Mark § 27
Monday of 16th Sunday
Chapter 6
And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
καὶ ὅπου ἂν εἰσεπορεύετο εἰς κώμας ἢ πόλεις ἢ ἀγρούς, ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἐτίθεσαν τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντας καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα κἂν τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ ἅψωνται· καὶ ὅσοι ἂν ἥπτοντο αὐτοῦ, ἐσῴζοντο.
И҆ а҆́може а҆́ще вхожда́ше въ вє́си, и҆лѝ во гра́ды, и҆лѝ се́ла, на распꙋ́тїихъ полага́хꙋ недꙋ̑жныѧ и҆ молѧ́хꙋ є҆го̀, да понѐ воскри́лїю ри́зы є҆гѡ̀ прико́снꙋтсѧ: и҆ є҆ли́цы а҆́ще прикаса́хꙋсѧ є҆мꙋ̀, спаса́хꙋсѧ.
The Lord of hosts was not signaling weakness as he gave sight to the blind, made the crooked to stand upright, raised the dead to life, anticipated the effects of medicine at our prayers, and cured those who sought after him. Those who merely touched the fringe of his robe were healed. Surely you did not think it was some divine weakness, you speculators, when you saw him wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body, but they did not demonstrate weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life to all, from the One who was the life of all.
Exposition of the Christian Faith 4.5.54-55And wherever he entered into villages, cities, or the countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him to let them touch even the fringe of his garment. And all who touched him were healed. Those who are unwell should not touch the body of Jesus, nor his whole garment, but the outermost fringe. And whoever touches it will be healed. Understand the fringe of his garment as the least commandment, which if anyone breaks, he will be called least in the kingdom of heaven: or the assumption of flesh by which we come to the word of God, and afterwards enjoy his majesty.
On the Gospel of Mark(ubi sup.) Again, in a mystical sense, do thou understand by the hem of His garment the slightest of His commandments, for whosoever shall transgress it shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, (Matt. 5:19) or else His assumption of our flesh, by which we have come to the Word of God, and afterwards, shall have the enjoyment of His majesty.
Catena Aurea by AquinasFurthermore that which is said, And as many as touched him were made whole, shall be fulfilled, when grief and mourning shall fly away.
Catena Aurea by AquinasThey did not yet invite Him into their homes, but themselves brought the sick, beseeching to touch even the hem of His garment. For the miracle performed on the woman with the issue of blood had come to the knowledge of all and produced in them an even greater faith.
Commentary on MarkFor they did not call Him to their houses that He might heal them, but rather the sick themselves were brought to Him. Wherefore it also follows, And whithersoever he entered into villages, or cities, or country, &c. For the miracle which had been wrought on the woman with an issue of blood, had reached the ears of many, and caused in them that great faith, by which they were healed. It goes on, And as many as touched him were made whole.
Catena Aurea by AquinasChapter 7
THEN came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
Καὶ συνάγονται πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι καί τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐλθόντες ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων·
И҆ собра́шасѧ къ немꙋ̀ фарїсе́є и҆ нѣ́цыи ѿ кни̑жникъ, прише́дшїи ѿ і҆ерⷭ҇ли́ма:
And the Pharisees and some of the scribes from Jerusalem gathered around him. And when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with unclean hands (that is, unwashed), they found fault. Oh how true is that confession of the Lord to the Father, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to the little ones. The men of the region of Gennesaret, who seemed less learned, not only come themselves but also bring their sick; indeed, they carry them to the Lord so that they might deserve to touch even the fringe of his garment to be healed. Hence, they immediately obtain the reward of the desired healing. But indeed the Pharisees and scribes, who ought to have been the teachers of the people, come to the Lord not to hear the word, nor to seek a cure, but only to stir up debates, and they blame them for not washing their hands, in whose works, whatever is done by hands or other members of the body, nothing defiling of impurity could be found; whereas they ought to blame themselves more, who, having hands washed with water, bore a conscience defiled with malice. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands often, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they purify themselves.
On the Gospel of Mark(in Marc. 2, 29) The people of the land of Gennesareth, who seemed to be unlearned men, not only come themselves, but also bring their sick to the Lord, that they may but succeed in touching the hem of His garment. But the Pharisees and Scribes, who ought to have been the teachers of the people, run together to the Lord, not to seek for healing, but to move captious questions; wherefore it is said, Then there came together unto him the Pharisees and cerlain of the Scribes, coming from Jerusalem; and when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with common, that is, with unwashen hands, they found fault.
