Mark 3

1 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue. A man with a weak and twisted hand was there.

2 Some Pharisees were trying to find fault with Jesus. They watched him closely. They wanted to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath day.

3 Jesus spoke to the man with the weak and twisted hand. "Stand up in front of everyone," he said.

4 Then Jesus asked them, "What does the Law say we should do on the Sabbath day? Should we do good? Or should we do evil? Should we save life? Or should we kill?" But no one answered.

5 Jesus looked around at them in anger. He was very upset because their hearts were stubborn. Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was as good as new.

6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to make plans with the Herodians. They wanted to kill Jesus.

Crowds Follow Jesus

7 Jesus went off to the Sea of Galilee with his disciples. A large crowd from Galilee followed.

8 People heard about all that Jesus was doing. And many came to him. They came from Judea, Jerusalem, and Idumea. They came from the lands east of the Jordan River. And they came from the area around Tyre and Sidon.

9 Because of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to get a small boat ready for him. This would keep the people from crowding him.

10 Jesus had healed many people. So those who were sick were pushing forward to touch him.

11 When people with evil spirits saw him, they fell down in front of him. The spirits shouted, "You are the Son of God!"

12 But Jesus ordered them not to tell who he was.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve Apostles

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside. He called for certain people to come to him, and they came.

14 He appointed 12 of them and called them apostles. From that time on they would be with him. He would also send them out to preach.

15 They would have authority to drive out demons.

16 So Jesus appointed the Twelve. Simon was one of them. Jesus gave him the name Peter.

17 There were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. Jesus gave them the name Boanerges. Boanerges means Sons of Thunder.

18 There were also Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, and James, son of Alphaeus. And there were Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot.

19 Judas Iscariot was one of them too. He was the one who was later going to hand Jesus over to his enemies.

Jesus and Beelzebub

20 Jesus entered a house. Again a crowd gathered. It was so large that Jesus and his disciples were not even able to eat.

21 His family heard about this. So they went to take charge of him. They said, "He is out of his mind."

22 Some teachers of the law were there. They had come down from Jerusalem. They said, "He is controlled by Beelzebub! He is driving out demons by the power of the prince of demons."

23 So Jesus called them over and spoke to them by using stories. He said, "How can Satan drive out Satan?

24 If a kingdom fights against itself, it can't stand.

25 If a family is divided, it can't stand.

26 And if Satan fights against himself, and his helpers are divided, he can't stand. That is the end of him.

27 In fact, none of you can enter a strong man's house and just take what the man owns. You must first tie him up. Then you can rob his house.

28 "What I'm about to tell you is true. Everyone's sins and evil words against God will be forgiven.

29 But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. His guilt will last forever."

30 Jesus said this because the teachers of the law were saying, "He has an evil spirit."

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

31 Jesus' mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to get him.

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

33 "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" he asked.

34 Then Jesus looked at the people sitting in a circle around him. He said, "Here is my mother! Here are my brothers!

35 Anyone who does what God wants is my brother or sister or 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.