Mark 6:2

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Many hearing him.—The better MSS. give, “the many,” i.e., the majority of those who were present.

Such mighty works.—As the Evangelist notes in Mark 6:5 that no mighty work had been done in Nazareth, these must refer to what had been reported there.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 13:54-58.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 6

Mr 6:1-6. Christ Rejected at Nazareth. ( = Mt 13:54-58; Lu 4:16-30).

See on [1439]Lu 4:16-30.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 6:1"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when the sabbath day was come,.... For it seems that it was on a weekday, or on one of the common days of the week, that he entered into the city, where he remained without making himself known, till the sabbath day came: and then

he began to teach in the synagogue; that is, at Nazareth; where he expounded the law and the prophets, and preached the Gospel:

and many hearing him were astonished. The Vulgate Latin adds, "at his doctrine"; and so it is read in Beza's most ancient copy:

saying, from whence hath this man these things? This skill of explaining Scripture, this doctrine which he teaches, and these miracles he is said to work? This question they the rather put, because they had known him from the beginning: he had lived long among them, and they knew he had not learnt of men, and therefore wondered how he came by such things as these:

and what wisdom is this which is given to him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? which were but the other day employed in servile work, and mechanical operations.

Geneva Study Bible

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such {a} mighty works are wrought by his hands?

(a) The word signifies powers or virtues, by which are meant those wonderful works that Christ did which showed and set forth the virtue and power of his Godhead to all the world; Mt 7:22.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 6:2. ἤρξατο διδάσκειν, etc.: Jesus did not go to Nazareth for the purpose of preaching, rather for rest; but that He should preach was inevitable; therefore, the Sabbath coming round, He appeared in the synagogue, and spoke.—πόθεν τούτῳ ταῦτα: laconic; comprehensive, vague question, covering the discourse just heard and all that had been reported to them about their townsman, with the one word ταῦτα: such speech, such wisdom (τίς ἡ σοφία), such powers (δυνάμεις, not wrought there), in such a well-known person (τούτῳ).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. he began to teach in the synagogue] For his former visit here see Luke 4:6 sq. The conduct of His hearers on this occasion did not betray the frantic violence exhibited at His first visit.

mighty works] Rather, powers. This is one of the four names given by the Evangelists to the miracles which the Lord was pleased to work while incarnate here on earth. They are called:

(α) “Wonders,” a term never used alone, but always in conjunction with other names. They are continually styled “signs and wonders,” or “signs” or “powers” alone, but never “wonders” alone. By this word the effect of astonishment, which the work produces on the beholder, is transferred to the work itself. The word only occurs once in St Mark, in Mark 13:22, and there it is in conjunction with “signs.”

(β) “Signs,” as being tokens and indications of something beyond themselves, of the near presence and working of God, the seals and credentials of a higher power. The word is an especial favourite with St John, though in our Version “sign” too often gives place to the vaguer “miracle,” to the great detriment of the true meaning and force of the word. It occurs three times in St John, twice in St Mark 16:17; Mark 16:20 alone, and once in conjunction with “wonders,” Mark 13:22.

(γ) “Powers,” that is of God, coming into and working in this world of ours. As in the “wonder” the effect is transferred and gives a name to the cause, so here the cause gives its name to the effect. The word occurs four times in St Mark: Mark 5:30 (A. V. virtue), Mark 6:2; Mark 6:14; Mark 9:39. In our Version it is rendered sometimes “wonderful works” (Matthew 7:22), sometimes “mighty works” (Matthew 11:20; Mark 6:14; Luke 10:13), and still more frequently “miracles” (Acts 2:22; Acts 19:11; Galatians 3:5), thus doing away with a portion of its force.

(δ) “Works.” This is a significant term very frequently used by St John. With him miracles are the natural form of working for Him, whose Name is Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6), and Who therefore doeth “works of wonder.” Comp. John 6:28; John 7:21; John 10:25; John 10:32; John 10:38; John 14:11, &c. See Abp. Trench on the Parables, Introd.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 6:2. Γενομένου, having come) When the arrival of Jesus had taken place not very long before.—πόθεν—δοθεῖσα, whence—given) But indeed He is Wisdom itself.—καὶ δυνάμεις) Understand τι, what [are also these mighty works]? how [has He been enabled to do them]?

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - As usual, he made the sabbath the special time for his teaching. And many hearing him were astonished. They were astonished at the ability, the sublimity, the holiness of his teaching, as well as at the signs and wonders by which he confirmed it. "Many" hearing him; not all. Some listened with faith; but "the many" (there is some authority for οἱ πολλοὶ)were envious of him. Whence hath this man these things? The expression, "this man," is repeated, according to the best authorities, in the next clause, What is the wisdom that is given (not "unto him," but) unto this man? There is a contemptuous tone about the expression. Mark 6:2

Vincent's Word Studies

Astonished

See on Matthew 7:28.

Mighty works (δυνάμεις)

Lit., powers. See on Matthew 11:20. Tynd., virtues. Outcomings of God's power: "powers of the world to come" (Hebrews 6:5), at work upon the earth.