Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 9:20
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tore him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
20. straightway the spirit ] The mere introduction to our Lord brings on one of the sudden and terrible paroxysms, to which he was liable.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 20. When he saw him the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, c.] When this demon saw Jesus, he had great rage, knowing that his time was short and hence the extraordinary convulsions mentioned above.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
20. And they brought him unto him:and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare himJust asthe man with the legion of demons, “when he saw Jesus,ran and worshipped Him” (Mr5:6), so this demon, when he saw Him, immediately “tarehim.” The feeling of terror and rage was the same in both cases.
and he fell on the ground,and wallowed foamingStill Jesus does nothing, but keepsconversing with the father about the casepartly to have itsdesperate features told out by him who knew them best, in the hearingof the spectators; partly to let its virulence have time to showitself; and partly to deepen the exercise of the father’s soul, todraw out his faith, and thus to prepare both him and the by-standersfor what He was to do.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they brought him unto him,…. The father of the child, and those that were with him, brought the child to Jesus, into his presence, before him:
and when he saw him, that is, either when Jesus saw the child, or the child saw Jesus; or the evil spirit in him, and by him which were all at once:
straightway the spirit tare him; threw him into a violent fit, shook him, and convulsed him in a dreadful manner; knowing his time was short, and being filled with indignation and rage, that he should be obliged, as he knew he must, to leave the child very speedily; and was therefore resolved to do all the mischief, and put him to all the pain he could:
and he fell on the ground; at the feet of Jesus, not being able to stand, through the violent motions and convulsions he threw him into:
and wallowed, foaming; rolled about from side to side, foaming at the mouth, and in the most exquisite rack and torture.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Tare him grievously ( ). Lu 9:42 has both (dashed down, like Mr 9:18, ) and (convulsed). This compound with – (together with), strengthens the force of the verb as in (Mr 4:7) and (6:20). The only other instance of this compound verb known is in Maximus Tyrius (second century B.C.).
Wallowed (). Imperfect passive, was rolled. A pitiful sight. Late form of the old .
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Mark is more specific in his detail of the convulsion which seized the lad as he was coming to Jesus. He notes the convulsion as coming on at the demoniac’s sight of our Lord. “When he saw him, straightway the spirit,” etc. Also his falling on the ground, wallowing and foaming. We might expect the detail of these symptoms in Luke, the physician.
21 – 27. Peculiar to Mark. He gives the dialogue between Jesus and the boy ‘s father, and relates the process of the cure in graphic detail.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) ”And they brought him to Him (kai enegkan pros auton) ”And they brought him to Him,” to Jesus for help, as four men of mercy and care had once brought the palsied man to Jesus, Mar 2:1-11.
2) ”And when he saw Him,” (kai idon a uton) “And upon seeing Him,” when the dumb demon possessed young man saw Jesus, Mat 17:15.
3) ”Straightway the spirit tare him,” (to pneuma euthus sunesparalksen auton) ”The dumb, deranged spirit suddenly threw him clown, violently,” Luk 9:42.
4) “And lie fell to the ground,” (kai peson ear tes ges) ”And having fallen upon the ground,” with the dumb spirit, the deranged demon seizure.
5) “And wallowed foaming.” (ekulieto aphrizon) ”He wallowed (on the ground) foaming at the mouth,” as the demon struggled for possession, with malice, to hurt him this way, for the last time, Rev 12:12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 9:20
. And as soon as he saw him. That the devil should rage with more than ordinary cruelty against the man, when he is brought to Christ, ought not to excite surprise; for in proportion as the grace of Christ is seen to be nearer at hand, and acts more powerfully, the fury of Satan is the more highly excited. The presence of Christ awakens him like the sound of a trumpet. He raises as violent a storm as he can, and contends with all his might. We ought to be prepared beforehand with such meditations, that our faith may not be disturbed, when the approach of the grace of Christ is met by more than ordinary violence on the part of our enemy. Nor ought we to lose sight of another point, that the true commencement of our cure is, when our affliction is so heavy that we are almost at the point of death. It must also be taken into account that, by means of the furious attack of Satan, our Lord lights a torch to cause his grace to be seen; for, when the spectators were appalled at the dreadful spectacle, the display of the power of Christ, which immediately followed, was more distinctly perceived.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) He fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.Another graphic touch found only in St. Mark.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And they brought him to him. And when he saw him immediately the spirit tore him grievously, and he fell on the ground and wallowed foaming.’
