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 3:26 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:26 is a verse in which Jesus addresses the accusation that he is casting out demons by the power of Satan or Beelzebub.

In this statement, he uses a logical argument to refute the claims of his accusers.

The literal meaning is clear: if Satan is fighting against himself by expelling his own demons, then he is acting against his self-interest, creating division and weakness in his own kingdom, which would inevitably lead to its downfall.

The deeper meaning suggests a universal truth about unity and division.

A kingdom, household, or any domain that is divided against itself will not be able to survive.

Jesus is emphasizing the illogical nature of the accusation and asserting that his power to cast out demons is not derived from Satan, as doing so would be counterproductive to the supposed aim of Satan.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of a passage in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is confronted by the scribes who traveled from Jerusalem to Galilee.

They accuse Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, claiming that it is by this power he casts out demons.

This accusation emerges in a context where Jesus' miraculous works were undeniable, and the religious leaders were seeking to undermine his authority and turn the populace against him.

At that time, Jewish beliefs about Satan were influenced by the Intertestamental Period writings, and there was a common understanding of a spiritual realm that consists of angels and demons. Jesus' ministry challenged the status quo and threatened the influence of the religious leaders.

Theological Insights

This verse can be interpreted in various ways, depending on theological leanings. For instance:

Traditional Christian theology might emphasize the sovereignty and supremacy of God, arguing that Jesus' power over demons is a demonstration of divine authority over evil forces.
Liberation theology might view this passage as an allegory for political and social systems, arguing that systemic evil will eventually collapse under its own contradictions.
Evangelical perspectives might see it as confirmation of spiritual warfare, where Jesus is the ultimate victor over the forces of darkness.

Each viewpoint offers a unique insight into the nature of good and evil, divine power, and the struggle between them.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 3:26 can remind individuals and communities of the importance of unity and the dangers of internal strife.

It encourages a cohesive approach to conflict resolution whether it's in personal relationships, professional environments, church communities, or larger collectives.

Recognizing that division is a threat to stability and success, this verse can serve as a call to work towards common goals and reconcile differences.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:25: "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:"
Luke 11:17: "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."
James 3:16: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek for Mark 3:26 are:

"Satan" (Σατανᾶς): The adversary or accuser, often referring to the devil or the personification of evil.
"Rise up against" (ἀνίστημι): To stand up against, suggesting an action of opposition.
"Divided" (μερίζω): To be divided or split into parts, indicating disunity or dissension.
"Stand" (στήκω): To stand firm or hold one's ground, implying stability.
"End" (τέλος): The end, outcome, or finality, reflecting completion or destruction.

Understanding these words in their original context can deepen the comprehension of the message Jesus is conveying.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be made between this statement of Jesus and other ancient myths or religious texts emphasizing the theme of discord leading to downfall.

Many ancient stories, such as those found in Greek or Egyptian mythology, highlight the downfall of a kingdom or rule due to internal conflict. Similarly, religious teachings from Hinduism and Buddhism also reflect on the chaos and suffering that arise from division, emphasizing harmony and unity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the principle that a system divided against itself cannot stand resonates with the understanding of ecosystems and social systems.

Both ecological and social stability depend on a balance and cooperation among their parts.

When this balance is disrupted, the system becomes unsustainable and prone to collapse, a concept supported by studies in fields such as ecology, sociology, and systems theory.

commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentators have provided insight into Mark 3:26. For example:

William Barclay notes that Jesus uses a parable-like statement to make his point clear that civil war in any kingdom is the way to disaster.
John Calvin interprets this verse as a simple metaphor that Jesus makes, which should be obvious even to his enemies, hence refuting their illogical accusation.
Matthew Henry expounds that self-contradiction and self-conflict in any person or society will undoubtedly lead to ruin, indicating the absurdity of the scribes' charge against Jesus.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:26 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 3:26 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?