Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Mark
Chapter 6: As Sheep Not Having a Shepherd
Mark 6 moves swiftly through rejection, mission, martyrdom, and mercy. In His own hometown of Nazareth, Jesus is met with offense and unbelief, 'Is not this the carpenter?', and He marvels at their hardness. He sends the twelve out two by two to preach and heal, and the shadow of the cross falls as Mark recounts the brutal beheading of John the Baptist by a weak, guilty Herod. When the apostles return weary, Jesus leads them to rest, but the crowds follow, and He is 'moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd,' feeding five thousand from five loaves and two fishes. That night He comes to the storm-tossed disciples 'walking upon the sea,' and says, 'Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.' The chapter reveals the compassionate Shepherd of the flock, the Lord of the sea, doing the works of God even among those slow to believe.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Mark chapter 6. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Jesus is rejected at Nazareth, sends the twelve, John is beheaded, and Jesus feeds the five thousand and walks on the sea. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Is Not This the Carpenter?
His own townspeople are offended, and He marvels at their unbelief.
Two by Two
He sends the apostles out to preach repentance and heal the sick.
Five Loaves, Five Thousand
Moved with compassion for the shepherdless crowd, He feeds them all.
It Is I; Be Not Afraid
He walks on the water to His toiling disciples in the night.
A Prophet Is Not Without Honour, but in His Own Country (Mark 6:1-13)
Rejected among His own, Jesus sends His twelve out to carry the message of repentance to the towns of Galilee.
He Marvelled Because of Their Unbelief
"And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 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? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."
Word Study
"offended," Greek eskandalizonto (ἐσκανδαλίζοντο). The word means to be tripped up, to stumble, from the root that gives us "scandal." The people of Nazareth "were offended at him", they stumbled over the very familiarity of Jesus. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" They knew His family and His trade, and so they could not receive that God had come among them in this ordinary-looking man. Familiarity became a stumbling block. It is a solemn warning: those closest to the outward things of Christ can miss Him most, tripping over the plainness of the One they think they already know.
Explanation
In His hometown Jesus meets not faith but familiarity: "is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" and they are "offended at him." Mark records the sobering result -- "he could there do no mighty work" except a few healings, "and he marvelled because of their unbelief." Unbelief does not diminish His power but forecloses its blessing. Undeterred, He sends the Twelve out two by two with authority over unclean spirits, traveling light and dependent, and they preach repentance and heal. Rejected at home, the King multiplies His witness abroad.
Gospel Focus
Jesus comes home to Nazareth, and the reception is heartbreaking. They cannot deny His wisdom and His "mighty works," yet instead of believing, they take offense: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" They had watched Him grow up; He was too familiar, too ordinary, to be the Messiah in their eyes. So "they were offended at him." Mark records a stunning result: "he could there do no mighty work... And he marvelled because of their unbelief." Jesus marveled only twice in the Gospels, once at the great faith of a Gentile centurion, and once here at the unbelief of His own people. Their unbelief did not weaken His power but closed the door of blessing; He does not force His mighty works on those who will not believe. It is a searching truth: unbelief shuts us off from what Christ longs to do. Then, undeterred by rejection, Jesus multiplies His ministry, sending "the twelve... by two and two" to preach and heal. He sends them in radical dependence, taking almost nothing, "no scrip, no bread, no money," trusting God to provide through those who receive them. Where they are welcomed, blessing comes; where they are rejected, they are to "shake off the dust" as a solemn testimony, for to refuse the gospel is a graver thing than the sin of Sodom. "And they went out, and preached that men should repent." Two lessons meet here. Beware the unbelief that stumbles over a familiar Christ, refusing Him because He does not come as we expect; such unbelief shuts out His mighty work. And take up the mission He gives: rejection at home did not stop the gospel but spread it, as the King sent out His own to call men to repentance. The same call goes on today. Believe Him, and go tell others to repent and believe.
The King Was Exceeding Sorry (Mark 6:14-29)
A weak king, cornered by a rash oath and a scheming heart, silences the prophet who told him the truth.
It Is John, Whom I Beheaded
"And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb."
Word Study
"exceeding sorry," Greek perilupos (περίλυπος). The word means deeply grieved, sorrowful all around, encompassed with sorrow, the same word used of Jesus' own agony in Gethsemane. Herod was "exceeding sorry," genuinely grieved to kill John; yet "for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him," he did it anyway. His sorrow was real but powerless, overruled by pride and the fear of losing face. It is the tragic portrait of a man whose conscience grieves while his will yields to sin. Deep sorrow that does not produce obedience is not repentance.
Explanation
Mark pauses the action to tell, in grim detail, how John the Baptist died -- imprisoned for rebuking Herod's adultery, beheaded to satisfy a rash oath and a dancer's request. Herod "feared John," heard him gladly, and yet killed him, a portrait of a conscience that admires righteousness but will not obey it. The forerunner who prepared the way for Christ goes before Him also into a violent death at the hands of the powerful. Mark places the story between the sending and return of the Twelve, a quiet warning that the road of witness may lead to a martyr's end.
