Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 1:36
And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
36. Simon ] already with his earnest impulsiveness beginning to take the lead. Comp. Luk 8:45; Luk 9:32.
followed after Him ] The word in the original is very expressive and only occurs here. It denotes (i) to follow hard upon, (ii) to pursue closely, to track out. “Simon and his friends almost hunted for Him.” It generally implies a hostile intent. It occurs in a good sense in the LXX. rendering of Psa 23:6, “Thy mercy shall follow me.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 1:36-39
And when they had found Him.
The desire of humanity for Christ
While rejoicing in Divine solitude, the loneliness in which He left the suffering, toiling people was indescribably painful to them. A man born blind does not realize his deprivation, but if there is given him a brief vision of daylight how unutterable his sense of loss when it fades away again. So these people felt themselves deprived of the fresh interest and hopes with which they had been inspired when they lost the society and communion of Jesus. But the question was asked by all lips: Where is He? And most true is it today-be mans opinions what they may-there is no more universal experience of human kind, whether gentle or simple, scientific or ignorant, barbarian or bond or free, than the hunger for that fulness of life which is in Christ Jesus. (J. A. Picton, M. A.)
An unconscious prophecy
What the disciples said in their wondering delight, shall one day be literally true-all men will be in search of the Saviour of the world. In the first instance the Saviour sought all men, and in the second all men will seek the Saviour. We love Him because He first loved us. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Christ the centre of union for all men
All men seek for Thee. Yes, they are tired of their sectarian wranglings; they are wearied out with their ineffectual metaphysical analysis; they are sick of the poor results yielded up by material research; they have lost confidence in their own self-will; they prize no longer their self-conceit; they long to be brothers in the embrace of one common Father, and none can bring them together but Christ. All men seek for thee. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (J. A. Picton, M. A.)
The reason for Christs apparently unreasonable departures
He had spoken to the people because He desired them to know; and again, He will retire from them, and have His heart set on their well-being as he retires. When you and I have heard the sermon, what remains for us to do? Is it to hear more, or to think about what we have heard? You can learn by hearing, but you can be confused by hearing too much; one sermon may obliterate the effect of the other. So Christ left the people to whom He had been so acceptable, that in the quietude of their homes they might think of that which they had both heard and seen. (J. Cymore Davies.)
Christian evangelization
I. That this Christian evangelization was preceded by private devotion.
II. That this Christian evangelization was accompanied by an earnest preaching of the truth.
III. That this Christian evangelization made use of the already existing agencies of the Church.
IV. That this Christian evangelization was just in its conception of work, in that it east the devil out of men. Lessons:
1. That evangelistic work requires and is worthy of the best talent that can be obtained.
2. That evangelistic work is ennobling to those who engage in it, as well as to those who are contemplated by it.
3. That evangelistic work has done much to cast the devil out of the masses of our large towns. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
Christ, a home missionary
From these words I commend to your notice-
I. The resemblance between your own labours, and the personal ministry of your Lord and Saviour, as performed in the field of home missions.
1. In the scene of your labours. The title of missionary denotes one sent forth, and especially belongs to one whose errand is to propagate religion. Christ was sent from God-The great Apostle of our profession (Heb 3:1). To bring the glad message to our earth from the far heavens, He emptied Himself of glory, etc. It was to an alien race that he ministered. His personal ministry was far more limited and national in its character than was His message. Whatever His intent, in narrowing the field of His toils as a preacher, the fact is evident that to the land of Canaan, or the bounds of His native country, His ministerial labours were confined, and Jesus Christ, while upon earth, was a Home Missionary. Now a work which occupied the greatest of preachers can never be unimportant, etc.
2. In the commission under which He acted, the message He bore, the manner in which He published it, and the mode in which His labours were sustained.
