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Mark Chapter
Three
I. Content of the Chapter
Various Kinds of Men
that the Bondservant the Savior Had Been Faced with
A. The Pharisees that adhered to the indifferent
attitude toward the sufferings of others (v.1-6);
B. The people that pressed on Him (v.7-12);
C. The twelve disciples that He had appointed
(v.13-19);
D. The Lord’s family members who said that He
was out of mind (v.20-21);
E. The scribes who blasphemed the Lord that He cast out demons
by the ruler
of the demons (v.22-30);
F. The physical and spiritual family members
(v.31-35);
II. Verse by Verse commentary
Mark. 3:1 “And He entered the
synagogue again
and a man was there who had a withered hand.”
YLT: “And he entered
again into the synagogue
and there was there a man having the hand withered
”
Meaning of Word: “withered”: to desiccate
to shrivel
to dry up;
Literal
Meaning: “had a withered
hand”
the word “withered” was in the perfect tense
indicating that that
hand was not born withered
but was caused by injury or illness later.
Spiritual Meaning: “synagogue” symbolizes all the religions
represented by the Judaism.
“A man
was there who had a withered hand”
“hand” stands for service. “Withered” denotes the lack of the vigor of life. It is
like a picture
showing that though men in religion want to do something for
God
they can actually do nothing for God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If our service (hand) is done according to reasons
and doctrines rather than the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit
it
is “withered” service.
2) If the assembly lacks the provision of life
there will be lack of the power of service. If the local assembly where you are
lacks members of service (“a withered hand”)
there must be something wrong in
the provision of life. Therefore we should solve the problem from its root by ----
to supply more positive provisions.
3) Christians should often pray in every place
lifting up pious hands (1Tim. 2:8). However
if one’s spiritual life is weak
he must lack prayers or even can not or will not pray.
Mark. 3:2 “So
they watched Him closely
whether He would heal him on the Sabbath
so that they might accuse Him.”
YLT: “and they were
watching him
whether on the sabbaths he will heal him
that they might accuse
him.”
Meaning of Word: “watched…closely”: inspect
alongside
note scrupulously; “heal”: wait upon menially
relieve
cure;
“accuse”: reprove
plain;
The Background: according to the teachings of the Jewish
rabbis
unless one was nearly to die
“healing” was forbidden on the Sabbath. This
was because they believed that healing the sick person went against the
regulation of “no working” on the Sabbath.
Literal
Meaning: “so they watched Him closely”
“they” referred to
the Pharisees (see v.6). They watched Him over
scheming to trip Him up to
accuse Him.
“Whether
He would heal him on the Sabbath”
it indicated that the Pharisees did not doubt that
whether the Lord Jesus “could heal Him or not”
but that whether He “would do
it on the Sabbath or not”.
Spiritual Meaning: “whether He would heal him on the Sabbath”
the Sabbath was established for men to
have rest. However
here there was a man who was sick
but he was not allowed
to be healed on the Sabbath
indicating that there was only the formality of
the Sabbath
but lacked the reality of the Sabbath.
Mark. 3:3 “And He said to the man who
had the withered hand
"Step forward."”
YLT: “And he saith to
the man having the hand withered
`Rise up in the midst.'”
Meaning of Word: “step forward”
rise
and lift up (in a commanding
tone);
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If that man was not willing to do according
to the Lord’s words (“Step
forward”)
he could not be
healed (see v.5). The condition of receiving grace is that one shall be willing
to rise and receive the Lord’s words.
2) The obedience to the Lord’s first-step words
will lead us into the second-step greater words.
Mark. 3:4 “Then He said to them
"Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil
to save life or to
kill?" But they kept silent.”
YLT: “And he saith to
them
`Is it lawful on the sabbaths to do good
or to do evil? life to save
or
to kill?' but they were silent.”
Meaning of Word: “life”: soul; “kept silent”: dumb
hold peace;
Literal
Meaning: “they kept silent”
if they answered “yes”
they could not
accuse the Lord of going against the regulations on the Sabbath. If they
answered “no”
they disobeyed their conscience. Therefore
they deliberately
escaped the question of the Lord
and thus their hardness of their hearts was manifested (v.5).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The Sabbath was made
on account of man
not man on account of the Sabbath. The Lord values men above
all.
