Mark 3

1 Once again [on another Sabbath] Jesus entered [went into, came to] the synagogue [a gathering place, Jewish meeting house], and a man [a human being, someone] with a withered [dried up, shriveled] hand [the instrument of power, a part of the body] was there [in that place, present]. word study 2 In order to accuse [bring charges against, find fault with] Jesus, they were watching [observing closely, waiting to see] to see if He would heal [restore to health, make whole] on the Sabbath [the day of rest, seventh day]. word study 3 Then Jesus said [spoke, commanded] to the man with the withered [dried up, shriveled] hand, “Stand up [arise, rise up] among us [in our midst, before everyone].” word study 4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful [permitted, allowed] on the Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day]: to do good [acts of kindness, benevolence] or to do evil [harm, wrong], to save life [preserve, rescue] or to destroy [kill, take away] it?” But they were silent [held their peace, remained quiet]. word study 5 Jesus looked around at them with [intense] anger [God’s strong displeasure] and sorrow [being grieved, deeply distressed] at their [hardening, callous] hardness of heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions]. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out [extend, reach out] your hand [the instrument of power and action].” So he stretched it out, and it was [completely, fully] restored [brought back to its original condition, made whole]. word study 6 At this, the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] went out and began plotting [taking counsel, making plans] with the Herodians [supporters of Herod, a group of partisans] how they might kill [destroy, put to death] Jesus. word study 7 So Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] withdrew [retreated, departed] with His disciples [learners, followers] to the sea [a large body of water, the Mediterranean], accompanied by a large [great, multitude] crowd [group of people, throng] from Galilee [a region in northern Palestine], Judea [a region in southern Palestine, the land of the Jews], word study 8 Jerusalem [the holy city, capital of Judea], Idumea [a region south of Judea], the region [on the other side] beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity [surrounding area, neighborhood] of Tyre [a major port city] and Sidon [an ancient city in Phoenicia]. The large crowd [a great multitude, many people] came to Him when they heard [and understood, learned about] what great things [mighty works, wonderful deeds] He was doing [accomplishing, performing]. word study 9 Jesus asked [spoke to, commanded] His disciples [learners, followers] to have a [small, little] boat [a vessel for traveling] ready for Him [to be available, in attendance] so that the crowd [multitude, a large group of people] would not [lest, in order that not] crush [press on, throng] Him [oppress, afflict]. word study 10 For [because of this reason] He had healed [cured, restored to health] so many [a large multitude] that all who had diseases [plagues, afflictions] were pressing forward [falling upon] to touch [attach themselves to] Him. word study 11 And when the unclean [morally impure, ceremonially defiled] spirits [evil beings, fallen angels] saw Him, they fell down [prostrated themselves, worshiped] before Him and cried out [shouted, exclaimed loudly], “You are [acknowledged as, recognized to be] the Son [divine offspring, heir] of God [the supreme deity, Creator of all]!” word study 12 But He [sternly, sharply] warned [rebuked, charged] them [strongly, much] sternly not to make [reveal, utter] Him [having God’s nature] known [clear, manifest]. word study 13 Then Jesus went up [ascended, to a higher place] on the mountain [a high elevation, a place of solitude] and called [summoned, invited] for those [whom he desired, he wanted to be with] He wanted [he willed, he chose], and they came [went away, departed to follow] to Him [to be with him, in his presence]. word study 14 He appointed [chose, selected] twelve [a dozen, twelve men] of them, whom He designated [made, ordained] as apostles [special messengers, ambassadors], to accompany [be with, follow] Him, to be sent out [dispatched, commissioned] to preach [proclaim, herald the good news], word study 15 and to have [spiritual power] authority to drive out [expel, cast away] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings]. word study 16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon [surnamed] (whom He named Peter [a rock, the name given by Jesus]), word study 17 James [a fisherman] son of Zebedee and his brother John [the brother of James, a fellow apostle] (whom He named Boanerges [Sons of Thunder, meaning sons of commotion], meaning [sons of powerful preaching, having a strong prophetic voice] “Sons of Thunder”), word study 18 Andrew [manly, a strong leader], Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew [also known as Levi], Thomas [the twin], James [a humble servant] son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon [a passionate enthusiast] the