Mark 6:7 — Community Reflections

MARK 6:7 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;”

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits — the mission of the twelve is the practical extension of the appointment of chapter 3. Two by two provides mutual support, accountability, and the two-witness requirement of Deuteronomy 19:15 for the validity of testimony. The authority given is specifically over impure spirits — the same authority exercised by Jesus throughout chapters 1–5. The disciples are not sent to do something new but to extend what they have been watching Jesus do. The authority is delegated and derived: they can cast out demons because Jesus gives them power to do so.

Church Fathers on Mark 6:7

The Lord not only preached in the cities, but also in villages, that we may learn not to despise little things, nor always to seek for great cities, but to sow the word of the Lord in abandoned and lowly villages.
Theophylact · 11th century

Now our kind and merciful Lord and Master did not grudge His servants and their disciples His own virtues, and as He Himself had healed every sickness and every infirmity, so also He gave the same power to His disciples.
Bede · 8th century · in Marc., 2, 24

Or else; according to Matthew, the Lord immediately subjoined, 'The workman is worthy of his meat,' [Matt 10:19] which sufficiently proves why He forbade their carrying or possessing such things; not because they were not necessary, but because He sent them in such a way as to shew, that they were due to them from the faithful, to whom they preached the Gospel.
Augustine · 4th century · de Con. Evan., 2, 30

Read all 11 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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