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hand, and lifted her up."
Theophylact: By this it is signified, that God will heal a sick man, if he ministers to the Saints,
through love to Christ.
Bede, in Marc., 1, 6: But in that He gives most profusely His gifts of healing and doctrine on the
sabbath day, He teaches, that He is not under the Law, but above the Law, and does not choose
the Jewish sabbath, but the true sabbath, and our rest is pleasing to the Lord, if, in order to
attend to the health of our souls, we abstain from slavish work, that is, from all unlawful things.
It goes on, "And immediately the fever left her, &c."
Bede, in Marc., 1, 8: The health which is conferred at the command of the Lord, returns at once
entire, accompanied with such strength that she is able to [p. 29] minister to those of whose help
she had before stood in need.
Again, if we suppose that the man delivered from the devil means, in the moral way of
interpretation, the soul purged from unclean thoughts, fitly does the woman cured of a fever by
the command of God mean the flesh, restrained from the heat of it concupiscence by the
precepts of continence.
Pseudo-Jerome: For the fever means intemperance, from which, we the sons of the synagogue
[ed. note: See St. Augustine on Ps 72, no. 4, 5, "Ecclesia Socrus Synagogue." The Church is
called the daughter of the Synagogue in the spurious 'Altercatio Eccles. et Synagog.' (Aug. Opp t.
viii, p. 19.) They word 'synagogue' is applied to the Church by Justin M. Dial, see Tryph, p. 160
(Ben.) Clem. Alex. Str. vi, 633.], by the hand of discipline, and by the lifting up of our desires, are
healed, and minister to the will of Him who heals us.
Theophylact: But he has a fever who is angry, and in the unruliness of his anger stretches forth
his hands to do hurt; but if reason restrains his hands, he will arise, and so serve reason.
32. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them
that were possessed with devils.
33. And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34. And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and
suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.
Theophylact: Because the multitude thought that it was not lawful to heal on the sabbath day,
they waited for the evening, to bring those who were to be healed to Jesus.
Wherefore it is said, "And at even, when the sun had set."
There follows, "and He healed many that were vexed with divers diseases."
Pseudo-Chrys., Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.: Now in that he says "many", all are to be understood
according to the Scripture mode of expression.
Theophylact: Or he says, "many", because there were some faithless persons, who could not at
all be cured on account of their unfaithfulness. Therefore He healed many of those who were
brought, that is, all who had faith.
It goes on, "and cast out many devils."
Pseudo-Augustine, Quaest. e Vet. et Nov. Test. 16: For the devils knew that He was the Christ,
who had been promised by the Law: for they saw in Him all [p. 30] the signs which had been
foretold by the Prophets; but they were ignorant of His divinity, as also were "their princes, for if
they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." [1 Cor 2:8]
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Bede: For, Him whom the devil had known as a man, wearied by His forty days' fast, without
being able by tempting Him to prove whether He was the Son of God, he now by the power of His
miracles understood or rather suspected to be the Son of God. The reason therefore why he
persuaded the Jews to crucify Him, was not because he did not think that He was the Son of
God, but because he did not foresee that he himself was to be condemned by Christ's death.
Theophylact: Furthermore, the reason that He forbade the devils to speak, was to teach us not to
believe them, even if they say true. For if once they find persons to believe them, they mingle
truth with falsehood.
Pseudo-Chrys., Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.: And Luke does not contradict this, when he says, that
"devils came out of many, crying out and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God:" [Luke 4:41] for
he subjoins, "And He rebuking them, suffered them not to speak;" for Mark, who passes over
many things for the sake of brevity, speaks about what happened subsequently to the
abovementioned words.
Bede: Again, in a mystical sense, the setting of the sun signifies the passion of Him, who said,
"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." [John 9:5] And when the sun was going
down, more demoniacs and sick persons were healed than before: because He who living in the
flesh for a time taught a few Jews, has transmitted the gifts of faith and health to all the Gentiles
throughout the world.
Pseudo-Jerome: But the door of the kingdom, morally, is repentance and faith, which works
health for various diseases; for divers are the vices with which the city of this world is sick.
35. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a
solitary place, and there prayed.
36. And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him.
37. And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, "All men seek for Thee." [p. 31]
38. And He said unto them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for
therefore came I forth."
39. And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
Theophylact: After that the Lord had cured the sick, He retired apart.
Wherefore it is said, "And rising very early in the morning, He went out and departed into a desert
place." By which He taught us not to do any thing for the sake of appearance, but if we do any
good, not to publish it openly.
It goes on, "and there prayed."
Pseudo-Chrys., Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.: Not that He required prayer; for it was He who Himself
received the prayers of men; but He did this by way of an economy, and became to us the model
of good work.
Theophylact: For He shews to us that we ought to attribute to God whatever we do well, and to
say to Him, "Every good gift cometh down from above," [James 1:17] from Thee.
It continues: "And Simon followed Him, and they that were with Him."
Pseudo-Chrys., Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.: Luke however says that crowds came to Christ, and
spoke what Mark here relates that the Apostles said, adding, "And when they came to Him, they
said to Him, All seek thee." [Luke 4:42] But they do not contradict each other; for Christ received
after the Apostles the multitude, breathlessly anxious to embrace His feet. He received them
willingly, but chose to dismiss them, that the rest also might be partakers of His doctrine, as He
was not to remain long in the world.
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And therefore there follows: "And He said, Let us go into the neighbouring villages and towns,
that there also I may preach."
Theophylact: For He passes on to them as being more in need, since it was not right to shut up
doctrine in one place, but to throw out his rays every where.
It goes on: "For therefore am I come."
Pseudo-Chrys., Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.: In which word, He manifests the mystery of His [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]