Gospel Focus
Mark pauses the story of the mission to tell how the forerunner died, and it is a study in the anatomy of sin. Herod's guilty conscience is exposed at once: hearing of Jesus' works, he cries, "It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead." A silenced prophet does not stay silent in the soul. John had spoken plain truth to power, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife," and it cost him his freedom and then his life. Notice the strange mixture in Herod: he "feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy," and "heard him gladly," yet kept him in prison and would not obey him. A man may enjoy preaching, even be stirred by it, and still refuse to repent. Herodias, whose sin John had named, nursed her hatred and waited. When Herod, inflamed and boastful at his birthday feast, swore a rash oath to a dancing girl, the trap sprang shut. Asked for "the head of John the Baptist," Herod is "exceeding sorry", he did not want to do it, but "for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him," he murders a holy man rather than break a wicked oath or lose face before his guests. Here is the slavery of sin laid bare: lust, pride, the fear of man, and a conscience that grieves but will not obey. John's death is sobering, God's faithful servant paid the ultimate price for speaking truth, and to human eyes evil won. Yet John finished his course faithful, and the King he pointed to could not be stopped by any Herod. For every believer the lesson is steadying: fear God more than men, speak the truth though it cost you, and do not be a Herod, grieved by sin yet enslaved to it. A troubled conscience is not enough; the will must bow to God.
Give Ye Them to Eat (Mark 6:30-44)
The compassionate Shepherd teaches and feeds the shepherdless multitude from a boy's small lunch.
Moved with Compassion
"And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men."
Word Study
"moved with compassion," Greek esplanchnisthe (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη). The word comes from the splanchna, the inward parts or "bowels" of mercy; it means to be moved to the depths with pity. Jesus, seeking rest for His weary apostles, is met by a needy crowd, and instead of resentment He is "moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd." The phrase recalls the LORD who is the Shepherd of Israel. Here that Shepherd stands in flesh, His heart wrenched with mercy for lost, leaderless people, and He feeds them first with teaching, then with bread.
Explanation
The apostles return weary, and Jesus, seeking rest, is instead met by crowds -- and He is "moved with compassion... because they were as sheep not having a shepherd." The image is Israel's ancient cry for a shepherd (Numbers 27:17), and the true Shepherd now feeds His flock. To the disciples' helpless "we have but five loaves" He says, "give ye them to eat," and feeds five thousand with twelve baskets to spare. The greater Moses spreads a table in the wilderness; the Shepherd-King of Psalm 23 makes His sheep to lie down in green pastures and want for nothing.
Gospel Focus
The apostles return from their mission, and Jesus, tender toward His tired workers, calls them to "rest a while." But the crowds discover where they are going and arrive first. How does Jesus respond to the interruption of His planned rest? Not with irritation, but with compassion: He "saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd." This is the heart of the Good Shepherd. He sees the multitudes not as a nuisance but as lost sheep, and He "began to teach them many things," feeding their souls before their bodies. When evening comes and the disciples urge Him to "send them away" to buy food, Jesus gives the command that stretches their faith: "Give ye them to eat." From "five loaves, and two fishes", a boy's small lunch, He feeds five thousand men "beside women and children," with "twelve baskets full" left over. Notice the pattern that runs through all His provision: He takes the little that is offered, "looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake," and multiplies it through the hands of His disciples. Christ still works this way. He is the Shepherd who will not leave His sheep untended or unfed; He teaches, He provides, He satisfies. And He uses what we place in His hands, however small. When the need is overwhelming and our resources laughably few, His word is still "Give ye them to eat", bring your five loaves to Him. The compassionate Shepherd who fed the shepherdless multitude is the same LORD who fed Israel with manna and who is Himself the Bread of life. If you are one of the shepherdless sheep, come to Him; He is moved with compassion, and His provision never runs short.
Be of Good Cheer: It Is I (Mark 6:45-56)
In the darkest watch of the night, Jesus comes to His struggling disciples walking on the water, and stills their fear and the wind.
He Cometh unto Them, Walking Upon the Sea
"And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole."
Word Study
"it is I," Greek ego eimi (ἐγώ εἰμι). Literally, "I am." As Jesus walks on the sea, the very thing Scripture says God alone does, who "treadeth upon the waves of the sea" (Job 9:8), He speaks the words "ego eimi", "I am", the divine self-designation God revealed to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Mark adds that He "would have passed by them," an echo of how the LORD "passed by" Moses and Elijah to reveal His glory (Exodus 33:22; 1 Kings 19:11). Everything in the scene declares that the One on the water is God in flesh, and His word to the frightened is God's own word: "be not afraid."
