Mark 3

Mar 3:1 And He again entered into the synagogue. And a man was there who had a withered hand.

A man there which had a withered hand - More correctly, his hand withered. The participle indicates that the withering was not congenital, but the result of accident or disease. Luke says his right hand.

Mar 3:2 And they watched Him to see if He would heal him on the sabbath day, so that they might accuse Him.

They watched - were watching on the side (or sly). It was the sabbath day and in the synagogue and they were there ready to catch him in the act if he should dare to violate their rules as he had done in the wheat fields on the previous sabbath. Probably the same Pharisees are present now as then.

Mar 3:3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Arise! Come into the middle.

Mar 3:4 And He said to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they were silent.

to save life, or to kill? In Luke 6:9 to destroy. To do evil, kill, or destroy, are not lawful at any time; and to do good, and to save life, must be right at all times: Jesus points out that they came with intent to cause harm, where His intent is to save through healing as well as save souls. A home thrust at the fault-finders. They were harboring murderous thoughts; he was seeking to save life. Which was breaking the Sabbath?

Or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? - It was a maxim with the Jews, as it should be with all men, that he who neglected to preserve life when it was in his power, was to be reputed a murderer. If a man has an opportunity of saving a man’s life when he is in danger, and does not do it, he is guilty of his death. On this principle our Savior puts this question to the Jews - whether it was better for him, having the power to heal this man, to do it, or to suffer him to remain in this suffering condition; and he illustrates it by an example, showing that in a manner of much less importance - that respecting their cattle - they would do on the Sabbath just as “he” would if he should heal this man. The same remark may apply to all opportunities of doing good. “The ability to do good imposes an obligation to do it” (Cotton Mather) He that has the means of feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked, and instructing the ignorant, and sending the gospel to the destitute, and that does it not, is guilty, for he is practically doing evil; he is suffering evils to exist which he might remove. So the wicked will be condemned in the day of judgment because “they did it not,” Matthew 25:45 Then He shall answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.

Mar 3:5 And looking around on them with anger, being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he stretched it out. And his hand was restored whole, like the other.

With anger - With a severe and stern countenance; with indignation at their hypocrisy and hardness of heart. This was not, however, a spiteful or revengeful passion; it was caused by excessive “grief” at their state: “being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.” It was not hatred of the “men” whose hearts were so hard; it was hatred of the sin which they exhibited, joined with the extreme grief that neither his teaching nor the law of God, nor any means which could be used, overcame their confirmed wickedness. Such anger is not unlawful, Eph_4:26. However, in this instance, our Lord has taught us that anger is never lawful except when it is tempered with grief or compassion for those who have offended.

being grieved for the hardness of their hearts - These words are not found in any of the other evangelists. By a long resistance to the grace and Spirit of God, their hearts had become callous; they were past feeling. By a long opposition to the light of God, they became dark in their understanding, were blinded by the deceitfulness of sin, and thus were past seeing. By a long continuance in the practice of every evil work, they were cut off from all union with God, the fountain of spiritual life; and, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, they were incapable of any resurrection but through a miraculous power of God.

With anger. What was the anger which our Lord felt? That which proceeded from excessive grief, which was occasioned by their obstinate stupidity and blindness: therefore it was no uneasy passion, but an excess of generous grief.

Hardness - a kind of marble, and thence used of a callus on fractured bones. It is originally the process by which the extremities of fractured bones are united by a callus. Hence of callousness, or hardness in general. The word occurs in two other passages in the New Testament, Romans 11:25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you should be wise within yourselves; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations has comes in. Ephesians 4:18 having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.

Mar 3:6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

How they might destroy him: persisting still in their evil intentions, though Christ had so fully and clearly exposed the wickedness of them: and it is to be observed, that those men who thought it was not lawful to heal a lame man on the sabbath day, yet make no scruple of meeting and consulting together on that day, and even with profane men, what measures and methods were best to take, to destroy the life of an innocent person.

with the Herodians - This is the first mention of the Herodians or adherents of Herod Antipas and the Herod family rather than the Romans. The Pharisees would welcome the help of their rivals to destroy Jesus. In the presence of Jesus they unite their forces as in Mar_8:15; Mar_12:13; Mat_22:16.

Who the Herodians were is still a mystery. Some have claimed they were a group that tried to claim Herod was the awaited Messiah. Some claim it is a group that was neither religious or political. That they were just influential people, probably Jews, who were supporters of the family of Herod. They were therefore also supporters of Rome.

