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Mark Chapter
Three
Mark 3
Such was the question raised in the synagogue (chap. 3)
on the occasion of the man with the withered hand. The Lord sets it publicly
before their conscience; but neither heart nor conscience answered Him; and He
acts in His service according to the goodness and rights of God, and heals the
man. [1] The Pharisees and their enemies, the
Herodians-for all were against God and united in this-consult together how they
might destroy Christ. Jesus departs to the sea-coast of the sea of Tiberias.
There the multitude follow Him, because of all that He had done; so that He is
obliged to have a boat, that He may be outside the crowd. Spirits are subject
to Him, compelled to own that He is the Son of God; but He forbids them to make
Him known.
Service in preaching, and in seeking souls, in devoting Himself to
all, shewing Himself by His acts to be the possessor of divine power, hiding
Himself from the notice of men, in order to fulfil, apart from their applause,
the service He had undertaken-such was His human life on earth. Love and divine
power were disclosed in the service which that love impelled Him to accomplish,
and in the accomplishment of which that power was exercised. But this could not
be circumscribed by Judaism, however subject the Lord was to the ordinances of
God given to the Jews.
But, God being thus manifested, the carnal opposition of
man soon shews itself. [2] Here, then, the description of Christ's
service ends, and its effect is manifested. This effect is developed in that
which soon follows, with respect both to the iniquity of man and to the
counsels of God. Meanwhile the Lord appoints twelve of His disciples to
accompany Him, and to go forth preaching in His name. He could, not merely work
miracles but, communicate to others the power to work them, and that by way of
authority. He goes back into the house, and the multitude re-assemble. And here
the thoughts of man display themselves at the same time as those of God. His
friends search for Him as one who was beside Himself. The scribes, possessing
influence as learned men, attribute to Satan a power which they could not deny.
The Lord answers them by shewing that in general all sin could be pardoned; but
that to acknowledge the power, and attribute it to the enemy, rather than own
Him who wielded it, was taking the place not of ignorant unbelief but of adversaries,
thus blaspheming against the Holy Ghost-was a sin that could never be pardoned.
The "strong man" was there; but Jesus was stronger than he, for He
cast out the devils. Would Satan endeavour to overthrow his own house? The fact
that the power of Jesus manifested itself in this manner left them without
excuse. God's "strong man" was then come: Israel rejected Him; and,
as regards their leaders, by blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, they brought
themselves under hopeless condemnation. The Lord therefore immediately
distinguishes the remnant who received His word from all natural connection He
had with Israel. His mother or His "brethren" are the disciples who
stand around Him, and those who do the will of God. This really sets aside
Israel at that time.
[1] One
cannot but see how the old system, based on what man ought to be for God, is
being set aside for what God is for man. But, the former having been established
by God, nothing but the words and works of Jesus would have justified the Jews
in giving it up. As it was, it was clearly opposition and hatred to the full
revelation of Him who had ordained the other. Compare John 15:22, 24.
[2] This
is the secret of all the history of Jesus, Son of David. All the promises being
in Him for the Jews, the servant of every want too and every sorrow, yet being
God and God manifested in Him, man could not bear it. The mind of the flesh is
enmity against God.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Mark》
Mark 3
Chapter Contents
The withered hand healed. (1-5) The people resort to
Christ. (6-12) The apostles called. (13-21) The blasphemy of the scribes. (22-30)
Christ's relatives. (31-35)
Commentary on Mark 3:1-5
(Read Mark 3:1-5)
This man's case was piteous; he had a withered hand,
which disabled him from working for his living; and those that are so, are the
most proper objects of charity. Let those be helped that cannot help
themselves. But stubborn infidels, when they can say nothing against the truth,
yet will not yield. We hear what is said amiss, and see what is done amiss; but
Christ looks at the root of bitterness in the heart, the blindness and hardness
of that, and is grieved. Let hard-hearted sinners tremble to think of the anger
with which he will look upon them shortly, when the day of his wrath comes. The
great healing day now is the sabbath, and the healing place the house of
prayer; but the healing power is of Christ. The gospel command is like that
recorded here: though our hands are withered, yet, if we will not stretch them
out, it is our own fault that we are not healed. But if we are healed, Christ,
his power and grace, must have all the glory.
Commentary on Mark 3:6-12
(Read Mark 3:6-12)
All our sicknesses and calamities spring from the anger
of God against our sins. Their removal, or the making them blessings to us, was
purchased to us by the blood of Christ. But the plagues and diseases of our
souls, of our hearts, are chiefly to be dreaded; and He can heal them also by a
word. May more and more press to Christ to be healed of these plagues, and to
be delivered from the enemies of their souls.
Commentary on Mark 3:13-21
(Read Mark 3:13-21)
Christ calls whom he will; for his grace is his own. He
had called the apostles to separate themselves from the crowd, and they came
unto him. He now gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
May the Lord send forth more and more of those who have been with him, and have
learned of him to preach his gospel, to be instruments in his blessed work.
