Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:56
And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
56. but the border of his garment ] The numbers that pressed upon Him seemed almost too large for Him to be able to heal them singly by laying His hands upon them, therefore many begged that they might be allowed to touch if it were but the border of His garment. Comp. above, Mar 5:27. Soon after followed the ever memorable discourse so strikingly in accordance with the present Passover-season in the synagogue of Capernaum respecting “ the Bread of Life ” (Joh 6:22-65).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 56. Villages] Probably small towns near cities.
Country] Villages at a distance from cities and large public towns. See the notes on Mt 14:34-36.
Christ went about doing good – he confined his ministry and miracles to no place – wherever he went, they stood in need of his help; and whenever they required his assistance, they had it granted immediately. Our Lord’s conduct, in these respects, is a perfect pattern for every preacher of his Gospel.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
56. and besought him that they mighttouch if it were but the border of his garmenthaving heard, nodoubt, of what the woman with the issue of blood experienced on doingso (Mr 5:25-29), andperhaps of other unrecorded cases of the same nature.
and as many as touched himor”it”the border of His garment.
were made wholeAllthis they continued to do and to experience while our Lord wasin that region. The time corresponds to that mentioned (Joh7:1), when He “walked in Galilee,” instead of appearingin Jerusalem at the passover, “because the Jews,” that is,the rulers, “sought to kill Him”while thepeople sought to enthrone Him!
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country,…. Whether in smaller towns, or larger cities, or the fields, where were houses, here and there one:
they laid the sick in the streets; or “markets”, in any public places:
and besought him that they but might touch the border of his garment; if they might not be admitted to touch his person, or he did not choose to lay his hands on them:
and as many as touched him; or “it”, the border of his garment, as they desired:
were made whole; of whatsoever sickness, or disease, they were afflicted with; [See comments on Mt 14:36].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Wheresoever he entered ( ). The imperfect indicative with used to make a general indefinite statement with the relative adverb. See the same construction at the close of the verse, (aorist indicative and in a relative clause),
as many as touched him . One must enlarge the details here to get an idea of the richness of the healing ministry of Jesus. We are now near the close of the Galilean ministry with its many healing mercies and excitement is at the highest pitch (Bruce).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Peculiar to Mark.
In the streets [] . Rightly, Rev., Market – places. See on Mt 11:16.
Border. See on Mt 9:20.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And whithersoever He entered,” (kai hopou an eiseporeuelo) “And wherever He entered,” or visited, in any and every territory and place.
2) “Into villages, or cities, or country,” (eis komas, e eis poleis e eis agrous) “Into villages, cities, or agricultural areas,” never preaching in the streets to try to incite any type of political following, Mat 8:19.
3) “They laid the sick into the streets,” (en tais agorais etithesan tous asthenontas) “They placed the ailing ones in the marketplaces,” near where Jesus was expected to pass by. Healing was by the will and power of God, not by mere pieces of clothes.
4) “And besought Him,” (kai parekaloun auton) ”And they appealed to Him,” begged, besought, or sought to motivate Him.
5) “That they might touch if it were,” (hina kan hapo ontai) ”In order that they might even touch,” as the woman with the 12 year blood flow did, Mar 5:24-34.
6) “But the border of His garment:” (tou kraspedou tou himatou autou) “The fringe or hem) of His garment,” Mat 14:36.
7) “And as many as touched Him were made whole.” (kai osoi an hepoanto autou esozonto) ”And as many (all) who touched Him were delivered or healed,” saved from their ill condition, Matthew states “were made perfectly whole,” Mat 14:36.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(56) Or country.Better, as before in Mar. 6:36, farms or hamlets. The three words form almost an exhaustive list of the various grades of aggregate human habitations.
In the streets.Better, in the market-places.
The border of his garment.Better, the hem, or fringe. See Note on Mat. 9:20.
Were made whole.The Greek tense implies an event frequently recurring.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And wherever he entered, into villages, or towns or the countryside, they laid their sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch if it were but the hem of his clothing, and as many as touched him were made whole.’
