Mark 3:20-22
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Blasphemy of the Scribes. 20 [a]He came home.[b] Again [the] crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.(A) 21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”(B) 22 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”[c] and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”(C)
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- 3:20–35 Within the narrative of the coming of Jesus’ relatives (Mk 3:20–21) is inserted the account of the unbelieving scribes from Jerusalem who attributed Jesus’ power over demons to Beelzebul (Mk 3:22–30); see note on Mk 5:21–43. There were those even among the relatives of Jesus who disbelieved and regarded Jesus as out of his mind (Mk 3:21). Against this background, Jesus is informed of the arrival of his mother and brothers [and sisters] (Mk 3:32). He responds by showing that not family ties but doing God’s will (Mk 3:35) is decisive in the kingdom; cf. note on Mt 12:46–50.
- 3:20 He came home: cf. Mk 2:1–2 and see note on Mk 2:15.
- 3:22 By Beelzebul: see note on Mt 10:25. Two accusations are leveled against Jesus: (1) that he is possessed by an unclean spirit and (2) by the prince of demons he drives out demons. Jesus answers the second charge by a parable (Mk 3:24–27) and responds to the first charge in Mk 3:28–29.
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