Mark 3:1-6

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Healing the Man with the Withered Hand

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Anger is not necessarily a sin.

  2. Obedience is evidence of faith.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let's not do evil by refusing to do good.

  2. Don't be surprised if opposing forces unite against you.

QUESTIONS

  1. Is it possible that the man with the withered hand was "planted?"

  2. What kind of hearts did the Pharisees have?

  3. Who were the Herodians?

  4. Why did the Pharisees and Herodians counsel together?

  5. Was Jesus Christ ever angry?

  6. Isn't anger sin? Are there limits to being angry?

  7. How did the man with the withered hand evidence his faith?

ANSWERS

  1. The man could have been brought by the religious leaders to see if Jesus would "work" on the Sabbath (Mark 3:2). The Pharisees watched, just like they watched before (Mark 2:23-24), that they might accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law.

  2. Hardened and calloused. See Mark 3:5.

  3. They supported Herod, the son of Herod Antipas. The Herods ruled in the Galilee area, whereas Pontius Pilate was the ruler in Judea.

  4. The Herodians feared political unsettling because of Jesus; the Pharisees were challenged by Him in religious matters. The enemies of each other became co-conspirators to be rid of Christ.

  5. "Christ looked on them in anger" (Mark 3:5). This is the only unquestioned and explicit account of Christ's anger, although it was implied at other times (e.g., cleansing the temple).

  6. Anger can be a proper emotional response when it involves degrading God. Why was Jesus angry? Because of the unbelievable hardness of men's hearts. "Be angry, and sin not" (Ephesians 4:26). Anger need not be a loss of temper or a fit of rage. It can be non-malicious indignation for the right reasons, and it can be controlled to bring right to a wrong.

  7. He obeyed what Christ told him to do, and because of obedience, his hand was restored. See Mark 3:3-5.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Recall an Old Testament person who gave evidence of faith by his/her obedience.

  2. "Don't taint a saint." When believers criticize you, even to forming a coalition against you, how do you respond? By name-calling or degrading them? Or do you let the Lord handle the situation?

CHALLENGE

  1. Check your anger by asking, "Is it a righteous anger?" "Is it controlled anger?" Check your obedience to Christ (How well do you know God's commands? How quickly do you obey? What is your attitude toward obedience?)

KEY VERSES

  • "Jesus said, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27-28)



Mark, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMark 3:1-6