Mar 3:7 And Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples. And a great crowd from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea,

Withdrew - Mark alone notes no less than eleven occasions on which Jesus retired from his work, in order to escape his enemies or to pray in solitude, for rest, or for private conference with his disciples. Mar_1:12; Mar_3:7; Mar_6:31, Mar_6:46; Mar_7:24, Mar_7:31; Mar_9:2; Mar_10:1; Mar_14:34. But, as often, a great multitude from Galilee followed him.

Mar 3:8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan, and those around Tyre and Sidon, a great throng came to him, having heard how much He was doing.

Idumea - Edom; a country that lay on the south of Judea, formerly inhabited by the sons of Edom, but now by Jews; or at least the inhabitants of it were proselytes to the Jewish religion. Pliny speaks of Idumea and Judea together, as a part of Syria; and Ptolemy says this country lies on the west of the river Jordan.

Idumea - The country formerly inhabited by the Edomites. In the time of the Savior it was embraced in the country belonging to the Jews. It was south of Judea proper. The word “Idumea” is a Greek word made from the Hebrew “Edom.” It signifies the land of Edom, a name given to Esau, one of the sons of Isaac, Gen_25:30. The word signifies “red,” and the name was given to him because he sought of Jacob red pottage as the price of his birthright. He settled in Mount Seir Deu_2:5, on the south of the land of Canaan, and the country of Idumea was bounded by Palestine on the north. During the Babylonian captivity the Edomites spread themselves into the country of Judea, and occupied a considerable part of the south of Palestine. They had, however, submitted to the rite of circumcision, and were incorporated with the Jews. From them sprang Herod the Great.

Idumea - was the land formerly inhabited by the Edomites. This land was originally the narrow strip reaching from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea, lying between the Arabah on the west, and the desert on the east, being about one hundred miles long and fifteen or twenty broad. During the Babylonian captivity, however, the Edomites took possession of the southern portion of Judea, and Strabo says that they encroached as far as to the city of Hebron. They were conquered by John Hyrcanus, one of the Asmonean princes about 120 B.C., and were by him made subservient to the law and incorporated with the Jewish people.

Mar 3:9 And He spoke to His disciples, so that a small boat should stay near to Him, because of the crowd, lest they should press on Him.

Mar 3:10 For He had healed many, so that they pressed on Him in order to touch Him, as many as had plagues.

insomuch that they pressed upon him; or pushed upon him, with great eagerness and violence. They pushed on, and pressed so hard to get to him, that they fell upon one another.

As many as had plagues - Rather disorders, scourges. As many as had diseases or maladies of body or mind. The word plague, now confined to the pestilence, does not express the meaning of the original.

Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried, saying, You are the Son of God!

Thou art the Son of God - The Son of God, by way of eminence. In this place it is equivalent to the Messiah, who was, among the Jews, called the Son of God.

they fell down before Him - Imperfect indicative indicates repeated action. They kept falling down before him and crying, and he kept charging or rebuking them, all imperfect cases.

saying, You are the Son of God! – By saying this to Jesus, the demons hoped to have power over Him. This is part of the belief that knowing the name or characteristic of a person gives someone power over him.

Mar 3:12 And He strictly charged them that they should not make Him known.

And he straitly charged them - Or vehemently rebuked them. The word is commonly rendered rebuke in the New Testament. In classical Greek its predominant sense is that of severe, strenuous reproach for unworthy deeds or acts. It is several times used in the New Testament, as here, in the sense of charge. In this sense the word carries, at bottom, a suggestion of a charge under penalty.

Mar 3:13 And He went up into a mountain and called near those whom He would. And they came to Him.

And He went up into a mountain - Luke 6:12 states that Jesus “continued all night in prayer, to God.”. Neither Gospel gives the name of the mountain, assuming it as well known, probably not far from the lake.

Note that Jesus goes to pray before choosing His apostles.

Mar 3:14 And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them out to proclaim,

That they should be with him; constantly, in private and in public; be taken into his family, and reckoned such; be privy to all his affairs; hear all his discourses, and see his miracles; that so they might be trained up and fitted for the great work he designed them for:

and that he might send them forth to preach; the Gospel in Judea first, and then in all the world: for he did not at this time send them to preach, only chose; called, and appointed them; and after they had been with him some time, and were better qualified for such service, he sent them forth, as in Matthew 10:1.