Whether He visited town or countryside they came for healing and laid their sick ‘in the marketplaces’, that is the village meeting points where people met to talk and barter. True marketplaces would be restricted to the big towns. And He healed them all. His power was clearly manifested.
‘The hem of His clothing.’ The hem or fringe or tassels worn by every orthodox Jew (Num 15:37; Deu 22:12), reminding men of God’s commandments. Touching only His clothes was a sign of the deep respect that they had for Him. They did not feel that they should inflict their presence on Him by a firmer touch, but sought only a point of contact.
‘And as many as touched Him were made whole.’ Note that it was because by their act they saw themselves as touching Him that they were healed. It was He and not the garment Who healed them. The clothes were part of the man. (There is no place for relics or ‘The Robe’ here).
Outwardly His ministry was as successful as ever, but we note that while He must have used the opportunity for preaching Mark does not mention it, and in spite of His extensive travels this is true from now to Mar 10:1, where the preaching is in Judaea. (Contrast Mar 1:14; Mar 1:22; Mar 1:39; Mar 2:13; Mar 4:1; Mar 6:2; Mar 6:6; Mar 6:12; Mar 6:34). In fact the mention of teaching is now restricted to His disciples (Mar 9:30-31). And this may indeed be the explanation for the silence. Perhaps it was so that we may recognise a change of emphasis. The ministry in Galilee has reached its climax. And now the training of His disciples for the future must begin. Certainly He did continue to preach (Mar 8:1), as is emphasised in Mar 10:1 ‘as was His custom’. So He preached continually.
It should be noted how what happens here leads into the next incident. These people who were touching Jesus would not all be observing the laws of ritual cleanliness. Thus by their touch some of them would be rendering Him ritually unclean. But how do you make unclean the One Whose power makes you clean by full healing and restoration? It was just this kind of situation in the marketplace that persuaded the Scribes and Pharisees of the need for ceremonial cleansing before a meal because of the possibility of having been ritually defiled by contact with ‘unclean’ people. Unlike Jesus they shied from the touch of ‘sinners’, but they could not totally avoid it. It is very probable that any critical Pharisee who observed the touches of the crowd would have remonstrated about it.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
REFLECTIONS.
On! thou who was in the form of GOD, and with whom it was no robbery to be equal with GOD! give me to see the blessedness of thy humiliation, in condescending to labor for thy daily bread, in order to remove the whole curse of the fall, in becoming a curse for thy people. Do thou, dearest LORD, give grace to all thy poor, and toilsome family, to learn the blessedness of being conformed to thy lovely image in all things. Let all thy sent servants learn by thy Apostles how to return to JESUS, and lay before him the account of their ministry. In the awful history of Herod, give all thy people grace, to know how to value a peace of mind in JESUS, which nothing of this world’s greatness can procure. And while thy redeemed behold their GOD and SAVIOR, feeding the thousands to the full with a scanty provision, and healing all the diseased with a word speaking; oh! let neither poverty nor sickness induce a moment’s fear in the heart of thy people. Precious LORD! do thou realize, day by day, thy gracious and refreshing presence to our wants. And oh! for grace to have such views of GOD’s CHRIST, and GOD’s chosen, as GOD the FATHER hath set him forth by, in the word of his grace; and then will all the blessed effects of salvation be enjoyed by his redeemed, in villages, and cities, and countries upon earth; as the redeemed now enjoy in the city of our GOD in heaven.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
56. ] In , the belongs not so much to the verbs, which are certain and definite, as to the indefinites and , rendering them more indefinite, and spreading the assertion over every several occasion of the occurrence. See remarks on this in Klotz, Devar. ii. p. 145 f.: and cf. reff. and Lucian, Dial. mort. ix. 2, .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 6:56 . , , : point probably to a wider sphere of activity than the plain of Gennesaret. This was practically the close of the healing ministry, in which the expectation and faith of the people were wound pp to the highest pitch.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
And, &c. Verse 56 is a Divine supplement,
here. = Country places.
the streets = the market-places. Compare Mat 11:16. besought. App-134.
border. See Mat 9:20.
