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Mark 9

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

What does Mark 9:33 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:33 recounts an episode where Jesus, after arriving in the town of Capernaum, inquires his disciples what they had been arguing about among themselves on their journey.

The context of the question suggests that Jesus was aware of a disagreement or a dispute among the disciples, which they had not intended for him to hear. This incident takes place shortly after Jesus foretells his death and resurrection to the disciples, who fail to understand his message.

The verse calls attention to the humanity of the disciples who, like many people, were susceptible to disputes and had concerns about status and importance within their group.

The deeper meaning touches upon themes of humility, leadership, and understanding the nature of the Kingdom of God that Jesus often taught about.

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Historical Context

Mark 9:33 is set during the time of Jesus' ministry in the first century in the Jewish region of Galilee.

Capernaum was known as a significant base for Jesus' activities in the Gospels.

During this time, Jewish culture and society were heavily influenced by notions of honor and status.

This historical backdrop provides insight into why such a dispute about who was the greatest might have arisen among Jesus' disciples, status was an important aspect of that society.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse introduces the concept that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is found not in earthly status but in humility and service.

It suggests a reversal of worldly values, which is a common theme throughout Jesus' teachings.

The disciples' concern about their status reflected a misunderstanding of the nature of Jesus' mission and kingdom.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize Jesus' omniscience in being aware of the dispute, his teaching on servant leadership, or the disciples' need for spiritual growth.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse serves as a caution against getting caught up in arguments about personal greatness or status.

It encourages believers to adopt a mindset of servant leadership, where the goal is to serve others rather than outdoing them.

It teaches that recognition should not be sought for personal gain but instead a byproduct of genuine service to others.

The verse is a call to introspection about one's motivations and behavior within a community.

Cross-References

Matthew 18:1-4: "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Luke 22:24-27: "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest."
Mark 10:43-45: "But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister."

Language Study

"Disputed" (Greek: διελογίζεσθε, dielogizesthe) may imply an internal reasoning or debating, suggesting an ongoing process rather than a one-time argument.
"Capernaum" (Greek: Καφαρναούμ, Kapharnaoum) refers to the actual town where Jesus performed many miracles and taught frequently.
"By the way" (Greek: ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, en tē hodō) indicates both the physical journey they were on and could metaphorically represent their spiritual or life journey.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The issue of disputes over status and greatness is not unique to Christianity and can be found in many other cultural and religious contexts.

For example, many ancient myths involve gods or heroes striving for supremacy.

In Buddhism, there is a strong emphasis on the relinquishment of the ego, which contrasts with the striving for status.

In Hindu texts like the Bhagavad Gita, there is teaching on performing one's duty without attachment to the results, which similarly discourages pursuit of status for its own sake.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology might interpret the disciples' behavior through the lens of social comparison theory, which states that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others.

This incident could be seen as an example of this theory in practice, illustrating a universal human behavior that goes back to ancient times.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries provide insight into Mark 9:33.

For instance:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes how the disciples were ashamed to tell Jesus their dispute, indicating they knew it was base and carnal.
The ESV Study Bible notes how this verse sets the stage for Jesus to teach about true greatness in God's kingdom.
The MacArthur Study Bible may highlight how the incident shows the disciples' continued misunderstanding of Jesus' teaching on humility and the nature of his kingdom.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:33 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 9:33 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?