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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. |
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| 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. |
Heal him on the sabbath – Jesus did so many of his miracles of the Sabbath day as a prophetical picture of the great antitypical Sabbath day, the Millennium. R4600:5
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| 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
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| 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?
But they held their peace. |
On the sabbath days – Type of the Millennial age. (See Verse 27) B40
To save life – Greek: psuche; soul, being. E335
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| 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand.
And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. |
With anger – A righteous indignation at hypocrisy and willful opposition to the light. R787:4, 4996:1
That men should think it sinful to relieve human distress on the Sabbath. R4996:1
Lack of ability to have just indignation would imply a lack of morals and of harmony with God. R5125:1
Being grieved – Like him, the Lord's people should be wholly out of sympathy with everything not in harmony with God. R5125:1
Hardness of their hearts – In a faithless attitude, not readily impressionable but inclined to be skeptical. R2651:3
The general trend of sin is to hardness of heart. OV304:2
He saith – Showing our Lord's fortitude in pursuing his work, notwithstanding the opposition which conspired even against his life. R1735:1
His hand was restored – The completeness and instantaneousness of his cures evidence the miraculousness of his healing. R1735:4
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| 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. |
The Pharisees went forth – They were rabid sectarians, fully convinced of their own importance. A similar spirit prevails today. R3754:5
Took counsel – More zealous for their theory than for the truth, for the letter of the Law than for the spirit of the Law. R4996:1
The evil heart is not amenable to reason. R4600:5
The Herodians – See Mark 12:13. Against him -- As his fame increased, his opposition increased. R1735:3
Opposition and persecution are the inevitable concomitants of activity in the service of God, and they should be met with reason and candor. R1736:6
Might destroy him – Excited to envy, malice, hatred and the very spirit of murder. R4600:5
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| 7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, |
Withdrew himself – Not unnecessarily exposing himself to danger and then looking for miraculous interposition of providence for his protection, but using natural means and precautions for his preservation and protection until "his hour was come." (John 2:4) R1735:1
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| 8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. |
A great multitude – Both Jews and Gentiles, thus creating a popularity for the Gospel which would be favorable to its dissemination later. R1735:4
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| 9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. |
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| 10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. |
For he had healed many – His healings were accomplished by imparting a measure of his own vitality. R1735:4
To touch him – Indicating that many of his healings were accomplished by imparting a measure of his own vitality, thus impoverishing himself to bless others. R1735:4
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| 11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. |
Thou art the Son of God – Their conduct toward our Lord was far more respectful than that of the strictest sect of the Jewish church. Surely many of them will be prepared to return to their former estate on whatever terms a just God may prescribe. R1680:1
But the Pharisees said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph?" (John 6:42) R1680:1
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| 12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known. |
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| 13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. |
He goeth up – Evidently to take counsel of God with reference to the interests of the prospective Church, continuing all night in prayer. (Luke 6:12, 13) R1521:3
Withdrawing for physical and spiritual rest and refreshment after feeling his own loss of strength from continuous healings. R1735:4
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| 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, |
He ordained – While called individually, there was a special occasion upon which he dedicated them to their office as apostles. R1521:2
There is no intimation in the New Testament that, as one after another of the apostles died, other men were recognized as succeeding them. R5002:3
Twelve – No more and no less. F209
The twelve were Marked as separate and distinct amongst the disciples. F210
Only males were chosen to be the special public servants and ambassadors of the Gospel. F265
The twelve springs of Elim (Exod. 15:27) remind us of the apostles through whom has come the water of life. R4011:2
The recognition of successors to the apostles was one of the first errors after their death. R5002:6
He had many followers, both men and women, but only twelve were specially deputized as his mouthpieces and representatives among men. R5002:2
Send them forth – Though we are not informed that their success in the work was any more Marked during that time than was that of the seventy whom the Lord also appointed to this ministry, though not to the apostleship. (Luke 10:17) R1521:5
To preach – These services were to be rendered specially in connection with the promulgation of the Gospel. F212
Their commission was, in the main, the same as the commission of the Lord and of the whole Church. (Isa. 61:1, 2) R1521:5
They were not to be lords over God's heritage. Their commission was one of service. F211, F212
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| 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: |
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| 16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; |
