Quotes & Notes on:
Mark 8:34
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John Wesley's Notes:
And when he called the people-To hear a truth of the last
importance, and one that equally concerned them all.
Let him deny himself-His own will, in all things small and great,
however pleasing, and that continually:
And take up his cross-Embrace the will of God, however painful, daily,
hourly, continually. Thus only can he follow me in holiness to glory.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* called. Mr 7:14; Lu 9:23; 20:45
* Whosoever. Mr 9:43-48; Mt 5:29; 7:13; 16:24; Lu 13:24; 14:27,33; Ro
15:1-3 1Co 8:13; 9:19; Php 3:7; Tit 2:12
* take. Mr 10:21; Mt 10:38; 27:32; Joh 19:17; Ac 14:22; Ro 6:6; 8:17;
1Co 4:9-13 1Co 15:31; Ga 2:20; 5:24; 6:14; Php 3:10; Col 1:24; 3:5; 2Th
3:11 1Pe 4:1,13; Re 2:10
* follow. Nu 14:24; 1Ki 14:8; Lu 14:26; 18:22; Joh 10:27; 13:36;
21:19,20 Heb 13:13; 2Pe 1:14; 1Jo 3:16
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
Whosoever will come after me] It seems that Christ formed,
on the proselytism of the Jews, the principal qualities which he
required in the proselytes of his covenant.
The first condition of proselytism among the Jews was, that he that came
to embrace their religion should come voluntarily, and that neither
force nor influence should be employed in this business. This is also
the first condition required by Jesus Christ, and which he considers as
the foundation of all the rest: -If a man be willing to come after me.
The second condition required in the Jewish proselyte was, that he
should perfectly renounce all his prejudices, his errors, his idolatry,
and every thing that concerned his false religion; and that he should
entirely separate himself from his most intimate friends and
acquaintances. It was on this ground that the Jews called proselytism a
new birth, and proselytes new-born, and new men; and our Lord requires
men to be born again, not only of water, but by the Holy Ghost. See Joh
3:5. All this our Lord includes in this word, Let him renounce himself.
To this the following scriptures refer: Mt 10:33; Joh 3:3,5, 2Co 5:17.
The third condition on which a person was admitted into the Jewish
Church as a proselyte was, that he should submit to the yoke of the
Jewish law, and bear patiently the inconveniences and sufferings with
which a profession of the Mosaic religion might be accompanied. Christ
requires the same condition; but, instead of the yoke of the law, he
brings in his own doctrine, which he calls his yoke, Mt 11:29: and his
cross, the taking up of which not only implies a bold profession of
Christ crucified, but also a cheerful submitting to all the sufferings
and persecutions to which he might be exposed, and even to death itself.
The fourth condition was, that they should solemnly engage to continue
in the Jewish religion, faithful even unto death. This condition Christ
also requires; and it is comprised in this word, Let him FOLLOW me. See
the following verses; and see, on the subject of proselytism, Ru
1:16,17.
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Family Bible Notes:
Take up his cross; in allusion to the practice of compelling malefactors
to bear their own cross to the place of execution. The meaning is, that
he must make any sacrifice, submit to any self-denial, and encounter any
difficulty which may be needful, in order to obey Christ's commands.
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1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
The disciples of Christ must bear bravely whatever burden the Lord lays upon them, and subdue the desires of the flesh.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
(No comment on this verse)
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
And he called unto him the multitude with his
disciples (kai proskalesamenos ton ochlon sun tois mathêtais autou).
Mark alone notes the unexpected presence of a crowd up here near
Caesarea Philippi in heathen territory. In the presence of this crowd
Jesus explains his philosophy of life and death which is in direct
contrast with that offered by Peter and evidently shared by the
disciples and the people. So Jesus gives this profound view of life and
death to them all. Deny himself (aparnêsasthô heauton). Say no to
himself, a difficult thing to do. Note reflexive along with the middle
voice. Ingressive first aorist imperative. See on "Mt 16:24" about
taking up the Cross. The shadow of Christ's Cross was already on him (Mr
8:31) and one faces everyone.
Albert Barnes' Commentary:
(No comment on this verse)
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Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
(No comment on this verse)
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Spurgeon Commentary:
Not only must Jesus make a sacrifice of himself, but the spirit of
selfishness must be driven out of all who will be saved by him, and they
also must be willing to die for the gospel's sake. Nor need they be
ashamed to do so, for in the end he will prove to have acted wisely who
gave up all earthly things to gain the heavenly treasure.
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William Burkitt's Notes:
Observe here, 1. How our blessed Saviour recommends his religion to
everyone's election and choice, not attempting by force and violence to
compel any person to the embracing of it. If any man will come after me:
that is, if any man chooses and resolves to be a Christian.
Observe, 2. Our Saviour's terms propounded; namely, self-denial,
gospel-suffering, and gospel-service.
1. Self-denial; Let him deny himself. By which we are not to understand,
either the denying of our senses in matters of faith, or the renouncing
of our reason in the matters of religion; but a willingness to part with
all our earthly comforts, and temporal enjoyments, for the sake of
Christ, when called thereunto.
2. Gospel-suffering; He must take up his cross. An allusion to the Roman
custom, that the malefactor who was to be crucified, took his cross upon
his shoulder, and carried it to the place of execution.
Where note, That not the making of the cross, but the patient bearing of
it, when God has made it, and laid it upon our shoulders, is the duty
enjoined. Let him take up his cross.
3. Gospel-service; Let him follow me, says Christ: that is, obey my
commands, and imitate my example. He must set my life and doctrine
continually before him, and be daily correcting and reforming his life
by that rule and pattern.
Observe, 3. The reasons urged by our Saviour to induce men to a
willingness to lay down their lives for the sake of Christ and his holy
religion; He that will save his life, shall lose it; and he that is
willing to lose his life for the gospel's sake, the same shall find it.
Intimating to us, 1. That the love of this temporal life is a great
temptation to men to deny Christ, and to renounce his holy religion.
And, 2. That the surest way to attain eternal life, is cheerfully to lay
down our temporal life, when the glory of Christ, and the honour of
religion, requires it at our hand.
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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
Frequent notice is taken of the great flocking there was to Christ for
help in various cases. All are concerned to know this, if they expect
him to heal their souls. They must not indulge the ease of the body. As
the happiness of heaven with Christ, is enough to make up for the loss
of life itself for him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not
make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when
the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean
and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly
object as we shall do at that great day.
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The Fourfold Gospel:
And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples. Despite the
efforts of Jesus to seek privacy, the people were still near enough at
hand to be called and addressed.
If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me. Compare Ro 8:36; 1Co 15:31. For comment, see TFG
for Mt 10:38. The disciple must learn to say "no" to many of the
strongest cravings of his earthly nature. The cross is a symbol for duty
which is to be performed daily, at any cost, even that of the most
painful death. The disciple must follow Jesus, both as to his teaching
and example.
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