BSB
Mark 3
1Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there.
2In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
3Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”
4And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.
5Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
6At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
7So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
8Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.
9Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.
10For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
11And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
12But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.
13Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.
14He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,
15and to have authority to drive out demons.
16These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),
18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
20Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat.
21When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
22And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
23So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
24If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
25If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
26And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.
27Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
28Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter.
29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
30Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
32and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”
33But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
34Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
35For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
Study This Passage
Key Words and Topics
These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.
Key Words in This Passage
Select a word to open the full concordance search.
Related Topics
Alpheus (Alphaeus): Father of James Mark 3:18
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
Andrew: His Name Appears in the List of the Apostles In Mark 3:18
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
Anger: Justifiable: Our Lord Mark 3:5
Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
Apostles: Commission of Mark 3:14, 15
He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, / and to have authority to drive out demons.
Apostles: Miraculous Power Given To Mark 3:15
and to have authority to drive out demons.
Apostles: Names of Mark 3:16–19
These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), / James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), / Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
Apostles: Selection of Mark 3:13–19
Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. / He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, / and to have authority to drive out demons.
Bartholomew: One of the Apostles Mark 3:18
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
Beelzebub: The Prince of Devils Mark 3:22
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
Blasphemers Mark 3:29
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit Mark 3:28–30
Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. / But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.” / Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Mark 3:29, 30
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.” / Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Boanerges: Surname of the Sons of Zebedee Mark 3:17
James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),
Call: To Special Religious Duty: Apostles Mark 3:13–19
Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. / He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, / and to have authority to drive out demons.
Capernaum: Miracles of Jesus Performed At Mark 3:1–6
Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there. / In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. / Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”
Casting out Demons Mark 3:11
And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
Conspiracy: Against Jesus Mark 3:6
At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Demons: Cast out by Jesus Mark 3:22
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
Demons: Jesus Falsely Accused of Being Possessed of Mark 3:22–30
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.” / So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? / If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
Demons: Testify to the Divinity of Jesus Mark 3:11
And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
Faith: Faith in Christ: The Sick People of Gennesaret Mark 3:10
For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
False Accusation: Incidents Illustrative of Against Jesus Mark 3:22
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
Family Problems Mark 3:23–25
So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? / If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. / If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
Herodians: Conspire to Kill Jesus Mark 3:6
At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Select a topic to open the full topical search.
Bible Dictionary
Related Dictionary Terms
Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.
Commentary Insights
Study and Reflection
Explore devotional and study commentary connected to this passage.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Mark 3:1-12 The Healing of a Withered Hand on the Sabbath Day, and
Retirement of Jesus to Avoid Danger. ( = Mt 12:9-21; Lu 6:6-11). See on Mt 12:9-21.
Mark 3:13-19 The Twelve Apostles Chosen.
See on Lu 6:12-19.
Mark 3:20-30 Jesus Is Charged with Madness and Demoniacal
Possession--His Reply. ( = Mt 12:22-37; Lu 11:14-26). See on Mt 12:22-37; Lu 11:21-26.
Mark 3:31-35 His Mother and Brethren Seek to Speak with Him and the
Reply. ( = Mt 12:46-50; Lu 8:19-21). See on Mt 12:46-50.
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Mark 3:1-5 Verses 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.
Mark 3:6-12 Verses 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.
Mark 3:13-21 Verses 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.
Mark 3:22-30 Verses 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.
Mark 3:31-35 Verses 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.