II. The consequent duty of the Church to continue and abound in the like good work. Whether we look to the advantages which our nation presents for such labour, or to its peculiar necessities; to our duty as Christians, or our interests as men loving their country; to the general obligations of the Church, or our own personal and special privileges and responsibilities-on every hand are teeming incitements to energy and liberality, to perseverance and courageous devotedness. (W. R. Williamson, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 36. And Simon – followed after him.] , followed him eagerly. They had now begun to taste the good word of God, and thought they could never hear too much of it. Many possess this spirit when first converted to God. O! what a pity that they should ever lose it! The soul that relishes God’s word is ever growing in grace by it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Peter probably pitieth the multitude, because many amongst them needed Christs presence, for their bodily infirmities. Our Saviour knew their hearts better than Peter; and that which made them so much seek for him, was either in some a curiosity to see miracles wrought, or at best but a desire of some bodily benefit from him. Whereas his working of miracles was but a secondary work, subservient to his work in preaching, and done to confirm his doctrine, and to advantage them as to their faith in him as the Messias. As therefore he refused to gratify the curiosity of the Pharisees in giving them a sign, so here our Saviour takes no notice of the multitude seeking for him, but saith to his disciples, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for therefore came I forth. Paul saith that God sent him not to baptize, but to preach, 1Co 1:17. Our Saviour saith not, Let us go into the next towns, that I may work miracles, but that I may preach there also; he doth not say he came forth to work miracles, but to preach: how it comes to pass that some are possessed of so slight an opinion of preaching as to think that it is needless, which our Saviour and St. Paul counted to be their principal work, where, in the mean time, they pretend to derive from Christ, I cannot tell. I am sure preaching was the greatest part of Christs work; how it comes to be the least part of ministers work since, or how any of them think it sufficient to discharge that work by journeymen, which he thought it not beneath him to do himself, may deserve their examination which make it so. We do not say that preaching is a greater work than prayer, or that it is not ministers duty to pray; nor yet that it is greater than administering the sacrament: but this we say, we read of Christs preaching often in the synagogues, on the mountain, in a ship; of his public praying we read not, though of his private and secret prayer often. We read expressly that he baptized none. We must have leave to think that our greatest work which our Lord and his apostles were most employed in, and do think others will be of our minds as soon as they shall understand, that if the end of preaching be not turning men from one opinion to another, but from the love and practice of sin to God, there is as much need of it as ever; and that the turning of men from one opinion to another, without a change of heart, as to the love of sin, is but a turning of men from one quarter of the devils kingdom to another.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. And Simon and they that werewith him followed after himrather, “pressed after Him.”Luke (Lu 4:42) says, “Themultitudes sought after Him”; but this would be a party from thetown. Mark, having his information from Peter himself, speaks only ofwhat related directly to him. “They that were with him”would probably be Andrew his brother, James and John, with a fewother choice brethren.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Simon, and they that were with him,…. Peter, and his brother Andrew, together with James and John,
followed after him; some time after he was gone; for he privately withdrew from them, so that they might not be aware when he went, nor apprized of his departure, for some considerable time; which when they were, they set out, in diligent search, and eager pursuit after him, until they found him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Followed after him ( ). Hunted him out (Moffatt). Perfective use of the preposition (down to the finish). The verb is used for the hunt or chase, pursuit. Vulgate has persecutus est. The personal story of Peter comes in here. “Simon’s intention at least was good; the Master seemed to be losing precious opportunities and must be brought back” (Swete). Peter and those with him kept up the search till they found him. The message that they brought would surely bring Jesus back to Peter’s house.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Followed after ()
The word found only in Mark. Simon and his companions, as well as the people of the city, seem to have been afraid lest he should have permanently left them. Hence the compound verb indicates that they followed him eagerly; pursued him as if he were fleeing from them. Simon, true to his nature, was foremost in the pursuit: Simon, and they that were with him.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And Simon and they that were with Him,” (kai Simon kai hoi met’ autou) “And Simon and those who were with Him,” at His residence; among them were Andrew, James and John who with Simon had left their nets to follow Jesus, Mar 1:16-20.
2) ”Followed after Him.” (katedioksen auton) “Hunted Him down,” or pursued Him into the solitary place, as if He were a fugitive.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(36) Simon and they that were with him.This part of the narrative is given by St. Luke also, but not by St. Matthew. The definite statement who they were that followed after Him is, however, peculiar to St. Mark; while St. Luke alone gives their motive: they stayed Him that He should not depart from them. They would fain have kept Him at Capernaum, that He might teach them and heal their sick. This is to some extent, perhaps, implied in the words All men seek for Thee.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Simon and those who were with him went after him, and they found him and say to him, “Everyone is looking for you”.’
The disciples awoke and discovered that He was not there. Then the crowds again gathered and wanted to see Jesus. No doubt many more sick people had been brought. But this was part of the reason why Jesus had gone to a lonely place. He had anticipated what would happen. However, the crowds would urge the disciples to find Jesus. So they ‘went after Him’. They sought for Him. And when they eventually found Him they told Him that He was wanted, and that everyone was looking for Him. There was a certain urgency in their mission. Perhaps they felt He would not want to miss this opportunity to enhance His reputation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
THIRD SECTION
Mar 1:36-45
________
1. The Preaching and Healing of Jesus. Mar 1:36-39
(Parallel: Luk 4:44)
36And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. 37And when they ha found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38And he said unto them, Let usgo14 into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39And he preached in their15 synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL
Mar 1:36. And Simon, and they that were with him.Simon placed first, not on account of any superiority, but as the head of the house and the guide.
