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 6:7 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:7 presents a key moment in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus, taking an important step in his ministry, empowers and sends out the twelve disciples to spread his message.

The act of sending them "by two and two" may symbolize the importance of fellowship and mutual support in ministry.

In granting them "power over unclean spirits," Jesus authorizes the disciples to confront and overcome evil influences, a task that was central to his own ministry.

This empowerment also indicates the transfer of Jesus' authority to his followers, validating their mission and message as they go forth.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated in the Gospel of Mark, which is commonly thought to be the earliest written gospel, dating from around 65-70 A.D.

The historical context includes a period of time when the early Christian community was forming its identity and practices in a largely Jewish society under Roman occupation.

Sending disciples in pairs was a customary practice in Jewish culture, as it provided legal testimony (based on Deuteronomy 19:15) and safety.

The act of exorcism, or casting out of unclean spirits, was also a recognized practice in the ancient world, seen as a battle against evil and a demonstration of divine power.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse holds several key insights.

First, it underscores the concept of apostolic succession, the idea that Jesus' authority and mission continue through his disciples and, by extension, the wider Church.

Second, it highlights the theme of spiritual warfare against evil, a recurring motif in the New Testament.

Different denominations interpret this empowerment and mission in various ways, with some seeing it as a literal continuation of the power to cast out demons, and others metaphorically, as overcoming sin and systemic evil.

Practical Applications

Mark 6:7 can offer several practical applications for believers today.

It encourages teamwork and partnership in ministry efforts, underscoring the idea that collaborative work can yield better support and accountability.

It also challenges individuals to confront injustices and negative influences in their communities by tapping into the authority they believe Jesus has vested in his followers.

More broadly, this passage inspires believers to take part actively in spreading their faith and making positive changes in the world.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:1: "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."
Luke 9:1: "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Ecclesiastes 4:9: "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour."
Deuteronomy 19:15: "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "gave them power" uses the word "ἐξουσίαν" (exousian), which means authority or jurisdiction. This term is often used in the context of legal or official power, implying a conferred authority recognized by others.

The term "unclean spirits" uses the Greek words "πνεύματα ἀκάθαρτα" (pneumata akatharta), denoting spirits that are impure or morally unclean, which in the cultural context, referred to various forms of malevolent supernatural entities.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient Near East, including Jewish culture, exorcisms were a common practice, often performed by priests or holy men.

The mandate given to the disciples has parallels with other religious figures who were believed to have control over spirits.

For instance, in Egyptian and Mesopotamian mythology, certain gods or priests were thought to have power to expel demons.

The practice of sending out emissaries in pairs can also be found in other religious traditions as a means of establishing credibility and providing support.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives generally do not support the existence of unclean spirits as they are portrayed in religious texts, preferring naturalistic explanations for phenomena that ancient cultures may have attributed to the supernatural.

However, in the fields of psychology and sociology, the concept of confronting "unclean spirits" can be viewed metaphorically, addressing mental health issues, social ills, and negative influences in a community.

The practice of sending people out in pairs corresponds with findings that supportive relationships can improve resilience and effectiveness in challenging situations.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse point to Jesus' strategic approach in mission work, pairing the disciples up for support and collaboration.

Various scholars emphasize that Jesus gave his disciples not just a task, but the necessary authority to carry it out, demonstrating his trust in their ability to continue his work.

Some commentaries also note that the choice to give power over unclean spirits rather than a more general power suggests a specific focus on liberating people from oppression, whether spiritual or societal.

Overall, commentators agree that this verse signals a pivotal expansion of Jesus’ ministry through his disciples.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:7 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 6:7 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?