Mark 8:23

“And he took the blind man by the hand, etc..] Not for the sake of touching him, in order to heal him, as they desired, but to be his guide: and led him out of the town; to shun all appearance of vain glory and popular applause, being willing to do the miracle in a private manner; and because of the obstinacy and unbelief of the inhabitants of this place, who were not worthy to be witnesses of such a cure; (see <401121>Matthew 11:21); and when he had spit on his eyes; not as a cause of healing him; for whatever use spittle may be of to such that have weak eyes, it can have no causal influence upon, or be of any service, in a natural way, to a blind man to restore his sight unto him: and put…”

“Led him out of the town - Why this was done the sacred writers have not told us. It might have been to avoid the collecting of a multitude, and thus to have escaped the designs of the Pharisees who were attempting to take his life, and chiefly on a charge of sedition and of exciting the people. On this account Jesus chose to perform the miracle alone, thus showing that while he did good, he desired to do it in such a way as to avoid the “appearance” of evil, and to prevent, at the same time, ostentation and the malice of his enemies. Spit on his eyes - Why this was done is not known. It was evidently not intended to perform the cure by any natural effect of the spittle. It was to the man a…”

“He led him out of the town - It was in just displeasure against the inhabitants of Bethsaida for their obstinate infidelity, that our Lord would work no more miracles among them, nor even suffer the person he had cured, either to go into the town, or to tell it to any therein. Mark 8:24”

“8:23 spitting on the man’s eyes: See 7:33; cp. John 9:6-7. Attempts to diagnose the man’s exact medical condition are speculative and unprofitable, diverting attention from the miracle.”

“by the: Isa 51:18; Jer 31:32; Act 9:8; Heb 8:9 out: Mar 7:33; Isa 44:2 spit: Joh 9:6, Joh 9:7; Rev 3:18 Mark 8:24”