Chapter # 8 Paragraph # 2 Study # 1
August 23, 2022
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
(334)
1901 ASV
11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.
12 Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
13 Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.
- I. Mark's Insertion Of One Further Reference To "The Pharisees".
- A. In Mark's literary pattern, he gave an extended treatment of "The Pharisees" in 7:1-13 as a prelude to 8:15, just as he did with the "Herod" material in 6:14-28 as a prelude to the same text (8:15).
- B. However, in that design, he did not have a similar additional reference to Herod that would mimic the text before us.
- C. The reason is very likely that, after the Herod material there was the following feeding of the 5,000 so that the "feeding" and "Herod" were very closely linked in the text/context, but with the inverted order wherein he presented the "Pharisee" material, there were several other texts before we get to the feeding of the 4,000. Thus, he intends just to instill in his readers that the "feedings" are related to the "leavens" (of the Pharisees and of Herod) so that those readers will not miss his "pattern" or "point".
- II. The Brevity Of This Record Regarding The Pharisees.
- A. It is indisputable that the issue in this brief episode is the "sign-seeking".
- B. It is also indisputable that the Pharisees were "argumentative". They did not wish for a "sign" so that their confidence in Jesus of Nazareth as "the Christ" would be significantly bolstered. Rather, they were looking for a way to destroy His influence in "their" circles of influence.
- 1. Jesus asks the critical question: "Why is this generation seeking a sign?"
- a. They did not wish for a "sign" so that their confidence in Jesus of Nazareth as "the Christ" would be significantly bolstered (John 20:30-31).
- b. Rather, they were looking for a way to destroy His influence in "their" circles of influence (Mark 15:9-10).
- 1) The "method" they chose was to get Him to do something that would be a "sign" that would be attributable to "The Heaven".
- 2) They obviously felt that, should He do something as a "sign", they would be able, in their superior understanding, to show how it did not come from "The Heaven".
- 2. The first of Mark's references to "The Pharisees" is found in 2:16 and those hateful men were already determined to undermine Him if they could. This text is immediately followed by 2:18 and 2:24 where their antagonism is readily apparent.
- 3. Then, in 3:6 we are told that they "...went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him". Thus, we conclude that they were without integrity and were actively seeking, not a "sign" to establish His truth, but a way to undermine Him and His truth.
- 4. That 3:6 text is, then, followed by Mark's next record regarding these deceivers in the distant context of 7:1 and following, which we have called "The Pharisee material" that reveals the nature of the "leaven" against which Jesus strongly warns The Twelve in 8:15.
- C. The given "facts".
- 1. It was "The Pharisees" who "came out" when Jesus got to the portion of Dalmanutha.
- a. Dalmanutha is a place that, by this name, is only mentioned by Mark in this text. This word is not found in any other New Testament text. Strong says "it is an unidentified place". According to International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, there is nothing certifiably known of Dalmanutha. All those who seek to give Mark's reason for mentioning it have is speculation ... maybe this, maybe that.
- b. Mark had a reason for mentioning this place, but, for now his reason escapes me. It is obvious that it has something to do with "The Pharisees" in that place.
- 2. The "Pharisees" were intense in their antagonism toward Jesus.
- a. They "began to seek together to examine Him".
- b. Their "seeking" was for Him to give them "a sign from The Heaven" so that they might catch Him in a "fatal action" that would destroy His influence.
- c. They desperately did not want to be forced to admit that Jesus was God's "Coming Mighty One", so they set about to "test" Him.
- 1) This "testing" is a concept Mark mentions in four places (1:13 where Satan "tested" Him; this current text: 8:11; 10:2 where the Pharisees are at it again; and 12:15 where He turned it back upon them.
- 2) The regular use in the New Testament (35 uses) tends in the direction of "pressing someone to his/her extremities of endurance in order to bring to light the hidden agenda of the heart".
- d. Mark's point is that the Pharisees had a "leaven" driving them to "destroy" Jesus.
- 3. Jesus "having sighed deeply in His spirit" is saying...
- a. That this "deep sigh" is in the realm of His "spirit" indicates that the "problem" is in their spirits. "Spirits" are caught up with "doing", and, in fallen angels and men, this "doing" is always for their glory in the eyes of others.
- b. This "sigh" is an intensified form of the word used in 7:34 where Jesus is significantly aggravated by having to put up with such hard-heartedness.
- c. His response is presented as "...He is saying..." [Present Tense in historical narrative].
- 1) What "He is saying" is two things: a question as to the reason "this generation' is seeking a sign; and a refusal in adamant terms (Verily I am saying to you...) to give them a "sign".
- a) It is indisputable that Jesus did many "signs" in the presence of "this generation", but His claim is that "no sign will be given".
- b) His refusal is in regard to the "intent" for doing signs: Jesus did signs to convince men of His identity for their lives; but in this case He was saying that He would not do anything to bring this generation to faith.
- i. This raises the question of the meaning of "this generation". Clearly, the phrase does not mean "the people of the time in which 'this generation' lived".
- ii. Mark's uses of "generation" all point to a "segment" of the people alive at this time in history. 8:12 is Mark's first use of "this generation" and it is that segment of people who will not be given a "sign" though "signs" were all around them; 8:38 identifies "this generation" as "adulterous and sinful" people who make up a "stage in history" upon which some might be tempted to "be ashamed of" the Son of Man; 9:19 calls the people who are steadfastly refusing to "believe" an "unbelieving generation" that He has to "put up with" for a season; and 13:30 winds up the references to "this generation" with the comment that those who make up a particular segment of humanity in the time of "Great Tribulation" will be a part of "this generation". The answer to the meaning is very likely tied to Matthew 23:33 where "generation" means "the people generated" by vipers. This is also likely tied to John 8:44 where Jesus says of this type of person that he/she is "of the devil" in a context of "physical generation" by conception and birth.
- 2) He simply walks away and goes "to the other side".
