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G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Mark 8:1-38

This was the second miracle of feeding. Our Lord knew whence these people came, and was solicitous for them on their long journey home if they departed without food. The miracle was the result. The warning given to the disciples was consequent on the request of the Pharisees for a sign from heaven. This desire for a sign beyond those given was, and is, a danger. Those who live in unbroken communion with God do not seek for signs, but find them in all the miraculous movements of the most... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Mark 8:36

PROFIT AND LOSS‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ Mark 8:36 Christ does not ask men how they will answer at God’s bar for their lives, only how they will answer for their conduct to themselves, and how the gain and loss will stand at the final settlement. I. The supposed gain.( a) A limited use only of the world can be made. True, Christ speaks of ‘the whole world,’ and thus gives the worldling the benefit of the supposition that he can... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:1-38

SECTION 3. Jesus’ Ministry Throughout Galilee and In The Surrounding Regions (4:35-9:32). After the initial opening up of the story of Jesus with its continual emphasis on His unique authority, Who He was and what He had come to do (Mark 4:1-3), and the series of parables which have indicated how the Kingly Rule of God was to expand (Mark 4:1-34), Mark now indicates how this expansion continued to occur through the ministry of Jesus in Galilee and the surrounding regions. At the same time he... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:22-38

The Eyes of The Disciples Are Opened (8:22-9:33a). Following on Jesus’ concern at the lack of understanding of the disciples we now learn how their eyes are gradually opened to see at least something of the truth. The subsection commences with the healing of a blind man in two stages, a picture of what is happening to the disciples, and moves on to the disciples’ recognition that Jesus is the Messiah. The consequence of this is that Jesus then begins to emphasise that His way is to be a way of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:34-38

Jesus Addresses The Disciples Along With A Gathered Crowd (8:34-38). Analysis of 8:34-38 a And He called to Him the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). b For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it (Mark 8:35). c For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? (Mark 8:36). ... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:36

‘For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?’ His question was this, is anything worth having or clinging on to if it means losing eternal life? If we gain the whole world, what is it worth if it means that we lose our hope of eternal life? There is life on offer to man, but it is like the pearl of great price. In order to obtain it, it is necessary to sacrifice everything else (Matthew 13:45). At the last, then, who will have made the best bargain? The man who... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 8:27-38

Mark 8:27 to Mark 9:1 . The Great Confession, and the First View of the Cross.— Here opens a new section of the gospel. The tendency to seek retirement with the Twelve, pronounced from Mark 6:31 onwards, now dominates the story. Jesus devotes Himself to training the Twelve in the shadow of the Cross. This concentration on His disciples becomes possible when they pierce His secret. The full significance of the confession is only apparent if Jesus has not previously revealed Himself or been... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Mark 8:36-37

Luke saith, if he lose himself and be cast away. Though ψυχην was rightly translated life in the former verse, the sense justifying that translation of it there, yet here it is as truly translated soul; for there are many things which men value in proportion with their lives, their honour, estates, nay, many value their lusts above their lives; and Christ himself here teacheth us that his disciples ought to value his honour and glory, and their steady profession of faith and holiness, above... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Mark 8:27-38

CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTESMark 8:27. Cæsarea Philippi.—This picturesquely situated town, originally called Paneas, after a cavern dedicated to Pan in its neighbourhood, was enlarged and fortified by Herod Philip, who also renamed it in honour of the emperor. Then, to distinguish it from the Cæsarea on the Mediterranean coast—the seat of the Roman government, where Cornelius lived and Paul suffered imprisonment—it was styled “Cæsarea Philippi.” The name was again changed to Neronias by... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Mark 8:34-38

Mark 8:34-38 Saving One's Life by Losing It. When Christ is preached in our day, men are not ashamed of Him on precisely the same grounds that they were in the early days. Christ is represented by great churches that are emblazoned with art, that represent the wealth of the communities, that have about them a kind of historical charm and a flavour of antiquity, and men are not ashamed of Christ as of old, nor are they likely to be. Neither are men ashamed of Christ doctrinally. Whichever... read more

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