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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 3:1-12

Here, as before, we have our Lord Jesus busy at work in the synagogue first, and then by the sea side; to teach us that his presence should not be confined either to the one or to the other, but, wherever any are gathered together in his name, whether in the synagogue or any where else, there is he in the midst of them. In every place where he records his name, he will meet his people, and bless them; it is his will that men pray every where. Now here we have some account of what he did. I.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 3:1-6

3:1-6 Jesus went into the synagogue again; and there was a man there who had a hand which had withered; and they were watching him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath day, so that, if he did, they might be able to formulate a charge against him. He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Stand up and come out in to the middle of the congregation." He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day? Or to do evil? To save a life? Or to kill it?" But they remained... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 3:4

And he saith unto them ,.... Either to the whole multitude, to all the assembly in the synagogue; and so the Persic version renders it, "again he said to the multitude"; or rather, to the Scribes and Pharisees, who were watching him, and had put a question to him, which he answers by another: is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil, to save life, or to kill ? The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read, or "to destroy", as in Luke 6:9 , To do evil,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 3:4

To do good - or - evil? to save life, or to kill? - It was a maxim with the Jews, as it should be with all men, that he who neglected to preserve life when it was in his power, was to be reputed a murderer. Every principle of sound justice requires that he should be considered in this light. But, if this be the case, how many murderers are there against whom there is no law but the law of God! To kill - but instead of αποκτειναι , several MSS. and versions have απολεσαι to destroy.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 3:1-5

The withered hand. This incident serves to bring out the antagonism between the spiritual and benevolent ministry of the Lord Jesus, and the formalism, self-righteousness, and hard-heartedness of the religious leaders of the Jews. It serves to explain, not only the enmity of the Pharisees, but their resolve to league with whomsoever would help them in carrying out their purposes and plot against the very life of the Son of man. It serves to exhibit the mingled feelings of indignation and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 3:1-6

The man with the withered hand; or, keeping the sabbath. In the most sacred and joyous scenes there may be circumstances of pain and sorrow. There are often some in God's house who are hindered in their enjoyment by personal affliction. But even these may be of service in testing the spirit and disposition of God's professed people. I. IT IS IN SPIRIT ALONE THAT THE SABBATH IS TRULY KEPT , 1. Outward observances are of value only as expressing and fostering... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 3:1-6

Sabbath observance. I. THE SABBATH MAY BE OBSERVED TO THE LETTER WHILE BROKEN IN THE SPIRIT . Here were men watching to see whether a man would dare to do a loving deed! The letter, which can never be more than the expression of the spirit, must be kept at all costs—except that of the literalists. There are pedants who will quarrel with a great writer because he departs from the "rules of grammar," forgetting that grammar is but a collection of observations of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 3:1-6

Parallel passages: Matthew 12:9-14 ; Luke 6:6-11 .— The man with the withered hand. I. THE NATURE OF THE DISEASE . It was a case of severe paralysis of the hand—the right hand, as St. Luke, with a physician's accuracy, informs us. The sinews were shrunken, and the hand shrivelled and dried up. And yet we owe to St. Mark's great particularity in narration and minuteness of detail a piece of information that one might rather have expected from the professional skill of "the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 3:3-4

Stand forth . The words in the original are ἔγειραι εἰς τὸ μέσον Rise into the midst. In St. Matthew's account ( Matthew 12:10 ), the scribes and Pharisees here ask our Lord, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?" The two accounts are easily reconciled if we first suppose the scribes and Pharisees to ask this question of our Lord, and then our Lord to answer them by putting their own question to them in another form. Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm?... read more

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