Mark 3:22-29 Notes
Scribes … from Jerusalem now accuse Jesus; he has come to the attention of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. They implicitly acknowledge his undeniable powers but label them as satanic. Beelzebul. See note on Matt. 10:25. by the prince of demons he casts out the demons. See notes on Matt. 9:34 and 12:24.
3:23 Jesus uses two illustrations (parables) to show that the scribes’ accusations are false: (1) if the satanic sphere of power were internally divided, then it could not stand (vv. 24–26); and (2) Satan must be bound before his sphere of power can be challenged (v. 27; see note on Matt. 12:29).
3:29 The opponents’ accusation against Jesus is the unforgivable, eternal sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (cf. Matt. 12:31–37; Luke 12:10). Mark 3:28 emphasizes that “all sins will be forgiven,” anticipating the eternally valid, substitutionary atonement of Jesus (cf. 10:45). However, if a person persistently attributes to Satan what is accomplished by the power of God—that is, if one makes a flagrant, willful, decisive judgment that the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus is satanic—then such a person never has forgiveness. (See further the extended note on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit at Luke 12:10.)