Mar 1:38. Into the next towns.The only here in the New Testament. The primary object is to record the travelling through the Galilean hill-country, and its villages and towns.For therefore came I forth.The question is, whether the meaning be, I am come from the Father to preach generally (Bengel); or, I have left the house (or Capernaum) in order to preach in the neighboring villages (Meyer). We think that Christ lays stress upon preaching as His great vocation, in opposition to the pressure of individual applicants for help in Capernaum. The former of the two interpretations seems to be the better.
Mar 1:39. In their synagogues (into).The Accusative, twice occurring, makes it emphatic that he filled the synagogues and all Judea with a might of preaching that formed a contrast to the synagogue style.
DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL
1. Jesus prepared himself in the desert for His second great expedition. The spiritual awakening and conquest of the land of Galilee was now in question.
2. Here also Mark (like Luke) gives special emphasis to the casting out of devils, and to the command of silence, by which Jesus hindered the devils from uttering His name.
3. It is observed also that Jesus places preaching expressly above miraculous healings; this is seen in the use of the participle, . But the preaching has its root in the secret devotion: His public work sprang from His solitary prayer.
HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL
How the Lord equipped himself anew for new labors.Christ goes with His first four disciples into the land of Galilee: the small beginning of the universamission.How the Lords preaching approves itself as the power of divine life: 1. As the spiritual word of His working; 2. as delivering power for the suffering; 3. as judicial power of victory over the demons.Christ confronting the increasing pressure of the people: 1. How He restrains it (withdrawal into the wilderness); 2. how He regulates it (preaching on the individual miracles); 3. how He surrenders Himself to it (responding to every demand of help).Christ does not shut up His activity within the walls of Capernaum, nor within the limits of any one people or any one confession.The way of Christ among the surrounding villages: 1. Already to as many as possible; 2. one day to all.
Starke:We must have village preachers.The Gospel of Jesus must sound out in all places.Where Christs kingdom is to be established, the devils must be abolished. So also in thee.Schleiermacher:The preaching of the kingdom of God was Christs vocation: 1. Concerning Himself, as He who was come to save men; 2. concerning the true righteousness which avails before God; 3. concerning the worship of God in spirit and truth.Within these limits it was His vocation to spread that kingdom as far as He could.Gossner:To this end am I come (He says) to save men.Christ did not scorn the little towns and villages.
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
Ver. 36. Followed after him ] Gr. “Followed hard after him,” as David’s soul did after God, Psa 63:8 , and as God’s grace did after David, Psa 23:6 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
36. . ] Andrew, John, and James, ibid.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 1:36 . : followed Him up; almost pursued Him as a fugitive; verb singular, though more than one followed, Peter , the chief of them, being thought of mainly. A strong term like , Mar 1:12 , all allowance made for weakened force in Hellenistic usage.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
followed after. Greek. katadiko. A Divine supplement, here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
36. .] Andrew, John, and James, ibid.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 1:36. , Simon and they that were with him) Already Simon is eminent among them. So Luk 8:45; Luk 9:32. It is not said, for instance, Thomas and they that were with him. [Comp. note [13] on Mar 1:16].
[13] This is preferred in the margin of both Editions of Bengel, to the omission of the reading , and is therefore marked with the sign ; with which also the Germ. Vers, agrees on this passage.-E. B.
ABLa have (and A prefixes ). Dbc Vulg. and Rec. Text read . Only later Uncial MSS. and later Syr. Version read .-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Luk 5:16 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Chapter 10.
The Philanthropy of Jesus
“And Simon and they that were with him followed after Him. And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for Thee. And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”-Mar 1:36-39.
In search of the Healer.
Our Lord had, according to Mar 1:35, “risen up a great while before day,” and had departed into a desert place to pray. He had stolen out while His disciples were asleep. It was only when, with the dawning of the day, those who had sick folk in the city, and who had not received Christ’s healing grace on the previous evening, began to knock at the door and inquire for Him, that the disciples discovered He was not there. And then they pursued-that is the Greek word-in hot haste after Jesus.
Incidentally let us notice what a tribute there is here to the character of Jesus. These four disciples knew exactly where to look for Him. They had already become acquainted with His prayer habits. They knew His love for quiet and solitary communion. And so when He was missing, they went straight to the place of prayer to look for Him.
Retirement hardly found.