Catena Aurea by AquinasAnd when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
καὶ ἰδόντες τινὰς τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ κοιναῖς χερσί, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν ἀνίπτοις, ἐσθίοντας ἄρτους, ἐμέμψαντο·
и҆ ви́дѣвше нѣ́кїихъ ѿ ᲂу҆чн҃къ є҆гѡ̀ нечи́стыми рꙋка́ми, си́рѣчь неꙋмове́ными, ꙗ҆дꙋ́щихъ хлѣ́бы, рꙋга́хꙋсѧ.
(in Matt. 15) But common is here put for unclean; for the people of the Jews, boasting that they were the portion of God, called those meats common, which all made use of.
Catena Aurea by AquinasMystically, again, the disciples eating with unwashed hands signifies the future fellowship of the Gentiles with the Apostles. The cleansing and washing of the Pharisees is barren; but the fellowship of the Apostles, though without washing, has stretched out its branches as far as the sea.
Catena Aurea by AquinasHaving been taught to hold to one virtue alone and to be concerned with nothing else besides it, the disciples of the Lord ate with unwashed hands without any deliberate intent and in simplicity.
Commentary on MarkFor the disciples of the Lord, who were taught only the practice of virtue, used to eat in a simple way, without washing their hands; but the Pharisees, wishing to find an occasion of blame against them, took it up; they did not indeed blame them as transgressors of the law, but for transgressing the traditions of the elders. Wherefore it goes on: For the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
Catena Aurea by AquinasFor the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
οἱ γὰρ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ πάντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, ἐὰν μὴ πυγμῇ νίψωνται τὰς χεῖρας, οὐκ ἐσθίουσι, κρατοῦντες τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων·
Фарїсе́є бо и҆ всѝ і҆ꙋде́є, а҆́ще не тры́юще {до лакѡ́тъ} ᲂу҆мы́ютъ рꙋ́къ, не ꙗ҆дѧ́тъ, держа́ще преда̑нїѧ ста́рєцъ:
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
καὶ ἀπὸ ἀγορᾶς, ἐὰν μὴ βαπτίσωνται, οὐκ ἐσθίουσι· καὶ ἄλλα πολλά ἐστιν ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν, βαπτισμοὺς ποτηρίων καὶ ξεστῶν καὶ χαλκίων καὶ κλινῶν·
и҆ ѿ то́ржища, а҆́ще не покꙋ́плютсѧ, не ꙗ҆дѧ́тъ. И҆ и҆́на мнѡ́га сꙋ́ть, ꙗ҆̀же прїѧ́ша держа́ти: погрꙋжє́нїѧ стклѧ́ницамъ и҆ чва́нѡмъ и҆ котлѡ́мъ и҆ ѻ҆дрѡ́мъ.
It is a superstitious tradition of men to wash frequently before eating bread, once washed, and not to eat unless they baptize themselves from the market. But the doctrine of truth is necessary, which orders those who wish to participate with the bread of life descending from heaven to often cleanse their works with the washing of alms, tears, and other fruits of righteousness, so that they may be able to communicate with heavenly mysteries with a pure heart and body. It is necessary to purge the defilements that anyone has contracted from the cares of temporal business with the following diligence of good thoughts and acts, if he desires to enjoy the feasts of internal refreshment. But the Pharisees, taking the spiritual words of the prophets carnally, which commanded them concerning the chastisement of heart and works, saying: Wash yourselves, be clean, and be purified, you who bear the vessels of the Lord (Isa. I), these only observed the washing of the body. But Pharisees in vain, all Jews in vain, wash their hands, and are baptized from the market, as long as they despise being washed by the fountain of the Savior. In vain do they keep the baptisms of vessels, who neglect to cleanse the filth of their hearts and bodies: since it is certain that Moses and the prophets who ordered the vessels of the people of God to be either washed with water, or purged by fire, or sanctified with oil for whatever reason, did not command in this the cleansing of material things, but rather the chastisement and holiness of minds and works, and the salvation of souls.
