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 3:35 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:35 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, spoken by Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Jesus is redefining the concept of family beyond mere biological ties to include all those who obey the will of God.

It suggests that spiritual kinship is not limited by blood relations but is open to anyone who follows God's commandments and teachings.

The deeper meaning of this verse lies in the inclusive nature of Jesus's message; the "family" of God transcends ethnic, social, and familial boundaries, uniting believers under the shared purpose of living according to God's will.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse can be found in the gospel of Mark, which is generally believed to be the earliest of the four canonical gospels and was likely written around 70 AD.

The historical context of Mark 3:35 is a scene where Jesus is inside a house teaching, and his biological family is outside seeking to speak with him.

His response to being told that his mother and brothers are outside looking for him is to look at those seated around him and to redefine his family as those who do God's will.

This context emphasizes the radical nature of Jesus's ministry, which challenged existing social and family structures.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Mark 3:35 is significant for several reasons.

From a Christian perspective, it elevates spiritual relationships over biological ones, with implications for how the church is to operate as a community of believers.

This verse is also interpreted to emphasize the importance of active discipleship; it is not enough to be related to Jesus by blood (as his brothers and mother), but that true relation comes from doing the will of God.

Some theologians argue that this teaching is a precursor to the Christian idea of being "born again" into the family of God through faith and obedience.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, Mark 3:35 encourages individuals to prioritize their spiritual family and to base their relationships on shared faith and purpose.

It can also be seen as an exhortation to inclusivity and a challenge to expand one's notion of "family" beyond traditional definitions.

This teaching has implications for church fellowship, community building, and service, as it calls believers to embrace and support one another as brothers, sisters, and parents in the faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:50 - "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
John 15:14 - "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
Galatians 3:26 - "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
Romans 8:14 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Language Study

The key Greek words in Mark 3:35 include:

"Thelēma" (θέλημα): often translated as "will," refers to what one wishes or has determined shall be done; in the context of the New Testament, it typically refers to God's will.
"Adelphos" (ἀδελφός): means "brother," but can also be used in a wider sense, indicating a fellow believer or a spiritual brother.
"Adelphe" (ἀδελφή): is the female equivalent of adelphos, translated as "sister."
"Mētēr" (μήτηρ): translates to "mother," with its conventional meaning, but also signifies a deeper spiritual relationship in this verse.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including Judaism, lineage and family ties were extremely important and were often the primary basis for one's identity and social status.

Jesus’s message breaks with this tradition, proposing a new family structure based on shared beliefs and divine allegiance.

This radical inclusion echoes some themes found in other religious traditions, such as the Hindu concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), and the Buddhist idea of Sangha (community), where spiritual bonds are also highly valued.

Scientific Perspectives

While Mark 3:35 is a religious and theological statement, some scientific perspectives can be taken into consideration when analyzing human relationships and group formation.

Research in sociology and psychology has explored the nature of in-groups and out-groups, and how shared beliefs and values can lead to strong social cohesion within a group.

From this standpoint, the verse's emphasis on a family defined by common goals aligns with an understanding that communities can be powerfully united by shared convictions and purposes.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Mark 3:35.

William Barclay notes that Jesus is not disrespecting his family; instead, he is extending the concept of family to include all believers.

John Calvin comments on the importance of spiritual kinship over natural bonds and how it shapes the believer's priorities in life.

Matthew Henry highlights the privilege and honour of being in such a relationship with Christ and encourages readers to aspire to the holy obedience that characterizes the true family of God.

These commentaries collectively emphasize the welcoming and inclusive message of this verse, while also acknowledging its challenge to live in accordance with God’s will.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:35 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 3:35 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?