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 6:20 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:20 speaks about the complex relationship between Herod Antipas, the tetrarch (ruler) of Galilee and Perea, and John the Baptist, a prominent prophetic figure who preached about the coming of the Kingdom of God.

This verse captures Herod's attitude toward John: though Herod had John imprisoned, he recognized John's righteousness and holiness.

Despite the potential threat that John's influence posed to Herod's authority, Herod was drawn to John's teachings and found himself protecting John from further harm.

He listened to John willingly and with interest, and was influenced by him to some degree, as he 'did many things' possibly in response to what John said.

This relationship is paradoxical because, despite Herod's respect and fascination with John, he eventually orders John's execution.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in a time when Judea was under Roman control, and the Jews were living under the authority of local rulers like Herod Antipas, who was a son of Herod the Great.

John the Baptist had been speaking out against Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother's former wife, which was unlawful according to Jewish law.

Herod arrested John to silence him but hesitated to kill him because of his recognition of John's spiritual authority and popularity with the people.

Herod's fear of John suggests a belief in a divine presence within John, which was also a fear of potential unrest among the followers of John.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints interpret Herod's reaction to John the Baptist in a variety of ways.

One perspective might suggest that Herod's conscience was pricked by John's moral and holy life, recognizing the presence of God in John's actions.

Another view could consider the passage as highlighting the power of truth and the often-conflicted human response to it; even those in power, like Herod, can be drawn to the divine truth, yet their worldly interests can prevent them from fully embracing it.

This verse also highlights the mysterious workings of God's providence in how God can use even a flawed ruler's respect for a prophet to protect him for a time.

Practical Applications

The story of Herod and John highlights several practical applications for everyday life.

It teaches the importance of standing for what is right, even in the face of opposition from powerful individuals.

It also encourages individuals to discern wisely and protect those who speak truth, even if it may cause discomfort or challenge their lifestyle.

Additionally, it warns against the whims of those in power and the crucial balance between respecting authority and holding it accountable.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:3-5: "For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet."

Luke 3:19-20: "But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"feared" (Greek: "phobeomai"), which can imply a mixture of fear, respect, or reverence.
"just" (Greek: "dikaios"), meaning righteous or upright.
"holy" (Greek: "hosios"), suggesting piety or sanctity towards God.
"observed" (Greek: "tereo"), which means to keep, guard, or protect.
"heard" (Greek: "akouo"), referring to listening or giving attention to.
"did many things" (Greek: "polla poieo"), which may suggest taking action or being compelled to do various things.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The story echoes ancient themes of prophets confronting rulers, as seen in various other cultures and religious traditions.

For example, in the Hebrew Bible, prophets like Nathan, Elijah, and Isaiah spoke truth to power when confronting kings like David, Ahab, and Uzziah.

Such themes are universal, highlighting the often-tense relationship between the prophetic voice and political authority.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific study does not typically intersect directly with biblical narratives.

However, psychology may provide insight into the human behavior exhibited in the verse.

Herod's actions can be seen through the lens of cognitive dissonance, which occurs when an individual has conflicting thoughts or beliefs, particularly as they relate to moral judgments.

The tension Herod feels between his respect for John and his unlawful actions reflects this psychological phenomenon.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this passage tend to emphasize Herod's internal conflict and the influence John had over him, despite John's imprisonment. They note Herod's reluctance to execute John, suggesting that he was aware of John's moral and spiritual authority.

Scholars also reflect on how the story illustrates the precarious position of religious figures in political landscapes, and the ways in which political leaders can be both attracted and threatened by the moral force of such figures.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:20 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 6:20 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?