Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 9:32
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
32. were afraid ] St Matthew adds that they were “exceeding sorry.” His words concerning His violent death contradicted all their expectations.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 32. But they understood not] This whole verse is wanting in two MSS., in the first edition of Erasmus, and in that of Aldus. Mill approves of the omission. It does not appear likely, from Matthew’s account, that three of the disciples, Peter, James, and John, could be ignorant of the reasons of Christ’s death and resurrection, after the transfiguration; on the contrary, from the circumstances there related, it is very probable that from that time they must have had at least a general understanding of this important subject; but the other nine might have been ignorant of this matter, who were not present at the transfiguration; probably it is of these that the evangelist speaks here. See the observations on the transfiguration, Mt 17:9, &c., and Mt 18:1.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
32. But they understood not thatsaying“and it was hid from them, [so] that they preceivedit not” (Lu 9:45).
and were afraid to askhimTheir most cherished ideas were so completely dashed bysuch announcements, that they were afraid of laying themselves opento rebuke by asking Him any questions. But “they were exceedingsorry” (Mt 17:23). Whilethe other Evangelists, as WEBSTERand WILKINSON remark,notice their ignorance and their fear, Matthew, who was one of them,retains a vivid recollection of their sorrow.
Mr9:33-50. STRIFE AMONG THETWELVE WHOSHOULD BEGREATEST IN THE KINGDOMOF HEAVEN, WITHRELATIVETEACHINGINCIDENTALREBUKE OF JOHNFOR EXCLUSIVENESS.( = Mat 18:1-9; Luk 9:46-50).
Strife among the Twelve, withRelative Teaching (Mr9:33-37).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But they understood not that saying,…. Meaning either the whole of what he had said, concerning his delivery, death, and resurrection: and which then must be interpreted with some limitation; for they must understand the sense of his words, which were clear and express; especially concerning his death, which affected their minds with trouble and grief; for Matthew says, “they were exceeding sorry upon it”, [See comments on Mt 17:23]; but they could not understand how it could be, and upon what account, and for what end, so holy and good, and innocent a man as he was, could be put to death; nor how this could consist with his character, as the Son of God, the Messiah, and king of Israel; and with the notions they had of the Messiah’s abiding for ever, and setting up a temporal kingdom on earth: or this may regard only his resurrection from the dead; which whether it was to be taken in a literal or mystical sense, they could not tell:
and were afraid to ask him; lest they should be upbraided with their ignorance and stupidity, as they had been lately rebuked by him for their unbelief, and the neglect of their duty; and as Peter had been severely reprimanded for expostulating with him about the selfsame things, delivered by him to them, not before.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But they understood not the saying ( ). An old word. Chiefly in Paul’s Epistles in the N.T. Imperfect tense. They continued not to understand. They were agnostics on the subject of the death and resurrection even after the Transfiguration experience. As they came down from the mountain they were puzzled again over the Master’s allusion to his resurrection (Mr 9:10). Mt 17:23 notes that “they were exceeding sorry” to hear Jesus talk this way again, but Mark adds that they “were afraid to ask him” ( ). Continued to be afraid (imperfect tense), perhaps with a bitter memory of the term “Satan” hurled at Peter when he protested the other time when Jesus spoke of his death (Mark 8:33; Matt 16:23). Lu 9:45 explains that “it was concealed from them,” probably partly by their own preconceived ideas and prejudices.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) ”But they understood not that saying,” (hoi de egnooun to hrema) “But they did not understand the statement,” I really know what He had said.) They did not really grasp what He told them, Hos 6:2-3; Rom 8:11.
2) “And were afraid to ask Him.” (kai ephobountoauton eperotesai) ”And they feared to question Him,” to inquire further about His foretold death and resurrection, Luk 9:44-45; Mat 17:23.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(32) They understood not that saying.The words, giving once more a kind of psychological analysis of the disciples thoughts, are not in St. Matthew, but are found in St. Luke. They imply the continuance of the perplexity described in Mar. 9:10.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
32. And were afraid to ask him Our Lord did not encourage bold questions on their part in regard to this matter. He develops the truth in his own way gradually, as he sees their minds prepared for it. It is not until the passover supper that they fully feel that he is to leave them by death. And not even then is their faith so strong that they are prepared for an immovable faith in his resurrection. See on Mar 9:10.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But they did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask him.’
They did not understand because they did not want to. They were afraid to ask Him because they did not want what He was saying to be confirmed. How much easier it would have been for them in the end if they had been willing to believe. But men do not easily give up their cherished ideas even if they are wrong. How often we are like them. The way of God is too hard for us, so we convince ourselves that there is another way. But often there is not.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Ver. 32. They understood not that saying ] They could not conceive that the Saviour of the world should suffer as a malefactor.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 9:32 . : they had heard the statement before, and had not forgotten the fact, and their Master had spoken too explicitly for them to be in any doubt as to His meaning. What they were ignorant of was the why, the . With all He had said, Jesus had not yet been able to make that plain. They will never know till the Passion has become a fact accomplished. , a solemn name for the utterance ( vide Mat 4:4 ) = the oracular, prophetic, and withal weird, mysterious word of doom. , they feared to ask, they did not wish to understand, they would live on in hope that their Master was under a hallucination; true to human nature.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
saying. Greek. rhema (the first time it is thus rendered). Rhema denotes a word, saying, or sentence in its outward form, as made up of words (i.e. Parts of Speech): whereas logos denotes a word or saying as the expression of thought: hence, the thing spoken or written, the account, &c. given.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 9:32. , They were afraid) They ask questions of Jesus more readily concerning anything whatever, Mar 9:28, than concerning Himself. So it generally happens, even among intimates.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
they: Mar 9:10, Luk 2:50, Luk 9:45, Luk 18:34, Luk 24:45
were: Mar 7:18, Mar 8:17, Mar 8:18, Mar 8:33, Mar 16:14, Joh 4:27, Joh 16:19
Reciprocal: Mat 15:16 – General Mat 16:21 – began Mar 8:31 – he began Luk 24:6 – remember Joh 16:17 – said Joh 20:9 – they Joh 21:12 – durst Act 7:25 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
The language of Jesus was plain and he used words that were in common use. The reason the disciples did not understand them was their delusion of an earthly kingdom they thought he was going to set up.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 32
Were afraid to ask him. This and similar expressions show that the intercourse of Jesus with his apostles was never familiar. They regarded him with habitual veneration.
Mark 9:36. True spiritual greatness is humility, and a lowliness of mind like the unassuming gentleness of children.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
The disciples did not understand because God withheld understanding from them (Luk 9:45). Initially God may appear to have been working at cross purposes with Himself revealing through Jesus and concealing by hardening the disciples’ hearts. The solution seems to be that God was working with the disciples as He had worked with the multitudes through Jesus’ parables. If so, the disciples’ ignorance was a result of divine blindness that their unbelief produced. Their willingness to remain in ignorance and not ask Jesus to clarify His statement is the evidence of their unbelief. Mark implied that all they gained from this revelation was a sense of sorrow (Mat 17:23). Similarly we manifest a form of unbelief when we fail to seek clarification of biblical revelation that we find confusing.