Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 5:40
And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
Verse 40. The father and the mother] Prudence required that they should be present, and be witnesses of the miracle.
And them that were with him] That is, Peter, James, and John, Mr 5:37. It is remarkable that our Lord gave a particular preference to these three disciples, beyond all the rest, on three very important occasions:
1. They were present at the transfiguration.
2. At the raising of Jairus’s daughter.
3. At his agony in the garden of Gethsemane.
Where the damsel was lying.] , lying. This word is very doubtful. BDL, one other, Coptic, and later Arabic, with five of the Itala, omit it. Other MSS. express the same idea in five different words: Griesbach leaves it out of the text. See his Testament.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
40. And they laughed him toscornrather, simply, “laughed at Him””knowingthat she was dead” (Lu 8:53);an important testimony this to the reality of her death.
But when he had put them alloutThe word is strong”turned them all out”;meaning all those who were making this noise, and any others that mayhave been there from sympathy, that only those might be present whowere most nearly concerned, and those whom He had Himself brought aswitnesses of the great act about to be done.
he taketh the father and themother of the damsel, and them that were with himPeter, andJames, and John.
and entereth in where thedamsel was lying.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they laughed him to scorn,…. The servants of the house that had laid her out; and the neighbours and relations that were come in on this occasion, and had satisfied themselves that she was dead; and the players on the pipe and flute, with the mourning women, who got their livelihood this way; [See comments on Mt 9:24];
but when he had put them all out: of the house, or that part of it where he was; that is, ordered them to depart, with the leave and consent of the master of the house:
he taketh the father, and the mother, of the damsel, and them that were with him: either with Jairus, who had accompanied him to Christ, and returned with him; the Ethiopic version reads it, “with them”, who were with the father and the mother of the damsel, their near relations, and intimate friends; or rather with Christ, namely, the three disciples, Peter, James, and John;
and entereth in where the damsel was lying; into an inner room, where the child was laid out on a bed.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And they laughed him to scorn ( ). “They jeered at him” (Weymouth). Note imperfect tense. They kept it up. And note also – (perfective use). Exactly the same words in Mt 9:24 and Lu 8:53. The loud laughter was ill suited to the solemn occasion. But Jesus on his part ( ) took charge of the situation.
Taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him ( ‘ ). Having put out () the rest by a stern assertion of authority as if he were master of the house, Jesus takes along with him these five and enters the chamber of death “where the child was” ( ). He had to use pressure to make the hired mourners leave. The presence of some people will ruin the atmosphere for spiritual work.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Put them out. “Wonderful authority in the house of a stranger. He was really master of the house” (Bengel). Only Mark relates the taking of the parents with the three disciples into the chamber.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And they laughed Him to scorn,” (kai kategelon autou) “And they ridiculed or castigated Him,” with cynical skepticism. This public ridicule only accents the power of Jesus in the moments that soon followed, Psa 1:1-6.
2) “But when He had put them all out,” (autos de ekalon pantas) “Then He putting them all out,” those crying and howling, out of the room and area where the damsel or young child lay, as Peter later did, Act 9:40-41; 1Ki 17:19.
3) “He taketh the father and mother of the damsel,” (paralambanei ton patera tou paidiou kai ten matera) “He took the father and mother of the child,” the immediate family or parents. Those who mourned greatest should be the first to rejoice, 2Co 1:3-4.
4) “And them that were with Him,” (kai tous met’autou) “And the ones with Him,” Peter, James, and John, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be verified, Joh 8:17; Num 35:30; Deu 17:6.
5) “And entereth in where the damsel was lying.” (kai eiporeuetai hopou hen to paidion) “And went in where the child was,” in the sick or death chamber.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(40) They laughed him to scorn.Here again the verb implies continuous action.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘But he, having put them all out, takes the father of the child, and her mother, and those who were with him, and goes in where the child was. And taking the child by the hand he says to her “Talitha cumi”, which is being interpreted, ‘Young woman, I say to you, arise’. And immediately the young woman rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old.’
Jesus knew that He was about to perform what would seem to others as the miracle of miracles. He did not want witnesses who would spread the news like wildfire. So He only allowed into the bedroom the parents and His three disciples.
Then He took the child by the hand and called on her to arise. And she arose and walked. So easily under His hand do the dead come to life again. The description is very similar to the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Mar 1:31). Healing the sick and raising the dead were all one to Him. But there can be no question how Mark sees this, and indeed also Peter who was there. Jesus has revealed Himself as the Lord of life. The dead had risen!
Furthermore we should recognise that this was not an isolated incident He also raised the widow’s son at Nain (Luk 7:11-17) and both Mat 11:4-6 and Luk 7:22-23 mention Him as raising the dead generally, to say nothing of the raising of Lazarus (John 11). But the taking apart of the favoured three emphasises that in the case of Jairus’ daughter a lesson was meant to be learned, perhaps as a preparation for them to believe in His own resurrection.