2)
The real servant of
the Lord works without being restricted by regulations. If we really work for
Christ
we are “doing good”. Though sometimes it seems “violating the
regulations” apparently
it brings real provision to those who are served
3)
The Lord went
against the laws of the Sabbaths for the sake of saving life
which showed that
He came to deliver men from the religious customs.
4)
He who wants to do
good and save life has to catch the opportunity. He who misses the opportunity
to do good just does evil. He who misses the chance of saving life just kills
others.
5)
If we look on
indifferently when others need our help
we just have hurt them. If we stretch
our hands to help them
we just save them.
6)
The difficulty of
men in words is that ---- men like to say what they need not say
but dare not
to say what they should say. The faithful workers of the Lord should not shrink
from announcing all that they should announce (see Acts20:27).
7)
Sometimes
“keeping
silent” was crafty
so the Lord looked around at them with anger (see v.5). Our
judgment should not be vague or ambiguous because of our personal concerns.
Mark. 3:5 “And when
He had looked around at them with anger
being grieved by the hardness of their
hearts
He said to the man
"Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out
and his hand was restored as whole
as the other. ”
YLT: “And having
looked round upon them with anger
being grieved for the hardness of their
heart
he saith to the man
`Stretch forth thy hand;' and he stretched forth
and his hand was restored whole as the other;”
Meaning of Words: “with anger”: indignation
vengeance; “look around”:
look all round; “grieve”: afflict jointly
sorrow at; “hardness”: blindness
callousness; “restore”: reconstitute.
Literal Meaning: “when
He had looked around at them with anger
being grieved by the hardness of their
hearts”
“with anger”
it
was a just attitude. “Being grieved”
it was a kind act. The Lord is both just
and kind to men. However
men’s hardness shows their ignorance about the truth.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The man who had a withered hand heard the Lord’s word first ---- “he stretched it out” ---- and then “restored”. This is the
principle of faith. If we follow the Lord through faith
we should also have
actions according to the commandments of the Lord first and then see the
gracious provision of the Lord.
2)
The words which the
Lord has spoken unto us are spirit and are life (John. 6:63). If we receive
trust and obey the Lord’s words
we will obtain the healing of life.
3)
Nothing shall be
impossible with God (Luke. 1:37). When the Lord gives the word
He will
assuredly give power to men to obey His words.
4)
The man with a
withered hand was not willing to stretch his hand out before men ---- men did
not like to show their shortcomings to others ---- however the moment the Lord’s
words was manifested (“stretch out your hand”)
his hand was restored.
5)
“It was restored”
showed that the Lord’s healing was perfect. The Lord’s working in us will
enable us to be restored to be in line with the will of God.
Mark. 3:6 “Then
the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him
how they
might destroy Him.”
YLT: “and the
Pharisees having gone forth
immediately
with the Herodians
were taking
counsel against him how they might destroy him.”
Meaning of Word: “counsel”: advisement
consultation
council; “destroy”: die
lose
mar
and perish;
Literal Meaning: “Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with
the Herodians”
“the Pharisees”
they were a sect that were zealous in the traditions of their forefathers. “The
Herodians”
they were a political party that betrayed their Jewish compatriots
and served other nations. The Pharisees even did not spare the conspiracy with
their enemy in order to maintain the regulations of the Sabbaths. Obviously
they had put the incidental before the fundamental and emphasized the “customs”
more than “men”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
Pharisees wanted to kill the holy one of God indeed in order to maintain the
regulations of the law. Many Christians who are fervent in doctrines often get into a fight in order to maintain
the doctrines.
2)
Religionists are
only fervent in the words and letters of the law and neglect the truth and
reality of the law
so that they even regard killing as serving God (John.
16:2).
3)
In the history of
the Christianity
there were also many believers who struggled for reasons or
letters and even killed those who were different from them by political power.
