Mark 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 3:4

"But they held their peace." "There is much silence that proceeds from the Spirit of God, but there is also a devilish silence," says Quesnel; and it is not difficult to pronounce upon the character of this. I. WHAT WAS INTENDED BY IT . It was evasive. Christ had propounded a dilemma which those who watched him dared not answer, since, had they done so, they would either have compromised themselves or committed themselves to approval of his action. It was doubtless intended... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 3:1-5

See this explained in Matthew 12:9-13.Mark 3:4Or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? - It seems to have been a maxim with the Jews that not to do good when we have an opportunity is to do evil; not to save life is to kill or to be guilty of murder. If a man has an opportunity of saving a man’s life when he is in danger, and does not do it, he is evidently guilty of his death. On this principle our Saviour puts this question to the Jews - whether it was better for him, having the power to heal... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 3:1-5

Mark 3:1-5. He entered again into the synagogue Luke says, On another sabbath. The synagogue seems not to have been at Capernaum, but in some city which lay in his way as he went through Galilee. And there was a man which had a withered hand His hand was not only withered, but contracted, as appears from Mark 3:5. See the notes on Matthew 12:10-13. And they The scribes and Pharisees, watched him These men, being ever unfriendly to the Saviour, carefully attended to every thing he... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 3:1-6

35. Man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:9-21; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11)If an animal fell into a pit on the Sabbath day, the Jews would not hesitate to rescue it the same day. Yet they criticized Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath. Although no list of rules sets out all that a person should or should not do to keep the Sabbath holy, it is always right to do good on the Sabbath. To save life is better than to kill, and in this case Jesus was helping to save life. The Pharisees, by contrast,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Mark 3:4

lawful = more lawful. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Degree), App-6 . do evil . Greek. kakopoieo. Compare App-128 . life = soul. Greek. psuche. See App-110 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 3:1-6

Healing on the Sabbath 3:1-6 (cf. Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11)The following incident demonstrated Jesus’ sovereign authority over the Sabbath. This is the last in this series of conflict accounts in this part of this Gospel (cf. ch. 12). It provides the climax in this section of Mark’s narrative. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 3:3-4

Rather than avoiding a conflict, Jesus provoked one. He did so to teach His critics a lesson. His question raised the issue of Sabbath observance from the level of what was legal to the level of what was moral. For Jesus not to heal the man would have been a violation of God’s purpose for the Sabbath, namely, to bring blessing to people. Moreover by healing the man Jesus was doing good whereas the Pharisees were doing evil on the Sabbath by trying to trap Him. Mark alone wrote that the critics... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 3:1-35

Choice of the Twelve1-6. The withered hand (Matthew 12:9; Luke 6:6). See on Mt. 6. Herodians] see on Matthew 22:16.7-12. Withdrawal of Jesus. Multitudes healed. See on Matthew 12:15-17. St. Mark’s account is much fuller. Observe here (a) the extraordinary sensation made by the appearance of Jesus, as shown by the great distances from which the multitudes were drawn; (b) the enormous number of cures, without any allusion to failures. Clearly the miracles recorded are only a very small proportion... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Mark 3:1-6

III.(1-6) A man there which had a withered hand.—See Notes on Matthew 12:9-14. St. Mark omits the reference to the sheep fallen into a pit, and, on the other hand, gives more graphically our Lord’s “looking round” with an “anger” which yet had in it a touch as of pitying grief. The form of the Greek participle implies compassion as well as sorrow. St. Mark alone names (Mark 3:6) the Herodians as joining with the Pharisees in their plot for His destruction. On the Herodians, see Notes on Matthew... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Mark 3:1-35

Mark 3:14 His hold over all his pupils I know perfectly astonished me. It was not so much an enthusiastic admiration for his genius or learning or eloquence which stirred within them; it was a sympathetic thrill, caught from a spirit that was earnestly at work in the world whose work was healthy, sustained, and constantly carried forward in the fear of God. Mr. Price in Stanley's Life of Arnold, ii. References. III. 14. J. Rendel Harris, Christian World Pulpit, vol. lxii. 1902, p. 153. H. C.... read more

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