Zealot [or Canaanite, a nationalist], word study 19 and Judas [the man from Kerioth Town] Iscariot [a person from Kerioth], who [also] betrayed [surrendered, handed over] Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior]. word study 20 Then Jesus went home [to a house], and once again [as before, a second time] a crowd [a large group of people, a multitude] gathered, so that [as a result, therefore] He and His disciples could not even [were not able, had no opportunity] eat [take bread, have a meal]. word study 21 When His family [relatives, those who knew Him] heard about this [the news, the report], they went out [to seize, to lay hold] to take custody [to grasp, to seize] of Him, saying [declaring, proclaiming], “He is [has become, is acting as if] out of His mind [beside Himself, insane, lost His senses].” word study 22 And the scribes [scribes who interpreted the law, teachers of Scripture] who had come down [descended, traveled] from Jerusalem [the holy city, the capital of Israel] were saying, “He is possessed by [under the control of, has] Beelzebul [the Lord of the flies, Satan], ” and, “By the prince [ruler, leader] of the demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] He drives out [expels, casts out] demons [unclean spirits, evil beings].” word study 23 So Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] called them together [to summon, gather near] and began to speak to them in parables [stories that teach, comparisons]: “How [in what way, by what means] can Satan [the adversary, accuser] drive out [expel, cast out] Satan [the enemy, tempter]? word study 24 If [under certain circumstances, in the event that] a kingdom [a domain, a realm of authority] is divided [split apart, fragmented] against [in opposition to, contrary to] itself [its own interests, its own people], it [that kingdom, that nation] cannot [is not able, lacks the power] stand [remain upright, endure]. word study 25 If [in the event that, under the condition that] a house [home, family] is divided [split, separated] against [opposed to] itself [themself], it [that house] cannot [is not able] stand [remain upright, endure]. word study 26 And if Satan [the accuser, adversary] is divided [at war with himself, separated] and rises [stands up, opposes] against himself [his own kingdom], he cannot stand [endure, remain]; his end [goal, conclusion] has come [arrived, been reached]. word study 27 Indeed, no one [none, nobody] can enter [go into, invade] a strong man’s [powerful, mighty] house [home, dwelling] to steal [rob, plunder] his possessions [goods, belongings] unless he first [before all else, initially] ties up [binds, restrains] the strong man [the powerful one, Satan]. Then he can [is able to, has the power to] plunder [rob, spoil] his house [home, domain]. word study 28 Truly [verily, with certainty] I tell you, the sons [children, descendants] of men [human beings, people] will be forgiven [released, let go] all [every, any] sins [transgressions, acts of disobedience] and [including] blasphemies [evil speakings, slander], as many as [whenever, however many] they utter [speak, blaspheme]. word study 29 But whoever [intentionally, willfully] blasphemes [speaks evil, shows disrespect] against the Holy [set apart, sacred] Spirit [the divine breath, God’s presence] will never [at no time, forever] be forgiven [receive pardon, be set free]; he is [remains, is held] guilty [liable, responsible] of [in danger of, subject to] eternal [lasting forever, age-abiding] sin [rebellion, disobedience].” word study 30 Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has [an evil, unclean] an unclean spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition].” word study 31 Then Jesus’ mother [and his younger siblings, his relatives] and brothers came [arrived, drew near] and stood [were standing, remained] outside [outwardly, in a physical sense]. They sent [dispatched, commissioned] someone in to summon [call, invite] Him [Jesus, the Messiah], word study 32 and a crowd [multitude, large group of people] was sitting [seated, gathered] around Him [Jesus, the Messiah]. “Look [behold, see],” He was told, “Your mother [biological or spiritual mother figure] and brothers [male siblings or fellow believers] are outside [outwardly, in a physical sense], asking [seeking, looking] for You [Jesus, the one they sought].” word study 33 But Jesus replied [in response to their question], “Who [which ones, what persons] are My [belonging to Me] mother [matriarch, female parent] and My [belonging to Me] brothers [male siblings, fellow believers]?” word study 34 Looking [gazing around, taking in the scene] at those seated [sitting, gathered] in a circle [surrounding, all around] around Him, He said, “Here [behold, look!] are My [belonging to Me, My own] mother [a female parent, caregiver] and My brothers [close relatives, fellow believers]! word study 35 For whoever [habitually obeys] does the will [desire, intention] of God [the one true deity] is My brother [male sibling, fellow Christian] and sister [biological or spiritual] and mother [literal or figurative, nurturer].” word study