Explanation
That night Jesus comes to the straining disciples walking on the sea, and His words are the divine name itself: "Be of good cheer: it is I (ego eimi); be not afraid." Only God "treadeth upon the waves of the sea" (Job 9:8), and He would have "passed by them" as the LORD passed before Moses in His glory (Exodus 33). Yet Mark notes they "were sore amazed" because "their heart was hardened" -- they had not understood even the loaves. The disciples sail with God in the flesh and still do not grasp it; seeing takes more than eyes, it takes a heart softened to believe.
Gospel Focus
After feeding the multitude, Jesus sends the disciples ahead by ship and withdraws "into a mountain to pray." From the land He sees them "toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary." He is never unaware of His people's struggle, even when He seems far off and praying alone. In "the fourth watch of the night", the darkest, coldest hours before dawn, He comes to them "walking upon the sea." Scripture says God alone treads the waves; so when Jesus does it, and says "it is I" (ego eimi, "I am"), He is unveiling His deity, the LORD Himself come to His storm-tossed people. To their terror, mistaking Him for a spirit, He speaks tender comfort: "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." He climbs into the boat, and "the wind ceased." Then Mark adds a searching note: the disciples "were sore amazed... For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened." Having just seen Him multiply bread, they should not have been so astonished; their hearts were slow, dull, hardened. It is a warning that even those closest to Christ can fail to learn from what they have seen, and that hardness of heart dims our sight of who He is. Yet He does not abandon such slow disciples; He comes to them in the storm and stills the wind. On the far shore, the contrast is striking: the people of Gennesaret run to Him, carrying their sick, begging to touch "but the border of his garment," and "as many as touched him were made whole." Here is the Lord of the sea and the Healer of all who come. Two truths stand out. He is God in flesh, doing what only God can do, walking on the sea, saying "I am." And He is the tender Saviour who comes to His toiling people in the darkest watch, saying, "be not afraid." Guard your heart against hardness; remember His works; and when the night is darkest, look for Him coming across the water.
Chapter 6 in Review
Mark 6 sweeps through rejection, mission, martyrdom, and mercy. In Nazareth, His own townspeople are "offended" at the familiar carpenter, and "he marvelled because of their unbelief," which shut out His mighty works. He sends the twelve "by two and two" to preach repentance and heal. Mark then recounts the death of John the Baptist, murdered by a weak, guilty Herod who was "exceeding sorry" yet killed him "for his oath's sake." When the apostles return weary, Jesus, "moved with compassion" for the crowds "as sheep not having a shepherd," teaches them and feeds five thousand from five loaves. And in the night He comes to His toiling disciples "walking upon the sea," saying, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."
For the Apostolic reader the chapter reveals Jesus as the compassionate Shepherd and the Lord of the sea, God come in flesh. He is the Shepherd whose heart is wrenched for the shepherdless, who teaches and feeds His flock and satisfies them from almost nothing. He is the LORD who treads the waves and says "I am," coming to His people in the darkest watch to still their fear and the storm. And He works these wonders amid unbelief and hardness, for Nazareth's offense could not stop Him, and even His disciples' hard hearts did not turn Him away. The chapter also holds sober warnings: the unbelief that stumbles over a familiar Christ and forfeits His blessing, and the Herod-like conscience that grieves over sin yet yields to it. Against these it sets the faith of Gennesaret, who ran to touch even the border of His garment and were made whole. Do not let familiarity breed unbelief or comfort breed hardness; be as those who run to Jesus, trusting the Shepherd who feeds His sheep and the Lord who walks the waves to reach you.
- Familiarity can become a stumbling block; unbelief shuts out Christ's mighty work (6:3-6).
- Rejection at home did not stop the gospel but spread it through the sent-out twelve (6:7-13).
- Herod's deep sorrow without obedience was not repentance; fear God more than men (6:26).
- Jesus is the compassionate Shepherd of the shepherdless, who teaches and feeds His flock (6:34).
- He multiplies the little we bring Him; "Give ye them to eat" (6:37-41).
- Walking on the sea and saying "it is I," Jesus reveals He is God in flesh (6:48-50; Job 9:8; Exodus 3:14).
Questions for Reflection
- Has familiarity with Christ bred honor and faith in you, or offense and unbelief?
- Are you, like Herod, moved by preaching yet unwilling to obey it?
- Do you see the crowds around you as the Shepherd does, "as sheep not having a shepherd"?
- When the night is darkest and the wind contrary, do you look for Christ coming to you?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. The LORD as Shepherd of His people: Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34:11-16; Isaiah 40:11. God treading the sea and passing by: Job 9:8, 11; Exodus 33:22; 1 Kings 19:11. The feeding in all four Gospels: Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14. Christ the Bread of life: John 6:35. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The rejection at Nazareth and the sending of the twelve: Mark 6:1-13; Matthew 13:53-58; 10:1-15; Luke 9:1-6.
- The death of John the Baptist: Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9.
- The feeding of the five thousand: Mark 6:30-44; Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14.
- Walking on the sea and healings at Gennesaret: Mark 6:45-56; Matthew 14:22-36; John 6:15-21.