Those whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with what
is inconvenient to themselves, and will rather lose a meal than an opportunity
of doing good. Those who go on with zeal in the work of God, must expect
hinderances, both from the hatred of enemies, and mistaken affections of
friends, and need to guard against both.
Commentary on Mark 3:22-30
(Read Mark 3:22-30)
It was plain that the doctrine of Christ had a direct
tendency to break the devil's power; and it was as plain, that casting of him
out of the bodies of people, confirmed that doctrine; therefore Satan could not
support such a design. Christ gave an awful warning against speaking such
dangerous words. It is true the gospel promises, because Christ has purchased,
forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners; but by this sin, they would
oppose the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ's ascension. Such is the enmity
of the heart, that unconverted men pretend believers are doing Satan's work,
when sinners are brought to repentance and newness of life.
Commentary on Mark 3:31-35
(Read Mark 3:31-35)
It is a great comfort to all true Christians, that they
are dearer to Christ than mother, brother, or sister as such, merely as
relations in the flesh would have been, even had they been holy. Blessed be
God, this great and gracious privilege is ours even now; for though Christ's
bodily presence cannot be enjoyed by us, his spiritual presence is not denied
us.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Mark》
Mark 3
Verse 2
[2] And
they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might
accuse him.
And they —
The scribes and Pharisees, watched him, that they might accuse him - Pride,
anger, and shame, after being so often put to silence, began now to ripen into
malice.
Verse 4
[4] 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.
Is it lawful to save life or to kill? — Which he knew they were seeking occasion to do.
But they held their peace — Being confounded, though not convinced.
Verse 5
[5] 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.
Looking round upon them with anger, being
grieved — Angry at the sin, grieved at the sinner;
the true standard of Christian anger. But who can separate anger at sin from
anger at the sinner? None but a true believer in Christ.
Verse 6
[6] And
the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians
against him, how they might destroy him.
The Pharisees going out — Probably leaving the scribes to watch him still: took counsel with the
Herodians - as bitter as they usually were against each other.
Verse 8
[8] 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.
From Idumea —
The natives of which had now professed the Jewish religion above a hundred and
fifty years.
They about Tyre and Sidon — The Israelites who lived in those coasts.
Verse 10
[10] For
he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as
many as had plagues.
Plagues or scourges (so the Greek word
properly means) seem to be those very painful or afflictive disorders which
were frequently sent, or at least permitted of God, as a scourge or punishment
of sin.
Verse 12
[12] And
he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
He charged them not to make him known — It was not the time: nor were they fit preachers.
Verse 13
[13] And
he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came
unto him.
He calleth whom he would — With regard to the eternal states of men, God always acts as just and
merciful. But with regard to numberless other things, he seems to us to act as
a mere sovereign. Luke 6:12
Verse 14
[14] And
he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them
forth to preach,
Matthew 10:2; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:13.
Verse 16
[16] And
Simon he surnamed Peter;
He surnamed them sons of thunder — Both with respect to the warmth and impetuosity of their spirit, their
fervent manner of preaching, and the power of their word.
Verse 20
[20] And
the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat
bread.
To eat bread —
That is, to take any subsistence.
Verse 21
[21] And
when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said,
He is beside himself.
His relations —
His mother and his brethren, Mark 3:31. But it was some time before they
could come near him.
Verse 22
[22] And
the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the
prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
The scribes and Pharisees, Matthew 12:22; who had come down from Jerusalem
- Purposely on the devil's errand. And not without success. For the common
people now began to drink in the poison, from these learned, good, honourable
men! He hath Beelzebub - at command, is in league with him: And by the prince
of the devils casteth he out devils - How easily may a man of learning elude
the strongest proof of a work of God! How readily can he account for every
incident without ever taking God into the question. Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:15.
Verse 28
[28]
Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and
blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Verse 30
[30]
Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit — Is it not astonishing, that men who have ever read these words, should
doubt, what is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? Can any words declare more
plainly, that it is "the ascribing those miracles to the power of the
devil which Christ wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost?"
Verse 31
[31]
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto
him, calling him.
Then come his brethren and his mother — Having at length made their way through the crowd, so as to come to the
door. His brethren are here named first, as being first and most earnest in the
design of taking him: for neither did these of his brethren believe on him.
They sent to him, calling him - They sent one into the house, who called him
aloud, by name. Matthew 12:46; Luke 8:19.
Verse 34
[34] And
he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother
and my brethren!
Looking round on them who sat about him — With the utmost sweetness; He said, Behold my mother and my brethren -
In this preference of his true disciples even to the Virgin Mary, considered
merely as his mother after the flesh, he not only shows his high and tender
affection for them, but seems designedly to guard against those excessive and
idolatrous honours, which he foresaw would in after ages be paid to her.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Mark》
Chapter 3. The Appointment of Apostles
In Name Only
A Cake Not Turned
I. A Man with a
Withered Hand
II. Appoint the
Twelve
III. All
Believers Are Families
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》