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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Apostolic Commission
THE APOSTOLIC COMMISSION. Here is, I. The commission given to the twelve apostles, to preach and work miracles; it is the same which we had more largely, Matthew 10:1-42. Mark doth not name them here, as Matthew doth, b…
The Death of John the Baptist
THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. Here is, I. The wild notions that the people had concerning our Lord Jesus, Mark 6:15. His own countrymen could believe nothing great concerning him, because they knew his poor kindred; bu…
The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES. In there verses, we have, I. The return to Christ of the apostles whom he had sent forth (Mark 6:7), to preach, and work miracles. They had dispersed themselves into several quarter…
Christ Walking on the Sea
CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA. This passage of story we had Matthew 14:22, &c., only what was there related concerning Peter, is omitted here. Here we have, I. The dispersing of the assembly; Christ constrained his disciple…
The Traditions of the Elders; The Worst Defilement from Within
THE TRADITIONS OF THE ELDERS; THE WORST DEFILEMENT FROM WITHIN. One great design of Christ's coming, was, to set aside the ceremonial law which God made, and to put an end to it; to make way for which he begins with the…
The Syrophenician Woman
THE SYROPHENICIAN WOMAN. See here, I. How humbly Christ was pleased to conceal himself. Never man was so cried up as he was in Galilee, and therefore, to teach us, though not to decline any opportunity of doing good, ye…
The Cure of a Deaf and Dumb Person
THE CURE OF A DEAF AND DUMB PERSON. Our Lord Jesus seldom staid long in a place, for he knew where his work lay, and attended the changes of it. When he had cured the woman of Canaan's daughter, he had done what he had…
Christ Feeds the Four Thousand
CHRIST FEEDS THE FOUR THOUSAND. We had the story of a miracle very like this before, in this gospel (Mark 6:35), and of this same miracle (Matthew 15:32), and here is little or no addition or alternation as to the circu…
The Leaven of Herod and the Pharisees; Christ Reproves His Disciples
THE LEAVEN OF HEROD AND THE PHARISEES; CHRIST REPROVES HIS DISCIPLES. Still Christ is upon motion; now he visits the parts of Dalmanutha, that no corner of the land of Israel might say that they had not had his presence…
A Blind Man Restored to Sight
A BLIND MAN RESTORED TO SIGHT. This cure is related only by this evangelist, and there is something singular in the circumstances. I. Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends, with a desire that he would tou…
Peter's Enlightened Testimony; Peter Rebuked
PETER'S ENLIGHTENED TESTIMONY; PETER REBUKED. We have read a great deal of the doctrine Christ preached, and the miracles he wrought, which were many, and strange, and well-attested, of various kinds, and wrought in sev…
The Transfiguration
THE TRANSFIGURATION. Here is, I. A prediction of Christ's kingdom now near approaching, Mark 9:1. That which is foretold, is, 1. That the kingdom of God would come, and would come so as to be seen: the kingdom of the Me…
The Expulsion of an Evil Spirit
THE EXPULSION OF AN EVIL SPIRIT. We have here the story of Christ casting the devil out of a child, somewhat more fully related than it was in Matthew 17:14, &c. Observe here, I. Christ's return to his disciples, and th…
The Apostles Reproved
THE APOSTLES REPROVED. Here, I. Christ foretels his own approaching sufferings. He passed through Galilee with more expedition than usual, and would not that any man should know of it (Mark 9:30); because he had done ma…
Pain to Be Preferred to Sin
PAIN TO BE PREFERRED TO SIN. Here, I. Christ promiseth a reward to all those that are any way kind to his disciples (Mark 9:41); "Whosoever shall give you a cup of water, when you need it, and will be a refreshment to y…
The Doctrine of Divorce
THE DOCTRINE OF DIVORCE. Our Lord Jesus was an itinerant Preacher, did not continue long in a place, for the whole land of Canaan was his parish, or diocese, and therefore he would visit every part of it, and give instr…
Christ's Love to Little Children
CHRIST'S LOVE TO LITTLE CHILDREN. It is looked upon as the indication of a kind and tender disposition to take notice of little children, and this was remarkable in our Lord Jesus, which is an encouragement not only to…
A Hopeful Youth Falling Short of Heaven
A HOPEFUL YOUTH FALLING SHORT OF HEAVEN. I. Here is a hopeful meeting between Christ and a young man; such he is said to be (Matthew 19:20), and a ruler (Luke 18:18), a person of quality. Some circumstances here are, wh…
Christ's Prediction of His Sufferings
CHRIST'S PREDICTION OF HIS SUFFERINGS. Here is, I. Christ's prediction of his own sufferings; this string he harped much upon, though in the ears of his disciples it sounded very harsh and unpleasing. 1. See here how bo…
The Eyes of Bartimeus Opened
THE EYES OF BARTIMEUS OPENED. This passage of story agrees with that, Matthew 20:29, &c. Only that there were told of two blind men; here, and Luke 18:35, only of one: but if there were two, there was one. This one is n…
Christ's Entrance into Jerusalem
CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM. We have here the story of the public entry Christ made into Jerusalem, four or five days before his death. And he came into town thus remarkably, 1. To show that he was not afraid of th…
The Barren Fig-Tree Cursed
THE BARREN FIG-TREE CURSED. Here is, I. Christ's cursing the fruitless fig-tree. He had a convenient resting-place at Bethany, and therefore thither he went at resting-time; but his work lay at Jerusalem, and thither th…
The Pharisees Nonplussed
THE PHARISEES NONPLUSSED. We have here Christ examined by the great Sanhedrim concerning his authority; for they claimed a power to call prophets to an account concerning their mission. They came to him when he was walk…
The Vineyard and Husbandmen
THE VINEYARD AND HUSBANDMEN. Christ had formerly in parables showed how he designed to set up the gospel church; now he begins in parables to show how he would lay aside the Jewish church, which it might have been graft…