Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 14:47
And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
47. And one of them that stood by ] This we know from St John was Simon Peter (Joh 18:10), displaying his characteristic impetuosity to the end. Some think the Apostle’s name was omitted by the Synoptists lest the publication of it in his lifetime should expose him to the revenge of the unbelieving Jews.
a servant of the high priest ] In none of the Synoptic Gospels do we find mention of his name either. This we are told by St John was Malchus. St John was an acquaintance of the high-priest’s, and probably a frequenter of his house; hence he knew the name of his servant.
his ear ] Both St Mark and St John use a diminutive = little ear. St Luke alone (Luk 22:50) tells us it was his right ear. Perhaps it was not completely severed, for St Luke, who alone also records the healing, says that our Lord simply touched it and healed him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And one of them that stood by,…. One of the disciples that stood by Jesus, as Judas was betraying him, and the soldiers were laying hold on him, Peter by name:
drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear; his right ear; the servant’s name was Malchus;
[See comments on Mt 26:51].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A certain one ( ). Mark does not tell that it was Peter. Only Joh 18:10 does that after Peter’s death. He really tried to kill the man, Malchus by name, as John again tells (Joh 18:10). Mark does not give the rebuke to Peter by Jesus in Mt 26:52ff.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The servant. See on Mt 26:51.
Ear [] . A word found only here and at Joh 23:10. See on Mt 26:51.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
PETER SMITES WITH THE SWORD, THEN FOLLOWS AFAR OFF, JESUS FORSAKEN BY ALL, V. 47-52
1) “And one of them that stood by drew a sword,” (eis de tis ton parestekoton spasamenos ten machairon) “Then a certain one who was standing alongside of Jesus drew his sword,” that certain one was Simon Peter, Joh 18:20.
2) ”And smote a servant of the high priest,” (epaisen ton doulon tou archiereos) “Struck the slave-servant of the high priest,” Mat 26:51. The servant’s name was Malchus, Joh 18:20.
3) “And cut off his ear,” (kai apheilen autou to ptarion) “And cut off his ear,” his right ear, Luk 22:50.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword and smote the high priest’s bondservant and struck off his ear.’
Mark’s account is deliberately brief and anonymous (compare Mar 14:51). His concentration is on the Betrayer (Mar 14:43-45) and on the unreasonableness of the method of arrest (Mar 14:48-49). He wanted his readers to know that this was not genuine Roman justice in action. But he also wanted his readers to know that there were those there who did care, even though they were really helpless to do anything. And so he describes this token resistance and later the presence of the young man (Mar 14:51).
There is, however, one aspect which is significant. ‘The bondservant of the High Priest’ was probably a high official acting on behalf of his master. This not only brings out the High Priest’s involvement in what has happened, but probably also in Mark’s eyes demonstrates God’s judgment on the High Priest by proxy. The cutting off of the ear symbolises the fact that the High Priest is no longer seen as fitted for office, for such a blemish in the High Priest would in fact have barred him from office. (Mark does not describe its healing). In God’s eyes the High Priest is disfigured for ever.
A further significance of this action is that it is one last final effort made on behalf of the disciples (perhaps that is why in Mark it is anonymous), and it is revealed to be as futile as it was ineffective. The disciples have no part in what is to happen from now on. Jesus must face it alone.
Note the carefully put together narrative.
‘b7 Judas betrayal presented in depth (Mar 14:43-45).
A brief statement of arrest (Mar 14:46).
An anonymous token gesture with a sword (Mar 14:47).
Jesus reply to His arrest presented in depth (Mar 14:48-49).
A brief statement of desertion (Mar 14:50).
An anonymous token gesture which results in flight (Mar 14:51-52).
Mark’s work demonstrates careful use of the material at his disposal. He wanted especially to stress the betrayal and the words of Jesus. But this simple pattern also hides a more complicated structure, for the ‘certain young man’ also both faces arrest and flees, while the ‘certain one of them’ put up a defence before joining the flight. Both were loyal but effectively irrelevant. It was now Jesus versus the Jewish establishment.
(We know that the swordsman was Peter (Joh 18:10), but it may be that when Mark wrote it was not good to mention names in Rome where Roman justice might be seen as involved, or even to link the incident with the disciples. Or it may be that Peter did not want to take any credit for what he had done (it was at least an attempt) when he had so dreadfully betrayed Jesus shortly afterwards. Or the anonymity might have been intended to bring out that this was the last effort on His behalf of the disciples as a whole (only two of them carried swords – Luk 22:38, and it was typical that Peter should be one of them). However it was an act typical of Peter, spontaneous and brave, yet out of order and as a result forbidden by Jesus. And inept as well, although it may be that the blow was diverted, or indeed that his aim might have been disfigurement of someone clearly important in the High Priest’s household. Peter’s aim might have been to divert attention to himself giving Jesus an opportunity to slip away. Certainly at least it proved that he was ready to die for Jesus as he had said. However, Jesus had to point out to him that if he had been aware of what He had prayed he would have realised that he must not interfere (Joh 18:11), and that had he only thought about it the whole of heaven was standing by to act to bring about His deliverance (Mat 26:53). But it was not to be).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Ver. 47. And one of them ] Beza gathered from this text that Mark received not this Gospel from Peter, because Peter would no less have confessed this rashness in himself than he had done his denial of his Master.
