Mark 7:37

Mar_7:37

He hath done all things well.

Excellency of Christs operations

I. The excellency of Christs operations. He hath done all things well; as is apparent-

1. In the magnificence of His operations. Instance the sublime works of His creative energy; His infallible administration in the kingdom of providence; His stupendous miracles; His mediatorial achievements (Psa_86:8-10; Psa_103:19; Col_1:16-17; Col_2:15; Mat_11:4).

2. In the completeness of His operations (Deu_32:4).

3. In the harmony of His operations (Psa_104:24; Psa_145:10).

4. In the benevolent design of His operations (Psa_33:19; Dan_6:27).

II. The devout sentiments with which they should be contemplated.

1. Devout admiration (Psa_77:13-16).

2. Adoring gratitude (Psa_148:13).

3. Zealous attachment (Jer_50:1-5). Has Christ done all things well?

Then-

1. How flagrant the impiety of mankind!

2. How justly is Christ entitled to the worship of the whole universe!

3. Let Him be the subject of our song, and the object of our supreme regard. (J. Burns, LL. D.)

Christs excellent doings

The text explains itself-but the truth of it is of vastly wider scope.

I. It has a grand significancy in the creative works of Christ.

II. In His Divine government of this and all worlds.

III. Its climactaral glory belongs to redemption. He undertook the worlds redemption, and effected it, by-

1. Obedience to the law.

2. Suffering the penalty for sin.

3. Conquering the powers of darkness.

4. Bringing life and immortality to light.

5. Obtaining the Holy Spirit.

IV. In the salvation He obtained and bestows. An entire salvation of the whole man-a free salvation of sovereign grace-a salvation for the whole race-and a salvation to eternal glory. He does all things well.

V. In the experience of His people. He sought and found them-He forgave and healed them-He renews and sanctifies them-He keeps and upholds them, and He glorifies them forever. (J. Burns, LL. D.)

He hath done all things well

I. In creation.

1. Order and regularity.

2. Adaptation.

3. Provision.

4. Happiness of creatures designed.

II. In redemption.

1. In design-vicarious suffering.

2. Development-Incarnation.

3. Application to individuals.

4. To Resurrection.

III. In providence.

1. Afflictions.

2. Persecution, which only wafts the seed of truth to distant lands.

Conclusion:

1. Submit to Him.

2. Work with Him. (E. Hargreaves.)

The dumb to speak

Dr. Carey found a man in Calcutta who had not spoken a loud word for four years, having been under a vow of perpetual silence. Nothing could open his mouth, till happening to meet with a religious tract, he read it, and his tongue was loosed. He soon threw away his paras, and other badges of superstition, and became, as was believed, a partaker of the grace of God. Many a nominal, and even professing Christian, who is as dumb on religious subjects as if under a vow of silence, would find a tongue to speak, if religion were really to touch and warm his heart. (Anon.)

On Christs doing all things well

I. Christs actions were good in themselves. In His general conduct, as a man, He did all things well.

II. Christs actions were performed with good designs.

III. Christs actions were performed in an amiable and graceful manner. Learn-

1. How unjust was the treatment our Lord met with in the world.

2. How worthy is Christ of our admiration, reverence, and love.

3. How fit is it that we imitate this excellent and lovely pattern.

4. Let it be our concern to do all things well. (J. Orten.)

All things

well:-

I. The fact. Creation announces it. Providence announces it. Redemption announces it.

II. The testimony. Saints testify to it. Admirers astonished at it. Critics confess it.

III. The consequence. Those who oppose Christ are sure to perish, for the right must prevail. They will stand self-condemned. The universe will say Amen to their condemnation, for they have conspired against it. (L. Palmer.).

