Mark 3:1-12

CHRONOLOGY. See on Matthew 11:1-21. These events took place just before the choosing of the Twelve (Mark 2:14, etc.). On the theory of a three years' ministry in Galilee, they occurred shortly after the visit to Jerusalem mentioned in John 5, when the enmity of the Jews was awakened on this point of... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:1

Mark 3:1. HE ENTERED AGAIN. On the next Sabbath (Luke 6:6). ‘Again' may refer to Mark 1:21. In that case the place was Capernaum. THE SYNAGOGUE _._ It is doubtful whether we should render: ‘the ‘or ‘a synagogue.' Matthew says definitely ‘their synagogue,' i.e. _,_ that of His opponents. Luke adds... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:2

Mark 3:2. AND THEY WATCHED HIM. Watched Him closely. WHETHER HE WOULD. Lit., ‘will' Mark's account being in the present tense.... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:3

Mark 3:3. STAND FORTH. This command is omitted by Matthew. The account of Luke (Luke 6:8) is fullest. The subsequent discourse is rendered more impressive by the position of the diseased man.... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:4

Mark 3:4; Matthew 12:10 shows that the question of our Lord was preceded by one from the Pharisees, just as His command had been occasioned by ‘their thoughts' or ‘reasonings' (Luke 6:8). IS IT LAWFUL? i.e., according to the Mosaic law. TO DO GOOD, OR TO DO HARM. To benefit, or to injure, rather... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:5

Mark 3:5. AND HE LOOKED ROUND ABOUT ON THEM. So Luke, who adds ‘all,' implying that He took a formal survey of those in the synagogue. WITH ANGER. A holy indignation, mentioned by Mark alone, and no doubt expressed in His look. BEING GRIEVED FOR THE HARDENING OF THEIR HEARTS. The original implies... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:6

Mark 3:6. WITH THE HERODIANS. Mark alone mentions this fact. The Herodians were the court party, the adherents of the Herods. As friends of the Romans they were the political antagonists of the Pharisees. HELD A CONSULTATION. ‘Took counsel' is too indefinite; ‘held a council' implies a formal, leg... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:7,8

Mark 3:7-8. WITHDREW. Not to avoid the multitudes, but rather to fulfil His ministry among them, undisturbed by the opposition of the Pharisees. TO THE SEA. To the shores of the sea of Galilee; perhaps to a boat from which He might teach (Mark 3:9, chap. Mark 4:1; comp. Luke 5:3). This description... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:9

Mark 3:9. THAT A SMALL BOAT. The original refers to a boat even smaller than the usual fishing-boats. WAIT ON HIM. Be constantly at His service. BECAUSE OF THE CROWD. A different word from ‘multitude' (Mark 3:7-8), though the one usually so translated. The purpose was probably both to teach from... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:10

Mark 3:10. THEY PRESSED UPON HIM. Not merely gathered about Him to hear Him, and thus created a pressure, but actually pushed themselves upon Him, TO TOUCH HIM. The last clause shows that all were healed, as Matthew states. PLAGUES. Lit., ‘scourges,' not a particular class of diseases, as the word... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:11

Mark 3:11. AND UNCLEAN SPIRITS. The demon identified himself with the person, since the confession was undoubtedly that of the evil spirit. WHENEVER THEY SAW HIM. This was the usual effect FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM AND CRIED. The possessed man fell down, and his voice uttered the cry; but both acts a... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:12

Mark 3:12. AND HE CHARGED THEM MUCH. Matthew 12:16, shows that some such charge was given to all who were healed; probably to prevent a premature rupture with the Pharisees. But the prohibition to evil spirits was special, and usually given. See the addition Matthew (Matthew 12:17-21) makes to this... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:13

Mark 3:13. INTO THE MOUNTAIN _._ Probably the mount of Beatitudes (comp. Matthew 5:1); or possibly the hill country in contrast with the seashore. Our Lord spent the previous night in prayer, choosing the Apostles in the morning (Luke 6:12-13). WHOM HE HIMSELF WOULD. The freedom of choice is made... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:13-19

