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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 3:20 - 3:27
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_3:20-27
20And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses." 22The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons." 23And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
Mar_3:20 "He came home" This must refer to the same house as Mar_2:1 and possibly Mar_7:17; Mar_9:38.
▣ "the crowd" This was the result of Jesus' healing and deliverance ministry (cf. Mar_1:45; Mar_2:2; Mar_2:13; Mar_3:7; Mar_3:20).
▣ "that they could not even eat a meal" This was what concerned His family so much. Jesus always had time for needy people. He gave Himself to them.
Mar_3:21
NASB, NKJV "His own people"
NRSV, TEV "his family"
NJB "his relations"
Literally this is "those from his side." The KJV has "friends," but apparently this was His mother and siblings.
NASB "to take custody of Him"
NKJV "to lay hold of Him"
NRSV "to restrain Him"
TEV, NJB "to take charge of him"
This is a strong verb in Matthew (cf. Mat_14:3; Mat_18:28), but usually not violent in Mark. It often refers to helping sick people rise by taking them by the hand. His family tried to take Him home forcefully because they thought He was acting irrationally (cf. Mar_3:31-35).
NASB "He has lost His senses"
NKJV, NJB "He is out of His mind"
NRSV "He has gone out of his mind"
TEV "He's gone mad"
The Greek text is ambiguous as to who made this statement. Was it the family (i.e., NASB, NKJV, NJB, NIV) or something the family had heard others say (i.e., NRSV, TEV)?
The term in this context means "separated from mental balance" (cf. 2Co_5:13). It is often used in Mark for people being "amazed" (cf. Mar_2:12; Mar_5:42).
This shows that although Jesus was popular with the crowds, He was misunderstood by (1) His own disciples; (2) the religious leaders; (3) His own family; and (4) the crowds themselves.
Mar_3:22 "The scribes who came down from Jerusalem" This may refer to those mentioned in Mar_2:6; Mar_2:16, who were apparently an official deputation from the Sanhedrin sent to gather information on Jesus' teachings and actions.
▣ "He is possessed by" This meant he was possessed by a demon and derived His power from Satan (cf. Mat_9:34; Joh_7:20; Joh_8:48-52; Joh_10:20). The same thing was said of John the Baptist (cf. Mat_11:18). They could not deny Jesus' miracles so they impugned the source of His power and authority.
▣ "Beelzebul" This indeclinable noun is spelled Beelzebub in KJV, but Beelzebul in most modern translations. The "beel" reflects the Semitic word ba'al, which means "lord," "owner," "master," or "husband." It was the name for the fertility storm-god of Canaan.
The "zebul" can mean (1) heights (i.e., mountain or heaven); (2) prince (i.e., Zabul); or (3) dung. The Jews often changed the letters of foreign gods to form a derogatory pun.
If it is "zebub" it could refer to
1. the baal of Ekron (cf. 2Ki_1:2-3; 2Ki_1:6)
2. a god of the Philistines, Zebaba
3. an Aramaic word play or pun on "lord of enmity" (i.e., be'el debaba)
4. "lord of the flies" (Aramaic "fly" dibaba)
This spelling, Beelzebub, is unknown in rabbinical Judaism.
For further information on the names for personal evil see The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 3, pp. 468-473.
▣ "ruler of the demons" The name Beelzebul was not a common name for Satan in Judaism. Jesus uses it as synonymous with Satan in Mar_3:23.
Mar_3:23-26 Jesus showed the logical folly of attributing His power over the demonic to Satan. Obviously a leader against his servants is a disaster!
Mar_3:23 "He called them to Himself" This was to show them (i.e., the scribes of Mar_3:22) that He could read their thoughts (see note at Mar_2:6 b). It also gave them one more chance to clearly hear His message.
▣ "parables" The literal meaning of this term (parabolç, used 13 times in Mark) is "to throw alongside." A common occurrence of life is used to illustrate spiritual truth.
Mar_3:24 "if" This is a Third class conditional sentence meaning potential action.
Mar_3:27 "unless he first binds the strong man" This was a veiled Messianic reference to Isa_49:24-25. It also showed Jesus' realization that He was stronger than Satan.
The act of exorcism was common in Judaism (cf. Mar_9:38; Act_19:14). What was uncommon is the power and authority exercised by Jesus versus the magical potions and formulas used by the rabbis. Jesus clearly shows that by His coming Satan is already defeated! Augustine even quoted Mar_3:24 as evidence that the promised millennium was already present (i.e., amillennialism).
This verse is often used today as a proof-text for "binding" Satan from Christian meetings. This text cannot function as a precedent for Christians praying against Satan. Believers are never instructed to address Satan. This verse has been turned into a superstitious mantra which is totally out of character with the NT.