Mark 8:24-26

Mark 8:24-26

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

1. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

a. This verse continues the attitude of Jesus toward Bethsaida. The first thing we notice is Jesus led the blind man out of town before he healed him. The second thing is after he healed the man he instructed him to not go into the town or tell anyone in the town he was healed. The explanation for this no doubt is connected to what Jesus said about Bethsaida and the surrounding cities.

1). Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

b. The attitude of Jesus here is consistent with how the LORD conducted Himself under the Old Covenant. Actually this was still the Old Covenant because the New Covenant was not instituted yet. Compare what Jesus declared with similar words spoken by Jeremiah.

1). Jeremiah 11:11-14 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

2). God is a merciful God but even he has an end to His patience, a line that must not be crossed.