost B 2021
8. Text Study for Mark 4:35-41 (Pt. 2); 4 Pentecost B 2021
9. Text Study for Mark 4:35-41 (Pt. 3); 4 Pentecost B 2021
10. Afraid/Unafraid
11. Do Not Be Afraid
12. Text Study for Mark 35-41 (Pt. 4); 4 Pentecost B 2021
13. The sayings of Jesus- Steps to Finding Peace in the Storms of Life.
14. On a desert Lake in a sudden Storm
15. Job and Jesus and the Revelation of God
16. Faith Has Better Teeth — Saturday Sermons from the Sidelines
17. Kingdom Creating Connections
18. 12 Ordinary Time Sunday
19. Be Quiet, Be Still: A Homily for June 20, 2021
20. Fear as an Invitation – Br. Curtis Almquist
21. Are We Going to Live in Fear or Faith?
22. Anchor Deep… and Hold On!
23. Stormy weather
24. Even the wind and the sea obey him; do you?
25. The Fear of the LORD
26. Jesus calms the storm
27. Calm Amid the Storm
28. Fear in the Storm
29. The Wednesday Word: Storms and the Majestic Saviour Part 1
30. The Wednesday Word: Storms and the Majestic Saviour Part 2
31. Mark 4:35-41 for real
32. Five Words
33. The Peace Speaker
34. Jesus is with us. There’s no need for fear.
35. Mark 4:35-41 in comparison
36. Singing in the Strain
37. The Eye of God in the Heart
38. Day 24: Beckoning
39. Morning Prayer for Friday January 22

Matthew 14:23-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Walking on Water

Matthew 14:23-34 – Walking on Water

|| Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21

MT14:23 Having dismissed the crowds Jesus climbed up into the mountains[1] to a private spot to pray. He was alone at night. MT14:24 Now the boat [with the disciples] was many stadia[2] from land and was hard put by tortuous waves and a head wind.[3] MT14:25 But in the fourth night watch[4] Jesus came toward them walking upon the sea.[5] MT14:26 Seeing him walking upon the sea the disciples were troubled, and screamed in their fear, “It is a phantom!”[6] MT14:27 Instantly Jesus yelled to them, “Courage, it is me! Do not fear!” MT14:28 But, Peter answered him, “Master, if it is really you command me to come toward you over the waters!”[7] MT14:29 Jesus yelled, “Come!” And, stepping out of the boat Peter walked toward Jesus upon the waters. MT14:30 But, noticing the wind[8] Peter became fearful and started to sink. Peter screamed, “Master, save me!” MT14:31 Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed Peter, telling him, “Why did you doubt,[9] Little Faith?”[10] MT14:32 After both of them boarded the boat the wind abated. MT14:33 Now the disciples in the boat prostrated before[11] Jesus, saying, “Truthfully you are a Son of God!”[12] MT14:34 And they survived[13] and came to the shore of Gennesaret.[14]

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[1] Jesus climbed up into the mountains: Or, WEY: he climbed the hill to pray in solitude. We see Jesus now and then seeking his own privacy and solitude. It is a healthy example for others to imitate when they need quiet for thinking and meditation.

[2] Stadia: A “stadium” equaled 1/8th of a Roman mile. Or, TCNT: some miles; NWT: hundreds of yards; NJB: some furlongs. They had not made much progress against the windstorm. John 6:18 has it, “they had rowed about three or four miles.” (NWT)

[3] Tortuous waves and a head wind: Or, NEB: battling with a head-wind and a rough sea.

[4] Fourth night watch: Or, WEY: towards daybreak; NEB: between three and six in the morning. The feeding of the crowd had begun about nightfall. Jesus had spent much of the night in meditative isolation. Now it may be near dawn. The disciples have been struggling some time.

[5] Walking upon the sea: One of the most famous subjects of master painters. It would be hard to think that someone could even conceive of such a miracle, it is so ludicrous; which gives it a powerful ring of truth.

[6] Phantom: The Greek is PHANTASMA and is rendered: NWT: apparition; KJV: a spirit; ASV: ghost.

[7] To come toward you over the waters: Only Peter could think of this audacious suggestion but we applaud his conviction.

[8] Noticing the wind: Stay focused!

[9] Doubt: A word appearing in the Gospels Matthew 14:31; 21:21; 28:17; Mark 11:23; Luke 24:38.

[10] Little Faith: Literally, “one of little faith.” Or, MOF: how little you trust me; PME: you little-faith; TCNT: why did you falter; PME: what made you lose your nerve like that. See Matthew 6:30 and Matthew 8:26.

