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Bible Commentaries
Mark 1

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

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Verses 2-8

John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus
Matthew 3:1-12Mark 1:2-8Luke 3:2-18
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John in son of Zacharias
preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. in the wilderness.
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways [shall be] made smooth; Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
Matthew 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem,
Matthew 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, Luke 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him,
O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance,
Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Luke 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Luke 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Luke 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? Luke 3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages. Luke 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water:Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water;
but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:Mark 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose:
he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:Mark 1:8 but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Matthew 3:12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.Luke 3:17 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Luke 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

Verses 9-11

Jesus’ Baptism
Matthew 3:13-17Mark 1:9-11Luke 3:21-22
Matthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying,
Matthew 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him,Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, the heaven was opened,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him,
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Verses 12-13

Satan temps Jesus in the Desert
Matthew 4:1-11Mark 1:12-13Luke 4:1-13
Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Mark 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.Luke 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,Luke 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.Luke 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: Luke 4:11 And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.Luke 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Matthew 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee,Luke 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
if thou wilt fall down and worship me.Luke 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Matthew 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Most biblical scholars believe that Matthew was concerned more with the order of events in this story because of his use of words like “then” (4:5, Greek tote) and “again” (4:8, Greek palin). These two specific adverbs seem to indicate a more sequential order of the temptations. Luke links the events by using the Greek words kai and de (4:2, 5-6, translated “and”). [The NKJV’s translation of kai as “then” in Luke 4:5 is incorrect. It should be translated simply “and” (cf. ASV, KJV, NASV, and RSV).] Similar to the English word “and” not having specific chronological implications, neither do the Greek words kai and de (Richards, 1993, p. 230). In short, Luke’s account of the temptations of Jesus is arranged topically (or possibly climactically), whereas Matthew’s account seems to be arranged chronologically.

Verses 14-15

Jesus preaches in Galilee
Matthew 4:12-17Mark 1:14-15Luke 4:14-15John 4:43-45
Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: John 4:43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
John 4:44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
Matthew 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.John 4:45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
Matthew 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Matthew 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.Mark 1:14 preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,Luke 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Verses 16-20

Four fishermen follow Jesus
Matthew 4:18-22Mark 1:16-20
Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.Mark 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Matthew 4:20 And they straightway left [their] nets, and followed him.Mark 1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; Mark 1:19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
and he called them.Mark 1:20 And straightway he called them:
Matthew 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Verses 21-28

Jesus teaches with great authority
Mark 1:21-28Luke 4:31-37
Mark 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
Mark 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
Mark 1:24 Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.Luke 4:34 Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, [thou] Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
Mark 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
Mark 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word [is] this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
Mark 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine [is] this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Mark 1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.Luke 4:37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

Verses 29-34

Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many others
Matthew 8:14-17Mark 1:29-34Luke 4:38-41
Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.Mark 1:29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.Luke 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
Mark 1:30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
Matthew 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.Mark 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.Luke 4:39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
Matthew 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with [his] word, and healed all that were sick:Mark 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
Mark 1:33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
Mark 1:34 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.Luke 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking [them] suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
Matthew 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.

Verses 35-39

Jesus preaches throughout Galilee
Matthew 4:23-25Mark 1:35-39Luke 4:42-44
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.Luke 4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place:
Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Matthew 4:25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and [from] Decapolis, and [from] Jerusalem, and [from] Judaea, and [from] beyond Jordan.Mark 1:36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. Mark 1:37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All [men] seek for thee. and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
Mark 1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Mark 1:39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.Luke 4:44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Verses 40-45

Jesus heals a man with leprosy
Matthew 8:2-4Mark 1:40-45Luke 5:12-15
Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.Mark 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on [his] face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.Luke 5:13 And he put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.Mark 1:42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
Mark 1:43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;Luke 5:14 And he charged him to
Matthew 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.Mark 1:44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
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.Luke 5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Bibliographical Information
"Commentary on Mark 1". "The Gospels Compared". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tgc/mark-1.html. 2014.
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