Mark - 3:23



23 He summoned them, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Mark 3:23.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
And after he had called them together, he said to them in parables: How can Satan cast out Satan?
And having called them to him, he said to them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
And, having called them near, in similes he said to them, 'How is the Adversary able to cast out the Adversary?
So He called them to Him, and using figurative language He appealed to them, saying, "How is it possible for Satan to expel Satan?
And turning to them, he said to them in the form of a story, How is it possible for Satan to put out Satan?
And having called them together, he spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan?
So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan?

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And all the people were astonished. Hence we infer, that there was a visible display of the power of God, which drew upon him the admiration of the great body of the people, who were not at all actuated by any wicked disposition. For how came it that all admired, but because the fact compelled them to do so? And certainly there is not one of us, who does not see in this narrative, as in a mirror, an unwonted power of God: and hence it follows, that a diabolical venom must have seized the minds of the scribes, who were not ashamed to slander so remarkable a work of God. But we must attend to the result of the miracle. Moved with admiration, those who saw it ask each other, Is not Jesus the Christ? Acknowledging the power of God, they are led, as it were by the hand, to faith. Not that they suddenly profited as much as they ought to have done, (for they speak doubtfully;) but yet it is no small proficiency to be aroused to consider more attentively the glory of Christ. Some look upon this as a full affirmation, but the words convey no such meaning; and the fact itself shows, that an unexpected occurrence had struck them forcibly, and that they did not form a decided opinion, but only that it occurred to them that he might be the Christ.

And he called them unto him,.... The Jerusalem Scribes, to come nearer to him, and attend to what he had to say in defence of his character and miracles:
and said unto them in parables: similitudes, and proverbial expressions, as the following seem to be,
how can Satan cast out Satan? or one devil cast out another? how unreasonable is it to suppose it? can it ever be thought that such, whose interest it is to unite, would ever oppose and dispossess one another? if therefore, as if he should say, I am Beelzebub, or have him, and he is in me, and I am in confederacy with him; was this the case, can any think I should ever cast him out of others, as I do?

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