Mark. 3:7 “But Jesus withdrew with
His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him
and from Judea”
YLT: “And Jesus
withdrew with his disciples unto the sea
and a great multitude from Galilee
followed him
and from Judea
”
Meaning of Words: “withdrew”: depart
give place
turn aside; “follow”:
to be in the same way with;
Literal Meaning: “withdrew to the sea”
“the sea” refers to the Sea
of Galilee;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
He who wants the appearance
but refuses the reality can not obtain the presence of the Lord (“withdrew to
the sea”). All those who desire to seek the Lord and follow the Lord will be
under the Lord’s care and obtain His healing.
2)
What the Lord
concerns is that men’s disease needs to be healed. He does not care for whether
men have kept the customs.
Mark. 3:8 “and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and
those from Tyre and Sidon
a great multitude
when they heard how many things He was doing
came to Him.”
YLT: “and from
Jerusalem
and from Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon
-- a great multitude -- having heard how great things he was doing
came unto
him.”
The Background: “Idumea”: a call to the Edom
by the Romans and the Greeks. Edom was the place where the descendants of Esau
inhabited (see Gen.36:43). It was added into the domain of Judea in about 150
BC. Later the Edomite Herod became Herod the tetrarch of the land of Judea by
relying on the Roman authority.
Literal Meaning: “things He was doing”
“things” referred to all the
things.
“And Jerusalem
and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre
and Sidon”
“Judea” referred to the west place of the Jordan River and the Dead
Sea. “Jerusalem” was the capital of Judea. “Idumea” spoke of the mountainous
region in the south part of the Dead Sea
namely
the Sinai Peninsula at
present. “Beyond the Jordan” referred to the east part of the Jordan River
which was also called Berea. “Tyre and Sidon” were seaports in the northwest of
Palestine
namely
the Lebanon at present.
The series of names included the whole Palestine
which showed that the name of Jesus was spread speedily
giving rise to the
anxiety of both the political and religious circles of the Jews who were afraid
that the people would rebel.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Once Christ has
revealed His fullness (teaching
preaching
healing the disease and casting off
the devils)
He will draw people from many places to follow Him.
2)
Though there is a great
multitude of people who follow the Lord
there is only a little part of people
who really know the Lord (John 6:66).
Mark. 3:9 “So He told His disciples that a small boat
should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude
lest they should crush Him.”
YLT: “And he said to
his disciples that a little boat may wait on him
because of the multitude
that they may not press upon him
”
Meaning of Words: “be kept ready for”: wait
on
adhere closely to; “crush”: afflict
narrow
throng
and suffer tribulation;
Literal Meaning: “lest they should crush Him lest they should crush
Him”
it indicated that the crushing of the people was a hindrance.
Mark. 3:10 “For He healed many
so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.”
YLT: “for he did heal
many
so that they threw themselves on him
in order to touch him -- as many as
had plagues;”
Meaning of Words: “afflictions”: plague
scourging; “press about”:
fell upon
lie on
and press upon;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The urgent need
proves the blessing of God. If a servant of God has “lost his job”
it proves that the commitment of God has left him.
2)
The more a God’s
servant serves
the more the demand and burden will grow
and the more pressing
the calling will be
and the more manifest of God’s presence will be. Therefore
those who serve God should not be idle
and business is normal.
Mark. 3:11 “And the unclean spirits
whenever they saw Him
fell down before Him and cried out
saying
"You are
the Son of God." ”
YLT: “and the unclean
spirits
when they were seeing him
were falling down before him
and were
crying
saying -- `Thou art the Son of God;'”
Literal Meaning: “the unclean spirits
whenever they saw Him”
“the
unclean spirits” refer to the unclean spirits attached in men. Though they knew
the Lord Jesus
they had no intention to change their rebellious attitude.
“Fell down before Him”
the unclean
spirits feared the Lord’s authority
but did not obey Him.
Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord Jesus came to the desert land
what He had
met was either disease or the devil ---- this was the real portrayal of the
world. However
the full and victorious Lord can deal with all the cases ----
He healed the diseases
and subdued the devil.
Mark. 3:12 “But He sternly
warned them that they should not make Him known.”
YLT: “and many times
he was charging them that they might not make him manifest.”
