OPPOSITION FROM ALL SIDES
Key verse: 34,35
NIV
Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law(A)(B)
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered,(C) so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.(D) 21 When his family[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”(E)
22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem(F) said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul!(G) By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”(H)
23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables:(I) “How can Satan(J) drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.(K) 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”(L)
30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived.(M) Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Footnotes
- Mark 3:21 Or his associates
Cross references
- Mark 3:20 : 3:23-27pp — Mt 12:25-29; Lk 11:17-22
- Mark 3:20 : 3:31-35pp — Mt 12:46-50; Lk 8:19-21
- Mark 3:20 : ver 7
- Mark 3:20 : Mk 6:31
- Mark 3:21 : Jn 10:20; Ac 26:24
- Mark 3:22 : Mt 15:1
- Mark 3:22 : Mt 10:25; 11:18; 12:24; Jn 7:20; 8:48, 52; 10:20
- Mark 3:22 : Mt 9:34
- Mark 3:23 : Mk 4:2
- Mark 3:23 : S Mt 4:10
- Mark 3:27 : Isa 49:24, 25
- Mark 3:29 : Mt 12:31, 32; Lk 12:10
- Mark 3:31 : ver 21
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
20 Then he went (A)home, and the crowd gathered again, (B)so that they could not even eat. 21 (C)And when (D)his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He (E)is out of his mind.”
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
22 And (F)the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, (G)“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 (H)And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But (I)no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. (J)Then indeed he may plunder his house.
28 (K)“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever (L)blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
31 (M)And his mother and his (N)brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers[a] are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And (O)looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 (P)For whoever (Q)does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 3:32 Other manuscripts add and your sisters
Cross references
- Mark 3:20 : ch. 7:17; 9:28
- Mark 3:20 : ch. 6:31
- Mark 3:21 : [John 7:5]
- Mark 3:21 : [ver. 31]
- Mark 3:21 : 2 Cor. 5:13; [John 10:20; Acts 26:24]
- Mark 3:22 : ch. 7:1; Matt. 15:1
- Mark 3:22 : Matt. 9:34; 12:24; Luke 11:15; [Matt. 10:25]; See John 7:20
- Mark 3:23 : For ver. 23-27, see Matt. 12:25-29; Luke 11:17-22
- Mark 3:27 : Isa. 49:24
- Mark 3:27 : [Isa. 53:12]
- Mark 3:28 : For ver. 28-30, see Matt. 12:31, 32; [Luke 12:10; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26; 1 John 5:16]
- Mark 3:29 : [Acts 7:51; Heb. 10:29]
- Mark 3:31 : For ver. 31-35, see Matt. 12:46-50; Luke 8:19-21
- Mark 3:31 : ch. 6:3; Matt. 13:55; John 2:12; 7:3, 5, 10; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19
- Mark 3:34 : ver. 5
- Mark 3:35 : [John 15:14; Heb. 2:11]
- Mark 3:35 : Matt. 7:21; [Luke 11:28]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit (20-30)
When Jesus gave himself wholly to serving the crowds, he was opposed by those who hated him and by those who loved him. The Pharisees saw him driving out demons and healing the sick by the power of the Holy Spirit, but they tried to discredit his ministry, saying that Satan was his power-source. This was a lie and an insult to God. Only Jesus is strong enough to break Satan's hold on a person. Those who see God's work, but deliberately reject it and plant doubt in others are committing a sin.
2. Jesus' mother and brothers (31-35)
Jesus' family thought he was crazy to spend himself so unstintingly for the selfish crowds. When they came for him, Jesus did not even greet them. They were concerned about his human life; he was committed to God's will. Those who do God's will are his real family. Can your commitment to Jesus take precedence over all human commitments?
Prayer: Lord, defeat Satan's power in me. Help me to do your will.
One Word: Whoever does God's will is my brother
