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 3:32 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:32 presents a moment during Jesus' ministry when his family sought to speak with him. Literally, the verse indicates that Jesus' mother and brothers were outside the place where he was teaching and could not reach him due to the crowd.

It suggests that Jesus’ family was attempting to get his attention or perhaps pull him away from the crowd for a private discussion.

However, the deeper meaning becomes evident in the following verses, where Jesus expands the definition of his family to include anyone who does the will of God. This shift defines spiritual kinship as more significant than biological ties in the context of his ministry and message.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated early in the Gospel according to Mark, likely written around 66-70 A.D.

The society was deeply family-oriented, and kinship played a critical role in one’s identity and obligations.

At the time, Jesus' disregard for the immediate call of his biological family might have been shocking or scandalous.

The historical setting of the Roman Judea under the Pax Romana meant that Jewish customs and family structures were influenced by both religious laws and the wider Hellenistic-Roman culture.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse is significant due to Jesus’ response in the broader narrative, which stresses spiritual relationships over blood relations.

In Christianity, this perspective is foundational as it emphasizes the idea of a spiritual family under God, unified not by genetics but by faith and obedience to God's will.

Various denominations can view this in terms of ecclesiology, soteriology, and Christology, reflecting on the nature of the church, salvation, and the person of Christ, respectively.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this teaching can be profound for believers.

Followers of Jesus are encouraged to prioritize their spiritual family, often found within their faith communities, just as highly as their biological families.

It also speaks to inclusivity and the acceptance of individuals from diverse backgrounds into one's circle, bonded through shared beliefs and values.

Additionally, the teaching can prompt self-reflection on the commitment to doing God’s will in everyday life.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:46-50: "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Luke 8:21: "My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."
John 15:14: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

Language Study

In the original Greek, key phrases include:

"ἡ μήτηρ": "the mother" (his mother)
"οἱ ἀδελφοί": "the brothers" (his brothers)
"ζητοῦσιν": derived from "ζητέω", meaning "to seek, search for, desire, require, demand."

By understanding the Greek terms, we grasp the insistence and active effort of his family in seeking him out.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this to other ancient myths, it's interesting to note how many focus on the divine or heroic figures' transcendence from their human origins.

Jesus' reframing of family on spiritual terms is an example of this transcendence.

In other religious interpretations, such as Hinduism or Buddhism, one's spiritual journey or dharma might also take precedence over traditional family bonds, showing a universal theme of spiritual priorities.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, it touches upon the psychological concept of group identity and belonging.

Modern psychology supports the idea that individuals are not solely defined by their biological relations but also by the groups and ideologies they choose to align with.

This can be extended to understand the importance of social and spiritual communities in human development and well-being.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered insights into Mark 3:32.

John Calvin highlights the idea that Jesus was not disregarding his family but using the opportunity to teach a spiritual lesson about the family of God.

Matthew Henry suggests that the true relatives of Christ are those who hear and obey God's word.

Contemporary scholars point out the cultural shock this moment would have induced and underscore the radical inclusivity of Jesus' message, emphasizing the breaking down of societal and familial barriers in favor of spiritual unity.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:32 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 3:32 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?