by Wells, Steve
(3.22) “He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” The scribes think that Jesus casts out devils by the power of the prince of devils, Beelzebub.
23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
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.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
(3.29) “He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.” Jesus is angry at those who said that he had an unclean spirit, so he announces the unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
358 Is there an unforgivable sin?
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
(3.31-34) Jesus shows disrespect for his mother and family by asking, “Who is my mother, or my brethren?” when he is told that his family wants to speak with him.
107 How should parents be treated?
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
(3.31) “There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.”
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
(3.32) “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.”
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
(3.33) “And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?”
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
(3.34) “He looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!”
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
MARK 4
4 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(4.10-12) Jesus explains why he speaks in parables: to confuse people so they will go to hell.
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
(4.10) “When he was alone … the twelve asked of him the parable.”
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
(4.11) “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.”
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
(4.12) “Lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
(4.25) “For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” —The US Republican Party motto.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
(4.31) “A … mustard seed, which … is less than all the seeds that be in the earth.” Jesus is incorrect when he says that the mustard seed is the smallest seed. (The smallest seeds are those of the epiphytic orchids.)
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
> (4.39) “He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
MARK 5
5 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
(5.2) “When he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.”
348 How many men were possessed with devils?
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
(5.7) “Jesus, thou Son of the most high God … torment me not.”
417 Are those who believe Jesus is the Christ of God?
(5.8-10) Jesus has a conversation with a godly unclean spirit named “Legion.”
8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
(5.8) “He said … Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.”
9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
(5.9) “What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”
10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
(5.10) “He besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.”
418 Where did the devils ask not to go?
(5.11-17) Jesus sent the devils into 2000 pigs, causing them to jump off a cliff and be drowned in the sea. When the people hear about it, they beg Jesus to leave.
11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
(5.11) “There was … a great herd of swine feeding.”
12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
(5.12) “And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine.”
13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
(5.13) “Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.”
14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
(5.17) “They began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.”
18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
(5.23) “My little daughter lieth at the point of death.”
350 Was Jairus’ daughter alive when Jesus was approached?
24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
(5.25-42) So this is where all those phony faith-healing stories came from! Notice that the doctors made her condition worse, but she was instantly cured by faith.
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
(5.25) “A certain woman … had an issue of blood twelve years.”
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
(5.26) “And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,”
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
(5.27) “When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.”
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
(5.28) “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
(5.29) “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
(5.30) “Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned … and said, Who touched my clothes?” Jesus loses some virtue whenever sick women touch him.
346 Did Jesus know everything?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
(5.34) “Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” If you have enough faith, you will never get sick. (Illness is caused by sin and lack of faith. Medical science is unnecessary.)
35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
(5.39) “When he was come in, he saith unto them, Why … weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
(5.40) “And they laughed him to scorn.”
41 And he too
k the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
(5.41) “He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her … arise.”
42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
(5.42) “And straightway the damsel arose.”
167 Is death final?
43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
MARK 6
6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
(6.3a) “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” This is the only verse in the New Testament where Jesus is referred to as a carpenter. And in the earliest manuscript of Mark, the verse says, “Is not this the son of the carpenter?” Apparently it wasn’t in any of the Gospels at the time of Origen, who said that “in none of the Gospels current in the Churches is Jesus himself ever described as being a carpenter.”
(6.3b) “The brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?” Jesus had at least six siblings, four brothers and at least two sisters. Yet it is a doctrine of the Catholic church that Mary was always a virgin.
(6.3c-5) “They were offended at him … and he could do there no mighty work.” Jesus is rejected by those who knew him the best, the people from his home town of Nazareth.
369 How much power did Jesus have?