They went to fetch the boy who was being kept apart, probably under guard. And as soon as he saw Jesus (Luke brings out that it was while the boy was approaching), the effect of seeing Him was to disturb the dumb spirit which immediately expressed its dismay by an acute attack on the boy. But we note that it did not cry out, for it was a ‘dumb’ spirit. Mere epilepsy alone would not have caused such an effect for naturally speaking there was nothing about Jesus which would produce an epileptic fit and the boy himself would not necessarily have known Jesus. And had it been only epilepsy Jesus would have dealt with it differently. Rather He was aware that there was a powerful spirit possessing the boy and that it was deeply disturbed. It had cause to be, for it knew that here was One Whom it could not resist or deceive.
As the boy approached Jesus it would appear that the crowd did not at first follow, leaving it to a few of their number to take the young man to Jesus.. They may well have been afraid to come too close to the situation until they were sure Jesus had it well under control. They were aware that what was being dealt with was very powerful. Or perhaps the disciples had asked them to give Jesus some room. But it seems that they watched at a distance to see what would happen. This gave Jesus space in which to ascertain the full situation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 9:20-24. The spirit tare him Cast him into convulsions. Doubtless Jesus could easily have prevented this attack; but he wisely permitted it, that the minds of the spectators might be impressed with a more lively notion of the young man’s distress. It was for the same reason also that he asked his father how long he had been in that deplorable condition? who informed him, that he had been so even from his childhood. The afflicted father, greatly discouraged by the inability of our Lord’s disciples, and dispirited by the sight of his son’s misery, and by the remembrance of its long continuance, was afraid that this possession might surpass the power even of Jesus himself, as the scribes averred; and so could not help expressing his doubts and fears, If thou canst do any thing, &c. Wherefore, to make him sensible of his mistake, Jesus said unto him, Mar 9:23 in allusion to the expressions of diffidence which he had uttered, If thou canst believe, &c. The father, hearing this, cried out with tears, that he believed; and besought Jesus to supply, by his goodness and pity, whatever deficiency he might find in his faith, Mar 9:24. As Christ’s miracles were the proof of his mission, it may seem strange that on this and several other occasions, (see Mat 9:28.) before he would work the desired miracles, he required the subjects of them to believe on him. Perhaps these were the reasons: 1. His enemies frequently desired to see signs or miracles, feigning a disposition to believe (Mat 16:1.): but the persons they brought to be cured, and the signs that they demanded, being generally such as they hoped would prove superior to his power, their true intention was, that, failing in the attempt, he should expose himself. For Jesus, therefore, to have wrought miracles in such circumstances, would have served scarcely any purpose, unless it was to gratify the unreasonable curiosity of his enemies, or rather their malignant disposition; a conduct, which instead of convincing must have enraged them, and prompted them to contrive, if possible, some more speedy method of destroying him. We know that Lazarus’s resurrection had this effect; which is an incontestable demonstration that the obstinacy of Christ’s enemies was not to be overcome by any evidence, how clear or strong soever; and therefore he in his divine wisdom avoided performing miracles before this sort of persons, who could not be profited by them; as for instance, in his own country, where he did not many mighty works, because of their unbelief. Mat 13:58. For the same reason, when any came to him begging miraculous cures, whether for themselves or others, it was very proper to ask, if the cure was sought to gratify a vain curiosity, and with secret hopes that Jesus would fail in the attempt, or from a real persuasion that he was able to perform it. Our Lord, it is true, was intimately acquainted with the thoughts and intentions of all men, and so had no needto put this question for his own information; but he did it to signify, that he would not work miracles merely to gratify the evil dispositions of unreasonable men. 2. It should be considered, that while the secular power did not interpose its authority to support the credit of our Lord’s miracles, the more universally the faith of them prevailed in the country, where, and at the same time when they were wrought, the greater must their evidence be to us in after-times. Because such a general persuasion demonstrates, that