23 And there was in their synagogue a man [possessed] by an unclean spirit, and he cried out 24 saying, Eh! what have we to do with thee, Jesus, Nazarene? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the holy one of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace and come out of him. 26 And the unclean spirit, having torn him, and uttered a cry with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And all were amazed, so that they questioned together among themselves, saying, What is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. 28 And his fame went out straightway into the whole region of Galilee around.
29 And straightway going out of the synagogue, they came with James and John into the house of Simon and Andrew. 30 And the mother-in-law of Simon lay in a fever. And straightway they speak to him about her. 31 And he went up to [her] and raised her up, having taken her by the hand, and straightway the fever left her, and she served them.
32 But evening being come, when the sun had gone down, they brought to him all that were suffering, and those possessed by demons; 33 and the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many suffering from various diseases; and he cast out many demons, and did not suffer the demons to speak because they knew him.
35 And rising in the morning long before day, he went out and went away into a desert place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and those with him went after him: 37 and having found him, they say to him, All seek thee. 38 And he says to them, Let us go elsewhere into the neighbouring country towns, that I may preach there also, for for this purpose am I come forth. 39 And he was preaching in their synagogues in the whole of Galilee, and casting out demons.
40 And there comes to him a leper, beseeching him, and falling on his knees to him, and saying to him, If thou wilt thou canst cleanse me. 41 But Jesus, moved with compassion, having stretched out his hand, touched him, and says to him, I will, be thou cleansed. 42 And as he spoke straightway the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And having sharply charged him, he straightway sent him away, 44 and says to him, See thou say nothing to any one, but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses ordained, for a testimony to them. 45 But he, having gone forth, began to proclaim [it] much, and to spread the matter abroad, so that he could no longer enter openly into the city, but was without in desert places, and they came to him from every side.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 1:23-45
Commentary on Mark 1:23-28
(Read Mark 1:23-28)
The devil is an unclean spirit, because he has lost all the purity of his nature, because he acts in direct opposition to the Holy Spirit of God, and by his suggestions defiles the spirits of men. There are many in our assemblies who quietly attend under merely formal teachers; but if the Lord come with faithful ministers and holy doctrine, and by his convincing Spirit, they are ready to say, like this man, What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth! No disorder could enable a man to know Jesus to be the Holy One of God. He desires to have nothing to do with Jesus, for he despairs of being saved by him, and dreads being destroyed by him. See whose language those speak, that say to the Almighty, Depart from us. This unclean spirit hated and dreaded Christ, because he knew him to be a Holy One; for the carnal mind is enmity against God, especially against his holiness. When Christ by his grace delivers souls out of the hands of Satan, it is not without tumult in the soul; for that spiteful enemy will disquiet those whom he cannot destroy. This put all who saw it upon considering, What is this new doctrine? A work as great often is wrought now, yet men treat it with contempt and neglect. If this were not so, the conversion of a notorious wicked man to a sober, righteous, and godly life, by the preaching of a crucified Saviour, would cause many to ask, What doctrine is this?
Commentary on Mark 1:29-39
(Read Mark 1:29-39)
Wherever Christ comes, he comes to do good. He cures, that we may minister to him, and to others who are his, and for his sake. Those kept from public ordinances by sickness or other real hinderances, may expect the Saviour's gracious presence; he will soothe their sorrows, and abate their pains. Observe how numerous the patients were. When others speed well with Christ, it should quicken us in seeking after him. Christ departed into a solitary place. Though he was in no danger of distraction, or of temptation to vain-glory, yet he retired. Those who have the most business in public, and of the best kind, must yet sometimes be alone with God.
Commentary on Mark 1:40-45
(Read Mark 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.