Mark 1:37

Mar 1:37. Εὑρόντες, when they had found Him) He therefore had not told them whither He was going. [When He had passed the greatest part of His years in solitude, He at length presented Himself to be beheld in public; yet still His manifestation was subject to this condition, that even then He most prudently blended secret communion with His heavenly Father along with His public intercourse with men.—Harm., p. 259].—πάντες, all) why should not we also? saith Peter.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mar 1:37 . πάντες ζητοῦσί σε , all seek Thee, not merely all the people of Capernaum, but all the world: “nemo non te quaerit,” Fritzsche; a colloquial exaggeration.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And when they had found him--evidently after some search.

they said unto him, All men seek for thee--By this time, "the multitudes" who, according to Luke (Luk 4:42), "sought after Him"--and who, on going to Peter's house, and there learning that Peter and a few more were gone in search of Him, had set out on the same errand--would have arrived, and "came unto Him and stayed Him, that He should not depart from them" (Luk 4:42); all now urging His return to their impatient townsmen.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 37. All men seek for thee.] Some to hear; some to be healed; some to be saved; and some, perhaps, through no good motive. There are all sorts of followers in the train of Christ; but how few walk steadily, and persevere unto the end!

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And when they had found him,.... In the desert and solitary place, where he had been praying:

they said unto him; in order to engage him to go with them, and as the reason why they sought him with so much eagerness and diligence,

all men seek for thee; not all the men in the world, nor, it may be, all the inhabitants of Capernaum, but a large number of them, who were inquiring after him, some for one thing, some for another; some to see him, what manner of man he was, and some to hear him, what sort of doctrine he preached, and others to see his miracles, or to have themselves, or their sick healed; and the disciples were loath that such an opportunity of doing good should be missed, and therefore sought for him, till they found him.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

Ver. 37. All men seek for thee] But few seek Christ seriously, seasonably, sincerely. Hence so many miss him: Vix quaeritur Iesus propter Iesum. All men seek themselves, and not the things of Jesus Christ, Php 2:21.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37. All men seek for thee — The crowds of yesterday had returned, all seeking the wonderful benefactor. But there was growing up a dangerous popularity. The miracles which he had performed in order to work a quiet spiritual effect upon the people, and, like the dew, prepare them for the full reception of the seed of truth, were in danger of producing too secular and general an excitement. From man he first turns to God in prayer; and then from man overfed with privileges, he departs to those who are perhaps hungering amid a famine of the word.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

All are seeking thee. The "thee" is here emphatic (pantev zhtousise).

Seeking Jesus.

"All are seeking thee." It is man"s nature to seek. Men are seeking many things. Some things they seek and find, other things they seek in vain, whilst there are things they seek, first to find and then to lose again. The impulses of our constitution respond to the appeals made from without. There is a mysterious personal attraction which renders some men the object of the quest of their fellows. But none has ever so been sought as was and is the Lord Jesus. Men, when spiritually awakened, attracted by the promises of the gospel and influenced by the Holy Spirit, seek for Christ, and, when they find him, find all things in him.

I WHAT IN MEN LEADS THEM TO SEEK CHRIST? There are many motives inducing to this inquiry and endeavor, just as when Jesus was on earth.

1. Curiosity leads men to seek him. During our Lord"s ministry, especially the earlier ministry in Galilee, there occurred, now and again, a rush to Jesus. Crowds followed him even into the deserts and the mountains. They came from far and near. And not only the populace, but the leaders of the people, were curious to see the Prophet of Nazareth; and Pharisees invited him to dine with them, and asked their friends to meet him. The novelty of Christianity no longer acts amongst our population; but in regions where the gospel is for the first time preached, this motive operates, and many "inquirers" are drawn, simply by their desire for some new thing, to seek a knowledge of the Saviour.

2. Admiration leads men to seek him. Even sinful men confess the beauty of holiness, and the young and ardent and aspiring feel the marvellous attraction of a character with. which no other can be compared. There is so much of meanness and selfishness in humanity, that the presence upon earth of one morally noble and perfectly benevolent charms some choice and fervent souls, and draws them to our Lord.

3. Need and suffering lead men to seek him. When Jesus was on earth there came to him the hungry to be fed, the sick to be healed, the suffering to be relieved, the ignorant to be taught, the anxious to secure his interposition on behalf of their friends and comrades. Human want is perennial; and there are wants which the world can never supply, hearts the world can never fill. Where Jesus is known as the Dispenser of Divine compassion and bounty to the souls of men, men will be drawn to him. "Far and wide, though all unknowing, Pants for thee each mortal breast; Human tears for thee are flowing, Human hearts in thee would rest.

4. Sin and a sense of ill desert and need of pardon lead men to seek him. Sinners, who were repelled from the formal and self-righteous, were attracted to the gracious and compassionate Redeemer. Often from his lips issued the merciful and authoritative words," Thy sins be forgiven thee!" Sin has not ceased; its burden and its curse are stilt felt. And there is none but Christ who has power upon earth to forgive sins. No wonder that men come to him. In him the sinner meets with the pity of a tender heart and the authority of a Divine power.

II WHAT IN CHRIST LEADS MEN TO SEEK HIM?

1. Foremost must be placed the fact that he seeks them. He came to seek and to save the lost. Had he not first come forth upon this quest, never would the needy and sinful children of men have gone forth to meet him. If "we love him because he first loved us," we have sought him because he first sought us.

2. His invitations and promises. He has both bidden men seek his help, and has assured them that they shall not seek in vain. "Come unto me" is his invitation; and the assurance is added, "Ye shall find rest unto your souls.

3. His power to respond to their appeals, and to satisfy their wants. They who seek and find not are discouraged from further quest. It is never thus with those who apply to Jesus. Here the words hold good, "Seek, and ye shall find.

4. His benevolent disposition renders it easy and congenial for those who seek good gifts to seek them here at the hands of Jesus; for in seeking him, the suppliant is seeking the gifts of his hands as well as the love of his heart. And our need and urgency are exceeded by his readiness to confer all real blessings.

APPLICATION. How should men seek Christ?

1. Sincerely and seriously. The sincere soul will seek, not his merely, but himself.

2. In faith, not as doubting whether he may now be found, but as assured of his spiritual nearness.

3. Seasonably, which is as much as to say, at once. "Now is the accepted time." We need him now, therefore we should seek him now.

4. Perseveringly, "watching daily at his gates." It is a life-long quest, and, though he be found to-day, none the less must he be sought to-morrow. The "seeking" must be continued, until we see him as he is.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37. Πάντες ζητοῦσίν σε. All men are seeking Thee. He had no house of His own at which they could be sure of finding Him. Cf. Mar 1:5; Mar 1:33.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37. Καὶ εὗρον αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν—And they found him and say.

εὗρον αὐτὸν καὶ, instead of εὑρόντες αὐτόν, Tisch. Treg. WH. RV. א BL one ms. of Lat. Vet. Memph. etc.

ὅτι πάντες ζητοῦσί σε—that all are seeking for thee.1 All the people of Capernaum, which he has just left, are meant. The disciples bring him the news that the excitement of the previous day is not abated, and are anxious evidently that he should not fail to follow up so notable a success.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

All

All the people of Capernaum, all are seeking thee. The continuous present tense. So Rev., better than A. V. The all is peculiar to Mark.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.