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 3:19 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:19 concludes the passage where Jesus appoints the twelve apostles who will accompany Him and assist in His ministry.

Specifically, it mentions Judas Iscariot as the one who would later betray Jesus.

This mention occurs immediately after listing the other disciples, highlighting Judas's ultimate significance in the narrative of Jesus's life and death.

The phrase "they went into an house" indicates that after selecting His inner circle of followers, Jesus led them into a home, which would suggest a shift into private instruction or rest away from the crowds that frequently followed Him.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark, traditionally believed to be authored by John Mark in the first century AD, is considered one of the synoptic gospels alongside Matthew and Luke.

At this point in Jesus's ministry, He has begun to attract significant attention for His teachings and miracles, drawing large crowds as well as criticism from religious authorities.

The choosing of the twelve apostles marks a formative step in establishing a group who would carry on His work.

The mention of "an house" reflects the typical practice in ancient Judea of using homes not just for private dwelling but for public teaching and community gatherings.

Theological Insights

The mention of Judas Iscariot, "which also betrayed him," introduces the theme of betrayal and the fulfillment of prophecy, as Judas's role in Jesus's death was foretold in the Old Testament (Psalm 41:9).

This early reference to Judas's future betrayal underscores the sovereignty and foreknowledge of Christ.

Different theological interpretations focus on the significance of Judas's betrayal in the divine plan of salvation and the nature of free will versus predestination.

Practical Applications

This verse underscores the importance of discernment and awareness in leadership and relationships.

Leaders, similar to Jesus, might face betrayal and should be prepared to face such challenges without allowing them to derail their mission.

On a personal level, this verse encourages individuals to remain faithful in their commitments and warns against the destructive nature of betrayal.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:2-4: Lists the same twelve apostles and mentions Judas as the betrayer.
Luke 6:13-16: Another account of the selection of the twelve apostles, ending with the mention of Judas Iscariot's role as betrayer.
John 6:70-71: Jesus acknowledges He chose the twelve, yet one is a "devil," referring to Judas.
Psalm 41:9: A prophetic psalm that describes a close friend’s betrayal, which is interpreted as referring to Judas and Jesus.

Language Study

The key terms in this verse in the original Greek are "Ioudas Iskariṓth" (Judas Iscariot) and "prodidómi" (betrayed).

"Ioudas" is the Greek form of Judah, a common Jewish name at the time.

"Iskariṓth" is thought to be a reference to Judas's place of origin, likely Kerioth in Judea.

"Prodidómi" is from "pro" (before) and "didómi" (give), which together means to give over or deliver up, referencing Judas's actions in delivering Jesus to the authorities.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Judas's betrayal of Jesus could be compared to various tales of betrayal in other cultural and religious contexts, such as the betrayal of Julius Caesar by Brutus or the Hindu story of Duryodhana betraying his cousin brothers, the Pandavas, in the epic Mahabharata.

These stories often underscore themes of trust, loyalty, and the consequences of betrayal.

Scientific Perspectives

From a strictly scientific perspective, this verse outlines the behavioral dynamics often seen within group psychology.

Group cohesion and the impacts of internal conflict, including betrayal, are common subjects of study in social psychology.

Judas's behavior can be analyzed in terms of group roles, the psychology of betrayal, and its effects on group dynamics.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have various interpretations of Mark 3:19.

Some focus on the foreknowledge of Jesus in including Judas among the apostles despite knowing he would betray Him.

Others consider how this choice and the eventual betrayal were necessary components of the narrative that led to the crucifixion and, subsequently, the possibility of salvation for humanity.

Commentators commonly address the abrupt shift found in this verse, from the appointment of the twelve disciples to the foreboding mention of betrayal, as a literary technique used to foreshadow the tragic events of the Passion.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:19 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 3:19 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?