Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 9:32

"But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him." — Mark 9:32 (ASV)

The disciples still did not understand. Mark does not soften this fact. Perhaps they were afraid of asking Jesus about what he had said because of their fear of facing a full disclosure of the suffering that lay ahead. Or they may have been fearful of being rebuked as Peter had been (8:33). Instead they chose to occupy themselves with arguing about who was the greatest among Jesus’ disciples (cf. vv.33–34).