XXVIII. 20.

Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

"The end of the world," or of the age, (ʼn ovvτeλeia TOû aivos,) is the same phrase which was used by the disciples of Jesus when they asked him (Matt. xxiv. 3) respecting the tokens of his "coming, and of the end of the world," and is to be understood here in the same sense. (See above, pp. 78, 111.) The end of the age is the winding up of the Jewish dispensation. Jesus promises his Apostles his presence, encouragement, and support in their labors to bring the old order of things to a close, and to introduce the new one.

SECTION II.

GOSPEL OF MARK.

I. 1.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

See above, pp. 1, 50-53.

I. 2.

As it is written in the Prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.''

The first part of this quotation is inexactly taken from Malachi (iii. 1); the second from the pseudoIsaiah (xl. 3). To meet this fact, the later manuscripts, followed by the earlier printed editions, appear to have corrupted the Evangelist's text. According to the best evidence which we have (see Griesbach's

critical edition, ad loc.), Mark wrote, not "as it is written in the prophets," but "as it is written in Isaiah the prophet." His memory deceived him, and he supposed the whole of what he quoted to be taken from Isaiah. There is nothing extraordinary in this, if rhetorical embellishment, as I maintain, was the object in such quotations. But if the Evangelist had intended any thing so important as a reference to a supernatural prediction fulfilled, is it possible to conIceive that he would have allowed himself in such a negligence? Is it possible to imagine him to have argued that an ancient writer, by supernatural foresight, had used certain words, which the event had now fulfilled, when he had not ascertained that that writer had used those words, and when, in fact, he had not used them?

For remarks on the quotations, which are also separately made by Matthew, see above, pp. 48, 49, 72, 73.

I. 11.

There came a voice from heaven, saying, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

See above, pp. 50-53.

I. 14, 15.

Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

See above, pp. 46–48, 56.

I. 43, 44.

He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; and saith unto him, "See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleans ing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."

See above, p. 62.

II. 10.

The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.

For remarks on the origin and force of the phrase Son of man, see above, pp. 65 - 68.

II. 26.

In the days of Abiathar the high-priest.

See above, p. 75. According to the history (1 Sam. xxi. 1-6) this transaction took place in the high-priesthood of Ahimelech, Abiathar's father. Perhaps Mark's memory was in fault; perhaps, instead of "in the days," we should render in the presence, of Abiathar; perhaps we should understand Mark as using a form of reference, as if he had said, "in that passage of the history which relates to Abiathar." So our Saviour, when he says, "Moses at the bush (Mark xii. 26, Luke xx. 37), is understood as referring, under that phraseology, to those passages of Scripture where the incident of "The Bush" is treated of. See Michaelis's "Introduction," &c., Part I. chap. iv. § 5.

IV. 11, 12.

Unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables; that seeing they may see, and not perceive, &c.

Who can doubt that Matthew and Mark meant to make the same application of the language of old Scripture? Yet when Matthew uses the words (xiii. 14, 15), it is with the apparently formal introduction, "In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith." See above, pp. 80, 81.

VI. 15.

Others said, that it is Elias; and others said, that it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

See above, pp. 85, 86.

VII. 6.

Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites.

See above, p. 84.

VII. 10.

Moses said, "Honor thy father and thy mother."

See above, p. 83. - For "Moses said," we read in the parallel passage in Matthew, "God commanded."

VIII. 11.

The Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven.

See above, pp. 79, 80.- Mark omits our Lord's reference, reported by Matthew (xii. 40, 41, xvi. 1–4), to "the sign of the prophet Jonas." This fact suggests the observation, applicable to numerous other cases, that, as the Evangelists wrote independently of each other, and for different readers, it may be presumed that, if references made to the Old Testament by any one Evangelist had been adduced by him as in the nature of proof, and not merely of illustration, the same references would have been found also in the other Evangelists, when the same connection, whether of narrative or of discourse, made it suitable.

VIII. 27-29.

He asked his disciples, saying unto them, "Whom do men say that I am?"..... And Peter answereth and saith unto him, "Thou art the Christ."

See above, pp. 1-4.-I have already remarked (p. 52) that Mark omits from Peter's declaration the phrase "Son of the living God," recorded by Matthew, which it is scarcely credible that he should have done, if, instead of being merely equivalent to Messiah, it

meant so much more than that title as has been commonly supposed.

VIII. 38-IX. 1.

Of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels. ..... 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.

See above, pp. 88-91.

IX. 4.

There appeared unto them Elias, with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

See above, pp. 91–93.

IX. 7.

This is my beloved Son; hear him.

See above, p. 94.

IX. 12, 13.

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 naught. 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."

See above, p. 95. "It is written of the Son of Man," &c. For the meaning of this language, see above, pp. 117, 118, where "it is written" is shown to be equivalent to "it is determined" (Luke xxii. 22). So in the text of Mark before us, our Lord, referring to the death of John, says, "They have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him." But where else than in the counsels of God was it ever "written" in what manner John should die?