made whole = healed. Greek. sozo to save. Compare Luk 7:10.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
56.] In , the belongs not so much to the verbs, which are certain and definite, as to the indefinites and , rendering them more indefinite, and spreading the assertion over every several occasion of the occurrence. See remarks on this in Klotz, Devar. ii. p. 145 f.: and cf. reff. and Lucian, Dial. mort. ix. 2, .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 6:56. [ , in the streets [or the fora]) where they would have the greater certainty of meeting Him, and where the greatest number might obtain relief at once.-V. g.]-) This particle is compounded here, not of and , as it is usually, but of and , as in 2Co 11:16. Comp. note on Chrys. de Sacerd., p. 459.-, they might touch) after the example of the woman with the issue of blood: ch. Mar 5:27.-) .
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
they laid: Act 5:15
touch: Mar 3:10, Mar 5:27, Mar 5:28, 2Ki 13:21, Luk 6:19, Luk 22:51, Act 4:9, Act 4:12
the border: Num 15:38, Num 15:39, Deu 22:12, Mat 9:20, Luk 8:44
him: or, it
Reciprocal: Mat 9:35 – General Mat 12:15 – great Mat 19:2 – General Mar 8:22 – they bring Luk 4:40 – and he Joh 4:47 – he heard
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
HEALED BY A TOUCH
As many as touched Him were made whole.
Mar 6:56
I. The healed.Those here noticed were evidently affected with a variety of diseases of body and mind. But whatever was the variety and inveteracy of their diseases, we are assured that they were made whole. As the material frame of those who were brought to touch even the hem of the Redeemers garment was restored to a state of the most perfect soundness, so the moral nature of those who experience spiritual renovation is healed and fitted for immortal life.
II. The source of healing.The cure, whether it was the restoration of sight, or of hearing, or active power, or the casting out of devils, was effected simply by the silent but resistless virtue which passed from the Redeemer when His person or even the hem of His garment was touched. In this we have a most expressive and beautiful emblem or representation of the great fountain of moral healing essential for the diseased and sin-stricken nature of man. Spiritual soundness and strength, moral freedom and blessedness, are to be derived simply and exclusively from Him Who is become the great Physician of souls, the sole Fountain of internal purity and health.
III. The medium through which the healing influence was transmitted.The cures which were effected on the sons and daughters of affliction gathered around the Redeemer were secured in the employment of such means as He sanctioned and approved. It was not the idle gaze of apathy and vulgar astonishment, but the struggle to come near Himit was the touch of His person, or the hem of His robe, prompted and sustained by the conviction that He was mighty to save, that met with the benediction, Go in peace, thy faith hath made thee whole.
Illustration
It was after a walk through the village of Ehden, beneath the mountain of the cedars, wrote Dean Stanley, describing his visit to the East in company with King Edward VII when Prince of Wales, that we found the stairs and corridors of the castle of the Maronite chief, Sheyk Joseph, lined with a crowd of eager applicantssick people taken with divers diseases, who hearing that there was a medical man in the party, had thronged round him, beseeching him that he would heal them. I mention this incident because it illustrates so forcibly these scenes in the Gospel history, from which I have almost of necessity borrowed the language best fitted to express the eagerness, the hope, the anxiety of the multitude who had been attracted by the fame of his beneficent influence. It was an affecting scene; our kind doctor was distressed to find how many cases there were which, with proper medical appliances, might have been cured, and, on retiring to the ship, by the Prince of Wales desire, a store of medicines was sent back, with Arabic labels directing how and for what purpose they should be used.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
6
Streets is from a word that means marketplaces, not an ordinary thoroughfare as one might think. They were centers where people in all the walks of life gathered, and they expected Jesus to be there a part of the time. When he did come he was requested to let the sick people touch his clothing. Such a request was a sign of their faith and Jesus rewarded it by healing them of their diseases.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 6:56. Wheresoever he entered. This implies that a journey of some kind followed.
Country, lit, fields.
Market-places, here with a wide sense.This description may refer to a period of some length, and indicates the great number of miracles performed by our Lord. The Passover was at hand (Joh 6:4).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
6:56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched {a} him were made whole.
(a) Or the hem of his garment.