Meaning of Words: “sternly”: plenteous
greatly
much; “warn”:
(straitly) charge
rebuke; “make…known”: manifest
reveal;
Literal Meaning: it was because Himself knew what was in man (John 2:23-25). For those who came with
curiosity after hearing the name were mostly unreliable.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Men in the world
seek fame and status
but the worker of the Lord shall not care about evil report or good report.
As unknown and
well known (2Cor. 6:8-9).
2)
All those who are attracted to a place or a man by the
reputation may not be
reliable. That men like to crowd to hear the sermons of famous workers is
mostly out of curiosity instead of real desire for the Lord’s words.
3)
The church does not
build on the fame of ministers. Otherwise
if the ministers departed
the
church would immediately become cold and low.
Mark. 3:13 “And He went up on the mountain and called
to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. ”
YLT: “And he goeth up
to the mountain
and doth call near whom he willed
and they went away to him;”
Meaning of Words: “call”: call toward oneself
call for;
Literal Meaning: “called to Him those He
Himself wanted”
“He Himself wanted”
it in the original means an action
sourced from some subjective desire without any influence from any objective
condition. That the Lord chose and called the disciples was totally according
to His will that He pleased.
Spiritual Meaning: “He went up on the mountain”
“went up on the
mountain”
it symbolized that He entered into the heavenly sphere.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
That we have become
the Lord’s believers is totally because of the Lord’s selection and calling
---- it is the Lord that has chosen us according to His will
not that we
choose the Lord.
2)
Since the Lord’s
calling is out of his own active intention
He will certainly take the full
responsibility for His own selection. Since He has already chosen us
he will
surely assume the responsibility of perfecting us till the end.
3)
All those who had
been selected and called by the Lord will be voluntarily willing to answer the
Lord’s calling and come before the Lord.
Mark. 3:14 “Then
He appointed twelve
that they might be with Him and
that He might send them out to preach
”
YLT: “and he appointed
twelve
that they may be with him
and that he may send them forth to preach
”
Meaning of Words: “appoint”: make
do; “with”: together;
“send”: send out
set;
Literal Meaning: “He appointed twelve”
the
words “appoint” and “work” have the same etymon. The former is a verb
and
the latter is a noun. And “work” in the original carries the meaning of “masterpiece”
and “psalm” (see Eph.2:10). Therefore
the men that he Lord appointed were also
His workman and psalm.
“That they might be with Him”
“with”
means to establish an intimate relationship
thus entering into closer
fellowship with Him.
“And that He might
send them out to preach”
the words “send” and “apostle” have the same etymon. The
former is a verb
and the latter is a noun. The word “apostle” originally meant
the one who was separated
and later it referred to
the one who was sent. Therefore
this sentence indicated that the Lord sent
those who were separated by Him to preach His words for Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
We believers are the
workmanship of God
who are created in Christ by Him (Eph. 2:10).
2)
“Twelve” is an
eternal and perfect number. The Lord Jesus would make these twelve disciples a
perfect testimony and type and take them as the foundation of God’s building in
the eternal age (see Rev.21:14).
3)
The commitment to
the workers of the Lord is “to be with the Lord” first
and then “to preach the
Lord’s words” ---- concerning men
and “to cast out the demons (see v.15)” ----
concerning the demons. When we serve the Lord
we shall firstly keep proper and
smooth fellowship with the Lord and deal with the matters concerning men and
the devil afterwards.
4)
He who wants to work for the Lord should be firstly with the
Lord. All those who have not been with the Lord cannot work for the Lord.
5)
The Lord’s presence
is first and sending afterwards. If there is not the presence of the Lord
there will be no sending.
Mark. 3:15 “and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:”
YLT: “and to have
power to heal the sicknesses
and to cast out the demons.”
Meaning of Words: “power”: privilege
authority;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The Lord will surely
give “authority” to those who are sent by Him
which indicates that He must
take the responsibility of supplying sufficient power to those who are sent by
Him. The Lord’s sending and commitment will never go beyond His gracious
provision.
2)
Power is given to do
the Lord’s work. Only those who are willing to receive the Lord’s sending are
worthy to be given power.
3)
The spiritual power
in service is due to the Lord’s commission. If one has not been entrusted by
the Lord
he will have no spiritual power and his service will consequently be
of no true spiritual effect.
