Mark 9 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

  • Mark 9:38-40 open_in_new

    The man casting out devils in Christ's name (Luke 9:49). The apostles report that a private Christian, who had not been called to the apostolic office ('he followeth not with us,' Lk), and had received no definite commission from Christ to work miracles, as the apostles had (Mark 3:15), was nevertheless casting out devils in Christ's name. Jealous for the privileges of their newly acquired office, they forbade him, but Christ says that they ought to have welcomed his help. Cp. the history of Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11:26), where Moses rebukes Joshua for the same jealous attitude. The lesson is that the spiritual gifts of the laity ought to be fully developed and utilised for the good of the Church, and that the clergy ought to welcome and not be jealous of their help.

  • Mark 9:39 open_in_new

    That can lightly speak evil of me] RV 'and be able quickly to speak evil of me.' The success of the man's ministry proved the genuineness of his faith. If he had been an enemy of Jesus, he could not have worked the miracles: see Acts 19:13.

  • Mark 9:40 open_in_new

    For he that is not against us is on our part] Much to be preferred is the more pointed version of Lk, which is also strongly attested here: 'For he that is not against you is for you' (Lk RV). The meaning is, The man, though without your apostolic commission, was doing, and doing successfully, the very same benevolent work that you were doing. You ought, therefore, to have esteemed him a friend and a helper, not an enemy. A jealous and exclusive spirit is unworthy of the ministers of Christ.

  • Mark 9:48 open_in_new

    Where their worm dieth not] Isaiah 66:24. Literally, the worm is the maggot bred in putrefying substances (Exodus 16:20; Isaiah 14:11; Acts 12:23). Figuratively it stands for the moral corruption and degradation which follow upon a long course of wilful sin, and ultimately issue in eternal death. The lost soul, being at length hopelessly corrupt, and loathsome even to itself, has its own hell within it.

  • Mark 9:49 open_in_new

    For every one shall be salted with fire] The conclusion of this v. (and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt) is omitted by the RV, but is too strongly attested to be safely rejected. The saying is a most difficult one, and there are about twenty different interpretations. The probable meaning is, Every believer shall be 'salted,' i.e. purified and prepared for eternity, by the 'fire' of discipline, i.e. by the struggles with the flesh (Mark 9:43), and other afflictions and temptations of this life; and 'every sacrifice,' i.e. every person, who presents himself, his soul, and body, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice to God, shall be 'salted,' i.e. purified and prepared for eternity, by the salt of divine grace. The 'salt' here is the salt of the new covenant, i.e. the grace which is given to believers in. Christ: see Leviticus 2:13.

  • Mark 9:50 open_in_new

    Salt is good] 'Divine grace is good, but if the divine grace given to you as Christians dies, owing to your neglect to use it, how will you revive it? Preserve and make due use of the divine grace given to you, especially the grace of charity, and thus you will be at peace with one another.' In Matthew 5:13, by an easy transference, the apostles themselves are called 'salt,' as possessing divine grace. Among the ancients salt was an emblem of wisdom and of friendship. To the latter signification our Lord alludes when He says, 'Have peace one with another.'