Simon – Bold, impetuous. R2261:1
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| 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: |
James – Elderly. R2261:1 John -- Young. R2261:1
The sons of thunder – Probably because of their eloquence and forcefulness of speech. R3003:1
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| 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, |
Andrew – Far-seeing, careful, cautious. R2261:1
Philip – Slow-witted. R2261:1
Bartholomew – Nathaniel, the quick-witted. R2261:1
Matthew – One of the heros of faith. R2261:1
Thomas – The doubting, skeptical intellect. R2261:1
James – The advocate of works. R2261:2
Supposed to have been second cousin to our Lord, and for this reason, according to Jewish custom, styled "the Lord's brother." (Gal. 1:19) R3003:2
Alphaeus – Cleopas, husband of Mary. R3003:2
Thaddaeus – Jude, a man of doctrine. R2261:2
Simon – The zealot, a man of enthusiasm and independence. R2261:2
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| 19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. |
Judas Iscariot – The conservative economist. R2261:2
As one of the tribes of Israel was cut off, and is not mentioned in the enumeration of the Apocalypse, but the tribe of Manasseh substituted (Rev. 7:6-8), so amongst Jesus' apostles, Judas is dropped and a successor appointed. R5002:3
By grouping them two-by-two, the Master made one full man out of two half men in each case. R2261:1
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| 20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. |
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| 21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. |
Lay hold on him – Verses 20, 21 and 31 (Diaglott) seem to indicate more of a spirit of fear and anxiety than of opposition. R1736:5
He is beside himself – His friends feared for him, so quickly had his course changed from one of privacy to one of publicity. R5037:1
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| 22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. |
The scribes – Considering themselves representatives of Jewish orthodoxy and qualified to pass upon everything theological. R5037:1
Which came down – To Galilee, in the vicinity of Capernaum. R5037:1
From Jerusalem – Probably commissioned by the Jewish ecclesiastics there to come as spies, watch his words, withstand his teachings and if possible, find some occasion against him. R1736:1
Beelzebub – The prince of demons, Satan. R3310:4
The first, and for a long time, the only, enemy of the divine government. R2171:5
This charge reveals the wisdom of Jesus' refusal to receive testimony from the demon. R3310:4
The prince – Their chief; and no doubt as a superior order of being he exercises some degree of control. R2171:5
Satan is called the prince of darkness, of evil, of sin, or error, the "father of lies." SM548:1
Of the devils – The "angels who kept not their first estate" (Jude 6) and who were restrained at the time of the flood. R2171:5; SM548:1
Greek: daimonion; properly rendered "demon." The unclean spirits, the familiar spirits, the fallen angels. R5183:3
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| 23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
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Said unto them in parables – "When he was reviled, he reviled not again." (1 Pet. 2:23) R4802:6
How can Satan – The term Satan signifies adversary, opponent. R5183:3
Whose very existence is now being denied by many. F609; R3310:5
This does not imply that Satan will never be so cornered as to find it necessary to do good works in order to deceive; but that, when that time shall come, it will be a sure indication that his kingdom is tottering. R3784:2, 3120:1
Cast out Satan – That would be suicidal; equivalent to a king stirring up strife in his own kingdom and working against his own cause. R1736:2
By the curing of physical ailments. F641; R1685:6
As he is now doing through "Christian Science." R2189:1, 3784:3, 1736:3
A proof that his power was on the wane. F638
The "wonderful works" of all who deny Jesus as the Redeemer are not to be credited to divine power. These works show to what straits Satan is reduced. R2189:2
If faith-healing power be not of God, it must be of the Adversary. R5037:2
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| 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
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Kingdom be divided – The absurdity of a king stirring up strife and working against his own cause. R1736:2
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| 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
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House be divided – The absurdity of the head of a house alienating and disrupting his own family and opposing the operation of his own plans. R1736:2
That Satan's house is now dividing against itself is manifest. R1736:3, 3784:2
Against itself – Showing to what straits "the prince of this world" is reduced by the great increase of knowledge. His struggles are specially desperate at the age's close, before he is "bound" for the thousand years. (Rev. 20:1) R2189:2
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| 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
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Rise up against himself – Reverse his methods and do some works of healing, thereby to clinch his errors and deceptions and to re-bind some. R5802:1
On the one hand causing sickness and death, and on the other hand healing the sick and casting out devils. R2189:2
Satan has long palmed himself off as a teacher clothed in light, but Satan in the roll of faith healer is a novelty belonging chiefly to our day. R3120:2
We believe Satan has much to do with various faith healings done by Christian Science, Spiritualism, Hypnotism, etc. R3784:2, 1736:4; HG327:3
Be divided – Upholding false and contradictory doctrines. R5037:2
He cannot stand – If it was necessary for him to thus work against his own plans and arrangements, associates, etc. R3784:2
Satan has become a worker of miracles. This is a token that his "house" is tottering to its fall. R3120:1
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| 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.
