In the opening paragraph of this chapter, we learn of hatred and rejection of those who had enjoyed the rich privileges of being the neighbors and associates of our Lord from His earliest days. They could not discern the divine in the human, the heavenly under the earthly veil. The Savior, therefore, driven from their towns, goes about among the villages, depriving Himself of the companionship of His disciples, in order to spread the good news as far as possible. The Lord is still in His Church through the Holy Spirit, but His power is limited and neutralized by our unbelief. It is useless to ask Him to put forth His great power and save us, so long as we have made it practically impossible for Him to do as we ask. The oldtime cry was: "Why shouldst thou be as a mighty man that cannot save?" The answer is supplied here: He could do no mighty work,"¦ and he marveled at their unbelief. Faith is our capacity for God, and there are several conditions for its nurture and growth.
With what simplicity the Twelve were started on their mission, Mark 6:7. But with what authority they spoke! Simplicity and power are closely allied. The truly strong soul is not in need of the external surroundings and circumstances on which others lean; and in proportion to our willingness to deprive ourselves of the sources of human confidence may we lay hold on and possess divine power. [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 6
1Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country 7He gives the twelve power over unclean spirits 14Various opinions of Jesus 16John the Baptist is imprisoned, beheaded, and buried 30The apostles return from preaching 34The miracle of five loaves and two fishes 45Jesus walks on the sea; 53and heals all who touch him
Greek Commentary for Mark 6:12
Preached that men should repent [εκηρυχαν ινα μετανοωσιν] Constative aorist (εκηρυχαν ekēruxan), summary description. This was the message of the Baptist (Matthew 3:2) and of Jesus (Mark 1:15). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 6:12
Mark 6:7By two and two [δυο δυο] This repetition of the numeral instead of the use of ανα δυο ana duo or κατα δυο kata duo is usually called a Hebraism. The Hebrew does have this idiom, but it appears in Aeschylus and Sophocles, in the vernacular Koiné (Oxyrhynchus Papyri No. 121), in Byzantine Greek, and in modern Greek (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, pp. 122f.). Mark preserves the vernacular Koiné better than the other Gospels and this detail suits his vivid style. The six pairs of apostles could thus cover Galilee in six different directions. Mark notes that he “began to send them forth” Aorist tense and present infinitive. This may refer simply to this particular occasion in Mark‘s picturesque way. But the imperfect tense εδιδου edidou means he kept on giving them all through the tour, a continuous power (authority) over unclean spirits singled out by Mark as representing “all manner of diseases and all manner of sickness” (Matthew 10:1), “to cure diseases” Mark does not mention preaching as a definite part of the commission to the twelve on this their first preaching tour, but he does state that they did preach (Mark 6:12). They were to be missioners or missionaries (αποστελλειν apostellein) in harmony with their office (αποστολοι apostoloi). [source]
What do the individual words in Mark 6:12 mean?
Andhaving gone outthey preachedthatthey should repent
Greek Commentary for Mark 6:12
Constative aorist (εκηρυχαν ekēruxan), summary description. This was the message of the Baptist (Matthew 3:2) and of Jesus (Mark 1:15). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 6:12
This repetition of the numeral instead of the use of ανα δυο ana duo or κατα δυο kata duo is usually called a Hebraism. The Hebrew does have this idiom, but it appears in Aeschylus and Sophocles, in the vernacular Koiné (Oxyrhynchus Papyri No. 121), in Byzantine Greek, and in modern Greek (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, pp. 122f.). Mark preserves the vernacular Koiné better than the other Gospels and this detail suits his vivid style. The six pairs of apostles could thus cover Galilee in six different directions. Mark notes that he “began to send them forth” Aorist tense and present infinitive. This may refer simply to this particular occasion in Mark‘s picturesque way. But the imperfect tense εδιδου edidou means he kept on giving them all through the tour, a continuous power (authority) over unclean spirits singled out by Mark as representing “all manner of diseases and all manner of sickness” (Matthew 10:1), “to cure diseases” Mark does not mention preaching as a definite part of the commission to the twelve on this their first preaching tour, but he does state that they did preach (Mark 6:12). They were to be missioners or missionaries (αποστελλειν apostellein) in harmony with their office (αποστολοι apostoloi). [source]