Notice that the events of §§ 61-66 all occurred on the same day, called the Busy Day.a

a This "Busy Day" is just one of many such days in the Master's Ministry. See, for instance, the last day of his public ministry in the temple in Jerusalem. Observe Jesus in the forenoon teaching a crowded audience ([Mark 3:19]), some of whom insult and blaspheme him, and others demand a sign, and at length his mother and brethren try to carry him off as insane (comp. [Mark 3:21]); in the afternoon giving a group of most remarkable parables, several of which he interprets; towards night crossing the Lake in a boat, so tired and worn that he sleeps soundly amid the alarming storm; then healing the Gadarene demoniacs, and returning by boat, apparently the same evening. What a day of toil and trial.

§ 61. BLASPHEMOUS ACCUSATION OF LEAGUE WITH BEELZEBUB

Galilee

Mark 3:19-30Matt. 12:22-37
19 And he cometh into a house.
20 And the multitude cometh
together again, so that they could
not so much as eat bread. 21 And
when his friends heard it, they
went out to lay hold on him: for
they said, He is beside himself.
22 And the scribes which came
down from Jerusalem said, He
hath Beelzebub, and, 3By the
prince of the 2devils casteth he
out the 2devils. 23 And he called
them unto him, and said unto
them in parables, How can Satan
cast out Satan? 24 And if a
kingdom be divided against itself,
that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And
if a house be divided against
itself, that house will not be able
to stand. 26 And if Satan hath
risen up against himself, and is
divided, he cannot stand, but
hath an end.
27 But no one can
enter into the house of the strong
man, and spoil his goods, except he
first bind the strong man; and then
he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto
you, All their sins shall be
forgiven unto the sons of men, and
their blasphemies wherewith
soever they shall blaspheme: 29 but
whosoever shall blaspheme
against the Holy Spirit hath
never forgiveness, but is guilty
of an eternal sin: 30 because they
said, He hath an unclean spirit.

22 Then was brought unto him
1one possessed with a devil, blind
and dumb: and he healed him,
insomuch that the dumb man
spake and saw. 23 And all the
multitudes were amazed, and said,
Is this the son of David? 24 But
when the Pharisees heard it,
they said, This man doth not
cast out 2devils, but 3by Beelzebub
the prince of the 2devils
[see [John 7:20]; [8:48, 52]; [10:20]].a
25 And knowing their thoughts he
said unto them, Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought
to desolation; and every city or
house divided against itself shall
not stand: 26 and if Satan casteth
out Satan, he is divided against
himself; how then shall his kingdom
stand? 27 And if I 3by Beelzebub
cast out 2devils, 3by whom
do your sons cast them out?
therefore shall they be your judges.
28 But if I 3by the Spirit of God cast
out 2devils, then is the kingdom of
God come upon you. 29 Or how
can one enter into the house of the
strong man, and spoil his goods,
except he first bind the strong
man? and then he will spoil his
house. 30 He that is not with me
is against me; and he that gathereth
not with me scattereth. 31 Therefore
I say unto you, Every sin and
blasphemy shall be forgiven 4unto
men; but the blasphemy against
the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 And whosoever shall speak a
word against the Son of man, it
shall be forgiven him; but whosoever
shall speak against the Holy
Spirit, it shall not be forgiven
him, neither in this 5world, nor
in that which is to come. 33 Either
make the tree good, and its fruit
good; or make the tree corrupt, and
its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known
by its fruit. 34 Ye offspring of
vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak
good things? for out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 The good man out of his
good treasure bringeth forth good
things: and the evil man out of his
evil treasure bringeth forth evil
things. 36 And I say unto you, that
every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the
day of judgement. 37 For by thy
words thou shalt be justified, and by
thy words thou shalt be condemned.

1 Or, a demoniac.

2 Gr. demons.

3 Or, in.

4 Some ancient authorities read unto you men.