[11] Prostrated before: The Greek is PRO(=before)KUNESAN(=kiss) and is rendered: KJV: worshipped; TCNT: threw themselves on their faces before him; NWT: did obeisance. The old English word “worship” though correct in its 16th century form (used of a judge “your, Worship.”) it gives a misleading impression in modern English. See lexicons on the use of PROSKUNEO. Vine’s: “to make obeisance, do reverence to” (from pros, “towards,” and kuneo, “to kiss”), is the most frequent word rendered “to worship.” It is used of an act of homage or reverence (a) to God, e.g., Matt. 4:10; John 4:21-24; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 22:9; 19:10 (2nd part); (b) to Christ, e.g., Matt. 2:2,8,11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9,17; John 9:38; Heb. 1:6, in a quotation from the Sept. of Deut. 32:43, referring to Christ’s Second Advent; (c) to a man, Matt. 18:26; (d) to the Dragon, by men, Rev. 13:4; (e) to the Beast, his human instrument, Rev. 13:4,8,12; 14:9,11; (f) the image of the Beast, Rev. 13:15; 14:11; 16:2; (g) to demons, Rev. 9:20; (h) to idols, Acts 7:43.

[12] A Son of God: The Greek is without the article and thus “a” may be inferred though most say “God’s Son.” Or, RIEU: a son of God. Compare Matthew 27:54.

[13] They survived: Or, having got through; got across.

[14] Gennesaret: Also a name for the Sea of Galilee. Josephus describes it as ‘beautiful, fruitful, and well-watered region, where walnut, palm, and olive trees thrived, and where figs and grapes were available for ten months out of the year.’ (The Jewish War, III, 516-521 [x, 8]) See Numbers 34:11 and compare Mark 6:53; Luke 5:1. This name was later changed to a Roman one. The work The Jesus Papyrus suggests this use of “Gennesaret” proves the Gospels were written before the year 50 AD during the “eye-witness period.”

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Preceding

Matthew 14:14-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: 5,000 Fed

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Related

1. Walk on water
2. Water walker
3. Keep Your Eyes On Jesus
4. Walking on the water
5. Water Walker
6. Why Did You Doubt? – Matthew 14:29-31
7. He lives in the storm
8. A Glimpse of your Glory, a reflection on Matthew 14.22-26
9. Miracles Today (Matthew 14:13–21)
10. Called onto the Water
11. A Taizé Kind of Faith
12. Walking on Water or Hiding in the Boat? [Mt 14:22-33]
13. Fear vs. Imagination: Matthew 14:22-33
14. Jesus and the Storms of Life
15. Time For Prayer
16. Miraculous Signs
17. If the Boat is the Church…

Matthew 8:23-27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Calms a Stormy Sea

Matthew 8:23-27 – Jesus Calms a Stormy Sea

|| Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

MT8:23 Jesus’ disciples followed him as he embarked into the boat. MT8:24 And, look! a great disturbance[1] occurred in the sea and the boat was about to be swamped[2] by the [storm] waves. But Jesus was sleeping.[3] MT8:25 They approached Jesus and aroused him, saying, “Master, save us, for we are being destroyed!” MT8:26 And Jesus told them, “Why are you frightened,[4] you with little faith?”[5] Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea and a great calm occurred. MT8:27 But, these men wondered, saying, “What kind of person[6] is this that the winds and the sea obey him?”

[1] A great disturbance: The Greek is SEISMOS MEGAS as in a shaking, a great earthquake.

[2] About to be swamped: The Greek is literally “covered” indicating the height of the waves. The Sea of Galilee is capable of great and sudden storms. Only a person who is been in such a storm realizes the range of emotions among these seasoned fishermen. They surely were used to foul weather.

[3] Sleeping: Imagine the Nazarene’s dreams in such slumber surrounded by danger.

[4] Frightened: The Greek is DEILOI and is variously rendered: DIA: timid, KJV: fearful; RIEU: cowards

[5] Little faith: Some render the phrase: PME: little-faiths.

[6] What kind of person: They never think he is God.

Jesus calms the storm

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Preceding

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:12-17 – Galilee Saw A Great Light

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

Matthew 8:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus a Miracle-working Son of God

Matthew 8:5-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Servant of Army Officer Healed

Matthew 8:14-17 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law

Matthew 8:18-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Two Would-be Followers

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Further reading

1. Storm Coming In
2. In the Face of the Storm
3. Storms
4. When the storm is rocking your boat
5. Matthew 8:23-27
6. When your life is threatened (Matthew 8:23-27)
7. The calming of the storm at sea 
8. Calming the Storm
9. Peace Be Still
10. But It’s Impossible
11. 4 Important Lessons From Jesus’ Calming Of The Storm. 
12. God’s Word– The final authority to calm our storms
13. Podcast Wednesday – The grace to rest
14. What Kind Of Man Is This?
15. How much does love weigh?
16. Prayer- Lord Save Us, We Are Going Down (Matthew 8.23-27)
17. After the Storm