Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
(Matthew 12:9–14; Luke 6:6–11)
The scene again involves a synagogue, probably in...
The scene again involves a synagogue, probably in Capernaum (1:21, 29). The presence of a crippled man on the Sabbath (3:1–2) created a situation that Jesus’ enemies wished to exploit if he healed the man’s hand, so they watched him closely.
This account concludes the collection of controversy stories...
This account concludes the collection of controversy stories (2:1–3:6). As in the preceding story, Jesus is in conflict with the Pharisees over the Sabbath; as with the first story, the controversy involves a healing (2:1–12).
1Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there. 2In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
Jesus challenged his enemies’ view that doing good...
- Jesus challenged his enemies’ view that doing good deeds was forbidden on the Sabbath (cp. Luke 13:10–17).
- To destroy … life may refer to an incident in which the Maccabees decided to fight if attacked on the Sabbath (1 Maccabees 2:32–41). These great Jewish heroes were willing to kill on the Sabbath, yet the Pharisees would not allow good deeds on the Sabbath. Jesus’ question shamed them into silence but did not change their hearts (Mark 3:5).
3Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.” 4And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.
Jesus’ opponents’ hard hearts would not listen to...
Jesus’ opponents’ hard hearts would not listen to sound reason, so instead of having changed attitudes, they began to plot how to kill him (see also 11:18; 12:12; 14:1–2, 10–11).
5Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
6At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Jesus Heals the Multitudes
(Matthew 4:23–25; Luke 6:17–19)
Jesus’ departure to the lake (the Sea of...
- Jesus’ departure to the lake (the Sea of Galilee) sets the scene for 4:1–5:43. The multitude that came to see John the Baptist (1:7) was surpassed by the multitude that came to see Jesus.
- Idumea was a region in southern Judea that had been occupied by the Edomites after the Exile.
- Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast that Jesus later visited (7:24, 31).
7So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea, 8Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.
9Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him. 10For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
The evil spirits knew who Jesus was (1:34;...
The evil spirits knew who Jesus was (1:34; see also 1:22; 5:7), but Jesus did not want his identity revealed.
11And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.
The Twelve Apostles
(Matthew 10:1–4; Luke 6:12–16)
The scene now changes to a mountain, and...
The scene now changes to a mountain, and Mark tells how Jesus called his disciples, which is reminiscent of God’s call of Old Testament prophets (Exod 3:14–22; 1 Sam 3:4–14; Jer 1:5–19).
13Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.
Jesus appointed twelve to represent Israel’s twelve tribes...
Jesus appointed twelve to represent Israel’s twelve tribes and to proclaim that the Kingdom of God had arrived. He called them apostles (Greek apostoloi, “emissaries”). He chose them to accompany him and to be sent out (Greek apostellō) to preach and to cast out demons. They represented Jesus and were endowed with his authority.
14He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles,† to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, 15and to have authority† to drive out demons.
Simon and Andrew were brothers, as were James...
- Simon and Andrew were brothers, as were James and John (1:16–20).
- Peter is the Greek equivalent of the Aramaic kepa’, meaning “rock.”
16These are the twelve He appointed:† Simon (whom He named Peter), 17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,† 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.†
A House Divided
(Matthew 12:22–30; Luke 11:14–23)
This story about Jesus and his family (3:20–21...
This story about Jesus and his family (3:20–21 and 31–35) brackets a controversy story about Jesus’ exorcisms (3:22–30); this arrangement identifies Jesus’ family with the religious leaders in opposing him.
20Then Jesus went home,† and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. 21When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
22And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”† and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
Jesus showed the absurdity of this charge by...
Jesus showed the absurdity of this charge by giving several analogies. Satan would not undo his own work.
23So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand. 26And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
The Unpardonable Sin
The phrase I tell you the truth introduces...
- The phrase I tell you the truth introduces many of Jesus’ sayings and gives emphasis to what follows (see also 8:12; 9:1, 41; 10:15, 29; 11:23; 12:43; 13:30; 14:9, 18, 25, 30).
- All sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but there is a sin with eternal consequences—blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to attribute the work of God to an evil spirit. Resisting and denouncing the work of God in this way prevents the convicting work of the Spirit that leads to repentance, saving faith in God, and pardon for sin (see study notes on Matt 12:31–32; cp. Heb 6:4–6; 1 Jn 5:16–17).
28Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
30Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
(Matthew 12:46–50; Luke 8:19–21)
Mark resumes from 3:20–21. Your mother and your...
- Mark resumes from 3:20–21.
- Your mother and your brothers: Jesus’ brothers are commonly understood to have been children born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus’ birth (see also 6:3; Matt 1:25; 12:46; John 19:26–27); some interpreters instead believe that they were either Joseph’s children by an earlier marriage or Jesus’ cousins, due to the Roman Catholic belief that Mary was perpetually a virgin.
31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him, 32and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers† are outside, asking for You.”
In God’s Kingdom, one’s true relatives are determined...
In God’s Kingdom, one’s true relatives are determined not by blood but by a faith relationship (see also 10:29–30).
33But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”