Bible Study series: Mark 3:31-35: True disciples belong to his new kingdom family.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together how to apply these truths to our lives.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
If you would like to see the original Greek, please click here:
At that link, I also offer more commentary and a Summary and Conclusion, geared towards discipleship. Scroll down to the bottom and check it out!
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Mark 3:31-35
31 His mother and his brothers, standing outside, sent for him and called him. 32 A crowd sat around him and said to him, “See, your mother and your brothers and your sisters are looking for you outside.” 33 In reply, he said to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 He looked around at those sitting about him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 35 The one who does the will of God—this one is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:31-35)
Comments
31-35:
These five verses must be matched up with these two:
20 He came home, and again a crowd gathered together, so that they were unable even to eat a meal. 21 When his family heard this, they went out to take him into custody, for they were saying, ‘He was out of his mind.’ (Mark 3:20-21).
Sometimes making a clean break from your own family needs to be done. For all we know, his family was outside in order to take custody of him.
Joseph is not mentioned probably because he had passed away. The Nestle Aland text puts in parenthesis “and his sisters” in v. 32. I like it, but it must be disputed in the manuscripts.
“Here are my …”: Jesus was gesturing, pointing at the crowd.
In Matt. 10:34-39 and Luke 12:49-53, Jesus taught family division may arise, yet in Mark 7:10 he upholds the OT command to honor one’s father and mother. So in comparison between the kingdom and the family, the kingdom comes first, and if the family supports the kingdom citizen or disciple, then we should be grateful. These are general rules, like Proverbs, which admit exceptions.
In Islamic and strict Jewish cultures, converting to Christ—becoming a Christian—is very offensive. Muslim girls who convert are especially vulnerable. They may be “honor-killed.” Jewish children may be disowned. But the larger family who reject their own individual members for these decisions for Christ are not hearing and doing the word of God. Those who reject their own family members are outside of right standing with God. Judaism is incomplete, and Islam is off the tracks. Those are strong criticisms, but I believe, after much study, that they are right.
Please see my post on Judaism and this summary post about Islam:
I have many posts on Islam in the World Religions category.
So the bottom line is that people are right to leave those two religions behind and follow Jesus. And people may have to leave a dysfunctional family behind. “Why are you doing this?” You’re weak!” When they leave, let’s gather them in our “church arms” and welcome them into the new church family.
GrowApp for Mark 3:31-35
1. Jesus had to move past his family. Has anyone in your family and friends rejected you, so that you had to move on?
2. Tell your story. Do you know someone who was rejected? Can you tell their story?
RELATED
Were Jesus, James and John First Cousins? Was Clopas Jesus’ Uncle?
10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel
2. Church Fathers and Mark’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
For bibliographical data, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 