Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 6
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Mark 6
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Mark 6
"And he went out from thence; and he cometh into his own country; and his disciples follow him." — Mark 6:1 (ASV)
Jesus now traveled to his hometown of Nazareth. Even though he was born in Bethlehem, his family lived in Nazareth and he had been brought up there (Matthew 2:1, 23; Lk 2:1-7, 39-40). Jesus came here as a rabbi accompanied by his disciples.
"And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and, What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and [what mean] such mighty works wrought by his hands?" — Mark 6:2 (ASV)
On the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach . This probably was the first time his fellow townsmen had actually heard Jesus teach, and many of them were amazed. But with some of them, there was an undercurrent of doubt as they wondered about the source of his teaching and his miracles. They were either from God or from Satan. Which?
"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him." — Mark 6:3 (ASV)
The hostility of Jesus’ townspeople toward him came out more clearly in the rhetorical questions in this verse. In essence they were asking: Isn’t he just a common ordinary fellow who makes his living with his hands like the rest of us? How is it that he is parading as a rabbi and miracle-worker? The question “Isn’t this Mary’s son?” seems also to be derogatory since it was not customary among Jews to describe a man as the son of his mother; behind this question may be the rumor, circulated during Jesus’ lifetime, that he was illegitimate (cf. Jn 4:41; 9:29). The brothers and sisters of Jesus mentioned here were probably children born to Mary and Joseph. James was likely the oldest and was certainly the best known of Jesus’ brothers. He was closely identified with the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19) and was probably the author of the epistle of James (James 1:1). Jude was probably the author of the book of Jude. We know nothing of Joseph and Simon. The townspeople of Nazareth were offended at Jesus, and they refused to believe in him or his word.
"And Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." — Mark 6:4 (ASV)
Jesus responded to the doubts raised about the legitimacy of his teaching and his miracles by a proverb that has parallels in both Jewish and Greek literature. The people of Nazareth were incapable of appreciating who Jesus was because, like Jesus’ own family, they identified him so closely with themselves.
"And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages teaching." — Mark 6:5-6 (ASV)
(5–6a) Verse 5 is a bold statement in that it refers to something Jesus could not do. He did, of course, have the power to do miracles in Nazareth. His inability was related to the moral situation. In the climate of unbelief he chose not to exercise his miraculous power. One of the great emphases of Mark’s gospel is that Jesus performs his miracles in response to faith. Jesus expressed amazement at their lack of faith. Apparently he did not expect such a response from his own townspeople.
(6b) Verse 6b probably belongs with vv.7–13. As a result of the village ministry, Jesus decided to send out the Twelve, presumably to increase his own ministry through them.
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