our Lord’s miracles were publicly performed; that many persons were present at them; that the eye-witnesses entertained no doubt of them; and that they related them to others, who, giving their testimony, believed them to be real. In this view of the matter, it concerns us not a little to know the opinion which our Lord’s countrymen entertained of him, and of his works. We may therefore justly suppose, that one of the reasons of his asking those who came to him, if they believed that he was able toperform the cures they solicited, might be, to make us, who live in after-times, sensible how far the reports of his miracles were spread, how firmly they were believed, how great was the number of those who believed them, and how highly he himself was reverenced on account of them. This observation shews the wisdom and propriety of the expression which our Lord often made use of in conferring his miraculous cures; Mat 8:13. As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. Mat 9:22. Thy faith hath made thee whole. Luk 8:50. Believe only, and she shall be made whole. Luk 18:42. Thy faith hath saved thee. For the cures following leave us no room to suspect, that the declarations which they gave of their faith in his miracles were feigned or doubtful. See Luk 8:48. But, 3 and especially, it must be added, that faith in the goodness and power of Christ, tended so much to the glory of the Creator, and the humiliation of the creature, that above all things it prepared the poor petitioner to receive the benefitofourLord’smiraculousinterference;which,consistentlywithhisownhonour and perfections, he could in this case exert to the uttermost.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Ver. 20. The spirit tare him ] Thus things often go backward ere they come forward; as the corn grows downward before it comes upward. Duplicantur lateres, venit Moses. This child had never such a sore fit, as now that he was to be cured. See Mar 9:26 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
20. ] is out of strict concord with , but has regard to its personal signification: see also Mar 9:26 below. This construction is often found in the Apocalypse (reff.).
“The kingdom of Satan, in small and great, is ever stirred into a fiercer activity by the coming near of the kingdom of Christ. Satan has great wrath, when his time is short.” (Trench, Mir. 365.)
Mar 9:21-27 are peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 9:20 . may be taken as referring to the boy (Schanz), in which case we should have an anacolouthistic nominative for the accusative, the writer having in view to express his meaning in passives ( ); or to the spirit ( ) by a construction ad sensum = the spirit seeing Jesus made a last attack (Weiss in Meyer, et al. ). This is most in keeping with the mode of conceiving the matter natural to the evangelist. The visible fact was a fresh fit, and the explanation, from the possession point of view, that the spirit, seeing Jesus, and knowing that his power was at an end, made a final assault.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
when he saw Him. A Divine supplement, here.
tare = convulsed.
wallowed foaming. These details are Divine supplements, here,
wallowed = began to roll about.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
20.] is out of strict concord with , but has regard to its personal signification: see also Mar 9:26 below. This construction is often found in the Apocalypse (reff.).
The kingdom of Satan, in small and great, is ever stirred into a fiercer activity by the coming near of the kingdom of Christ. Satan has great wrath, when his time is short. (Trench, Mir. 365.)
Mar 9:21-27 are peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
This miracle is one that shows the transforming power of the Saviour in a remarkable fashion.
Mar 9:20-21. And when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
A terrible case.
Mar 9:22-25. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
That is one way in which Christ cures. When he drives the devil out of a man, he adds, Enter no more into him. I believe in the final perseverance of the saints, because I believe in the omnipotent ejection of Satan out of men, when Christ speaks the word, Come out of him, and enter no more into him.
Mar 9:26-29. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them,
According to another evangelist, it was from want of faith. Howbeit, he added:
Mar 9:29. This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
God does not give us everything in answer to one prayer. It may be necessary for some blessings that the prayer should be reiterated that it should deepen that it should grow into an aching. It may be even necessary, in order that a blessing should come, that fasting should be used with prayer in order to show the intense eagerness and earnestness of the petitioner.