On the Gospel of Mark(ubi sup.) For taking the spiritual words of the Prophets in a carnal sense, they observed, by washing the body alone, commandments which concerned the chastening of the heart and deeds, saying Wash you, make you clean; (Isa. 1:16) and again, Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. (Isa. 52:11) It is therefore a superstitious human tradition, that men who are clean already, should wash oftener because they eat bread, and that they should not eat on leaving the market, without washing. But it is necessary for those who desire to partake of the bread which comes down from heaven, often to cleanse their evil deeds by alms, by tears, and the other fruits of righteousness. It is also necessary for a man to wash thoroughly away the pollutions which he has contracted from the cares of temporal business, by being afterwards intent on good thoughts and works. In vain, however, do the Jews wash their hands, and cleanse themselves after the market, so long as they refuse to be washed in the font of the Saviour; in vain do they observe the washing of their vessels, who neglect to wash away the filthy sins of their bodies and of their hearts. It goes on: Then the Scribes and Pharisees asked him, Why walk not thy disciples after the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with common hands?
Catena Aurea by AquinasPharisee is a name meaning "those who are set apart." They followed a way of life which they regarded as most perfect. They esteemed their way as superior to others. They affirmed the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and holiness of life. They followed a rigorous way of life, practicing asceticism and sexual abstinence for periods of time and fasting twice a week. They ceremonially cleansed their pots and plates and cups, as did the scribes. They observed the paying of tithes, the offering of first fruits, and the recitation of many prayers.
ON HERESIES 15Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
ἔπειτα ἐπερωτῶσιν αὐτὸν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς· διατί οὐ περιπατοῦσιν οἱ μαθηταί σου κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἀλλ᾿ ἀνίπτοις χερσὶν ἐσθίουσι τὸν ἄρτον;
[Заⷱ҇ 28] Пото́мъ же вопроша́хꙋ є҆го̀ фарїсе́є и҆ кни́жницы: почто̀ ᲂу҆чн҃цы̀ твоѝ не хо́дѧтъ по преда́нїю ста́рєцъ, но неꙋмове́ными рꙋка́ми ꙗ҆дѧ́тъ хлѣ́бъ;
And the Pharisees and the scribes questioned him: Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with common hands? The stupidity of the Pharisees and scribes is astonishing. They argue with the Son of God, why he does not observe the traditions and precepts of men. The hands, that is, works, of course, not the hands of the body, but of the soul, must be washed, so that the word of God may be done in them.
On the Gospel of Mark(in Matt. 15) Wonderful is the folly of the Pharisees and Scribes; they accuse the Son of God, because He keeps not the traditions and precepts of men.
Catena Aurea by AquinasMeanwhile the Pharisees, wishing to find a pretext for reproach, seize upon this occasion and accuse the apostles, though not as violators of the Law, but as violators of the tradition of the elders, for there is no commandment in the Law to wash one's hands up to the elbows before eating, but they held to this as a tradition of the elders.
Commentary on MarkHe answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι καλῶς προεφήτευσεν Ἡσαΐας περὶ ὑμῶν τῶν ὑποκριτῶν, ὡς γέγραπται· οὗτος ὁ λαὸς τοῖς χείλεσί με τιμᾷ, ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν πόρρω ἀπέχει ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ·
Ѻ҆́нъ же ѿвѣща́въ речѐ и҆̀мъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ до́брѣ прⷪ҇ро́чествова и҆са́їа ѡ҆ ва́съ лицемѣ́рѣхъ, ꙗ҆́коже є҆́сть пи́сано: сі́и лю́дїе ᲂу҆стна́ми мѧ̀ чтꙋ́тъ, се́рдце же и҆́хъ дале́че ѿстои́тъ ѿ менє̀,
The Lord Himself shall teach us that Judas the deceitful is meant: "He that dippeth with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me." You see the treacherous guest, and this same Judas betrayed the Master with a kiss. For he was a hypocrite, giving a treacherous kiss, in imitation of another hypocrite of old. And He reproves that people respecting whom it was said, "This people honour Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me." It is not improbable, therefore, that by the oil He means that disciple to whom was shown mercy, and by the tainted and poisoned oil the traitor.
The Instructor Book 2So let us devote ourselves to those at peace in their devotion to God, and not to those who seek peace through hypocrisy. For he says in one place: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." And again: "They blessed with their mouth, but they cursed in their heart." And again he says: "They flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant."
1 CLEMENT 15.1-4(Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.) For since they unjustly accused the disciples not of transgressing the law, but the commands of the elders, He sharply confounds them, calling them hypocrites, as looking with reverence upon what was not worthy of it. He adds, however, the words of Isaiah the prophet, as spoken of them; as though He would say, As those men, of whom it is said, that they honour God with their lips, whilst their heart is far from him, in vain pretend to observe the dictates of piety, whilst they honour the doctrines of men, so ye also neglect your soul, of which ye should take care, and blame those who live justly.