“They pursued after Him.” What an illustration this is of the difficulties of communion! “Scarcely can we turn aside,” our hymn says, “for one brief hour of prayer.” Jesus could “scarcely turn aside.” It was with difficulty He found His “quiet time.” Something or other-the clamour of the multitude, the cares of the world-was always following Him even into the desert place. We know this difficulty too. What between the claims of business and family, social and church duties, we have no leisure for the “quiet time.” Every hour we are “pursued” by something or other, nevertheless, we must make time for prayer. Meal times and prayer times, as the old saying puts it, are not lost times.
A Great Truth Expressed.
“All men are seeking Thee,” said Peter, half petulantly and reproachfully. And by that he meant that the people of Capernaum wanted to hear more of the wonderful Teacher, and to see more of the wonderful Healer who had so astonished them the day before. But Peter spoke better than he knew.
“All men are seeking Thee.” Does not this express the attitude of the wide world? Is it not Christ the world is wanting? Men are not able always to interpret their own needs, but is it not true that-
“Far and wide, though all unknowing,
Pants for Thee each mortal breast;
Human tears for Thee are flowing,
Human hearts in Thee would rest”?
I read in John’s Gospel of certain Greeks who came to Philip saying, “Sir, we would see Jesus” (Joh 12:21). I read in Henry Drummond’s biography that the message the Japanese gave him to bring over to England was this, “Give us your Christ.” “All men are seeking Thee.” Christ is the common and universal need.
“All are seeking Thee,” said Peter; but Jesus did not promptly return with them to Capernaum, all seething with expectancy and excitement.
Our Lord’s Reply.
“Let us go,” was His reply, “elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also” (Mar 1:38, R.V.). “Behold,” says one old commentator, remarking on this answer of our Lord, “the philanthropy of Christ.”
The old commentator is quite right. That is what shines out of this answer, the philanthropy-the broad and all-embracing love for men-that filled Christ’s heart. Peter’s appeal was a selfish appeal. He would have confined Christ’s ministrations to Capernaum. But Christ had a larger heart and a broader sympathy and a wider outlook than His disciple. “Let us go elsewhere,” He said.
The Wider Fields.
Our Lord was always thinking of the “elsewhere.” When the minds of His disciples are full of Capernaum, He is thinking of the “elsewhere” of Galilee. When their minds are full of Juda, He is thinking of the “elsewhere” of Samaria. And when they have taken in the “elsewhere” of Samaria, He journeys with them to Tyre and Sidon, to remind them of the “elsewhere” of the wide world. “Other sheep,” He said, “I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring” (Joh 10:16).
For us also.
“Let us go elsewhere.” In His larger sympathies the Master wants His disciples to share. A young missionary came home invalided. His friends thought that under the circumstances a home pastorate would be the best thing for him, but he himself longed and fretted to get back.
“Why do you wish to return?” said one of them to him.
“Because,” was the reply, “I can’t sleep for thinking of them.” He felt the call and the pull and the appeal of the “elsewhere.” Do we? Do we share in the philanthropy of Christ? Christ is ever on the march to the regions beyond, to the “elsewhere,” and if we would enjoy His company we must keep step with Him.
Fuente: The Gospel According to St. Mark: A Devotional Commentary
6
Jesus was not allowed to be alone very long. Since he went out there a great while before day it is reasonable to say that as soon as it came the usual hour to arise, Peter discovered his absence and he took his group and went in search of him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 1:36. They that were with him. Simon, mentioned first as head of the house from which Jesus had withdrawn; the others were: James and John and Andrew, though perhaps more may have been with them.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here two things: First, the great end of Christ in his incarnation and coming into the world, namely, as a Prophet sent from God to reveal his will, and to publish the doctrine of the gospel. Therefore came I forth; that is, to preach and plant the gospel.
Secondly, It being Christ’s design not only to plant but to propagate the gospel, he would not confine his ministry to any particular places, no, not to the great city of Capernaum, but resolves to preach the word in the smallest towns and villages. Leaving his ministers herein an instructive example, to be as willing to preach the gospel in the smallest villages, as in the largest cities, if God calls them thereunto.
Let the place be never so obscure and mean, and the congregation never so small and little, if God sends us thither, the greatest of us must not think it beneath us to go and instruct a handful of people.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Simon and his companions-who they were is unimportant-did not understand Jesus’ need for prayer. They seem to have had the common attitude that when things are favorable we do not need God’s help. Their words implied annoyance. Apparently they felt Jesus was not taking advantage of His popularity to promote His mission. They did not realize that God directed Jesus’ mission, not the responses of people. This is the first instance of Peter’s impetuous leadership that Mark recorded.
"His [Jesus’] purpose is not to heal as many people as possible as a manifestation of the kingdom of God drawn near in his person, but to confront men with the demand for decision in the perspective of God’s absolute claim upon their person." [Note: Lane, p. 82.]