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mar 7:37. And were beyond measure astonished — Both at what was done, and at the amiable spirit of him who did it. And said, He hath done all things well — Performed the most extraordinary cures in the most humble and graceful manner. He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak — And that, not only in this, but in many other instances. Whereas there were many that hated and persecuted him, as an evil doer; these are ready to witness for him, not only that he has done no evil, but that he has done a great deal of good, and has done it well, modestly, humbly, devoutly, and all perfectly gratis, without money and without price; circumstances which greatly added to the lustre of his good works. “Happy would it be if all his followers, and especially his ministers, would learn of him, who was thus meek and lowly; neither acting as in their own strength, when they attempt a spiritual cure, nor proclaiming their own praise when they have effected it. Then would they likewise do all things well; and there would be that beauty in the manner, which no wise man would entirely neglect, even in those actions which are in themselves most excellent and great.” — Doddridge.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mar 7:37. Καλῶς πεποίηκε, he hath done well) A formula, ἀποδοχῆς, of satisfaction; Act 10:33; Php 4:14. So in the present, 2Pe 1:19; in the future, 3 John Mar 7:6. So LXX., 1Ki 8:18. A similar formula of assenting occurs, Mar 12:32, Thou hast well said—τοὺς) this deaf man and others [Mat 15:30].

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

Mar 7:37 . ὑπερπερισσῶς , superabundantly, a double superlative; here only. καλῶς π . πεποίηκε , He hath done all things well. This looks like a reflection on past as well as present; the story of the demoniac, e.g. Observe the ποιεῖ , present, in next clause, referring to the cure just effected. It happened in Decapolis , and we seem to see the inhabitants of that region exhibiting a nobler mood than in chap. Mar 5:17 . Of course, there were no swine lost on this occasion. Their astonishment at the miracle may seem extravagant, but it must be remembered that they have had little experience of Christ’s healing work; their own fault.

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

Verse 37. He hath done all things well] This has been, and ever will be, true of every part of our Lord's conduct. In creation, providence, and redemption he hath done all things well. The wisest philosophers are agreed that, considering creation as a whole, it would be impossible to improve it. Every thing has been made in number, weight, and measure; there really is nothing deficient, nothing redundant; and the good of the creature seems evidently more consulted than the glory of the Creator. The creature's good is every where apparent; but to find out how the Creator is glorified by these works requires the eye of the philosopher. And as he has done all things well in creation, so has he in providence: here also every thing is in number, weight, measure, and time. As creation shows his majesty, so providence shows his bounty. He preserves every thing he has made; all depend upon him; and by him are all things supported. But how glorious does he appear in the work of redemption! How magnificent, ample, and adequate the provision made for the salvation of a lost world! Here, as in providence, is enough for all, a sufficiency for each, and an abundance for eternity. He loves every man, and hates nothing that he has made; nor can the God of all grace be less beneficent than the Creator and Preserver of the universe.

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

(37) And the dumb to speak.—We note the distinction between St. Mark’s accurate description in Mar_7:32, and the less precise language of popular amazement.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Ver. 37. He hath done all things well] Praise we him much more for his spiritual cures, of like kind, upon ourselves and others.

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.

Beyond measure - Exceedingly; very much. In the Greek, “Very abundantly.”

He hath done all things well - All things in a remarkable manner; or, he has perfectly effected the cure of this deaf-mute.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

37. He hath done all things well — There is not, as some commentators seem to think, any intended allusion here to the sanction passed by the Creator upon his own works as being very good. Gen_1:31. But the present words are none the less a significant echo. For the works of the new creation, like those of the old, are indeed very good, and all things done well. Both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak — As is shown in the case of the single person now saved.

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

37. He hath done all things well. Compare Gen. 1:31. He maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. Christ, ever since, has been engaged, spiritually, in the same work.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

37. ὑπερπερισσῶς. Here only in Bibl. Grk, and perhaps nowhere else. see on 2Co 7:4.

ἐξεπλήσσοντο. See on Mar 1:22. This is simple history; Mk is not suggesting in an allegory the conversion of the Gentiles. He has not told us that the crowd was composed of Gentiles.

ποιεῖ. Mt. seems to have understood this as implying a number of miracles, and they appear to be required by this verse and to explain the great multitude in Mar 8:1.

ἀλάλους λαλεῖν. The combination of words is doubtless deliberate; the speechless to speak. Cf. Mar 9:24; Isa 35:5. Syr-Sin. has “He maketh the deaf-mutes to hear and to speak.”

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. καλῶς πάν. πεπ.…] So πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν καλὰ λίαν, Gen 1:31. This work was properly and worthily compared with that first one of creation—it was the same Beneficence which prompted, and the same Power that wrought it.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37. ὑπερπερισσῶς—a word not found elsewhere, and expressing, like the double comparative μᾶλλον περισσότερον, the excessive feeling and demonstration of the people. ἐξεπλήσσοντο—another strong word, meaning literally were struck out of their senses.6

καὶ ἀλάλους λαλεῖν—and dumb to speak.