‘Talitha coumi’. The manuscripts differ slightly (some have ‘coum’) but the meaning is clear. Mark regularly cites Aramaic words (Mar 3:17; Mar 7:11; Mar 7:34; Mar 11:9 following; Mar 14:36; Mar 15:22; Mar 15:34) and only on one other occasion is it connected with a miracle (Mar 7:34). Clearly the source liked to remember Jesus’ exact words so as to emphasise the vividness of the scene, and was there in the room.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 5:40. And they laughed him to scorn The mourner, not of understanding Jesus, laughed him to scorn when they heard him say, the damsel is not dead; for having seen all the marks and proofs of death about her, they were absolutely certain that she was dead; and yet, if they had given themselves time to consider, they might have understood that he spake in this manner, to intimate that he was going to raise her from the dead; and the rather, as he had been sent for by her parents to heal her miraculously. But his words were ambiguous; and the mourners naturally enough took them in the wrong sense: thus, while Jesus predicted the miracle, to shew that it did not happen by accident, he delivered himself in such terms, as modestly to avoid the reputation which might have accrued to him from so stupendous a work. The dispositions expressed by the mourners rendered them not worthy to behold the miracle. Jesus therefore put them even out of the antechamber; or hemight have done this to be freed from the noise of their lamentation. After clearing the antechamber, he entered where the corpse was lying, accompanied by none but the disciples above-mentioned, and the father and mother of the damsel; they being, of all persons, the most proper witnesses of the miracle, which in reality suffered nothing by the absence of the rest; for as they were all sensible that the child was dead, they could not but be certain of the miracle, when they saw her alive again, though possibly they might not know to whom the honour of her resurrection was due. It seems Jesus was not solicitous of appropriating itto himself; probably also, they went in thus slenderly attended, that the witnesses might have an opportunity to examine the whole transaction narrowly, and so be able to report it afterwards, upon the fullest assurance, and with every circumstance of credibility. It deserves particular attention, with what perfect decorum our Lord conducted himself on this occasion, and how superior he appeared to any views of human applause. See Lardner’s answer to Woolston, p. 89.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
Ver. 40. See Trapp on “ Mat 9:24 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
40. ] How capricious, according to modern criticism, must this Evangelist have been, who compiled his narrative out of Matt. and Luke, adding minute particulars in leaving out here (Luke), a detail so essential , if Mark had really been what he is represented. Can testimony be stronger to the untenableness of such a view, and the independence of his narration? And yet such abound in every chapter.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 5:40 . : this the point of the story for the evangelist, thinks Weiss, hence related after the demoniac common link, the unbelief of the people. But surely in this case in credulity was very excusable! , etc.: father, mother, and the three disciples taken into the sick chamber, the former as parents, the latter as witnesses.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
laughed Him to scorn = began laughing at Him. put them all out. He acted, as well as spoke, with “authority”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
40.] How capricious, according to modern criticism, must this Evangelist have been, who compiled his narrative out of Matt. and Luke, adding minute particulars-in leaving out here (Luke), a detail so essential, if Mark had really been what he is represented. Can testimony be stronger to the untenableness of such a view, and the independence of his narration? And yet such abound in every chapter.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 5:40. , they began to laugh Him down) with sorrowful laughter, free from insolence.-, having put out) Marvellous authority in a house, as one would have thought, judging externally, with which He had no connection. In reality there was in the house its true Lord.-) Therefore there were present three disciples, and three of the family, not more; comp. Mar 5:43.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
they: Gen 19:14, Neh 2:19, Job 12:4, Psa 22:7, Psa 123:3, Psa 123:4, Luk 16:14, Act 17:32
when: 2Ki 4:33, Mat 7:6, Mat 9:24, Mat 9:25, Luk 8:53, Luk 8:54
he taketh: He took just so many as prudence required, and as were sufficient to prove the reality of the cure; to have permitted the presence of more, might have savoured of ostentation.
Reciprocal: 2Ki 4:4 – thou shalt shut Mar 7:33 – he took Act 9:40 – put
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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They laughed at Jesus because they did not understand the two kinds of language. No reason is stated for putting the group out of the house, but it was appropriate to treat the people so in view of the hasty and undignified attitude they showed toward Jesus. He then took the parents of the girl, together with the three apostles, and entered the room where the body lay.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 5:40. Entereth in where the damsel was. The whole account, just here, seems to have been derived directly from Peter who was present.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 40
And them that were with him; Peter, James and John,–the first among the apostles, and the Savior’s most intimate and confidential friends. (Mark 5:37.)
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
5:40 {4} And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them {b} that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
(4) Such as mock and scorn Christ are unworthy to be witnesses of his goodness.
(b) The three disciples.