And cut off his ear ] This was his indiscreet zeal, proceeding ab affectu carnis, non ab afflatu Spiritus sancti, from the flesh, not spirit. (Piscator.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 14:47-52 . Attempt at rescue .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mar 14:47 . . ., one of those standing by, i.e. , one of the three, Peter according to the fourth gospel (Joh 18:10 ). ., the sword = his sword, as if each disciple was armed; vide on Mt. = , T.R., diminutive of ; the use of diminutives for the members of the body was common in popular speech. Vide Lobeck, Phryn., p. 211.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
one of them, &c. This was Peter (not named in Matthew, Mark, or Luke, but only in Joh 18:10).
drew a sword. Compare Luk 22:35-38.
a servant = the servant. See note on Mat 26:51.
ear. Greek. otion; but all the texts read otarion. See note on Mat 26:51.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 26:51-54, Luk 22:49-51, Joh 18:10, Joh 18:11
Reciprocal: Luk 22:50 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
The one who used the sword was Peter (Joh 18:10). See the remarks that Jesus made to Peter and my comments on the same at Mat 26:52.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 14:47. The stroke of Peter is mentioned most briefly here.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 47
It was Peter; John 18:10 records his name.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
THE REALITY
47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
Peter (John’s account names him) shows his extreme interest in the Lord by drawing his sword and hacking off an ear. Christ, though not recorded by Mark, healed the man’s ear – what did that man think, being in the capturing crowd and knowing the man being arrested was more than his employers had made out.
Now I have no idea what was in Peter’s mind when he swung that sword but to get an ear off it would have had to have been traveling in a vertical plain and fairly quickly to cut it off. A fisherman was good at casting nets but a sword is a bit different. Unless Peter had been practicing for three years it would seem safe to assume that he did not hit his mark, indeed someone’s head must have been in his sights originally and only someone’s quick ducking response kept him from being a raising from the dead miracle.
As we have often done in this study, how do you think this man felt, first to have lost an ear, the pain, the realization of being defaced and then of being healed by the man you are assisting to arrest. Imagine the man feeling that pain disappear and knowing that the ear is whole – his mind must have been awash in emotion, intellectual struggles and mixed feelings about hisinvolvement.
Jesus clarifies everyone’s thinking by asking them why they did not take Him while He was in the temple. There does not seem to be an answer in any of the Gospels. It was obvious that they were being secretive and that they feared the people had they done anything publicly.
The detractors came at night, in secret; and so it often is in the church. When trouble arises it is not at the business meeting, but usually in the background where people can do their work in secret. Business meetings have their own type of problems, but watch for those things going on in the background.
So often trouble hatches when people in the background get together to stir their little pots of plots. The several times when other believers have determined to cause our family/ministry problems it has always been a few back there in the shadows plotting and causing problems that they would never make known in public. The sad part is these shadowy plots often come to fruition and often there is nothing that you can do to counter the attack. Yes, God knows all of the plots and all of the shadowy figures involved so we need not worry about retribution or making known the culprits. He will deal with them in HIS OWN GOOD TIME; it will not be a time of refreshing for either party for a healthy amount of dread for them is held on my part.
There is indication in what the Lord said about being in the temple that they really had no reason for Judas in that they knew Christ and what He looked like. One of my professors years ago suggested the following as a reason for needing Judas. “The Romans might have seen and known the Lord but how much can you see by torchlight – anyway those Jews all look alike so who would be able to tell Jesus from the rest?”
Of course the Romans were not the ones that wanted Him arrested and we do not know that Romans were in the group but John seems to leave that possibility open when he mentions (Joh 18:3) “Judas then, having received the band of soldiers , and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.” Whether the solders and officers were Roman or Jewish we do not know at this point.
Mat 26:53 brings up another interesting topic. “Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Imagine the shock on the part of the Jews if this had happened. This proves that Christ GAVE His life rather than it being taken from Him. At any point in the process from the arrest to the death, He could have stopped the whole process by seeking the assistance of the Father.
His having this knowledge also relates to His prayer in the garden asking for all of this to go away but submitting to the Father’s will. He could have simply stopped it all; yet He submitted to God and went forward with what He knew was about to come to pass.
Now being the worrywart that I have been known to be, I think I would have considered going home after such a comment if I were with the Jewish leaders. I cannot imagine twelve angels being a good sight at that moment much less twelve legion! My guess is I am out of there withsuch possibilities unless I really was convinced that this guy was a nut case.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
14:47 And {k} one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
(k) That is, Peter.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Perhaps shame led Mark to conceal the fact that it was Peter who cut off Malchus’ ear, evidently in a misdirected attempt to cut off his head (cf. Joh 18:10). Peter’s lack of prayer resulted in a lack of poise that contrasts sharply with Jesus’ behavior. He had not only boasted too much (Mar 14:29; Mar 14:31) and prayed too little (Mar 14:37; Mar 14:40-41), but he also acted too violently.