Omit τοὺς before ἀλάλους, Tisch. Treg. WH. RV. א BL Δ 33.

1 Are gathered, RV., would require the perf. pass. This is the historical present.

Tisch. Tischendorf.

Treg. Tregelles.

RV. Revised Version.

אԠCodex Sinaiticus.

B Codex Vaticanus.

L Codex Regius.

Δ̠Codex Sangallensis

33 Codex Regius.

Memph. Memphitic.

Pesh. Peshito.

WH. Westcott and Hort.

A Codex Alexandrinus.

E Codex Basiliensis.

G Codex Wolfi A.

H Codex Wolfi B.

V Codex Mosquensis.

Γ̠Codex Tischendorfianus

Lat. Vet. Vetus Latina.

RV. Revided Version marg.

Syrr. Syriac Versions.

Vulg. Vulgate.

1 See Schürer, N. Zg. II. I. 25, on Scribism.

1 AV. tables!

102 Codex Bibliothecae Mediceae.

D Codex Ephraemi.

1 .Codex Basiliensis

209 An unnamed, valuable manuscript.

Latt. Latin Versions.

28 Codex Regius.

13 Codex Regius.

346 Codex Ambrosianus.

1 ἐντά ματα belongs to Biblical Greek. ἐντολή is the Greek word.

1 ἀθετεῖτε is a later Greek word.

2 This is an anacoluthon, as the condition belongs to the saying of the Jews, and the conclusion to the statement of Jesus.

69 Codex Leicestrensis.

1 This word, which is common in classical Greek, is found only here in the N.T.

Harcl. Harclean.

2 This form, sec. aor. imp., occurs only here in N.T. The aor. imperatives here are appropriate to the beginning of discourse.

1 πᾶν οὐ δύναται, everything cannot, is the inexact, Hebrew form of the universal negative; the logical, Greek form being οὐδὲν δύναται, nothing can. Win. 3 c, 1.

2 τὴν καρδίαν is the heart, in the broad, Scriptural sense of the inner man. ἀφεδρῶνα is a barbarous word, probably of Macedonian origin, the proper Greek equivalent being ἄφοδος.

F Codex Borelli.

S Codex Vaticanus.

1 On the use of the plural of the abstract noun to denote the forms or manifestations of a quality, see Win. 27, 3.

1 This use of ἀναστὰς corresponds to the Heb. וַיָּקָם, and belongs to Oriental fulness, if not redundancy, of speech. Win. 64, 4, Note at end, contends that it is not redundant in all cases, but admits its redundancy here. Thay.-Grm. Lex. denies its redundancy altogether. And it is not redundant in one sense, since it is included in the action. But so is the straightening out of the limbs. It is so far redundant that the Greek, with its finer sense of the needful in speech, would omit it.

N Codex Purpureus.

Π̠Codex Petropolitianus

1 On the form, see Thay.-Grm. Lex.

2 This is a literal translation of the Heb. idiom, which inserts the personal pronoun after the relative.

K Codex Cyprius.

1 There is a double irregularity here: first, in the use of ἠρώτα to denote a request, instead of a question; and secondly, in the use of ἴνα with the subj., instead of the inf., to denote the matter of the petition. Burton, 200, 201.

Bib. Dic. Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible (1st or 2d edition).

1 See 1:26, 9:26.

1 On Decapolis, see on 5:1-20.

AV. Authorised Version.

1 Ἐφφαθά represents the Aramaic אֶתְפָּתַח, the ethpael imper. of the verb פְּתַח, Heb. פָּתַח.

2 Both the augment on the prep., and the sec. aor. in ἠνοίγησαν belong to later Greek.

3 The regular form of stating this proportion is τοσούτῳ ὅσον, with a comparative in each member. μᾶλλον strengthens a comparative with which it is joined.

4 See on 1:44. Cf. 5:19, 43, Note; 6:45, Note.

5 See 1Sa 15:22, 1Sa 15:27.

6 See on 1:22.

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

Astonished. See on Mt 7:28.

To speak [λαλειν] . See on Mt 28:18. The emphasis is not on the matter, but on the fact of speech.

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