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 3:20 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:20 describes a scene where Jesus and His disciples have returned to a house, and again, a crowd gathers in such a large number that Jesus and His disciples do not even have the space or the opportunity to eat.

This passage illustrates the extent of Jesus’ fame and the intense demand for His attention and miraculous works.

It suggests the overwhelming nature of the crowds that followed Jesus, seeking teachings, healings, and exorcisms.

The verse emphasizes the human side of Jesus and His disciples, showing that in their ministry, they experienced physical needs and constraints, yet these were often set aside due to the pressing needs of the people.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark 3:20 takes place in the broader context of Jesus' early Galilean ministry.

At this point, Jesus has already performed several miracles and has started to attract large following.

The historical setting includes the society's structures and norms in 1st-century Palestine, where the population would have been subject to Roman occupation and deeply engaged in Jewish religious practices.

Houses were typically small, and community-oriented cultural norms meant that it was not unusual for people to gather around a figure who was performing miracles and teaching with authority.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives can draw various insights from this verse.

From a Christological viewpoint, one could focus on the full divinity and humanity of Jesus, His ability to draw multitudes contrasted with His human need to eat and rest.

Ecclesiologically, the gathering of the multitude can be a precursor to the gathering of the Christian church, people drawn together by Christ.

Some may see in this a prophetic fulfillment, with Jesus symbolizing the spiritual bread, drawing attention to the idea that spiritual nourishment may at times supersede physical sustenance.

Practical Applications

This verse can encourage modern believers to consider balance in their own lives, recognizing the importance of spiritual work but also the necessity of self-care and physical needs.

Additionally, it serves as a reminder of the importance of community and being with others in times of need, as well as the potential sacrifices involved in service and ministry.

Cross-References

Mark 6:31 - "And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."
Luke 9:11 - "And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing."
Matthew 14:15-16 - "And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat."

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse, "they could not so much as eat bread," reveals much about the original text.

The Greek verb used for "could" is "δύναμαι" (dynamai), which conveys an ability or power.

It suggests a sense of being overwhelmed to the point of incapacity.

"Eat bread" does not only refer to the act of eating but also symbolizes taking part in a basic life-sustaining activity, with "bread" often representing food in general in ancient cultures.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme found in Mark 3:20 of a revered figure being thronged by crowds seeking wisdom or healing can be seen in various other ancient myths and religious texts. For example, in Greek mythology, figures like Asclepius, the god of medicine, drew large crowds seeking cures.

However, a noteworthy distinction with the story of Jesus is the monotheistic context and the presentation of Jesus as a humble servant rather than a distant deity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific or psychological perspective, this verse may be seen as a reflection on human behavior in groups and the response to charismatic figures.

Crowd dynamics and the effects of stress on both the individual (Jesus and his disciples in this case) and the collective behavior of the multitude are relevant areas for consideration.

commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 3:20 offer a range of insights:

William Barclay notes the hectic pace of Jesus' ministry and the constant demands placed upon him by the people.
John Calvin emphasizes the sacrificial aspects of Jesus' ministry and his compassion in not turning people away despite his personal needs.
Matthew Henry reflects on the spiritual over the physical, considering how Jesus often put the needs of the soul above those of the body.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:20 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 3:20 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?