“Do not judge!
Then you will not be judged.”
καὶ μὴ κρίνετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ κριθῆτε·
This verse is almost the same as in Matthew, chapter 7:1. Thus, Jesus told his followers not to judge others (καὶ μὴ κρίνετε), so that they would not be judged (καὶ οὐ μὴ κριθῆτε). Jesus said that whatever judgments they made, they would be judged the same way. Do you judge people a lot?
“Woe to you
Who are full now!
You will be hungry.”
οὐαὶ ὑμῖν, οἱ ἐμπεπλησμένοι νῦν, ὅτι πεινάσετε.
Luke uniquely indicated that Jesus said that they would be cursed (οὐαὶ ὑμῖν) if they were full now (οἱ ἐμπεπλησμένοι νῦν), using the second person plural. However, in the future they would be hungry (ὅτι πεινάσετε). This is the reverse of verse 21, where Luke indicated that Jesus said that the hungry people now (οἱ πεινῶντες νῦν) would be blessed or happy (μακάριοι) and satisfied (ὅτι χορτασθήσεσθε), also using the second person plural. Here Luke was talking about real hunger for food that would be satisfied. Those who were not hungry now would be hungry in the future.
“As soon as
I heard
The sound
Of your greeting,
The child
In my womb
Leapt for joy.”
ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησεν ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου.
Luke seems to indicate that Elizabeth knew the answer to her question. She said that as soon as she heard with her ears the sound of Mary’s greeting (ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου), the child or baby in her womb leapt or jumped for joy or exultation (ἐσκίρτησεν ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου). This was a repetition of what was said in verse 41, except that Elizabeth said it here. John knew Jesus from the very beginning of his existence.
“The good news
Of the gospel
Must first be proclaimed
To all nations.”
καὶ εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη πρῶτον δεῖ κηρυχθῆναι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον.
This verse is unique to Mark, but there is a hint of this in Matthew, chapter 24:14. Jesus said that the good news of the gospel (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον) must first be proclaimed (πρῶτον δεῖ κηρυχθῆναι) to all the gentile nations (καὶ εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη). That would be a difficult task, certainly putting the end times at a further distance. This mission to the gentile nations was a trademark of the Gospel of Mark with its emphasis on gentile non-Jewish Christians.
“But if you
Do not forgive,
Neither will your Father
In heaven
Forgive
Your trespasses.”
Εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς οὖκ ἀφίετε, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν.
This verse is only in some Orthodox text versions. This is almost word for word from Matthew, chapter 6:15, right after the “Our Father” prayer. Mark said that if you do not forgive others (Εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς οὖκ ἀφίετε), your heavenly Father will not forgive you for your trespasses (οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα). You can see how the idea of trespasses instead of debtors came to be part of the “Our Father.” If you do not forgive, neither will your Father forgive you.
“Jesus said.
‘See!
We are going up
To Jerusalem.
The Son of man
Will be handed over
To the chief priests
And the Scribes.
They will condemn him
To death.
Then they will
Hand him over
To the gentiles.
They will mock him.
They will spit upon him.
They will flog him.
They will kill him.
After three days,
He will rise again.’”
ὅτι Ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς γραμματεῦσιν, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν
καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν, καὶ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀναστήσεται.
Matthew, chapter 20:18-19, and Luke, chapter 18:32-33, have something similar to this, almost word for word. This would be the 3rd prediction of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. Yet this is the most descriptive explanation. Mark said that Jesus told his trusted 12 leaders that they were going up to Jerusalem (ὅτι Ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα). There the Son of Man would be handed over to the chief priests and the Scribes (καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς γραμματεῦσιν), with no mention of the Pharisees or Sadducees. These chief priests and Scribes were going to condemn him to death (καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν εἰς θανάτῳ). They would, in turn, hand him over to the gentiles (καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν), meaning the Romans. While this first part was almost word for word with Matthew, there was a change of vocabulary in the second verse. Then they would mock or ridicule him (καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ). They would spit on him (καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ). They would flog or scourge him (καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν). Finally, they would kill him (καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν), but there was no mention of a crucifixion, as in Matthew. After three days (καὶ μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας), he would rise again (ἀναστήσεται). Obviously, Jesus was talking about himself, but he always used the term Son of Man.
“Where their worm
Never dies.
The fire
Is never quenched.”
ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται.
This verse is a further explanation about Gehenna or hell. This was the same verse in 9:44 and 9:46. Thus, in many manuscripts, verses 44 and 46 are omitted as repetitions, so that only verse 48 is listed with just empty space between these other verses. Mark indicated that Jesus said that hell was where their gnawing or anguishing worm would never die (ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ) because the fire was never extinguished or quenched (καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται). They would have eternal discomfort and anguish with a gnawing worm and a fire that never went out.
“Where their worm
Never dies.
The fire
Is never quenched.”
ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται.
This verse is a further explanation about Gehenna or hell. It was in verse 9:44 and will be in 9:48. Thus, in many manuscripts, verses 44 and 46 are omitted as repetitions, so that only verse 48 is listed with just empty space between these other verses. Mark indicated that Jesus said that hell was where their gnawing or anguishing worm would never die (ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ) because the fire was never extinguished or quenched (καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται). They would have eternal discomfort and anguish with a gnawing worm and a fire that never went out.
“Where their worm
Never dies.
The fire
Is never quenched.”
ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται.
This verse is a further explanation about Gehenna or hell. It will be repeated in 9:46 and 9:48. Thus, in many manuscripts, verses 44 and 46 are omitted as repetitions, so that only verse 48 is listed with just empty space between these other verses. Mark indicated that Jesus said that hell was where their gnawing or anguishing worm would never die (ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ) because the fire was never extinguished or quenched (καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται). They would have eternal discomfort and anguish with a gnawing worm and a fire that never went out.
“How then is it written
About the Son of man?
He is to go through
Many sufferings.
He will be treated
With contempt.”
καὶ πῶς γέγραπται ἐπὶ τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πολλὰ πάθῃ καὶ ἐξουδενηθῇ;
This verse about the future sufferings of the Son of Man is unique to Mark. Jesus said that it was written (καὶ πῶς γέγραπται) that the Son of man (ἐπὶ τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου) would go through many great sufferings (ἵνα πολλὰ πάθῃ). He would be despised or treated with contempt (καὶ ἐξουδενηθῇ). Obviously, the Son of Man seemed to be tied in some way with Elijah.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 