4)
The spiritual authority
has two kinds of use in the assembly ---- one is to cope with God’s enemy Satan
and its ministers
and the other is to help men in their spiritual life
thus
making them grow up and be perfected.
5)
The Lord Jesus came
into the world to gain a group of people instead of the so-called works of the
Christianity. He made His life into those He had gained at first and then
through them He would be manifested among others.
Mark. 3:16 “Simon
to whom He
gave the name Peter;”
YLT: “And he put on
Simon the name Peter;”
Meaning of Words: “Simon”: listen to; “Peter”: stone;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
A worker of the Lord
must “listen to” (the meaning of “Simon”) the Lord’s words
and devote himself
to the Lord’s building ------stone (the meaning of “Peter”
see 1Pet. 2:5).
2)
Among the twelve
apostles
the Scriptures had seldom recorded their histories except for the
records about Peter in the Book of Acts. It shows that the Lord emphasizes how
the Holy Spirit works through them instead of their own works.
Mark. 3:17 “James the son of
Zebedee and John the brother of James
to whom He gave the name Boanerges
that
is
"Sons of Thunder";”
YLT: “and James of
Zebedee
and John the brother of James
and he put on them names -- Boanerges
that is
`Sons of thunder;'”
Meaning of Words: “Zebedee”: God’s portion; “James”: usurper
to seize; “John”: God’s gift; “Boanerges”: the son of fury
a loud crier (a word from Aramaic);
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
A Lord’s worker is
one who is able to seize (the meaning of “James”) God’s eternal portion (the
meaning of “Zebedee”) and God’s gifts (the meaning of “John”).
2)
A man who is furious
can also be used by the Lord and becomes an evangelist who preaches loudly
(another meaning of the word “Boanerges”)
for the Lord can change a man’s
natural character into another strong point in the spiritual ministry.
3)
James and John were
called “Boanerges”
so they might have bad temper in their flesh. However
they
became so gentle and kind in the end ---- which proved the abundant power of
the salvation of Christ.
Mark. 3:18 “Andrew
Philip
Bartholomew
Matthew
Thomas
James the son of Alphaeus
Thaddaeus
Simon the
Cananite;”
YLT: “and Andrew
and
Philip
and Bartholomew
and Matthew
and Thomas
and James of Alpheus
and
Thaddeus
and Simon the Cananite
”
Meaning of Words: “Andrew”: man mighty overcomer strong masculine; “Philip”: affectionate fond of horses; “Bartholomew”: son of Tholomew son of wars; “Matthew”: God’s gift; “Thomas”: the twin; “Alphaeus”: interchange; “Thaddaeus”: wisdom; “Simon the Canaite”: listen to earnestly;
Literal Meaning: “the Canaite” was a Jewish revolutionary
organization
which resisted the rule of the Roman Government over Palestine by
force.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
We should “be strong”
(the meaning of “Andrew”) to do the Lord’s work
2)
Bartholomew was also
known as Nathanael (John. 1:45). The Lord’s workers should “deeply love”
(meaning of “Philip”) God’s gifts (meaning of “Nathanael”)
3)
Since the Lord’s
workers receive double (the meaning of “Thomas”) gifts
the gifts will be
changed (meaning of “Alphaeus”) into the wisdom and ability (meaning of “Thaddaeus”)
that they can seize (meaning of “James”).
4)
What is most is to
listen to (meaning of “Simon the Cananite”) the Lord earnestly from our heart.
Mark. 3:19 “and
Judas Iscariot
who also betrayed Him.”
YLT: “and Judas Iscariot
who did also deliver him up; and they come into a house.”
Meaning of Words: “betrayed”: bring out; “Iscariot”: the one with purse who is good at trading (the meaning of this word in Aramaic); “Judas”: worship.
Literal Meaning: “Canaite”
a city of the tribe of Ephraim
was near
to Samaria.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The act of “worship”
(meaning of “Judas”) is superficial. It is still possible for those who pretend to be workers
of the Lord in appearance to betray the Lord.
2)
Even Judas who
betrayed the Lord was listed in the twelve apostles
which indicated that when
the Lord got along with others
He only concerned about the will of God instead
of His own benefits.
