Mark 1:45

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(45) But he went out.—St. Mark alone describes the man himself as the agent in spreading the report of the miracle, and gives in more vivid terms than St. Luke the consequent pressure of the multitude, and the necessity for retirement into “desert places.”

Benson Commentary

Mark 1:45. But he went out, and began to publish it much, &c. — But the man, instead of concealing the cure, was so overjoyed at the suddenness and greatness of the blessing, and of the divine mercy manifested toward him in so miraculous a deliverance, that he could not forbear publishing it everywhere; insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city — Namely, of Capernaum: to prevent which inconvenience, as well as for the other reasons mentioned in the note on Matthew 8:4, our Lord had enjoined him silence: but was without, in desert places — Was obliged to retire into a neighbouring wilderness, to refresh his body with rest, and his spirit with meditation and prayer. And they came to him from every quarter — Even into the wilderness, remote as it was from the habitations of many of them.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:40-45 We have here Christ's cleansing of a leper. It teaches us to apply to the Saviour with great humility, and with full submission to his will, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, without any doubt of Christ's readiness to help the distressed. See also what to expect from Christ; that according to our faith it shall be to us. The poor leper said, If thou wilt. Christ readily wills favours to those who readily refer themselves to his will. Christ would have nothing done that looked like seeking praise of the people. But no reasons now exist why we should hesitate to spread the praises of Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Began to publish it much - That is, he made known his own cure. He was so deeply affected with it, and so much rejoiced, that he followed the natural dictates of his own feelings rather than the command of the Saviour.

Jesus could no more enter openly into the city - The word "could," here, does not refer to any natural inability, or to any physical obstacle in his way, but only denotes that there was difficulty, inconvenience, or impropriety in his doing it then; that he judged it best not then to enter into the city. The difficulty was, probably, that his being in the city drew such crowds of people as rendered it difficult to accommodate them, or so as to excite the opposition of civil rulers.

The city - The city or large town where the leper was cured. The same reason for not entering that city applied also to others, so that he remained in the deserts, where the multitudes could come to him without any difficulty or opposition.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Mr 1:40-45. Healing of a Leper. ( = Mt 8:1-4; Lu 5:12-16).

See on [1405]Mt 8:1-4.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 1:40"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But he went out,.... Either out of the synagogue; for in Mark 1:39, it is said, that Christ preached in their synagogues, &c. and in Mark 1:40, "there came a leper to him"; and Luke very, plainly suggests, that he was in the city, Luke 5:12, and he might be in the synagogue: and this was allowed a leper, according to the Jewish canons, provided some rules were observed; which were these (x):

"if a leper enters into a synagogue, they make for him a partition ten hands high, and four cubits broad; he enters in first, and goes out last:''

or, it may be, he went out of the house where he was, into the city, and parts adjacent; for it seems as if the cure was done privately: and yet a leper was not allowed to enter into a house (y);

"if he did, all the vessels which were there, i.e. all the goods in the house were defiled, even to the very beams. R. Simeon says, as far as four cubits. R. Judah says, if he stayed so long as the lighting of a lamp.''

And began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter; contrary to the charge Christ gave him; though this might be done by him, not out of disobedience to Christ, but out of a transport of joy for the mercy received; and perhaps with a good intention to spread the fame and glory of his Saviour:

insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city; of Capernaum, or whatever city it was, where this cure was wrought, without a crowd of people about him, and danger from them, at least from his enemies, who envied his applause and glory.

But was without in desert places; devoid of inhabitants, where he spent his time in prayer:

and they came to him from every quarter; whenever the people could learn where he was: so agreeable was his doctrine to some; and so useful his miraculous work of healing to others.

(x) Misn. Negaim, c. 13. sect. 12. (y) lb. sect. 11.

Geneva Study Bible

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 1:45. What Jesus feared seems to have happened. The man went about telling of his cure, and neglecting the means necessary to obtain social recognition as cured.—τὸν λόγον: “the matter,” A. V[3] Perhaps we should translate strictly the word, i.e., the word Jesus spoke: “I will, be thou clean”. So Holtz. after Fritzsche. So also Euthy. Zig. (διεφημίζε τὸν λόγον, ὃν εἴρηκεν αὐτῷ ὁ χριστὸς, δηλαδὴ τὸ θέλω, καθαρίσθητι, ὡς μετʼ ἐξουσίας γενόμενον).—εἰς πόλιν: the result was that Jesus could not enter openly into a city, a populous place, but was obliged to remain in retired spots. This cure and the popularity it caused may have co-operated to bring Christ’s synagogue ministry to an abrupt termination by stirring up envy. Jesus was between two fires, and His order to the leper, “Go, show thyself,” had a double reference: to the man’s good and to the conciliation of the scribes and synagogue rulers.—καὶ ἤρχοντο, etc.: and (still) they kept coming from all quarters. Popularity at its height. There is nothing corresponding to Mark 1:45 in Mt.

[3] Authorised Version.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

45. began to publish it much] even as others in similar circumstances found it impossible to keep silence; comp. (1) the blind man, Matthew 9:30-31; (2) the man with an impediment of speech, Mark 7:36.

could no more openly enter into the city] In these words we have perhaps one of the reasons why the Lord enjoined silence on the leper. A certain degree of secrecy and reserve was plainly necessary in respect to the Lord’s miracles, or it would have been impossible for Him to have moved from place to place.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 1:45.[16] Μηκέτι, no longer) Christ therefore was ready to teach rather in the cities, than in the place to which the men were going out.

[16] κηρύσσειν, to publish) This public and spontaneous proclaiming of facts served to give speedy publicity to facts worthy of remembrance: see ch. Mark 5:20. Yet, in this place, it would have been better for the man to have obeyed Christ’s inhibition.—V. g.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 45. - But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter. It seems difficult to blame the man for doing what he thought must tend to the honor of his Healer; though, no doubt, it would have been better if he had humbly obeyed. And yet it was to be expected that the knowledge of our Lord's mighty works would be published by others. In this particular instance the effect of this man's conduct was probably unexpected by himself; for it led to the withdrawal of Christ from Capernaum. The crowds who were attracted to him by the fame of his miracles would have hampered him, so that he could not have exercised his ministry; for even in the desert places they sought him out, and came to him from every quarter. It should be noticed here that this first chapter of St. Mark embraces, in very condensed form, about twelve months of our Lord's public ministry, from his baptism by John. And it is a record of uninterrupted progress. The time had not then come for the opposition of the scribes and Pharisees and Herodians to show itself. It was, no doubt, wisely ordained that his gospel should take root and lay hold of the hearts and consciences of men, as it must have done in the minds of the Galilaeans more especially, before it had to encounter the envy and malice of those who ultimately would bring him to his cross.



Mark 1:45

Vincent's Word Studies

The city

Properly, as Rev., a city; any city.