PrevMark 9:34Next

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 9:34 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:34 captures a poignant moment in the lives of Jesus' disciples. As they traveled, Jesus overheard them arguing about who among them was the greatest. In other words, they were disputing their own ranks and status within their group.

This verse immediately highlights human concerns about importance, social standing, and the desire for recognition.

On a deeper level, the verse is ironic because the very nature of their argument was antithetical to the teachings of Jesus, who consistently emphasized humility and serving others.

The disciples' silence when Jesus questioned them about their argument suggests shame or embarrassment, as they recognized their fault in light of his values.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This incident takes place during Jesus' ministry, with the historical backdrop of first-century Judea under Roman occupation.

During this time, there was a rigid social hierarchy and a culture that greatly valued honor and status.

The disciples, as part of this culture, would have been naturally inclined to seek positions of honor, and their argument reflected the societal norms of their day.

However, Jesus' ministry often turned these societal norms on their head, advocating a reversal of roles where the last would be first and the first would be last (Mark 10:31).

Theological Insights

The theological importance of Mark 9:34 varies among different traditions and scholars.

From a Christian perspective, it serves as a reminder that the Kingdom of God operates on principles different from worldly ambitions and statuses.

Humility and servitude are elevated above personal glory and leadership.

For some, the passage reinforces Jesus' role as a radical teacher who came to subvert the expectations of human society, calling for a transformative approach to interpersonal relationships.

Others may see the silence of the disciples as indicative of the tension between human frailty and divine ideals.

Practical Applications

In daily life, the message of Mark 9:34 speaks to the importance of self-reflection and humility.

The story encourages individuals to consider the motivations behind their actions and to prioritize communal harmony and service over personal ambition.

Followers of Jesus are reminded to question their own desires for status and to foster a culture of servant leadership in their communities and personal lives.

It challenges people to appraise their values and to model behavior that uplifts others rather than seeking their own exaltation.

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 9:46-48: "Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest."
Mark 10:35-45: "And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all."
Matthew 23:11-12: "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text are "σιωπάω" (siōpaō) which means "they kept silent" and "συνζητέω" (synzēteō), translated as "to dispute" or "to discuss thoroughly".

Looking at the root words helps understand the nature of the disciples' argument and their subsequent silence.

It's a silence of hesitance or embarrassment rather than calm reflection, which indicates the impact of Jesus' inquiry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other ancient myths and religious interpretations, the disciples' argument for greatness could be seen parallel to the quests for honor and status common in Greek and Roman mythologies, where gods and heroes vie for superiority.

However, the teachings of Jesus greatly contrast with these myths by advocating humility.

In the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, there is a similar concept where Lord Krishna preaches about selfless action and modesty, suggesting a common thread in various religious teachings about the subjugation of the personal ego for a greater good.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern psychological and sociological standpoint, the verse touches on fundamental aspects of human behavior such as group dynamics, ego, and social status.

Social psychologists study how factors like in-group favoritism and status-seeking behavior influence human interactions.

Jesus' response can be seen as advocating for an alternative social structure wherein collaborative and selfless behaviors are rewarded, which aligns with some findings in social science that suggest cooperative groups often outperform those driven by competition and status.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered insights into this passage.

William Barclay notes the humanity displayed by the disciples and their misunderstanding of the true nature of greatness.

John Calvin comments on the inappropriateness of the disciples' dispute and Jesus' role in correcting their misunderstandings through teaching about servitude.

Matthew Henry emphasizes the quiet awareness of sin the disciples felt when faced with their teacher's question, suggesting this reflects a broader human tendency to struggle with the desire for recognition in tension with the virtues of humility and service.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:34 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 9:34 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?