61 Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown ; and His disciples followed Him. 2 When the Sabbath came , He began to teach in the synagogue ; and the many listeners were astonished , saying , "Where did this man get these things , and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands ? 3 "Is not this the carpenter , the son of Mary , and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon ? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. 4 Jesus said to them, " A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household ." 5 And He could do no e miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He wondered at their unbelief . And He was going around e the villages teaching .
7 And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs , and gave them authority over the unclean spirits ; 8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey , except a mere staff -no bread , no bag , no money in their belt - 9 but to wear sandals ; and He added, "Do not put on two tunics ." 10 And He said to them, "Wherever e you enter a house , stay there until you leave town . 11 "Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there , shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them." 12 They went out and preached that men should repent . 13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.
14 And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known ; and people were saying , " John the Baptist has risen from the dead , and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him." 15 But others were saying , "He is Elijah ." And others were saying , "He is a prophet , like one of the prophets of old." 16 But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying , "John , whom I beheaded , has risen !" 17 For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias , the wife of his brother Philip , because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod , " It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife ." 19 Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; 20 for Herod was afraid of John , knowing that he was a righteous and holy man , and he kept him safe . And when he heard him, he was very perplexed ; but he used to enjoy listening to him. 21 A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee ; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced , she pleased Herod and his dinner guests ; and the king said to the girl , "Ask me for whatever e you want and I will give it to you." 23 And he swore to her, "Whatever e you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom ." 24 And she went out and said to her mother , "What shall I ask for?" And she said , "The head of John the Baptist ." 25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked , saying , "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter ." 26 And although the king was very sorry , yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests , he was unwilling e to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head . And he went and had him beheaded in the prison , 28 and brought his head on a platter , and gave it to the girl ; and the girl gave it to her mother . 29 When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 6:1-29
Commentary on Mark 6:1-6
(Read Mark 6:1-6)
Our Lord's countrymen tried to prejudice the minds of people against him. Is not this the carpenter? Our Lord Jesus probably had worked in that business with his father. He thus put honour upon mechanics, and encouraged all persons who eat by the labour of their hands. It becomes the followers of Christ to content themselves with the satisfaction of doing good, although they are denied the praise of it. How much did these Nazarenes lose by obstinate prejudices against Jesus! May Divine grace deliver us from that unbelief, which renders Christ a savour of death, rather than of life to the soul. Let us, like our Master, go and teach cottages and peasants the way of salvation.
Commentary on Mark 6:7-13
(Read Mark 6:7-13)
Though the apostles were conscious to themselves of great weakness, and expected no wordly advantage, yet, in obedience to their Master, and in dependence upon his strength, they went out. They did not amuse people with curious matters, but told them they must repent of their sins, and turn to God. The servants of Christ may hope to turn many from darkness unto God, and to heal souls by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Commentary on Mark 6:14-29
(Read Mark 6:14-29)
Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taught him; but it is not enough to do many things, we must have respect to all the commandments. Herod respected John, till he touched him in his Herodias. Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin. But it is better that sinners persecute ministers now for faithfulness, than curse them eternally for unfaithfulness. The ways of God are unsearchable; but we may be sure he never can be at a loss to repay his servants for what they endure or lose for his sake. Death could not come so as to surprise this holy man; and the triumph of the wicked was short.