Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 1:44
And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
44. shew thyself to the priest ] that he may attest the reality of thy cure (Lev 14:3).
those things which Moses commanded ] viz. (1) two birds, “alive and clean,” Lev 14:4, (2) cedar wood, (3) scarlet, and (4) hyssop; this was for the preliminary ceremony (Lev 14:4-7). On the eighth day further offerings were to be made, (1) two he lambs without blemish, (2) one ewe lamb, (3) three tenth deals of fine flour, (4) one log of oil. If the leper was poor, he was permitted to offer one lamb and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, with one tenth deal of fine flour.
for a testimony unto them ] Rather, for a testimony against them, i. e. against their unbelief in refusing to acknowledge our Lord to be all He claimed to be in spite of His mighty works. Comp. Mar 6:11 with Luk 9:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And saith unto him, see thou say nothing to any man,…. By the way, till he came to the priest;
but go thy way, show thyself to the priest: the Syriac and Persic versions read, “to the priests”; and the Vulgate Latin renders it, “to the chief priest”; but any priest might judge of the cleansing of a leper;
and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded for a testimony unto them; [See comments on Mt 8:4].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For a testimony unto them ( ). Without the formal testimony of the priests the people would not receive the leper as officially clean.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man:” (kai legei auto hota medeni meden eopes) “And instructed him, see that you tell not a one, not even one person,” as you go from here, lest they be agitated or disturbed, Mar 5:43.
2) “But go thy way, show thyself to the priest,” (alla hupage seauton deikson to hiere) “But go (the first thing) and show yourself to the priest,” which was the legal Mosaic Law procedure, in matters of leprosy healed.
3) “And offer for thy cleansing,” (kai prosenegke peri tou katharismou sou) “And offer concerning your cleansing,” as required by the Law of Moses. Christ came to fulfill and abide by the law, then leave a new order of worship and service, Heb 8:13; Heb 10:9.
4) “Those things which Moses commanded,” (ha prosetaksen Mouses) “The things that Moses commanded, directed, or required in the law,”, thus verifying His faith in the Old Testament Scriptures, Mar 7:8-13.
5) “For a testimony unto them.” (eis martution autois) “With regards to a testimony to them,” to the people. When one was healed from a curable strain or syndrome of leprosy, it was to be publicly declared by the priest of God, in connection with the offering of a sacrifice, by and on behalf of the one who was cured of the leprous skin and flesh disease, Lev 14:2-20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mat 8:4
; Mar 1:44. For a testimony to them Some consider testimony to mean here a law or statute, as it is said in the Book of Psalms, God laid down this “ for a testimony to Israel,” (Psa 122:4.) But this appears to me to be a poor exposition: for I have no doubt that the pronoun to them refers to the priests. (496) Christ said this, in my opinion, with a view to the present occurrence: for this miracle was afterwards to be a sufficiently clear proof for convicting them of ingratitude. There is nothing inconsistent with this in the command which Christ gave to the leper to maintain silence: for he did not intend that the remembrance of the miracle which he had wrought should remain always buried. When the leper, at the command of Christ, came into the presence of the priest, this was a testimony to them, which would render them inexcusable, if they refused to receive Christ as the minister of God; and would, at the same time, take away occasion for slander, since Christ did not neglect a single point of the law. In a word, if they were not past cure, they might be led to Christ; while, on the other hand, so solemn a testimony of God was sufficiently powerful to condemn them, if they were unbelievers.
(496) According to the view which Calvin rejects, the words, which Moses commanded for a testimony to them, mean, “which Moses delivered to them, that is, to the people of Israel, as a divine ordinance.” The view which he adopts may be more clearly brought out by a different arrangement of the words. Present, for a testimony to them, that is, “to the priests,” the offering which Moses commanded. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Ver. 44. See Trapp on “ Mat 8:3 “ See Trapp on “ Mat 8:4 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
44. ] , being prefixed to the verb, has an emphasis: trouble not thyself with talking to others, but go complete thine own case by getting thyself formally declared pure.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 1:44 . : for a testimony from priest to people, without which the leper would not be received as clean.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
See. App-188.
shew. priest. Reference to Pentateuch (Lev 14:1-32). App-117.
for = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104.
Moses. Occurs eight times in Mark: I. Mar 44:7, Mar 44:10; Mar 9:4, Mar 9:5; Mar 10:3, Mar 10:4; Mar 12:19, Mar 12:26. See note on Mat 8:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
44.] , being prefixed to the verb, has an emphasis: trouble not thyself with talking to others, but go complete thine own case by getting thyself formally declared pure.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
show: Lev 14:2-32, Mat 23:2, Mat 23:3, Luk 5:14, Luk 17:14
for a testimony: Rom 15:4, 1Co 10:11
Reciprocal: Lev 13:2 – he shall Lev 14:10 – take Deu 24:8 – General Mat 6:3 – let Mat 8:4 – See Mat 9:31 – spread Mar 7:36 – General Mar 13:9 – a Act 23:22 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Leprosy was incurable by any natural means, but it could be cured by miracle, such as the case of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. And when a Jew had been cured of the disease physically, he was still required to perform certain services for his ceremonial cleansing which included the offering of sacrifices and other materials. That is what Jesus meant that this man should offer for his cleansing. (See Lev 14:1.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 1:44. The purport of our Lords charge to the healed leper is now given. See on Mat 8:4. Such prohibitions (comp. Mat 9:31; Mar 5:43) were called forth by circumstances. Evidently this man needed the warning.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 44
For a testimony unto them. The law required that, when a leper supposed himself healed, he should report himself to the priest, in order that the reality of the cure might be ascertained, and certain ceremonies performed, by which he was to be released from the restrictions of ceremonial uncleanness. The leprosy was a very inveterate and terrible disease; and every precaution was taken to prevent its spread. The point of interest in this case seems to be, that the person healed was a leper. It appears to have been the first case of the kind which had occurred; and hence the great excitement which it occasioned.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
1:44 {13} And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the {u} priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
(13) He shows that he was not motivated by ambition, but only by the desire for his Father’s glory, and by his love towards poor sinners.
(u) All the posterity of Aaron had the authority to judge a leper.