Mark 8:36

8:34-38 Frequent notice is taken of the great flocking there was to Christ for help in various cases. All are concerned to know this, if they expect him to heal their souls. They must not indulge the ease of the body. As the happiness of heaven with Christ, is enough to make up for the loss of life itself for him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly object as we shall do at that great day.

For what shall it profit a man,.... In the long run, in the issue of things, who by denying Christ, and his Gospel, may not only save his life for the present, but procure for himself great riches and wealth: if he shall gain the whole world; were that possible to be done, and which the ambitious, worldly man is desirous of; yet supposing he: had his desire, of what avail would this be in the upshot of things, should the following be his case, as it will, and lose his own soul? which is immortal and everlasting, when the world, and the glory of it pass away, and so is of more worth than the whole world. The world can only be enjoyed for a season, and that with a great deal of fatigue and trouble; but the soul continues for ever; and if it is lost and damned, its torment always abides, and the smoke of it ascends for ever, its worm never dies, and its fire is never quenched; See Gill on Matthew 16:26.

Verse 36. - What doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ( ζημιωθῆναι ); literally, forfeit his life ( ψυχή ). The word ψυχή in the Greek, originally meaning simply "breath," as the sign of life, is of very comprehensive import, embracing not merely "the breath of life," but also the "soul," or immortal part of man, as distinguished from his mortal body, also the mind or understanding, as the organ of thought. "Life" seems here to be the best English synonym, as being, like the Greek ψυχή , the more comprehensive term. Mark 8:36

Ver. 36,37. Luke saith, if he lose himself and be cast away. Though quchn was rightly translated life in the former verse, the sense justifying that translation of it there, yet here it is as truly translated soul; for there are many things which men value in proportion with their lives, their honour, estates, nay, many value their lusts above their lives; and Christ himself here teacheth us that his disciples ought to value his honour and glory, and their steady profession of faith and holiness, above their life, because he that will lose his life shall save it. See the notes on these words, See Poole on "Matthew 16:26" .

[Reformed Biblical] Christ's righteousness is the garment which covers the nakedness and shame of our unrighteousness; faith the grace that puts this garment on; but what faith? None but the faith unfeigned, as Paul calls it. 2 Timothy 1:5. "Here is water, "said the eunuch, "what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Acts 8:36. Now mark Philip's answer, Acts 8:37, "If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest; "as if he had said, Nothing but an hypocritical heart can hinder thee. It is the false heart only that finds the door of mercy shut. William Gurnall. Verse 2. Guile. The guile

Anf. I anfwer. Haft thou well confider'd the nature of the Crime wherewith thou ftandeft charg'd at the Bar of God ? Haft thou artfo confider'd the juftnefs 0/ the Judge } Again I ask^ Haft thou confider'd what truth, as to matter of Fad, there is in the things whereof thou ftandeft accused ? Alfo baft thou con(ider'd the cunning, the malice and diligence of thine Adverfary, with the greatnefs of the iols thou art like to fuftain ? Shbuldft thou with Ahah (in the Book of K^ngi) I Kjn. zi, 17, to 23. or with the Hypocrites in }faiah6. I, to lo. have the Verdi3: of the Lord God gone out from theThrone againft thee? I ask thee tbefe Queftions, becaufe if thou arc in the knowledge of thefe things to fee^ or if thou arc not deeply concerned about the greatnefs of the damage that will certainly overtake thee,and that forever, (ftiouldft thou be indeed accus'd before God, and ha^e none to plead thy Caufe) thou haft not, nor canft not, let what will come upon* thee, have been with Jefus Chrift to plead thy Caufe ; and fo, let thy Cafe be never fo dcfperate, thou ftandcfi alone, and haft no Helper y Jub 30. I g. chap. 9. 13. or if thou haft, they not bcint; the Advocates of God's appointing, muft needs fall with thee, and with thy burden. Wherefore confider of this ferioudy, and rccurn thy Anfwer to God, who can tell if Truth (hall be fecund in thy Anfwers better by far thai) any^ for 'tis hetbac try s the F{eitLs and the HeaT^,.^^xA ^^^^W^ ^ him I tefQvr thcQ. But^ ''^

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