Mark 3:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

NIV: If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

NASB: And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

CSB: If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

NLT: A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse.

KJV: And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

NKJV: If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Scribes, Pharisees who are experts in the Mosaic Law, come down from Jerusalem to tell the people that Jesus' authority to cast out demons comes from Satan. Jesus responds to their fallacious reasoning with a parable that His audience would find very applicable. Jesus is saying that if He uses Satan's power to rebel against him, Satan's kingdom can't stand.

This idea—specifically taken from the next verse—became famous in American history when used by President Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War. There, Lincoln made the same fundamental point as Jesus: any power that fights against itself is bound to lose. Lincoln's intent was to show the importance of a united nation. Jesus' intent, here, is to point out that it would be foolish for Satan to use his own power to interfere with demons.

The idea of a "divided kingdom" is also poignant for the people hearing Jesus' words. Israel itself was once united, and strong. When the Israelites escaped Egypt and came to the Promised Land, they divided the territory into twelve tribes (Joshua 13:8—19:51). Eventually, they begged God for a centralized king (1 Samuel 8:4–5). God gave them Saul (1 Samuel 10:17–27), who became so corrupt God rejected Saul's line and chose David to replace him (1 Samuel 15:10–35; 16:1–13). David's son Solomon reigned next (1 Kings 1:28–53).

Then, after Solomon, political unrest caused the northern tribes to rebel against Solomon's son and split off into a new nation (1 Kings 12:16–20). The borders remained more or less steady until the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:7–18), and then the Southern Kingdom of Judah was taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25).

The Jews returned from Babylon and settled in what had been Judah (2 Chronicles 36:22–23). The territory of Galilee, however, sits right in the middle of what had been the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Four hundred years after the last Old Testament prophet, the kingdom is still divided—with non-Jewish Samaria in between—and Rome's occupation means it is not standing independently.

Mark 3:22–30 continues as the Pharisees from Galilee show their disapproval of Jesus (Mark 3:6). Here, in the fourth story about people's reaction to Jesus, scribes from Jerusalem join in. They have heard that Jesus healed a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute (Matthew 12:22–23). The scribes quickly judge that Jesus is performing miracles through the power of Satan. This stubborn belief, in the face of logic, leads Jesus to condemn their blasphemy and warn that if they continue along this vein, they will be damned forever. Matthew 12:22–32 and Luke 11:14–23 also record this confrontation; in Luke 12:10 Jesus talks similarly about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

The bulk of chapter 3 deals with how different people react to Jesus' teaching and His assumption of authority. The Pharisees' confusion transitions into plotting. The crowds that continually follow Jesus for healing become more frenetic and dangerous. Jesus' own family, afraid for His sanity, try to pull Him away. But true followers also show themselves. Twelve join together to become a core group, while a slightly bigger crowd, more interested in Jesus' teaching than miracles, earn the honor of being called His true family.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.