Mark 3

1 He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.

2 They watched him, whether he would heal him on the day of Shabbat, that they might accuse him.

3 He said to the man who had his hand withered, "Stand up."

4 He said to them, "Is it lawful on the day of Shabbat to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?" But they were silent.

5 When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.

6 The Perushim went out, and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

7 Yeshua withdrew to the sea with his talmidim, and a great multitude followed him from the Galil, from Yehudah,

8 from Yerushalayim, from Idumaea, beyond the Yarden, and those from around Tzor and Tzidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.

9 He spoke to his talmidim that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn't press on him.

10 For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.

11 The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, "You are the Son of God!"

12 He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.

13 He went up into the mountain, and called to himself whom he wanted, and they went to him.

14 He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach,

15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

16 Shim`on, to whom he gave the name Kefa;

17 Ya`akov the son of Zavdai; Yochanan, the brother of Ya`akov, and them he surnamed Benei-Regesh, which means, Sons of Thunder;

18 Andrai; Pilipos; Bar-Talmai; Mattityahu; T'oma; Ya`akov, the son of Halfai; Taddi; Shim`on the Zealot;

19 and Yehudah from K'riot, who also betrayed him. He came into a house.

20 The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

21 When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, "He is insane."

22 The Sofrim who came down from Yerushalayim said, "He has Ba`al-Zibbul," and, "By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons."

23 He summoned them, and said to them in parables, "How can Hasatan cast out Hasatan?

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

25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

26 If Hasatan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can't stand, but has an end.

27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house.

28 Most assuredly I tell you, all their sins will be forgiven to the sons of men, and their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;

29 but whoever may blaspheme against the Ruach HaKodesh never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"

30 -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."

31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.

32 A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, "Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you."

33 He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"

34 Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!

35 For whoever may do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my 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.