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 3:21 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:21 describes an incident from the life of Jesus where his friends or family (depending on the translation) hear about his activities and attempt to take charge of him because they think he has lost his senses.

This reaction likely comes from concern for Jesus' well-being, as he had been attracting large crowds and generating controversy with his teachings and miracles.

The phrase "He is beside himself" is an idiomatic expression meaning that they believed Jesus was acting irrationally or was mentally unstable.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written between 60 and 70 A.D.

It is considered the earliest of the four canonical gospels and presents Jesus as the suffering servant and Son of God. During the time of Jesus, Jewish society had strong family ties and social networks.

It was expected that unusual behavior or radical actions, such as those of Jesus, would prompt a response from his family, who would be concerned both for his safety and the honor of the family.

Theological Insights

From a theological point of view, this passage might demonstrate the humanity of Jesus , his family's inability to understand his mission may reflect the broader misunderstanding of the public.

Some theologians also consider this a foreshadowing of the rejection that Jesus would face from society at large, even from those closest to him. It highlights a theme of the Gospel of Mark: the messianic secret and the misunderstanding of Jesus' identity and mission.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a reflection on the importance of understanding before judgment.

It invites followers to consider the consequences of jumping to conclusions about others' actions.

In daily life, it encourages believers to trust that God's plan might be different from societal expectations and to show compassion and patience towards their family members, friends, and community, even when they do not fully comprehend their actions.

Cross-References

Mark 3:31-35 - Jesus speaks about who his true family is.
Luke 8:19-21 - Similar account of Jesus' family coming to see him.
John 7:5 - For even his brothers did not believe in him.
Matthew 10:36 - A man's foes will be those of his own household.

Language Study

The term "beside himself" is translated from the Greek "ἐξέστη" (exestē), which can mean "to be out of one's senses, astonished, or to be insane." The verb form "exesti" conveys a state of being out of place or standing outside oneself, often used in contexts relating to amazement or bewilderment.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, individuals who behaved in ways that differed significantly from societal norms were sometimes believed to be touched by the divine or to have gone mad.

In Greek mythology, for example, figures like the Oracle at Delphi were thought to be in a state of divine madness when prophesying.

In contrast, within Jewish culture, prophetic figures were also often met with skepticism and were sometimes perceived as being disturbed or dangerous.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology offers a more nuanced understanding of mental health compared to ancient interpretations of "madness." If any historical figure was deemed "beside themselves" now, the assessment would involve understanding the individual's mental state, stresses, and the psychological impact of their experiences.

Today, Jesus' intense commitment to his cause might be seen as a feature of his strong conviction and purpose rather than an indication of mental instability.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have offered insights into this verse:

John Calvin saw this as an example of how people can often mistake zealousness for fanaticism, emphasizing the blindness of Jesus' relatives to his divine mission.
Matthew Henry noted that Christ's closest friends and family should have been the last to misunderstand him but instead were the first, suggesting that misguided zeal without knowledge can lead to harmful actions.
William Barclay discussed the loneliness of Jesus in his mission, recognizing that the world often misunderstands the actions that come from God's inspiration, and great deeds often meet with opposition or misinterpretation from those closest to the doer.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:21 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 3:21 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?