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Mark Chapter 3

New Testament Gospel 35 Verses

What is Mark 3 about?

The fast-paced Gospel of action — Jesus as the Suffering Servant who came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth.
4And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.
6And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
7And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea,
8and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond the Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him.
9And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him:
10for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him.
11And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12And he charged them much that they should not make him known.
13And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him.
14And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15and to have authority to cast out demons:
16and Simon he surnamed Peter;
17and James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:
18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,
19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And he cometh into a house.
20And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
21And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
22And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.
23And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25And if a house be divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26And if Satan hath rise up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27But no one can enter into the house of the strong [man], and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong [man]; and then he will spoil his house.
28Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin:
30because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
31And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.
32And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?
34And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren!
35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“And he entered again into the synagogue, etc..] Perhaps in Capernaum, where he had before cast out the unclean spirit; but not on the same day, nor on that day he had had the debate with the Pharisees, about his disciples plucking the ears of corn on the sabbath day; but on another sabbath, perhaps the next; (see <420606>Luke 6:6). And there was a man there which had a withered hand; who came there either for a cure, knowing Christ to be in the synagogue, or for the sake of worship; (see Gill on “<401210>Matthew 12:10”).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“PARABLE OF THE SOWER--REASON FOR TEACHING IN PARABLES--PARABLES OF THE SEED GROWING WE KNOW NOT HOW, AND OF THE MUSTARD SEED. ( = Mat. 13:1-23, 31, 32; Luk 8:4-18). (Mark 4:1-34) And he began again to teach by the seaside: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude--or, according to another well-supported reading, "a mighty" or "immense multitude." so that he entered into a ship--rather, "the ship," meaning the one mentioned in Mar 3:9. (See on Mat 12:15). and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land--crowded on the seashore to listen to Him. (See on Mat 13:1-2.)”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“See this explained in Matthew 12:9-13. Mark 3:4 Or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? - It seems to have been a maxim with the Jews that not to do good when we have an opportunity is to do evil; not to save life is to kill or to be guilty of murder. If a man has an opportunity of saving a man’s life when he is in danger, and does not do it, he is evidently guilty of his death. On this principle our Saviour puts this question to the Jews - whether it was better for him, having the power to heal this man, to do it, or to suffer him to remain in this suffering condition; and he illustrates it by an example,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“He entered again into the synagogue - At Capernaum on the same day. Mat 12:9; Luk 6:6. Mark 3:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“3:1-6 This account concludes the collection of controversy stories (2:1–3:6). As in the preceding story, Jesus is in conflict with the Pharisees over the Sabbath; as with the first story, the controversy involves a healing (2:1-12). 3:1-2 The scene again involves a synagogue, probably in Capernaum (1:21, 29). The presence of a crippled man on the Sabbath (3:1-2) created a situation that Jesus’ enemies wished to exploit if he healed the man’s hand, so they watched him closely.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“he entered: Mar 1:21; Mat 12:9-14; Luk 6:6-11 withered: Kg1 13:4; Joh 5:3 Mark 3:2”
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