Mark 3:20-35

Mark 3:20-35

[20] And  the multitude  cometh together  again,  so that  they  could  not  eat  bread.  [21] And  when his  friends  heard  of it, they went out  to lay hold  on him:  for  He is beside himself.  [22] And  the scribes  which  came down  from  Jerusalem  He hath  Beelzebub,  and  by  the prince  of the devils  casteth he out  devils.  [23] And  he called  them  in  parables,  How  can  Satan  cast out  Satan?  [24] And  if  a kingdom  be divided  against  itself,  that  kingdom  cannot  stand.  [25] And  if  a house  be divided  against  itself,  that  house  cannot  stand.  [26] And  if  Satan  rise up  against  himself,  and  be divided,  he cannot  stand,  but  hath  an end.  [27] No man  can  enter  into  a strong man's  house,  and spoil  his  goods,  first  bind  the strong man;  and  then  he will spoil  his  house.  [28] Verily  I say  All  sins  shall be forgiven  unto the sons  of men,  and  blasphemies  wherewith  they shall blaspheme:  [29] But  he  that  shall blaspheme  against  the Holy  Ghost  hath  never  forgiveness,  but  in danger  of eternal  [30] Because  He hath  an unclean  spirit.  [31] There came  his  brethren  and  his mother,  and,  without,  sent  unto  him,  [32] And  the multitude  sat  about  him,  Behold,  mother  and  brethren  without  seek for  [33] And  he answered  them,  saying,  Who  mother,  brethren?  [34] And  he looked  round about  on them which  sat  about  him,  and said,  mother  and  brethren!  [35] For  whosoever  shall do  the will  of God,  the same  brother,  and  sister,  and  mother. 

What does Mark 3:20-35 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Mark again returned to the opposition theme (cf. Mark 2:1 to Mark 3:6). He directed his readers back and forth between Jesus" acceptance on a superficial level by the multitudes, His disciples" growing commitment to Him, and the increasing hostility of the religious leaders. This structural pattern highlights the contrasts between the three groups.
In this section Mark used a chiastic structure to show two different kinds of opposition that Jesus faced, which many of His disciples have faced as well. He used this "sandwich" structure elsewhere too (cf. Mark 5:21-43; Mark 6:7-31; Mark 11:12-26; Mark 14:1-11; Mark 14:27-52). It focuses attention on the central part of the section (chiasm), in this case the serious charge that Satan controlled Jesus.
AThe opposition of family Mark 3:20-21BThe opposition of enemies Mark 3:22-30A"The opposition of family Mark 3:31-35