Mark. 3:20 “And they went into a house. Then the
multitude came together again
so that they could not so much as
eat bread.”
YLT: “And come
together again doth a multitude
so that they are not able even to eat bread;”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
As long as there is
the Lord in the assembly
there will be gathering.
2)
The Lord was so busy
for men that even He sacrificed His normal enjoyment ---- “they could not so
much as eat bread”. All these diligence and toil were for the sake of us
but
what have we sacrificed for Him?
3)
The Lord Jesus did
not concern for His own physical need for the sake of concerning about the need
of “all the people”. The fundamental attitude for serving the Lord should be
taking the concerns for others first and ours later.
Mark. 3:21 “But when His own people heard about this
they went out to lay hold of Him
for they said
"He
is out of His mind." ”
YLT: “and his friends
having heard
went forth to lay hold on him
for they said that he was beside
himself
”
Meaning of Words: “lay hold of”: lay hand on
grab; “out of His mind”:
astound
be astonished;
Literal Meaning: “He is out of His mind.” ---- The people did not
say He had lost His mind
but that He was so zealous in religion that he had
became uncommon (see Acts. 26:24; 2Cor. 5:13).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The Lord’s works
were so busy that He even could not so much as eat bread (see v.14)
so the
relatives said He was “out of Hid mind”. The one who really has the commitment
from God usually does things going beyond bounds so that those who have only
earthly insight may believe such man is “out of mind”. If we are not nearly “beside
ourselves” when serving the Lord
it is still not sufficient (see 2Cor.5:13).
2)
The natural love
usually becomes a hindrance to serving the Lord
for man’s good intention may
often be against the will of God. Man can only be delivered by the effect of
the death of the cross (see Matt. 16:21-24).
3)
The world does not
understand Christians
so they often criticize zealous Christians as “being out
of mind”.
Mark. 3:22 “And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem
said
"He has Beelzebub
" and
"By the ruler of the demons He
casts out demons." ”
YLT: “and the scribes
who from Jerusalem having come down
said -- `He hath Beelzeboul
' and -- `By
the ruler of the demons he doth cast out the demons.'”
Literal
Meaning: the scribes refused to confess that the Lord
Jesus is from God (John.9:16)
but they could not deny the fact that He had
cast out demons. Therefore they slandered Him that He cast out demons by the
ruler of the demons.
“Beelzebub” was the Baal-zebub
the god
of Ekron (2Kings.1:2). The Jews changed its voice to call it “Beelzebub”
which
meant “the king of dunghill”
also “the king of house”
because the devil
possessed men
treated men as houses and occupied men’s
body as the king of house.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Jealousy makes man
lose mind and prejudice makes man lose light.
2)
Since men abuse and
blaspheme our Lord
we can not expect others to treat us good. When we are
misunderstood
persecuted and despised by others
we shall remember how men
treat our Lord.
Mark. 3:23 “So He called them to Himself and said to
them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan?”
YLT: “And
having
called them near
in similes he said to them
`How is the Adversary able to
cast out the Adversary?”
Meaning of Words: “Satan”: adversary accuser;
Literal Meaning: “Satan”
the adversary against God
will never be
adversary against itself.
Mark. 3:24 “If a kingdom is divided against itself
that
kingdom cannot stand.”
YLT: “and if a
kingdom against itself be divided
that kingdom cannot be made to stand;”
Meaning of Words: “divide”: share
disunite; “cannot stand”:
cannot stand steadily;
Literal Meaning: Satan has its own kingdom ---- this world is its
kingdom
it is the king of this kingdom (John12:31). It can not bear any
division.
Mark. 3:25 “And if a house is divided against itself
that house cannot stand.”
YLT: “and if a house
against itself be divided
that house cannot be made to stand;”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The testimony of the
church (house) lies in believers’ bearing with one another in love and being
kept in the uniting bond of peace.
2)
Any church has the
condition of division
and there will be no building there.
Mark. 3:26 “And if Satan has risen up against himself
and is divided
he cannot stand
but has an end.”
YLT: “and if the
Adversary did rise against himself
and hath been divided
he cannot be made to
stand
but hath an end.”
