Mark 3

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

And Simon he surnamed Peter;

And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

What does Mark 3:1 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:1 refers to an event described in the Gospel of Mark, one of the canonical gospels in the New Testament.

In this verse, Jesus re-enters a synagogue, a Jewish house of worship, and encounters a man with a withered hand.

The mention of 'again' suggests Jesus's regular attendance at synagogues as part of his ministry.

The man with the withered hand is likely suffering from a physical disability or deformity of his hand, which is causing it to be shriveled or paralyzed.

The deeper meaning potentially points to Jesus's role as a healer and his willingness to challenge social norms and religious laws of the time.

The scene is set for a confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities on the interpretation of the law, particularly on the question of performing healing on the Sabbath.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth in the early 1st century in the Roman province of Judea.

The synagogue was the central place of teaching and learning in Jewish communities, and the Sabbath day was considered holy, with restrictions on work and activity as prescribed in Jewish law.

The presence of a man with a withered hand within the synagogue indicates that those with physical ailments sought healing and communal support in such sacred spaces, although certain impairments could also lead to social stigma and exclusion.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse can be interpreted in different ways.

A traditional Christian viewpoint would see Jesus as displaying divine compassion and authority over physical ailments, reinforcing his identity as the Son of God and Messiah.

His actions serve to illustrate the principle that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of people, not the other way around.

A more critical perspective might examine this encounter as an example of Jesus purposefully provoking the Pharisees to reveal their legalistic approach to religion, which he considered to be at odds with the spirit of mercy and love that the law intended to promote.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse encourages believers to prioritize compassion and mercy over rigid adherence to tradition or law.

The example set by Jesus challenges individuals to consider the welfare of others and the intention behind actions, especially when interpreting religious or moral guidelines.

It can serve as a reminder of the importance of community care and social inclusion, particularly towards those with disabilities or those who are marginalized.

Cross-References

Luke 6:6-11 - A similar account where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:9-14 - Matthew's version of the same event, providing additional context and reactions.
Mark 2:27 - Jesus declares that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Luke 13:10-17 - Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, challenging the leaders' conception of what is lawful.

Language Study

The key words in this verse in the original Greek language include:

"Eis palin" (εἰς πάλιν): "Again" or "anew," indicating repeated action or returning.
"Synagoge" (συναγωγή): The synagogue, which was a local community center for Jewish worship and teaching.
"Xera" (ξηρά): "Withered" or "dried up," often used figuratively for something lifeless or inactive.

In this context, it refers to the physical condition of the man's hand.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, physical ailments could be interpreted as signs of divine disfavor or punishment.

However, the Hebrew tradition also included a strong emphasis on community support and healing.

In comparing the healing miracles of Jesus with other ancient myths, one might find parallels in stories of gods or heroes who perform miraculous acts, yet the Jewish-Christian context centers on a compassionate deity who intervenes not to demonstrate power for its own sake, but to show love and restore individuals to community.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the condition described as a 'withered hand' could be related to a number of medical issues, such as a stroke, a congenital defect, or a nerve injury. Today, such conditions can often be treated with physical therapy, surgery, or other medical interventions.

However, the instantaneous healing described in the Gospels does not have a parallel in scientific understanding and is viewed by believers as a miracle.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of this passage.

Many focus on the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities and the theme of Jesus's ministry expanding the understanding of the law to emphasize human need over strict tradition.

Some commentaries also point to this story as a prelude to the growing conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees, which eventually leads to his crucifixion. The consensus among scholars, however, is that this event underscores Jesus's authority and his emphasis on compassion over legalism.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 3:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?