He ordained twelve - The word rendered “ordained” here does not express our notion of ordination to the ministry. It means, literally, “he made” - that is, he “appointed” twelve to be with him.

Twelve – It unquestionably had reference to the twelve tribes of Israel, over whom the apostles were to be tribal judges or viceroys and we find the tribes and apostles associated together in the structure of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12-14). Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Luke (Luk_6:13-16) also gives the list of the twelve at this point while Matthew (Mat_10:1-4) postpones giving the names till they are sent out in Galilee. Moreover, Paul seems to regard the twelve as ministers to the twelve tribes, or to the circumcision, rather than as ministers to the Gentiles or the world in general (Galatians 2:7-9).

And He ordained twelve - Whom he also named apostles. Jesus himself gave the name apostle or missionary (apostellō, to send) to this group of twelve. The word is applied in the New Testament to others besides as delegates or messengers of churches (2Co_8:23; Phi_2:25), and messenger (Joh_13:16). It is applied also to Paul on a par with the twelve (Gal_1:1, Gal_1:11., etc.) and also to Barnabas (Act_14:14), and perhaps also to Timothy and Silas (1Ti_2:6.). Two purposes of Jesus are mentioned by Mark in the choice of these twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth (to preach and have ability to cast out demons). They were not ready to be sent forth till they had been with Jesus for some time. This is one of the chief tasks of Christ to train this group of men.

Mar 3:15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons.

and to cast out demons - Note that he does not say to preach and to cast out, but to preach and to have authority to cast out. The power of preaching and the power of exorcising were so different that special mention is made of the divine authority with which they would need to be clothed. The power of driving out demons was given that-they might apply it in confirmation of their teaching. Mark 16:20 And going out, they proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by miraculous signs following. Amen.

Mar 3:16 And He put on Simon the name Peter.

And Simon he surnamed Peter. Or Cephas, which signifies a rock, or stone, because of his courage and constancy, his strength and fortitude, steadiness and firmness of mind: this name was imposed upon him, not at the time of his mission as an apostle; nor when he made that noble confession of his faith in Christ, as the Son of the living God, at which time this name was taken notice of; but when Christ first called him to be his disciple and apostle; John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, He said, You are Simon the son of Jonah; you shall be called Cephas (which translated is, A stone).

And Simon he surnamed Peter. That Peter had supremacy or authority over his brethren is nowhere stated by Christ, or claimed by Peter, or owned by the rest of the twelve. On the contrary, the statement of Jesus places the apostles upon a level Matthew 23:8-11 But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers. And call no one your father on the earth, for One is your Father in Heaven. Nor be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, even Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 19:27-28 Then answering Peter said to Him, Behold, we have forsaken all and have followed You. Therefore what shall we have? And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 20:25-27 But Jesus called them and said, You know that the rulers of the nations exercise dominion over them, and they who are great exercise authority over them. However, it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. And Peter himself claims no more than an equal position with other officers in the church 1 Peter 5:1 I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed and the apostles in the subsequent history of the church acted with perfect independence.

Mar 3:17 And He put on James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, the names Boanerges, which is, the Sons of Thunder.

He surnamed them sons of thunder - either because of their loud and sonorous voice; or their warm zeal for Christ, and fervency in their ministry: or for their courage in opposing the enemies of Christ, and the power that went along with their words; which either put to confusion and silence, or issued in conviction and conversion. Both with respect to the warmth and impetuosity of their spirit, their fervent manner of preaching, and the power of their word.

Mar 3:18 And He appointed Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

Bartholomew, the same with Nathaniel: Bar Tolmai, son of Tolmai. Almost certainly identical with Nathanael. Philip and Nathanael are associated by John, as are Philip and Bartholomew in the parallel passages of the synoptics. Bartholomew is not mentioned in John's list of the twelve (Joh_21:2), but Nathanael is; while the synoptists do not mention Nathanael in their lists, but do mention Bartholomew. Probably he had two names.