Now notice the 38th verse.
Mar 9:38. And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
John in this case was like a good many people at the present day. You notice it. They could not cast out the devils themselves, and when they found somebody else that did it, they forbade his doing it because he did not follow with them. I have known learned, eloquent, respectable ministers who cannot save sinners. And they hear that certain poor, illiterate, uneducated men have snatched sinners like brands from the burning, and they forbid them to do what they cannot do themselves. It is insanity that would stop any man from doing what God enables him to do; and we ought to be the very last to forbid others from doing it.
Mar 9:39. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
These people were dissenters, we may say a sort of outsiders. And John puts forth the whole power of his apostolical authority to put them down; and then Jesus Christ puts forth the full power of his divine authority to give them liberty to go on.
Mar 9:40-41. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Fuente: Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible
Mar 9:20. ) Others read , which is to be referred to . Comp. Heupelii annot. on Mark, p. 230. remains the established reading, i.e. the boy seeing Him, viz. Jesus: and the construction is conveniently analysed and explained by Hyperbaton,[5] and seeing Him and falling, etc.; wherein the straightway, etc., interrupts the construction the less violently, inasmuch as it is all the same as if he were to say, forthwith he was torn by the spirit. A similar figure of speech occurs, ch. Mar 3:17.
[5] Words transposed contrary to the ordinary and natural construction: (the boy) (Jesus); (the boy) (Jesus), (the boy); (the boy), etc.-ED. and TRANSL.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
the spirit: Mar 9:18, Mar 9:26, Mar 1:26, Mar 5:3-5, Job 1:10-12, Job 2:6-8, Luk 4:35, Luk 8:29, Luk 9:42, Joh 8:44, 1Pe 5:8
Reciprocal: Mat 17:15 – for Luk 9:39 – lo
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
0
These terrible symptoms were the results of being possessed with a devil. The devils knew Jesus and feared him, but as a desperate piece of vengeance when this one saw Jesus he overcame the boy and inflicted the injuries mentioned.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 9:20. And when he saw him. When the lad saw Jesus, the spirit convulsed him. But the original gives a stronger hint of the intimate connection between the demon and the possessed person. The kingdom of Satan, in small and great, is ever stirred into a fiercer activity by the coming near of the kingdom of Christ Satan has great wrath, when his time is short (Trench).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mar 9:20-22. And when he saw him When the child saw Jesus, being brought to him by his father: when his deliverance was at hand; immediately the spirit tore him Made his last, grand effort to destroy him. Is it not generally so, before Satan relinquishes his power over a soul of which he has long had possession? And he (Christ) asked, How long is it, &c. The Lord Jesus made this inquiry for the same reason for which he suffered Satan to make the violent attack upon the youth just mentioned, namely, that the spectators might be impressed with a more lively sense of his deplorable condition. And he said, From a child Greek, , from his childhood, or, as some render it, from his infancy. And ofttimes it The evil spirit; hath cast him into the fire, &c., to destroy him Such is the power it has over him, and such its infernal rage and malice! But if thou canst do any thing In so desperate a case; have compassion on us On me as well as him; and help us The afflicted father, greatly discouraged by the inability of our Lords disciples, and dispirited by the sight of his sons misery, and by the remembrance of its long continuance, was afraid this possession might surpass the power of Jesus himself, and therefore spoke thus, expressing his doubts and fears in a manner very natural, and yet strongly pathetic, and obliquely interesting the honour of Christ in the issue of the affair.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Verse 20
These are the symptoms of a disease called epilepsy. In the different cases recorded, various maladies, mental and bodily, are described as resulting from the demoniacal influence.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he {g} saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
(g) As soon as Jesus had looked upon the boy that was brought to him, the demon began to rage in this way.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Mark’s unique record of Jesus’ question shows His compassion. Demons had afflicted the boy for several years. Evidently the failure of the nine disciples weakened the father’s confidence in Jesus to help his son.