Mark 8:11

The Demand for a Sign

8:11 Then the Pharisees ¹  came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for ²  a sign from heaven ³  to test him.

Luke 5:30-32

5:30 But ⁴  the Pharisees ⁵  and their experts in the law ⁶  complained ⁷  to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ⁸  5:31 Jesus ⁹  answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. ¹⁰  5:32 I have not come ¹¹  to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ¹² 

[8:11]  ¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 2:16.

[8:11]  ² tn Grk “seeking from him.” The participle ζητοῦντες (zhtountes) shows the means by which the Pharisees argued with Jesus.

[8:11]  ³ sn What exactly this sign would have been, given what Jesus was already doing, is not clear. But here is where the fence-sitters reside, refusing to commit to him.

[5:30]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast present in this context.

[5:30]  ⁵ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[5:30]  ⁶ tn Or “and their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

[5:30]  ⁷ tn Or “grumbled”; a term often used in the OT for inappropriate grumbling: Exod 15:24; 16:7-8; Num 14:2, 26-35; 16:11.

[5:30]  ⁸ sn The issue here is inappropriate associations (eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners) and the accusation comes not against Jesus, but his disciples.

[5:31]  ⁹ tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[5:31]  ¹⁰ sn Jesus’ point is that he associates with those who are sick because they have the need and will respond to the offer of help. A person who is well (or who thinks mistakenly that he is) will not seek treatment.

[5:32]  ¹¹ sn I have not come is another commission statement by Jesus; see 4:43-44.

[5:32]  ¹² sn Though parallels exist to this saying (Matt 9:13; Mark 2:17), only Luke has this last phrase but sinners to repentance. Repentance is a frequent topic in Luke’s Gospel: 3:3, 8; 13:1-5; 15:7, 10; 16:30; 17:3-4; 24:47.