Mark - 1:12



12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Mark 1:12.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness.
And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the desert.
And immediately the Spirit drives him out into the wilderness.
At once the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the Desert,
And straight away the Spirit sent him out into the waste land.
And immediately the Spirit prompted him into the desert.
Immediately afterward the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness;

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Here Mark relates concisely what Matthew has recorded more at length in Mark 4.
The Spirit driveth - The word "driveth" does not mean that he was compelled forcibly against his will to go there, but that he was inclined to go there by the Spirit, or was led there. The Spirit of God, for important purposes, caused him to go. Compare Matthew 9:25, where the same word is used in the original: "And when they were all put forth" in Greek, "all driven out."
And was with the wild beasts - This is added to show the desolation and danger of his dwelling there. In this place, surrounded by such dangers, the temptations offered by Satan were the stronger. Amid want and perils, Satan might suppose that he would be more easily seduced from God. But he trusted in his Father, and was alike delivered from dangers, from the wild beasts, and from the power of temptation, thus teaching us what to do in the day of danger and trial.
And the angels ministered unto him - From Luke 4:2 we learn that in those days he did eat nothing. When Mark says, therefore, that the angels ministered to him, it means after the days of temptation had expired, as is said by Matthew 4:11.

The Spirit driveth him - Εκβαλλει, putteth him forth. St. Matthew says, Matthew 4:1, ανηχθη, was brought up. See this important subject of our Lord's temptation explained at large, Matthew 4:1-11 (note).

(6) And immediately the Spirit (i) driveth him into the wilderness.
(6) Christ being tempted overcomes.
(i) "Driveth" here does not refer to something violent and forcible: but the divine power clothes Christ (who had lived until this time as a private man) with a new person, and prepares him for the battle that was at hand, and for his ministry.

And immediately,.... As soon as he was baptized, and this testimony had been given of his divine sonship, the very selfsame day,
the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness: into a more remote and desolate part of it; for it was in the wilderness John was baptizing and preaching, when Christ came to him, and had the ordinance of baptism administered by him; and it was the same Spirit that descended on him at his baptism, which remained with him; by whose impulse he was moved, though not against his will, to go into, this desert and forlorn place. For this was not the evil spirit Satan, by whom he was tempted; for Matthew expressly says, that he was "led up of the Spirit--to be tempted by the devil", Matthew 4:1, where the devil that tempted him, is manifestly distinguished from the Spirit by whom he was led, and the same Spirit is meant here, as there. Moreover, in one of Beza's copies, and in his most ancient one, and in one of Stephens's, it is read, "the Holy Spirit driveth him"; See Gill on Matthew 4:1.

Tempted of Satan. See Matthew 4:1-11, and the notes.

And immediately the Spirit thrusteth him out into the wilderness - So in all the children of God, extraordinary manifestations of his favour are wont to be followed by extraordinary temptations. Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1.

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