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 3:7 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:7 describes a moment in the ministry of Jesus Christ where He retreats to the sea with His disciples.

This move is likely to avoid the growing opposition of the Pharisees and the Herodians, who had begun to conspire against Him (Mark 3:6).

By going to a more remote location, Jesus and His disciples could have sought temporary respite from the mounting tensions.

The verse also mentions that a great multitude from Galilee and Judea followed Him, indicating Jesus’ growing popularity among the common people.

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Historical Context

At the time Mark 3:7 was written, Jesus was actively preaching and performing miracles throughout Galilee and surrounding regions. The historical context includes the social, political, and religious climate of first-century Judea under Roman occupation.

Jewish religious leaders, like the Pharisees, saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and the delicate balance they maintained with the Roman occupiers.

The reference to 'Judaea' signifies the southern part of Israel, indicating a widespread following that Jesus had, reaching beyond His home region of Galilee.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse demonstrates the sovereignty of Christ in choosing when and where to minister.

Despite opposition, Jesus continues His work, ministering to those in need.

The gathering of multitudes from varied regions to Jesus can also be seen as a fulfillment of prophecies about the Messiah drawing all people to Him.

It shows the magnetic power of Jesus’ message and the hope He represented.

Practical Applications

In a contemporary context, this verse teaches the importance of seeking solitude and balance amidst opposition and busy times.

It underscores a practical approach to handling conflict; sometimes it is wise to withdraw from a situation temporarily to gain perspective and strength.

Additionally, it inspires believers to continue seeking and following Christ, despite obstacles or societal pressures.

Cross-References

Mark 3:6: "And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
Matthew 12:15: "But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;"
Mark 1:45: "But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter."

Language Study

"Withdrew" (Greek: ἀνεχώρησεν - anechōrēsen): This term conveys the idea of retreating or pulling back from a situation.
"Disciples" (Greek: μαθητὰς - mathētas): This refers to the followers or students of Jesus who accompanied Him and learned from His teachings.
"Multitude" (Greek: ὄχλος - ochlos): This term indicates a large crowd or throng of people.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

During the time of Jesus, the expectation of a Messiah was common among the Jewish people, influenced by their religious scriptures and the hope for deliverance from Roman rule.

In comparison to other ancient myths, the figure of a divine or semi-divine leader who gathers a following and teaches new ways of understanding the world is not uncommon.

However, Jesus' approach to His ministry, focusing on peace, healing, and inclusivity, was distinct from many messianic expectations of a political or military liberator.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern crowd psychology might explore the phenomenon of Jesus’ influence on large groups and why many individuals would be compelled to follow Him despite the hardships they might face.

Additionally, the effect of Jesus' message on individual well-being and social cohesion could be a subject of interest from a sociological and psychological viewpoint.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 3:7 often focus on the contrast between the rejection Jesus faced from Jewish leaders and the acceptance He found in ordinary people from various regions.

They might explore the strategies Jesus used in His ministry, like withdrawing in times of danger to protect Himself and His disciples.

Commentators also reflect on the actions of the multitudes, who, driven by their needs and hopes, seek Jesus for healing and teaching even when He withdraws to remote places.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:7 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 3:7 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?