Luke tells or great works or healing immediately succeeding the choice of the Twelve. During the withdrawal, after the opening hostility of the Pharisees (Mark 3:7), this choice took place, followed by the Sermon on the Mount, of which Mark makes no mention. This event is to be distinguished from th... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:14

Mark 3:14. APPOINTED. Literally, ‘made,' nominated, set apart. The word ‘ordained' may mislead. The addition ‘whom also He named apostles,' found in some authorities, is probably taken from Luke. THAT THEY MIGHT BE WITH HIM. This hints that they were first to be trained for their work. The best pr... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:15

Mark 3:15. The phrase, ‘to heal sicknesses' is to be omitted. Mark gives special prominence to the power of casting out demons.... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:16

Mark 3:16. HE SURNAMED PETER. It is not asserted that this name was first given on this occasion. Still the words of our Lord at His first meeting with Simon (John 1:42) were prophetic, and Mark seems to have mentioned the name for the first time here, because it was the Apostolic name. On the lists... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:17

Mark 3:17. BOANERGES. A transfer into Greek of an Aramaic word, which was modified from the Hebrew. Mark, writing for other than Jews, interprets it. He alone mentions it. SONS OF THUNDER. This seems to have been occasioned by their ‘ _vehement_ and _zealous_ disposition, as indicated in Luke 9:54;... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:18

Mark 3:18. Matthew arranges the Twelve by pairs; Mark does not. In other respects the lists of Matthew and Mark correspond most closely. CANANAEAN, or, ‘Zealot;' see Matthew 10:4; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:19

Mark 3:19. AND HE COMETH INTO A HOUSE. This indicates a return to Capernaum; as the succeeding events probably took place there. The sentence, therefore, properly belongs to the next section. In the interval a number of important events took place; see next note. If a particular house is meant, ther... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:20

Mark 3:20. Cometh together again. If the last clause of Mark 3:19 means a return to Capernaum, ‘again ‘must refer to chap. Mark 2:1. They could not so much as eat bread. A vivid description of the thronging. Our Lord and His disciples could not find time to have their regular meals. Notice the exci... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:20-35

CHRONOLOGY. At this point we find the largest gap in Mark's narrative. Shortly after the choice of the Twelve, the Sermon on the Mount was delivered. See notes on Matthew. On and after the return to Capernaum, a number of events took place, recorded partly by Matthew and partly by Luke, and in most... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:21

Mark 3:21. HIS FRIENDS, lit. ‘those by him.' The exact reference is doubtful. The nearer relatives, spoken of in Mark 3:31, may not be included, since they waited outside; but probably the whole circle was engaged in this effort with varying feelings, the immediate family persisting longer (see on M... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:22

Mark 3:22. THE SCRIBES THAT CAME DOWN FROM JERUSALEM. Mark thus defines the parties, while Matthew (Matthew 12:23) states the occasion of the accusation. The purpose of their coming was doubtless to entrap and oppose Him, and hence the place was probably Capernaum, since they would go to His headqua... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:26

Mark 3:26. BUT HATH AN END, _i.e._, ceases to be what he is; the supposition, which His enemies advanced, would, if fully carried out, argue Satan out of existence.... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:29

Mark 3:29. GUILTY OF, more than in _danger of_, or even liable _to_, indicating a present subjection to. AN ETERNAL SIN. Thus Mark expresses the same idea given by Matthew; ‘neither in this world, nor in that to come.' The word we translate ‘sin' includes the idea of guilt (Romans 3:25; Romans 5:16... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:30

Mark 3:30. BECAUSE THEY SAID, HE HATH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT. This does not necessarily define the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, but certainly indicates its character. Ever if these accusers had not committed it, their language tended in that direction. They had attributed to an evil spirit wh... [ Continue Reading ]

Mark 3:31-35

Mark 3:31-35. Comparing these verses with the account of Matthew (Matthew 12:46-50), we find that Mark omits the introductory phrase; ‘While He yet talked to the people; in Mark 3:31 he tells us that His mother and brothers SENT UNTO HIM; in Mark 3:32 he inserts: AND A MULTITUDE WAS SITTING ABOUT HI... [ Continue Reading ]

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Old Testament