Explanation of Mark 4
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of Mark 4
Verses 1-9. FROM the knowledges of good and truth, and the doctrine thence derived, the LORD teaches, that the reception of His Word is fourfold.
Verse 4. First, as it is received by those who have no real concern about truth, being in phantasies and false persuasions which pervert it.
Verses 5, 6. Secondly, as it is received by those who have a concern about truth, but not for its own sake, thus not interiorly, therefore the truth perishes, being adulterated by the lusts of self-love.
Verse 7. Thirdly, as it is received by those who are in the cravings of evil, which suffocate the truth.
Verse 8. Fourthly, as it is received by those who, from the LORD, love the truths which are in the Word, and from Him do them.
Verse 9. Which four-fold reception of the Word ought to be well attended to, both as to doctrine and practice, by all who are of the church.
Verses 10, 11, 12. Otherwise the Word will be understood only according to its literal or external sense, and not according to its spiritual and internal sense, which latter sense is revealed to those who are in the good of charity and the truth of faith from the LORD, but not to others, lest they should profane it.
Verse 13. And if this four-fold reception of the Word be not understood, it is impossible for the spiritual and internal sense of the Word to be seen.
Verses 14, 15. Thus it cannot be seen that when the Word is received by those who have no concern about the eternal truth, it is immediately darkened and deprived of life by infernal spirits who are in falsities, so that it produces no effect on the love and life.
Verses 16, 17. And when it is received by those who have a concern about truth, but not for its own sake, thus not interiorly, it excites indeed external delight, arising from external affection, but whereas it has no place in the will, it cannot stand the assault of evils and falsities.
Verses 18, 19. And that when it is received by those who are in the cravings of evil, it is suffocated and rendered unfruitful by worldly anxieties and the lust of gain.
Verse 20. But that when it is received by those who, from the LORD, love the truths which are in the Word, it affects first the will, and thence the understanding, and thus the life, in each according to reception.
Verse 21. That the light of truth therefore ought not to be subjected to the things of man's natural will, but to be exalted by affection in the intellectual mind, and thus to guide and direct the things of the will.
Verse 22. Inasmuch as all evils and falsities must, sooner or later, be manifested to those who are in them, and likewise all goods and truths to those who are in them.
Verse 23. Which circumstance ought to be well attended to.
Verse 24. Caution also is necessary respecting the reception of truth and good in the will, since those heavenly principles are imparted to man from the LORD, in proportion as man exercises them towards others.
Verse 25. The same heavenly principles also are multiplied and increased, in the other life, with those who have cherished them in this life, whilst they are taken away from those who, through the love of what is evil and false, have not cherished them.
Verses 26-30. For heaven is implanted in all who receive truths and goods, not from themselves, but from the LORD, yet who cooperate in this reception as if it was from themselves, since without such cooperation there can be no reception.
Verses 27, 28. Every man, therefore, in the course of regeneration, is alternately in a state of natural thought and spiritual thought, and his regeneration is accomplished whilst he is unconscious of its progress, being effected by scientifics, by the truths of faith, and by the goods of charity conjointly.
Verse 29. Thus the church is implanted in man, both in general and in particular.
Verses 30, 31, 32. Beginning from a little spiritual good by truth, because at that time man thinks to do good from himself, but as truth is conjoining to love, it increases, and when it is conjoined, then things intellectual are multiplied in scientifics.
Verses 33, 34. Which increase of truth lies concealed under the letter of the Word, and is not revealed to those who are in evils and falsities, but only to those who are in goods and truths.
Verses 35, 36, 37. That when the men of the church are in a natural state, and not yet in a spiritual one, the natural affections, which are the various lusts arising from self-love and the love of the world, are in uproar, and present various emotions of the mind.
Verses 38, 39. On which occasion it appears as if the LORD was absent, but when they come from a natural state into a spiritual one, then these emotions cease, and the mind is rendered tranquil, the tempestuous emotions of the natural man being appeased by the LORD.
Verses 40, 41. Thus the men of the church are instructed not to be fearful, but to put their whole trust in the LORD, and adore Him, who thus subdues hell and its cravings.
Mark 5
1
And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2
And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3
Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4
Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6
But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7
And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8
For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9
And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10
And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12
And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13
And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
14
And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
16
And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17
And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
18
And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
19
Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
20
And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
21
And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
22
And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
23
And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
24
And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
25
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31
And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33
But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34
And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
35
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
36
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
37
And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38
And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39
And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
40
And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
41
And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
42
And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
43
And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
