Mark 3

1 Jesus went into a synagogue again. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there.

2 The people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.

3 So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand in the center [of the synagogue]."

4 Then he asked them, "Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?" But they were silent.

5 Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held it out, and his hand became normal again.

6 The Pharisees left, and with Herod's followers they immediately plotted to kill Jesus.

7 Jesus left with his disciples for the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd from Galilee, Judea,

8 Jerusalem, Idumea, and from across the Jordan River, and from around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they had heard about everything he was doing.

9 Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready so that the crowd would not crush him.

10 He had cured so many that everyone with a disease rushed up to him in order to touch him.

11 Whenever people with evil spirits saw him, they would fall down in front of him and shout, "You are the Son of God!"

12 He gave them orders not to tell people who he was.

13 Jesus went up a mountain, called those whom he wanted, and they came to him.

14 He appointed twelve whom he called apostles. They were to accompany him and to be sent out by him to spread [the Good News].

15 They also had the authority to force demons out of people.

16 He appointed these twelve: Simon (whom Jesus named Peter),

17 James and his brother John (Zebedee's sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means "Thunderbolts"),

18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,

19 and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus).

20 Then Jesus went home. Another crowd gathered so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat.

21 When his family heard about it, they went to get him. They said, "He's out of his mind!"

22 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "Beelzebul is in him," and "He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons."

23 Jesus called them together and used this illustration: "How can Satan force out Satan?

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last.

25 And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not last.

26 So if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot last. That will be the end of him.

27 "No one can go into a strong man's house and steal his property. First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through the strong man's house and steal his property.

28 "I can guarantee this truth: People will be forgiven for any sin or curse.

29 But whoever curses the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is guilty of an everlasting sin."

30 Jesus said this because the scribes had said that he had an evil spirit.

31 Then his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone to ask him to come out.

32 The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."

33 He replied to them, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

34 Then looking at those who sat in a circle around him, he said, "Look, here are my mother and my brothers.

35 Whoever does what God wants is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The withered hand healed. (1-5) The people resort to Christ. (6-12) The apostles called. (13-21) The blasphemy of the scribes. (22-30) Christ's relatives. (31-35)

Verses 1-5 This man's case was piteous; he had a withered hand, which disabled him from working for his living; and those that are so, are the most proper objects of charity. Let those be helped that cannot help themselves. But stubborn infidels, when they can say nothing against the truth, yet will not yield. We hear what is said amiss, and see what is done amiss; but Christ looks at the root of bitterness in the heart, the blindness and hardness of that, and is grieved. Let hard-hearted sinners tremble to think of the anger with which he will look upon them shortly, when the day of his wrath comes. The great healing day now is the sabbath, and the healing place the house of prayer; but the healing power is of Christ. The gospel command is like that recorded here: though our hands are withered, yet, if we will not stretch them out, it is our own fault that we are not healed. But if we are healed, Christ, his power and grace, must have all the glory.

Verses 6-12 All our sicknesses and calamities spring from the anger of God against our sins. Their removal, or the making them blessings to us, was purchased to us by the blood of Christ. But the plagues and diseases of our souls, of our hearts, are chiefly to be dreaded; and He can heal them also by a word. May more and more press to Christ to be healed of these plagues, and to be delivered from the enemies of their souls.

Verses 13-21 Christ calls whom he will; for his grace is his own. He had called the apostles to separate themselves from the crowd, and they came unto him. He now gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. May the Lord send forth more and more of those who have been with him, and have learned of him to preach his gospel, to be instruments in his blessed work. Those whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with what is inconvenient to themselves, and will rather lose a meal than an opportunity of doing good. Those who go on with zeal in the work of God, must expect hinderances, both from the hatred of enemies, and mistaken affections of friends, and need to guard against both.

Verses 22-30 It was plain that the doctrine of Christ had a direct tendency to break the devil's power; and it was as plain, that casting of him out of the bodies of people, confirmed that doctrine; therefore Satan could not support such a design. Christ gave an awful warning against speaking such dangerous words. It is true the gospel promises, because Christ has purchased, forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners; but by this sin, they would oppose the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ's ascension. Such is the enmity of the heart, that unconverted men pretend believers are doing Satan's work, when sinners are brought to repentance and newness of life.

Verses 31-35 It is a great comfort to all true Christians, that they are dearer to Christ than mother, brother, or sister as such, merely as relations in the flesh would have been, even had they been holy. Blessed be God, this great and gracious privilege is ours even now; for though Christ's bodily presence cannot be enjoyed by us, his spiritual presence is not denied us.