Catena Aurea by AquinasHe beats back the vain words of the Pharisees with His arguments, as men drive back dogs with weapons, by interpreting Moses and Isaiah, that we too by the word of Scripture may conquer the heretics, who oppose us; wherefore it goes on: (Isa. 29:13) Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites; as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Catena Aurea by AquinasIn order to more strongly convict the Jews, the Lord also brings forward a prophet who condemns them. They accused the disciples for transgressing the tradition of the elders, but the Lord directs against them a far stronger accusation, namely, that they transgress the Law of Moses.
Commentary on MarkHowbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
μάτην δὲ σέβονταί με, διδάσκοντες διδασκαλίας ἐντάλματα ἀνθρώπων.
всꙋ́е же чтꙋ́тъ мѧ̀, ᲂу҆ча́ще ᲂу҆че́нїємъ, за́повѣдемъ человѣ́чєскимъ:
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
ἀφέντες γὰρ τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ κρατεῖτε τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, βαπτισμοὺς ξεστῶν καὶ ποτηρίων, καὶ ἄλλα παρόμοια τοιαῦτα πολλὰ ποιεῖτε.
ѡ҆ста́вльше бо за́повѣдь бж҃їю, держитѐ преда̑нїѧ человѣ́чєскаѧ, крещє́нїѧ {ѡ҆мовє́нїѧ} чва́нѡмъ и҆ стклѧ́ницамъ, и҆ и҆́на подѡ́бна такова̑ мнѡ́га творитѐ.
It is not Puritanism; it is simply anarchy. I should have some sympathy with the Jewish Sabbath, if it were a Jewish Sabbath... But the absurdity of the modern English convention is that it does not let a man sit still; it only perpetually trips him up when it has forced him to walk about. Our Sabbatarianism does not forbid us to ask a man in Battersea to come and talk in Hertfordshire; it only prevents his getting there.
Tremendous Trifles, A Cab Ride Across Country (1909)For the tradition of the elders themselves, which they pretended to observe from the law, was contrary to the law given by Moses. Wherefore also Esaias declares: "Thy dealers mix the wine with water," showing that the elders were in the habit of mingling a watered tradition with the simple command of God; that is, they set up a spurious law, and one contrary to the [true] law; as also the Lord made plain, when He said to them, "Why do ye transgress the commandment of God, for the sake of your tradition?" For not only by actual transgression did they set the law of God at nought, mingling the wine with water; but they also set up their own law in opposition to it, which is termed, even to the present day, the pharisaical. In this [law] they suppress certain things, add others, and interpret others, again, as they think proper, which their teachers use, each one in particular; and desiring to uphold these traditions, they were unwilling to be subject to the law of God, which prepares them for the coming of Christ. But they did even blame the Lord for healing on the Sabbath-days, which, as I have already observed, the law did not prohibit. For they did themselves, in one sense, perform acts of healing upon the Sabbath-day, when they circumcised a man [on that day]; but they did not blame themselves for transgressing the command of God through tradition and the aforesaid pharisaical law, and for not keeping the commandment of the law, which is the love of God.
Against Heresies Book 4But Pharisaical tradition, as to tables and vessels, is to be cut off, and cast away. For they often make the commands of God yield to the traditions of men; wherefore it continues, For laying aside the commandments of God, ye hold to the traditions of men, as the washing of pots and cups.
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
περιέδραμον ὅλην τὴν περίχωρον ἐκείνην καὶ ἤρξαντο ἐπὶ τοῖς κραβάττοις τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας περιφέρειν ὅπου ἤκουον ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι·
ѡ҆бте́кше всю̀ странꙋ̀ тꙋ̀, нача́ша на ѻ҆дрѣ́хъ приноси́ти болѧ́щыѧ, и҆дѣ́же слы́шахꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ тꙋ̀ є҆́сть.
The Lord arrived at this place, it seems, after no small time (of absence); therefore the evangelist also says: "when they recognized Him... they began to bring the sick." They did not yet invite Him into their homes, but themselves brought the sick, beseeching to touch even the hem of His garment. For the miracle performed on the woman with the issue of blood had come to the knowledge of all and produced in them an even greater faith.
Commentary on Mark(ubi sup.) But they knew Him by report, not by His features; or through the greatness of His miracles, even His person was known to some. See too how great was the faith of the men of the land of Gennesaret, so that they were not content with the healing of those who were present, but sent to other towns round about, that all might hasten to the Physician; wherefore there follows, And ran through the whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
Catena Aurea by Aquinas