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 3:14 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:14 is a verse that highlights a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus. Jesus "ordained twelve" apostles, which means he selected, appointed, and set apart these men for a specific purpose.

The word "ordained" here signifies an intentional and deliberate choice.

The number twelve is significant as it corresponds with the twelve tribes of Israel, suggesting a new covenantal community.

These men were chosen "that they should be with him," indicating that they would share in Jesus' life, learn from his teachings, and witness his miracles firsthand.

Moreover, Jesus intended to "send them forth to preach," establishing their role as messengers of the Gospel, charged with spreading the word and teachings of Christ.

This verse illuminates not only the establishment of a close group of followers -- the apostles -- but also foretells the spread of Christianity through their preaching.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark 3:14 is set within the early part of Jesus’ public ministry.

The Gospel of Mark, written around 70 AD, recounts the events and actions of Jesus Christ.

During this time, Jewish society was under Roman occupation, and there were various religious groups, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, within Judaism.

These groups had different reactions to Jesus' ministry.

Jesus' selection of twelve disciples is a strategic and symbolic act, reflecting a reformation of the people of God.

By choosing twelve, he mirrors the twelve tribes of Israel and implies a restoration or reconstitution of Israel.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Mark 3:14 carries the theme of calling and commissioning.

The Apostle's role as companions and witnesses to Jesus is critical in Christian theology because they form the foundational leadership of the early church.

The fact that Jesus intended for the twelve to be with him before sending them out to preach, places importance on discipleship and learning from the master before undertaking ministry.

This verse highlights the inseparable link between being with Jesus and being sent out by him.

Additionally, a variety of Christian traditions interpret this commissioning differently, from the establishment of authority in the church to a model for evangelism and serving God.

Practical Applications

In a contemporary context, Mark 3:14 can inspire individuals to value the importance of mentorship and learning from experienced leaders in their faith communities before taking on greater responsibilities.

The idea of 'being with' someone experienced can also relate to the importance of building strong relationships and community before embarking on significant tasks or missions.

It encourages believers to prioritize spiritual growth and understanding before attempting to convey their beliefs to others, emphasizing personal transformation as the foundation for effective ministry.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:1-4: "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power..."
Luke 6:13: "And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;"
Acts 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me..."
Ephesians 4:11-12: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language of the New Testament for Mark 3:14 include:

"ordained" (ποιέω - poieō): Often translates to "make" or "do," but in this context, it implies appointment or establishment.
"twelve" (δώδεκα - dōdeka): A symbolic number in Jewish tradition, representing the tribes of Israel.
"with him" (μετ' αὐτοῦ - met' autou): This phrase implies close association and companionship.
"send forth" (ἐξαποστέλλω - exapostellō): Means to send out; connotes being sent with authority.
"to preach" (κηρύσσω - kēryssō): To proclaim or herald, often used in reference to preaching the gospel.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a group of close followers or disciples learning from a master can be found in many religious and cultural traditions.

In Buddhism, the Buddha had a group of disciples known as the Sangha.

In Greek philosophical schools, a philosopher like Plato had his disciples who studied under him at the Academy.

Although the contexts are different, there is a shared emphasis on transmitting wisdom and learning through direct personal relationships.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct scientific perspective to Mark 3:14, the practice of mentorship and learning has been studied in various fields, including education and psychology.

Research shows that mentorship can play a significant role in personal development and skill acquisition, which can be seen as analogous to the disciples learning from Jesus before being sent out to preach.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have provided insights into Mark 3:14.

For instance, William Lane’s commentary on Mark notes the importance of the disciples' continuous fellowship with Jesus, highlighting that presence precedes service.

Other commentaries focus on the strategic nature of Jesus' actions in selecting twelve, suggesting an intentional parallel to the twelve tribes of Israel to signify a new movement of God’s people.

Many scholars also see this as an early formation of leadership that would take the Gospel to the ends of the earth, fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:14 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 3:14 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?