Mark 6

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

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.

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

And they did all eat, and were filled.

And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

What does Mark 6:10 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:10 offers guidance from Jesus to his disciples as they prepare to go out and share His teachings.

The instruction is straightforward: when they enter a house, they are to stay there until they leave the area.

On a surface level, this command emphasizes hospitality and the practice of accepting the kindness offered by a host without seeking to improve one's lot by moving to a different, perhaps more affluent, house.

More deeply, the verse teaches contentment, humility, and reliance on God's provision through the generosity of others.

It stresses the importance of forming sincere and stable relationships with those they minister to, rather than using their welcome for personal gain or constantly seeking better accommodations.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, Judean society was heavily based on hospitality.

Travelers often depended on the kindness of strangers for lodging and food, as inns were scarce and could be dangerous places.

Hospitality was a sacred duty, and receiving it created a bond between host and guest.

To the itinerant preacher and his followers, these practices were central to their mission.

Jesus' instruction reflects these cultural norms and also serves to keep the disciples humble and focused on their mission rather than their comfort.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse reflects the concept of divine providence , God's will providing for the needs of His followers.

By telling His disciples to stay in one house per town, Jesus assures them that God will meet their needs through their initial hosts.

This command also touches upon the value of communal sharing and generosity, concepts important in Christian communities.

Theologically, the verse can also be seen as a critique of materialism and the human tendency to seek out the best for oneself, as it instructs the disciples to be content with their initial circumstances.

It emphasizes the mission over material comfort, showing that their work is not about personal gain but about the spiritual work they are called to do.

Practical Applications

In today's terms, Mark 6:10 could be interpreted as a call to be content with what one has, and to value relationships and mission over material gain.

It might be applied by choosing to appreciate and build upon the relationships and opportunities one is given, rather than looking for something better elsewhere.

It can also be used to foster a spirit of hospitality in individuals and congregations, recognizing and honoring the generosity of others.

Cross-References

Luke 9:4: "And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart."
Luke 10:5-7: "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house."
Matthew 10:11-13: "And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek from Mark 6:10 include:

"enter into" (εἰσέλθητε, eiselthēte): to go or come into a place.
"house" (οἶκον, oikon): a dwelling; a home.
"abide" (μείνατε, meinete): to stay, remain, or continue.
"depart" (ἐκεῖθεν ἐξέρχησθε, ekeithen exerchēsthe): to go out or exit from there.

Each word underscores the concepts of location, stability, and movement, which are central to the instruction provided by Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, and still in some cultures today, hospitality was and is considered a virtue of the highest order.

Comparable would be the Ancient Greek concept of "xenia," which was the hospitality and generosity shown to those who were far from home.

Religious interpretations that emphasize community and shared resources, such as the practices of monastic communities or the early Christian church described in Acts, echo the values indicated in Mark 6:10.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives may not directly relate to the verse but understanding human psychology and sociology can offer insights.

Studies about human well-being suggest that people who practice gratitude, including appreciation for hospitality and contentment with their circumstances, often experience increased happiness and lowered stress.

This could be seen as a scientific parallel to the emotional and spiritual steadiness Jesus encourages in his disciples through such teachings.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various insights into Mark 6:10:

Some point to this verse as a lesson in humility and dependence on God instead of one's own plans or comforts.
Others debate the strategic aspect of Jesus' instruction, noting that it allowed the disciples to focus on their teaching without being distracted by the daily concerns of where they would stay.
Some modern commentaries see this verse as an example of intentional community-building, by fostering deep connections in each place the disciples visited.
Additionally, there's an acknowledgment of a practical measure to ensure the safety and well-being of the disciples by having them stay in a single household, which could provide a consistent and secure base during their stay in a new town.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 6:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?