Markus 3:9 Kommentar

In this chapter, we have, I. Christ's healing a man that had a withered hand, on the sabbath day, and the combination of his enemies against him for it (Mar 3:1-6). II. The universal resort of people to him from all parts, to be healed, and the relief they all found with him (Mar 3:7-12). III. His ordaining his twelve apostles to be attendants on him, and the preachers of his gospel (Mar 3:13-21). IV. His answer to the blasphemous cavils of the scribes, who imputed his power to cast out devils to a confederacy with the prince of the devils (Mar 3:22-30). V. His owning his disciples for his nearest and dearest relations (Mar 3:31-35).

And he entered again into the synagogue,.... Perhaps in Capernaum, where he had before cast out the unclean spirit; but not on the same day, nor on that day he had had the debate with the Pharisees, about his disciples plucking the ears of corn on the sabbath day; but on another sabbath, perhaps the next; see Luk 6:6. And there was a man there which had a withered hand; who came there either for a cure, knowing Christ to be in the synagogue, or for the sake of worship; See Gill on Mat 12:10.

And he spake unto his disciples,.... In an authoritative way; he ordered and commanded them, that a small ship should wait on him: that a boat should be got ready, be near at hand, and attend him, who was on shore; that he might go into it, should there be any occasion for it; and from thence preach to the people: because of the multitude; which came from the above parts, and all together made a very numerous body of people: lest they should throng him; crowd, press, afflict, and distress, and make him uneasy, that he could not be able to stand conveniently, and preach to them: so that should this be the case, as it was very likely it would, having a small vessel near the shore, he could go into it, and free himself from such an inconvenience.

(ubi sup.) For the strangers followed Him, because they saw the works of His powers, and in order to hear the words or His teaching. But the Jews, induced solely by their opinion of His powers, in a vast multitude come to hear Him, and to beg for His aiding health; wherefore there follows, And he spake to his disciples, that they should wait, &c.

See then how Christ is free from love of glory; so that the crowd would not press around Him, He calls for a boat, in order to be at a distance from the crowd in it. Consider, finally, that Jesus commands His disciples to have a boat ready, so that the crowd would not press upon Him. Jesus is the word within us, commanding that our boat, that is, our body, be ready for Him, and not be given over to the storm of worldly affairs, so that these crowds of worldly cares would not trouble Christ who dwells within us.

Consider then how He hid His glory, for He begs for a little ship, lest the crowd should hurt Him, so that entering into it, He might remain unharmed.

But Jesus in us is our reason, which commands that our vessel, that is, our body, should serve Him, lest the troubles of worldly affairs should press upon our reason.

The man with the withered hand healed, Mar 3:1-5. The Pharisees plot our Lord's destruction, Mar 3:6. Christ withdraws, and is followed by a great multitude, Mar 3:7-9. He heals many, and goes to a mountain to pray, Mar 3:10-13. He ordains twelve disciples, and, gives them power to preach and work miracles, Mar 3:14, Mar 3:15. Their names, Mar 3:16-19. The multitudes throng him, and the scribes attribute his miracles to Beelzebub, Mar 3:20-22. He vindicates himself by a parable, Mar 3:23-27. Of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, Mar 3:28-30. His mother and brethren send for him, Mar 3:31, Mar 3:32. And he takes occasion from this to show, that they who do the will of God are to him as his brother, sister, and mother, Mar 3:33-35.

A small ship - Πλοιαριον. The lytil boot, Old English MS. It was doubtless something of the boat kind, which probably belonged to some of the disciples. Our Lord was at this time teaching by the sea of Galilee. The word ship is utterly improper in many places of our translation, and tends to mislead the people.

PARABLE OF THE SOWER--REASON FOR TEACHING IN PARABLES--PARABLES OF THE SEED GROWING WE KNOW NOT HOW, AND OF THE MUSTARD SEED. ( = Mat. 13:1-23, 31, 32; Luk 8:4-18). (Mark 4:1-34) And he began again to teach by the seaside: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude--or, according to another well-supported reading, "a mighty" or "immense multitude." so that he entered into a ship--rather, "the ship," meaning the one mentioned in Mar 3:9. (See on Mat 12:15). and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land--crowded on the seashore to listen to Him. (See on Mat 13:1-2.)