COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 86
“ Mark 8:10 And straightway He entered into a ship with His disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with Him, seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him. 12 And He sighed deeply in His spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. 13 And He left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.”
(Mark 8:10-13; Matthew 15:39-16:4)
A REQUEST FOR JESUS TO SHOW
A SIGN FROM HEAVEN
INTRODUCTION
Jesus has just fed four thousand men, besides women and children, with seven loaves and a few small fishes. He had again faced an enormous amount of doubt and unbelief – even from His disciples. Although they had personally passed out a miraculous supply of bread only three months earlier, they had not been able to make the correlation between that occasion and the one they had just faced – another crowd of people with nothing to eat. There are two things that are evident in this. First, that “the natural man” (1 Cor 2:14), or the one who is not born again, cannot reason with any degree of spiritual consistency. Secondly, faith is not developed by repeated exposure to the miraculous working of the Lord. Faith is not the result of training! Men do not “believe” simply because they have been around the truth for a long time. They are not able to associate the Lord Jesus with need just because they have been in the presence of His working for a significant period of time. Men are “given” to believe – even when they have honest and good hearts (Phil 1:29). Although hearts are not particularly rebellious, the obtaining of faith still requires Divine activity. Further, there are also degrees of believing that require its maturity. Early in Christ’s ministry, “His disciples believed on Him” (John 2:11). That faith moved them to follow Jesus consistently, yet their thinking was often flawed – until Pentecost, when they were filled with the Spirit. There is such a thing as one who, in an initial sense, believes, yet cannot rationalize properly. Such souls must remain with Jesus, diligently keeping and thinking upon His word.
THE PHARISEES BEGIN TO QUESTION JESUS
“ Mk 8:10 And straightway He entered into a ship with His disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with Him, seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him.”
DALMANUTHA. This was a small town on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, and this is the only place in Scripture that it is mentioned. Matthew says that Jesus came “into the coasts of Magdala,” which was the general region in which the city of Dalmanutha was situated. There is no contradiction here, for Mark refers to “parts of Dalmanutha” and Matthew to “the coasts [or region] of Magdala.” It would be similar to saying one went to “Crown Point Indiana, which is in the Chicago region,” or to “Joplin, which is in the four state area.” This is where Jesus went after He “sent away the multitude, and took ship” (Matt 15:39).
It is interesting to observe the remoteness of this area, as well as its isolation from any apparent significance. This is not something that a person seeking fame would do. Nor, indeed, does it appear to be related to the greater mission of Jesus to “seek and save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10). It should become increasingly apparent that Jesus was not addressing his public ministry as men in the flesh would do.
THE PHARISEES CAME FORTH. Matthew tells us that the Sadducees came with the Pharisees (Matt 16:1). Both groups were “sects” within Judaism, like there are denominations in Christendom. The Sadducees said “that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both” (Acts 23:8). Yet, in their approach to Jesus, they had no difficulty working together, as did Pilate and Herod, who also were natural foes (Lk 23:12). Here, in this somewhat remote area, Jesus faces these hypocrites again. It is as though He could not get away from them. They pursued Him, but not for noble reasons.
QUESTIONING. Being Christ’s critics, they “began to question Him.” Their questions, however, were not honest ones. Later in Christ’s ministry, not being able to resist His wisdom, men such as these will stop asking Jesus questions like this (Mk 12:34; Lk 20:40). But for now, they still think themselves equal to the challenge of talking with Jesus as though He was one of their peers. We also note that there is a form of questioning that is not proper, and that ought not to be found among the disciples of Jesus – or anyone else.
The saints are admonished to avoid teaching that leaves people asking questions. “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (1 Tim 1:4). There are “unlearned questions,” or “ignorant disputes” NKJV and “stupid arguments” NIV that are to be avoided. “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” (2 Tim 2:23). There is also an approach to religion that moves one to have “an unhealthy interest in controversies.” NIV “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings” (1 Tim 6:3-4). The men now questioning Jesus are in that forbidden religious category.
SEEKING A SIGN. Both Matthew and Mark affirm these men were “tempting” Jesus. They were challenging Him to do something that was not proper. Mark says they were “seeking of Him a sign from heaven.” Matthew says they “desired Him that He would show them a sign from heaven” (Matt 16:1). Earlier, some scribes and Pharisees had asked Him to do the same thing: “Master, we would see a sign from thee” (Matt 12:38).
There is a subtle insinuation in this. By requesting a sign “from heaven” they were suggesting the feeding of the four thousand was not a legitimate work. We know there were other occasions in which they had charged Jesus with working under the auspices of the “Beelzebub, the ruler of demons” NKJV (Matt 12:24; Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15). They had, therefore discounted all of the public miracles wrought by Jesus prior to this time. Later, they will gather together and plot to kill, Jesus, confessing that “this man doeth many miracles” (John 11:47).