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Strong man's – Satan, the powerful "prince of this world." R1736:2
House – Or, dominion; or, arrangements. R1736:2, 626:6
Spoil – The general spoliation of the present social structure will be indeed a dark night. R1955:1
In the great time of anarchy. Q626:1; A69
Destroy the works of evil, of sin, of superstition, of ignorance, etc. SM243:1
His goods – His arrangements. R1626:6
All the present institutions of the world are Satan's goods and arrangements. Q626:1
Implying that he was already binding Satan, already spoiling his goods. R3784:3
He will first – Satan must first be bound, restrained and deposed, before Christ's reign of righteousness and peace can be established. A69; HG538:5
Since the beginning of the time of the end, in 1799, and particularly since 1878, God has specially let in the light. The more the "light" shines, the more active is the Adversary to preserve his power. R1736:2
Bind the strong man – Satan. R1736:2
With a strong chain of power; not his doom, but merely a restraint from deceiving the nations until the end of the Millennial age. R255:1
The first work of the new dispensation. "And he laid hold on that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years." (Rev. 20:2) A69
Set up God's Kingdom and overthrow sin. R1626:6
May it not be that part of the work accomplished by our invisible present Master was the binding? R4695:3
The work and teaching of Jesus were just such binding influences. R1736:2, 3784:3
When bound he will not have yet met his doom, but will merely be restrained from deceiving the nations. R255:1
His binding will be gradually accomplished. R3784:5
After the thief-like work of taking the Church is completed, and the kingdoms of this world go down in a climax of trouble. R3784:6
Spoil his house – The work of destroying Satan's house was not intended to go on to a rapid completion. He would be permitted to control the world until the full end of the Gospel age, when his binding will be gradually accomplished and be followed by the liberating of the whole world from his chains of error. R3784:5
The general spoliation of the present social structure. R1955:1
Release humanity from his dominion. R1736:2
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| 28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
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All sins – Sins of ignorance will be forgiven. E272
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| 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal condemnation:
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He that shall blaspheme – Jesus did not say that the scribes and Pharisees had committed the sin of blasphemy against the holy Spirit, though some of them may have done so. R5037:3
Against the Holy Spirit – Jesus made this statement because they said that the spirit that was in him was an unclean spirit; that he was actuated by one of the fallen angels and not by the divine Spirit. R5037:4
Maliciously attributing to an evil source what could not be denied was a good work, free from sin, selfishness or ambition. R5037:4
Wilful opposition against that which is known to be holy and of divine appointment. R1736:4
Reject light when they see it. R192:3*
Could not be committed in ignorance. R5037:3
Jesus did not say that the scribes and Pharisees had committed the sin. E272
Hath never forgiveness – A sin unto death. R1249:1
Does not come under the satisfaction of divine justice whereby deliverance from Adamic death is secured. R1736:5
Because such conduct is treason against God. R1736:4
Neither in this world not the world (age) to come. R192:3*
"It is impossible to renew again unto repentance." (Heb. 6:4, 6; 10:26) R1249:1
In danger of – Our Lord's reasoning did not change their attitude; hence, the rebuke and solemn warning. R1736:4
The scribes had so misused their education and opportunities as to be in great danger of becoming so degraded that even the kingdom influences would not bring them to a condition worthy of everlasting life. R5037:5
Those who violate their consciences, ignore the light they enjoy and sin against it, will find themselves proportionately degraded under kingdom influences and tests. R5037:5
Punishable with stripes. Every sin against light increases the danger of going into the second or eternal death. R1736:5
If corrective discipline does not produce reform, the increase of knowledge and experience will shortly make it a wilful sin against full knowledge, for which the full penalty would be inflicted--second death. R1736:5
Eternal damnation – Eternal condemnation, eternal death. Every sin against light increases the danger of going into second or eternal death. R1736:4[R1736:8]
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| 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. |
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| 31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. |
There came then – More out of a spirit of anxiety than of opposition. (See Diaglott on verses 20, 21 & 31) R1736:5
His brethren – They did not believe in his claims and doctrines at that time, and seemingly could not understand why he was so revolutionary in his teachings and so antagonistic to all the recognized religious teachers of his day. (John 17:5) R1736:5
Arguing against the Roman Church teaching that Mary is "ever a virgin." R560:2*
And his mother – Still pondering the mystery in her mind. R1736:5
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| 32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
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Seek for thee – Doubtless to urge him to greater caution for his safety and to more care for his physical necessities. R1736:6
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| 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
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| 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
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Behold my mother – The heavenly relationship was the one dearest to him. R1736:6
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| 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
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Whosoever shall do – Not whosoever shall hear, or understand, or desire to do, nor even try to do. R1802:3*
The will of God – Jehovah, his will and all his works are wholly on the side of purity, justice and truth--in no sense practicing sin, endorsing it, causing others to practice it, or in the slightest degree favoring it. R1781:3
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