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 3:23 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:23 is part of a larger narrative in which Jesus addresses the accusations brought against him by the religious leaders of the time, who claim that he casts out demons by the power of Beelzebub (another name for Satan).

In this verse, Jesus calls the crowd and his accusers to himself and responds to the accusations by using a parable, a common method he uses to teach.

The verse conveys Jesus's argument that it would be illogical and counterproductive for Satan to drive out his own minions, as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

The deeper meaning here is an emphasis on the unity and cohesiveness required for a kingdom to thrive and an inference that Jesus's power to cast out demons must come from a source opposed to Satan, implying divine authority.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written around 70 AD, possibly the earliest of the canonical gospels.

During this time, the early Christian community was experiencing persecution and trying to understand their faith amidst a variety of cultural and religious influences of the Roman Empire and the prevailing Jewish religious authorities.

Exorcisms were not uncommon in ancient times, and itinerant exorcists often claimed to heal people of evil spirits.

The accusation that Jesus was in league with Beelzebub suggests that the religious leaders were attempting to discredit his authority and divine mission by associating his miracles with dark powers rather than with God.

Theological Insights

The theological interpretation of this verse varies among different Christian traditions, but generally, it's agreed that the statement by Jesus defends the divine origin of his authority.

For traditional Christian theology, it underscores the belief that Satan, embodying evil, cannot be the source of good that comes from casting out demons.

Some scholars see this as a confirmation of a cosmic battle between good and evil, where Jesus is clearly depicted as the representative of good.

Additionally, this parable illustrates the self-destructive nature of evil, as Jesus logically argues that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Mark 3:23 involves the importance of unity and consistency in one's actions and beliefs. It encourages individuals and communities to seek harmony and avoid internal conflict, as division weakens the collective strength and purpose.

In a broader context, it implies that one should be wary of false accusations that lack logical consistency. It promotes the exercise of discernment and wisdom when faced with claims that could be intended to sow discord or discredit genuinely good works.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:25-26: "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?"
Luke 11:17-18: "But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term "Satan" is transliterated as "Σατανᾶς" (Satanas), which refers to the adversary or the accuser, often associated with the chief of evil spirits.

The Greek verb for "cast out" is "ἐκβάλλω" (ekballo), which carries a strong sense of expulsion or forceful ejection. Jesus uses this verb to describe the act of driving out demons, implying authority and power over the evil spirits.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient cultures were rife with myths and rituals involving evil spirits and deities that could possess or influence humans. The exorcism practices and beliefs in Jesus's time were not unique to Judaism but were prevalent in various forms across different cultures.

The idea of a cosmic battle between forces of good and evil appears in several ancient religions, such as Zoroastrianism, which posits a struggle between Ahura Mazda (good) and Angra Mainyu (evil).

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the concept of demon possession and exorcism does not align with modern understandings of psychology and medicine. Conditions once thought to be the result of demonic possession are now often attributed to mental health disorders.

However, some scientists and psychologists acknowledge the role of beliefs and faith in the mental wellbeing and healing processes of individuals.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have discussed this verse extensively:

John Calvin sees the argument presented by Jesus as lucid and straightforward, observing that it would be absurd for the devil to undermine his own kingdom.
William Barclay notes that this teaching illustrates the certainty and futility of the self-destruction inherent in evil.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary suggests that this logical dismantling of the Pharisees' argument demonstrates Jesus's intellectual control over the situation and deflects their accusations back upon them, showing the absurdity of their claim.
Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the divisions of evil and its eventual downfall, while the unity of the believers is seen as a sign of their rootedness in righteousness.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:23 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 3:23 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?