Now they seek some sign in the heavens, rather than Christ’s marvelous works upon the earth. Through Moses, God had sent manna from heaven (Ex 16:4). Through the power of God, Samuel caused it to thunder (1 Sam 12:16-18). Elijah had called down fire from heaven (2 Kgs). Joshua had made the sun stand still (Josh 10:12-13). Isaiah had caused the shadow of the sun dial to go backward by ten degrees (Isaiah 38:8). Now these men ask Jesus to perform something from the heavens, with no other purpose than to appease their curiosity.
TEMPTING HIM. These men were not inquiring to learn, but “tempting” Jesus,”
just like their father the devil did when He tempted the Savior (Matt 4:1-11). The temptation was to do something that was not in the purpose of God – to step outside of the Divine agenda – to obey someone other than God. All temptation is not a lure to immorality or obvious sin. Sometimes temptation is an attempt to draw one away from godly priorities and a total commitment to the Lord. Sometimes it is a lure to seemingly innocent novelties.
JESUS PREPARES TO FEED THE MULTITUDE
“ 12 And He sighed deeply in His spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.”
HE SIGHED. What a poignant phrase: “He sighed deeply in His spirit.” Other versions read “groaning in His spirit,” DARBY “with a profound sigh,” NJB and “sighed from the depth of His spirit.” NAB The request of these men agitated Jesus within. It was like a rough stone that chaffed against His spirit. Jesus resented their words, and thus could not treat them with indifference. The power of holiness cannot endure the impact of dishonesty and spiritual stupidity. The words “sighed deeply” come from a single word that means “to draw sighs from the bottom of the breast,” THAYER “to groan inwardly,” FRIBERG “sigh deeply or intensely.” LOUW-NIDA Jesus was adversely stirred to the very depths of His spirit. This request not only came from wicked men, it contradicted everything He came to do, and was thus contrary to His mission. He lived so close to the Father that such things were intolerable to Him. He would therefore quickly dispense with this irritant because of its contaminating and irritating effects.
Certain professed Christian teachers are fond of telling the people that God can handle their anger and stupidity – that it has no effect upon Him. However, this is not the truth, but is rather a lie. In this text we are confronted with “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim 3:16). Christ’s reactions are those of the Father in heaven, whose fulness dwelt in Him “bodily” (Col 2:9). Let no man imagine for a moment that a holy Lord can easily tolerate unholiness, misdirected desires, thoughtless words, and foolish questions. All of these contradict purity, holiness, and spiritual understanding. The necessity of ongoing cleansing (1 John 1:7) and continual intercession (Heb 7:25) confirm that God cannot be indifferent to human imperfections. For them to be expressed, however, is a matter of irritation to the living God, as confirmed in the deep sighs of Jesus upon hearing a request to provide a sign from heaven.
WHY? What a probing question! “Why does this generation seek a sign?” NKJV Matthew reads, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign”(Matt 16:4). A “wicked” generation is one that is willingly immersed in iniquity. An “adulterous generation” is one that has prostituted their devotion, giving their heart over to things other than the God who made them. Why does such a generation request a sign from heaven – the heaven they ignore, and for which they have no appetite? What possible reason can justify such a request? Is it not the kind of request the “old serpent” (Rev 12:9; 20:2) would ask? – “command that these stones be made bread . . . cast Thyself down . . . fall down and worship me” (Matt 4:3-9). Like the devil’s own challenges, the demand of the Pharisees and Sadducees is pretentious, dishonest, and filled with iniquity. There really is no justification for their demand.
But let us bring this kind of response into our own day and time. There is still a generation that has no right to ask God anything, and they are never honest and forthright when they seem to do so. It is what David called “a stubborn and rebellious generation” (Psa 78:8). They live only for themselves, and seek only their own depraved will – yet that dare to stand before the Lord. The requests of such people are an irritant to the Lord. If that seems to be too strong, then consider what the Lord Himself said to wayward Israel. “When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread My courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with [I cannot endure NKJV]; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hateth: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them” (Isa 1:12-14). I do not doubt that, were men able to discern it, God often says to professing Christians, “Why are you trying to praise Me?” “Why do you make any requests of Me, when you choose to remain aloof from Me?” “Why do you ask Me to gratify your personal desires?”
In speaking to Israel concerning their hardness of heart, the Lord said, “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron” (Deu 28:23). That is, it was a generation that would receive none of the ordinary benefits of the natural heavens – no rain and no dew. Thus their land would become hard and parched, even like iron, yielding no produce to them. This was a picture of what happens when a people professing to love God live at a distance from Him. The windows of heaven are closed to them, and they are consigned to a spiritually barren condition – like lifeless iron.
NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN. Jesus does not hesitate to deny their request: “no sign shall be given to this generation!” NKJV Matthew adds, “but the sign of the prophet Jonas” (Matt 16:4). Jesus will not satisfy their curiosity. He will not feed their depraved desires. He will not honor their request. Already they had seen Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and feed multitudes miraculously. Yet they ask for a sign “from heaven,” as though His works did not testify of Him. He once challenged them, “believe the works!” (John 10:38). When people ignore what God has already brought to them, they are wasting their time when they demand more – additional proofs of their own choosing. They will not be granted.
JESUS LEAVES THE TEMPTERS
“ 13 And He left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.”
NO DISCERNMENT. Matthew provides some additional information concerning Christ’s answer to these men. He uncovered their utter corruption and spiritual stupidity.”He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering [overcast]. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matt 16:2-3).
These were not people who were incapable of processing information. They could profitably diagnose signs of the weather, being able to accurately predict when the weather would be fair or foul. Luke presents Jesus saying something similar on another occasion. “And He said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:54-56).
Is Jesus indifferent to people who can figure out things pertaining to this world, but cannot discern that this is “the day of salvation?” How does He react to people who know the ages of rocks, but do not know the Rock of ages? What of those who know the abilities of earthly physicians, but do not have the faintest conception of the Great Physician? What of experts in language who cannot understand the Word of God? What of those who are acutely conscious of their diet, yet know not that man lives “by every word of God?” What of those who have a high IQ, but a low SQ (spiritual quotient). Is Jesus indifferent to such conditions?
Indeed, He is not! He chides these men for their spiritual dulness. They are facing the ultimate “sign from heaven” and are treating Him as one of the local citizens – one of their peers. He has been preceded by a mighty prophet who prepared the way for Him, but these men see nothing more than a local teacher standing before them. He has wrought all manners of mighty works “throughout all Jewry” (Lk 23:5), but they have only seen Him as a threatening competitor.
Jesus says they are “hypocrites.” They have professed themselves to be wise, but are really nothing but “fools” (Rom 1:22), for anyone who has heard the Gospel, yet not seen Jesus for who He is, is nothing more than a fool. The times were in a state of change, and these men did not know it. The area all around them had seen a “great light” (Matt 4:16), yet they remained in darkness. The Creator w as in the world, and “they knew it not” (John 1:10). They could not “discern the times.”
Today is “the day of salvation” and “the accepted time” (2 Cor 6:2). It is a time when men can gain access to God (Rom 5:2; Eph 3:12), draw near to Him (Heb 10:22), and call upon Him with the expectance of being “saved” (Acts 2:21). This is the time when needed “change” can be accomplished (2 Cor 3:18). It is a time when men can learn to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts,” and live “soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Tit 2:12). It is a time when men can “receive mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need” (Heb 4:16). This is a time referred to as “high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom 13:11). It is the “time to seek the Lord,”“sow to yourselves in righteousness,” ”reap mercy,” and “break up your fallow ground”(Hos 10:12).
In spite of these conditions, multitudes of religious people continue to indulge only in worldly pursuits. They are consumed with matters pertaining to this world, and conduct their lives as though they and this world were going to continue forever. Is Jesus indifferent to this situation? Does He stand ready and willing to help such people, as He is often represented? Our text will clarify the Divine response to indifference, disinterest, and selfish demands.
HE LEFT THEM. “And He left them!” The request was denied, and the discussion was abruptly concluded. Jesus will not remain in the presence of hypocrites, who really have no heart for Him. They may appear deeply devoted to religion – like the Pharisees – but Jesus will leave them. They may have seemingly studied questions from the Bible – like the Sadducees (Mk 12:18-23) – but Jesus will leave them. The pure in heart will see God, the others will not!
TO THE OTHER SIDE. “And He left them, and . . . again departed to the other side.” Matthew reads, “and He left them, and departed” (Matt 16:4). Jesus returned to the other side, from whence He had come (Matt 14:22). Mark presents Jesus as going back and forth across the sea of Galilee – “to the other side” (Mk 5:21; 6:45; 8:13), returning again and again to Galilee. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, “ . . . beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Matt 4:15-16 (Isa 9:1-2).
Here is one of the few times that Jesus did no mighty work. Having come into the coast of Dalmanutha, He confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees, heard their request, rebuked them, and left the area. It is good to learn that although men often waste their time, Jesus does not. An environment in which Jesus is not honored, and where His works are not discerned, will not long enjoy the Divine presence. He will leave such a place without any compunctions.