Meaning of Words: “end”: conclusion;
Mark. 3:27 “No one can enter a strong man's house and
plunder his goods
unless he first binds the strong man.
And then he will plunder his house. ”
YLT: “`No one is able
the vessels of the strong man -- having entered into his house -- to spoil
if
first he may not bind the strong man
and then his house he will spoil.”
Meaning of Words: “strong man”: mighty man
powerful man; “plunder”: seize
asunder
spoil;
Spiritual
Meaning: “a strong man”
it refers to the mighty and
powerful man
symbolizing Satan. “A strong man’s house”
it speaks of the kingdom
of Satan. “His goods and his house” symbolize the tools utilized by Satan
i.e.
the world utilized by it and under its power (1John. 5:19).
The Lord Jesus had crushed
the head of Satan on the cross (Gen. 3:15) and all that believe the Lord are
set free by Him (Gal. 5:1). We have been delivered from the authority of
darkness and translated into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Men were God’s
possession at first
but were then stolen by Satan and became its goods.
2)
The principle of our
work is to bind first and plunder afterwards. The effective way of preaching
the glad tidings is to pray to the Lord for binding Satan firstly.
3)
Every spiritual work
is obvious plunder
not secret robbery. We Christians need not deal with Satan
secretly.
4)
Believers’ prayers
of faith can also bind Satan (Matt. 16:19
18:18).
Mark. 3:28 “"Assuredly
I say to you
all sins will
be forgiven the sons of men
and whatever blasphemies they may utter;”
YLT: “`Verily I say
to you
that all the sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men
and evil speakings
with which they might speak evil
”
Meaning of Words: “blasphemy”: evil speaking
defamation
and
vilification (especially against God)
Literal Meaning: “assuredly
I say to you”
“assuredly”
it means “amen”
or “truth”
so it can also be translated in this way ---- “I amen say to you”
or “I say to you by truth”. The Lord Jesus said this for many times in order to
firm the serious
admonitory and authoritative tone.
Mark. 3:29 “but
he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness
but is subject
to eternal condemnation"--”
YLT: “but whoever may
speak evil in regard to the Holy Spirit hath not forgiveness -- to the age
but
is in danger of age-during judgment;'”
Meaning of Words: “against”: at
forth
be hostile;
“be subject to”: guilty of
be liable to;
Literal Meaning: If men repent
all the sins in both actions and
words will be forgiven. However if one knows obviously that the Holy Spirit is
working and yet deliberately despises and blasphemes the Holy Spirit
he just
has restrained the Holy Spirit from working in his heart forever. In this way
it is impossible for him to repent of his sins
and of course he will never be
forgiven.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
One will be forgiven
if he had not obeyed the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for the sale of infirmity.
Only those who have obviously known that something is of the Holy Spirit and
yet say that it is of Satan will never be forgiven.
2)
Every behavioral sin
of men can be forgiven. However if men are purposefully against the Holy Spirit
and keep their hearts hardened to the end
there will be of no possibility for
them to be forgiven.
Mark. 3:30 “because they said
"He has an unclean
spirit." ”
YLT: “because they
said
`He hath an unclean spirit.'”
Mark. 3:31 “Then His brothers and His mother came
and
standing outside they sent to Him
calling Him.”
YLT: “Then come do
his brethren and mother
and standing without
they sent unto him
calling
him
”
The Background: according to the records from verse 20 to 21
the
Lord Jesus could not so much as eat bread in order to keep the will of God the
Father and His relatives said that He was out of His mind. Therefore they might
have invited His mother and brothers to urge Him (Mark. 3:31).
Mark. 3:32 “And a multitude was sitting around Him; and
they said to Him
"Look
Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking
You." ”
YLT: “and a multitude
was sitting about him
and they said to him
`Lo
thy mother and thy brethren
without do seek thee.'”
Spiritual Meaning: “outside”
it symbolizes that in the
outside of the house of God (assembly).
Enlightenment in the Word: men can neither draw near to the Lord nor have
fellowship with the Lord outside of the house of God.
Mark. 3:33 “But He answered them
saying
"Who is
My mother
or My brothers?" ”
YLT: “And he answered
them
saying
`Who is my mother
or my brethren?'”
