And He goeth up into a mountain,.... Near Capernaum, being solitary, and a place of recess and retirement "to pray", as Luke says, Luke 6:12, who adds, "and continued all night in prayer to God", notwithstanding the great fatigue of the day past.
His prayer, as is very probable, was chiefly concerning the great and important work, which was upon His mind, and He was about to do; the making and constituting twelve of His disciples, as His apostles, to preach in His name, and work miracles.
3:14 And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,
He ordained twelve, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel.
3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
To have power to heal - and to cast out devils - The business of a minister of Christ is,
1st. To preach the Gospel.
2dly. To be the physician of souls. And,
3dly. To wage war with the devil, and destroy his kingdom.
3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Verily I say unto you,.... The Scribes and Pharisees, who had not only blasphemed Him, but the Spirit of God also.
3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
*Many of those who reviled Christ on the cross (which was a blaspheming of the Son of man, aggravated to the highest degree), found mercy, and Christ Himself prayed, Father, forgive them; but this was blaspheming the Holy Ghost, for it was by the Holy Spirit that He cast out devils, and they said, It was by the unclean spirit.
the same is My brother, and My sister, and My mother: such are openly, and manifestly related to Christ in a spiritual sense; and woe to those that hate and persecute Christ's kindred, that are His bone and His flesh, every one resembling the children of a king (see Judges 8:18, Judges 8:19); for He will with jealously plead their cause, and avenge their blood.
3:14 And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,
He ordained twelve, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel.
3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
To have power to heal - and to cast out devils - The business of a minister of Christ is,
1st. To preach the Gospel.
2dly. To be the physician of souls. And,
3dly. To wage war with the devil, and destroy his kingdom.
3:16 And Simon He surnamed Peter;
And Simon He surnamed Peter. Or Cephas, which signifies a rock, or stone, because of his courage, his strength and fortitude: this name was imposed upon him, not at the time of his mission as an apostle; nor when he made that noble confession of his faith in Christ, as the Son of the living God, at which time this name was taken notice of; but when Christ first called him to be His disciple and apostle;
3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
He surnamed them sons of thunder - Both with respect to the warmth and impetuosity of their spirit, their fervent manner of preaching, and the power of their word.
3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
And Andrew,.... The brother of Peter; and Philip, who was of Bethsaida; and Bartholomew, and Matthew, the publican, who was called Levi; and Thomas, who was called Didymus, from his being a twin and James, the son of Alphaeus, to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Zebedee, and who is sometimes called "the less"; and Thaddaeus, whose name was also Lebbaeus, and likewise Jude, the author of the Epistle that bears that name; and Simon the Canaanite, or Zelotes;
3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed Him: and they went into an house.
And Judas Iscariot,.... So called to distinguish him from the other Judas; and is mentioned last for the following reason: which also betrayed Him; and which action of his will ever render his name infamous among men.
3:20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
The multitude cometh together again, unsent for, and unseasonably pressing upon Him, some with one errand and some with another; so that He and His disciples could not get time so much as to eat bread, much less for a set and full meal.
3:21 And when His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, He is beside Himself.
And Simon He surnamed Peter. Or Cephas, which signifies a rock, or stone, because of his courage, his strength and fortitude: this name was imposed upon him, not at the time of his mission as an apostle; nor when he made that noble confession of his faith in Christ, as the Son of the living God, at which time this name was taken notice of; but when Christ first called him to be His disciple and apostle;
3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
He surnamed them sons of thunder - Both with respect to the warmth and impetuosity of their spirit, their fervent manner of preaching, and the power of their word.
3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
And Andrew,.... The brother of Peter; and Philip, who was of Bethsaida; and Bartholomew, and Matthew, the publican, who was called Levi; and Thomas, who was called Didymus, from his being a twin and James, the son of Alphaeus, to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Zebedee, and who is sometimes called "the less"; and Thaddaeus, whose name was also Lebbaeus, and likewise Jude, the author of the Epistle that bears that name; and Simon the Canaanite, or Zelotes;
3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed Him: and they went into an house.
And Judas Iscariot,.... So called to distinguish him from the other Judas; and is mentioned last for the following reason: which also betrayed Him; and which action of his will ever render his name infamous among men.
3:20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
The multitude cometh together again, unsent for, and unseasonably pressing upon Him, some with one errand and some with another; so that He and His disciples could not get time so much as to eat bread, much less for a set and full meal.
3:21 And when His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, He is beside Himself.
His friends - Or, relations. They said, He is beside Himself - It was the enemies of Christ that raised this report; and His relatives, probably thinking that it was true, went to confine Him.
3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils.
These scribes came down from Jerusalem. It should seem they came this long journey on purpose to hinder the progress of the doctrine of Christ; such pains did they take to do mischief; and, coming from Jerusalem they were in the greater capacity to do mischief;
3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils.
These scribes came down from Jerusalem. It should seem they came this long journey on purpose to hinder the progress of the doctrine of Christ; such pains did they take to do mischief; and, coming from Jerusalem they were in the greater capacity to do mischief;
--the reputation of scribes from Jerusalem would have an influence not only upon the country people, but upon the country scribes;
--they had never thought of this base suggestion concerning Christ's miracles till the scribes from Jerusalem put it into their heads.
--They could not deny but that He cast out devils, which plainly bespoke Him sent of God; but they insinuated that He had Beelzebub on His side, was in league with him, and by the prince of the devils cast out devils.
3:23 And He called them unto Him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a kingdom be divided against itself,.... Any of the kingdoms of this world, and the kingdom of "Satan": that kingdom cannot stand: not long; its internal broils and divisions will, soon bring it to desolation;
3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And if a house be divided against itself,.... Any family, small or great, that house cannot stand; its contentions and discords will soon bring it down from a comfortable and flourishing situation, to a very distressed one;
3:26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
And if Satan rise up against himself,.... As he must do in such a case as this, if devils are cast out by Beelzebub, the prince of devils: and be divided; one devil against another, as the above calumny supposes; he cannot stand, but hath an end: his kingdom cannot stand long, but must soon come to an end; his power and authority will soon be destroyed, both over his own species, and among men;
3:27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
No man can enter into a strong man's house,.... This is properly a parable; the other seem to be proverbs, or sayings, that were commonly used to show the ill consequences of discords, factions, and divisions.3:23 And He called them unto Him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
The rational answer which Christ gave to this objection, demonstrating the absurdity of it.
3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a kingdom be divided against itself,.... Any of the kingdoms of this world, and the kingdom of "Satan": that kingdom cannot stand: not long; its internal broils and divisions will, soon bring it to desolation;
3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And if a house be divided against itself,.... Any family, small or great, that house cannot stand; its contentions and discords will soon bring it down from a comfortable and flourishing situation, to a very distressed one;
3:26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
And if Satan rise up against himself,.... As he must do in such a case as this, if devils are cast out by Beelzebub, the prince of devils: and be divided; one devil against another, as the above calumny supposes; he cannot stand, but hath an end: his kingdom cannot stand long, but must soon come to an end; his power and authority will soon be destroyed, both over his own species, and among men;
3:27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Verily I say unto you,.... The Scribes and Pharisees, who had not only blasphemed Him, but the Spirit of God also.
3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
*Many of those who reviled Christ on the cross (which was a blaspheming of the Son of man, aggravated to the highest degree), found mercy, and Christ Himself prayed, Father, forgive them; but this was blaspheming the Holy Ghost, for it was by the Holy Spirit that He cast out devils, and they said, It was by the unclean spirit.
*By this method they would outface the conviction of all the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ's ascension, and defeat them all, after which there remained no more proof, and therefore they should never have forgiveness.
3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Because they, said, He hath an, unclean spirit. They charged Christ with having a devil, and His miracles with being wrought by the help of the devil; when, at the same time, they knew in their own consciences they were works which were wrought by the finger and Spirit of God, and so were guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost; the unpardonable sin, for which there is no remission:
3:31 There came then His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him.
3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Because they, said, He hath an, unclean spirit. They charged Christ with having a devil, and His miracles with being wrought by the help of the devil; when, at the same time, they knew in their own consciences they were works which were wrought by the finger and Spirit of God, and so were guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost; the unpardonable sin, for which there is no remission:
3:31 There came then His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him.
The disrespect which Christ's kindred, according to the flesh, showed to Him, when He was preaching (and they knew very well that He was then in His element); they not only stood without, having no desire to come in, and hear Him, but they sent in a message to call Him out to them, as if He must leave His work, to hearken to their impertinences; it is probable that they had no business with Him, only sent for Him on purpose to oblige him to break off.
3:32 And the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for Thee.
.....and they said unto Him, behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without seek for Thee: in five of Beza's ancient copies, and in his most ancient one, are added, and Thy sisters.
3:33 And He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brethren?
And He answered them,.... The multitude that sat about Him, and informed Him of His mother and brethren being without, and desirous of speaking with Him: saying, who is My mother, or My brethren? which is said not through ignorance or contempt, but either, as displeased with the interruption given Him; or with a view to take an opportunity from hence of expressing His superior value to His spiritual relations.
3:32 And the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for Thee.
.....and they said unto Him, behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without seek for Thee: in five of Beza's ancient copies, and in his most ancient one, are added, and Thy sisters.
3:33 And He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brethren?
And He answered them,.... The multitude that sat about Him, and informed Him of His mother and brethren being without, and desirous of speaking with Him: saying, who is My mother, or My brethren? which is said not through ignorance or contempt, but either, as displeased with the interruption given Him; or with a view to take an opportunity from hence of expressing His superior value to His spiritual relations.
3:34 And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!
Looking round on them who sat about Him - With the utmost sweetness; He said, Behold My mother and My brethren.
3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.
For whosoever shall do the will of God,.... By believing in Christ, receiving him as a Savior and Redeemer, and submitting to Him in all His ordinances, as King of saints:Looking round on them who sat about Him - With the utmost sweetness; He said, Behold My mother and My brethren.
3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.
the same is My brother, and My sister, and My mother: such are openly, and manifestly related to Christ in a spiritual sense; and woe to those that hate and persecute Christ's kindred, that are His bone and His flesh, every one resembling the children of a king (see Judges 8:18, Judges 8:19); for He will with jealously plead their cause, and avenge their blood.
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