Matthew, the publican, who was called Levi;

Thomas, who was called Didymus, from his being a twin;

James, the son of Alphaeus, to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Zebedee, and who is sometimes called "the less";

James the son of Zebedee - Acts 12:1-2 And at that time Herod the king threw on his hands to oppress some of those of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Thaddaeus, whose name was also Lebbaeus, and likewise Jude, the author of the Epistle that bears that name;

Simon the Canaanite, or Zelotes. More properly known as Simon the Cananaean. "Cananaean" means the same as zealot. It comes from the Hebrew word "kana", which means "zealous". The Zealots were a sect or order of men much like our modern "Regulators" or "Black Caps". They were zealous for the Jewish law, and citing Phinehas and Elijah (Numbers 25:7,8; 1 Kings 18:40) as their examples, they took justice in their own hands and punished offenders much after the manner lynchers. Whatever they were at first, it is certain that their later course was marked by frightful excesses, and they are charged with having been the human instrument which brought about the destruction of Jerusalem. See Josephus, Wars 4:3.9, 5.1-4; 6.3; 7:8.1. Simon is the least known of all the apostles, being nowhere individually mentioned outside the catalogues.

Andrew - A name of Greek origin though in use among the Jews, signifying manly. He was one of the two who came earliest to Christ (Mat_4:18, Mat_4:20; compare Joh_1:40, Joh_1:41);

Philip - Another Greek name, meaning fond of horses. In ecclesiastical legend he is said to have been a chariot-driver.

Mar 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And they went into a house.

He cometh into a house - He comes home from the mountain, probably the house of Simon as in Mar_1:29.

Mar 3:20 And again a crowd came together, so that they could not even eat bread.

Mar 3:21 And hearing, those with Him went out to take hold of Him; for they said, He is insane.

When his friends heard of it - The phrase means literally “those from the side of him (Jesus).” Not his spiritual friends, his disciples and followers, that believed in him; but his kinsmen who were so according to the flesh; when they heard where he was, and what a crowd was about him, so that he could not so much as take the necessaries of life for his refreshment and support,

Mar 3:22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub, and He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.

he hath Beelzebub: Beelzebub is a corruption of Baalzebub, the god of the fly. There was a tendency among the heathen to name their gods after the pests which they were supposed to avert. Thus Zeus was called "Apomuios" (Averter of flies), and Apollo "Ipuktonos" (Slayer of vermin). How Beelzebub became identified with Satan in the Jewish mind is not known. The prince of devils casts out devils; for so they reckoned Beelzebub to be.

Mar 3:23 And He called them and said to them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

Mar 3:24 And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Mar 3:25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Mar 3:26 And if Satan rises up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.

Mar 3:27 No one can enter into a strong one's house and plunder his goods, except he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

Mar 3:28 Truly I say to you, All sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemies with which they shall blaspheme.

Blasphemies - Blasphemy is any kind of injurious speech. It is the worst form of sin, as we see by this passage.

Mar 3:29 But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never shall have forgiveness, but is liable to eternal condemnation.

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost - Against his person, and the works performed by him, by ascribing them to diabolical power and influence, as the Scribes did,

hath never forgiveness - But blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is in its nature an eternal sin, for if one rejects the evidence given by the Holy Spirit and ascribes it to Satan, he rejects the only evidence upon which faith can be based; and without faith there is no forgiveness.

Mar 3:30 Because they said, He has an unclean spirit.

Because they, said, he hath an, unclean spirit. They charged Christ with having a devil, and his miracles with being wrought by the help of the devil; when, at the same time, they knew in their own consciences they were works which were wrought by the finger and Spirit of God, and so were guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost; the unpardonable sin, for which there is no remission: and this is mentioned as a reason why our Lord said what he did concerning that sin; because they had been guilty of it, and so were liable to everlasting punishment on account of it.

Mar 3:31 Then His brothers and His mother came. And standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him.

Mar 3:32 And the crowd sat about Him, and they said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking for You.

Mar 3:33 And He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brothers?

Mar 3:34 And He looked around on those who sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brothers!

behold my mother and my brethren: not in a natural, but in a spiritual sense;

Mar 3:35 For whoever does the will of God, the same is My brother and My sister and My mother.

For whosoever shall do the will of God - By believing in Christ, receiving him as a Savior and Redeemer, and submitting to him in all his ordinances, as King of saints:

The same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Jesus admits three human relationships--brother, sister, mother--but omits the paternal relationship, since he had no Father, save God. It is remarkable that in the only two instances in which Mary figures in the ministry of Jesus prior to his crucifixion, she stands forth reproved by him (Matthew 12:50; Luke 8:21; John 2:4). This fact not only rebukes those who worship her, but especially corrects the doctrine of her immaculate conception.