Literal Meaning: the Lord did not mean to forsake His physical
family members (see John19:26-27). He intended to reveal one thing by these
words ---- relationships in the house of God was not based on relationships in
the flesh.
Mark. 3:34 “And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him
and said
"Here are My
mother and My brothers!”
YLT: “And having
looked round in a circle to those sitting about him
he saith
`Lo
my mother
and my brethren!”
Spiritual Meaning: “those who sat about Him” refer to those who
believe the Lord and seek the Lord. In the house of God
the physical
relationship and union have been changed in to the spiritual relationship and
union.
Mark. 3:35 “For whoever does
the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." ”
YLT: “for whoever may
do the will of God
he is my brother
and my sister
and mother.'”
Spiritual Meaning: the Lord Jesus is the center of the will of the
Father. Whoever does the will of God is His “brother” who helps Him
His “sister”
who understands Him and His “mother” who loves Him gently.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The will of God is to bring us to enter into
the eternal rest (Heb. 4:1-11). Therefore those who do the will of God will
enjoy the rest in the house of God.
2) Whoever does the will of the Father lives in
the reality of the kingdom of God. He can surely establish a kind of heavenly
relationship with the king of the kingdom of heaven and will become His family
members.
3) The spiritual relationship between the Lord
and believers exceeds the corporeal relationship. Though we believers have responsibilities
and obligations that we should take and fulfill
we should still put doing the
will of God first.
4) All those who regard their spiritual
brothers more important than their physical brothers will gain further
spiritual growth and suffer less involvement in the worldly matters or pains
caused by the physical relationship.
5) Since the Lord exalts the spiritual relationship
more than the corporeal relationship
those who worship Mary have obviously
made a serious mistake.
III. Outlines of the Spiritual
Lessons
Men that Hindered the Lord’s Works
A. Those who adhered to their prejudice and
were hardened in their hearts (v.1-6);
B. Those who came to crush the Lord after
hearing the reports (v.7-9);
C.
The Lord’s family
members who said that He was out of mind because He was so busy that could not
so much as eat bread (v.20-21);
D. The scribes who deliberately blasphemed the
Lord that He cast out
demons by the ruler of the demons (v.22-30);
E. Those who did not know to do the will of God
(v.31-35);
The Comparisons Between the Two Kinds of Men
A. Those whose hearts were hardened whom Lord had “looked around” at “with anger”
(v
5) ---- those who did the will of God whom the Lord “looked around” (v.34);
B. The disciples that served the Lord and the
people that pressed on the Lord (v.9);
C. The man that was possessed with the devil
(v.11-12) ---- the disciples that had the authority to cast demons (v.15);
D. The Lord’s physical family members and
spiritual family members (v.31-35)
The Disciples of the Lord Jesus
A.
They were those He Himself wanted and were called by the Lord Himself (v.13);
B. They were appointed by the Lord Himself (v.14a);
C. They might be with the Lord (v.14b);
D.
They were sent out
to preach by the Lord (v.14c);
E.
They
had power to cast demons (v.15);
F.
They
were changed by the Lord ---- “being renamed” (v.16-17);
Three Main Kinds of Equipment of the Lord’s
Workers (v.14-15)
A. Revelation ---- one shall understand the
will of God through the fellowship with the Lord in His presence.
B. Commitment ---- One shall receive the
special commitment from the Lord in the Lord’s “sending”.
C. Authority ---- One shall receive the
spiritual “authority” from the Lord.
The Principle of the Spiritual War
A. If the group is divided against itself
house will not be able to stand (v.23-26) ---- we should keep the oneness.
B. One shall first bind the
strong man and then plunder his goods (v.27) ---- we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood
but against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places
(Eph.6:12)
C. One shall not blasphemes against the Holy Spirit (v.28-30) ---- therefore
we shall cast
demons by the Spirit of God (Matt. 12:28)
How to Keep a Close Relationship with the
Lord?
A. One shall know the Lord’s words and deeds
(v.20-21).
B. One shall neither “stand outside” nor far
off the Lord (v.31-33).
C. One shall walk with and sit about the Lord
together (v.34).
D. One shall do the will of God (v.35).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou