A.T. Robertson Commentary Mark 3
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Mark 3
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Mark 3
"And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered." — Mark 3:1 (ASV)
Had his hand withered (εξηραμμενην εχων την χειρα). He had his (the in the Greek, common idiom with article as possessive) hand (right hand, Luke 6:6) in a withered state, perfect passive participle (adjective ξηραν in Matthew and Luke), showing that it was not congenital, but the result of injury by accident or disease. Bengel: Non ex utero, sed morbo aut vulnere.
"And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him." — Mark 3:2 (ASV)
They watched (παρετηρουν). Imperfect tense, were watching on the side (or sly). Luke uses the middle voice, παρετηρουντο, to accent their personal interest in the proceedings. It was the sabbath day and in the synagogue and they were there ready to catch him in the act if he should dare to violate their rules as he had done in the wheat fields on the previous sabbath. Probably the same Pharisees are present now as then.
That they might accuse him (ινα κατηγορησωσιν αυτου). So Mt 12:10. Luke has it "that they might find how to accuse him" (ινα ευρωσιν κατηγορειν αυτου). They were determined to accuse him. The sabbath controversy offered the best opening. So here they are ready for business.
"And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth." — Mark 3:3 (ASV)
Stand forth (εγειρε εις το μεσον). Step into the middle of the room where all can see. It was a bold defiance of the Christ's spying enemies. Wycliff rightly puts it:
They aspieden him . They played the spy on Jesus. One can see the commotion among the long-bearded hypocrites at this daring act of Jesus.
"And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace." — Mark 3:4 (ASV)
But they held their peace (ο δε εσιωπων). Imperfect tense. In sullen silence and helplessness before the merciless questions of Jesus as the poor man stood there before them all. Jesus by his pitiless alternatives between doing good (αγαθοποιεω, late Greek word in LXX and N.T.) and doing evil (κακοποιεω, ancient Greek word), to this man, for instance,
to save a life or to kill (ψυχην σωσα η αποκτεινα), as in this case. It was a terrible exposure.
"And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored." — Mark 3:5 (ASV)
When he had looked round on them with anger (περιβλεψαμενος αυτους μετ' οργης). Mark has a good deal to say about the looks of Jesus with this word (3:5,34; 5:37; 9:8; 10:23; 11:11) as here. So Luke only once, Luke 6:10. The eyes of Jesus swept the room all round and each rabbinical hypocrite felt the cut of that condemnatory glance. This indignant anger was not inconsistent with the love and pity of Jesus. Murder was in their hearts and Jesus knew it. Anger against wrong as wrong is a sign of moral health (Gould).
Being grieved at the hardness of their hearts (συνλυπουμενος επ τη πωρωσε της καρδιας αυτων). Mark alone gives this point. The anger was tempered by grief (Swete). Jesus is the Man of Sorrows and this present participle brings out the continuous state of grief whereas the momentary angry look is expressed by the aorist participle above. Their own heart or attitude was in a state of moral ossification (πωρωσις) like hardened hands or feet. Πωρος was used of a kind of marble and then of the callus on fractured bones. "They were hardened by previous conceptions against this new truth" (Gould). See also on Mt 12:9-14.
Jump to: