Ryle on Mark 3:31-35

Imported boundary: J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on Mark from the Internet Archive DjVu OCR for the 1858 Robert Carter St. Mark volume. Title pages, preface, contents, running heads, page numbers, OCR boilerplate, and indexes are not mirrored. The source includes Ryle's printed Scripture text and exposition; this scan-derived text remains needs-verification.

Primary passage: Mark 3:31-35.

Source Text

31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren ? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my breth- ren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. In the verses which immediately precede this passage, we see our blessed Lord accused by the Scribes of being in league with the devil. They said, " He hath Beelze- bub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils." In the verses we have now read, we find that this absurd charge of the Scribes was not all that Jesus had to endure at this time. We are told that " his brethren day of Pentecost. But, unfortunately for tins theory, the doctrine here laid down is to be found in other places of Scripture beside this. I allude of course to the well-known passages, Heb. vi. 4-6 ; Heb. x. 26, and 1 John v. 17. In all these places there seems a reference to a sin which is not forgiven. What then is the unpardonable sin ? It must be frankly confessed that its precise nature is nowhere defined in holy Scripture. The most probable view is, that it is a combination of clear intellectual knowledge of the Gospel, with deliberate rejection of it, and wilful choice of sin. It is a union of light in the head, and hatred in the heart. Such was the case of Judas Iscariot.

We must not natter ourselves that none have walked in his steps. In the absence of any definition in Scripture, we shall probably not get much nearer to the mark than this. Yet even this view must be carefully handled. The limits which knowledge combined with unbelief must pass, in order to become the unpardonable sin, are graciously withheld from us. It is mercifully ordered of God, that man can never decide positively of any brother, that he has committed a sin which cannot be forgiven. But although it is difficult to define what the unpardonable sin is, it is far less difficult to point out what it is not. A few words on this point may possibly help to relieve tender consciences.

We may lay it down as nearly certain, that those who are troubled with fears that they have sinned the unpardonable sin, are the very people who have not sinned it. The very fact that they are afraid 59 and his mother came, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him." They could not yet understand the beauty and usefulness of the life that our Lord was living. Though they doubtless loved Him well, they would fain have persuaded him to cease from His work, and " spare himself." Little did they know what they were doing ! Little had they observed or understood our Lord's words when He was only twelve years old, u wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business "* (Luke ii. 49.) and anxious about it, is the strongest possible evidence in their favor. A troubled conscience - an anxiety about salvation, and a dread of being cast away - a concern about the next world, and a desire to escape from the wrath of God - will probably never be found in the heart of that person who has sinned the sin for which there is no for- giveness. It is far more probable that the general marks of such a person will be utter hardness of conscience - a seared heart - an ab- sence of any feeling - a thorough insensibility to spiritual concern. The subject may safely be left here. There is such a thing as a sin which is never forgiven. But those who are troubled about it, are most unlikely to have committed it. The following quotation from Thomas Fuller deserves attention : " The sin against the Holy Ghost is ever attended with these two symptoms - absence of all contrition, and of all desire of forgiveness. Now, if thou canst truly say that thy sins are a burden to thee - that thou dost desire forgiveness, and wouldst give anything to attain it, be of good comfort ; thou hast not yet, and, by God's grace, never shall, commit that unpardonable offence. I will not define how near thou hast been unto it. As David said to Jonathan, ' there is but a step between me and death' - so, may be, thou hast missed it very narrowly ; but assure thyself thou art not as yet guilty thereof." - Fuller 's Cause and Cure of a Wounded Conscience.

The remarks of Scott on the conduct of our Lord's mother on this occasion, are worth quoting : " It is plain that many of these in- timations were suited, and doubtless prophetically intended, to be a Scriptural protest against the idolatrous honor, to this day, by vast multitudes, rendered to Mary the mother of Jesus. She was, no doubt, an excellent and honorable character, but evidently not peiv feet. She is entitled to Great estimation, and high veneration, but It is interesting to remark the quiet; firm perseverance of our Lord, in the face of all discouragements. None of these things moved Him. The slanderous suggestions of enemies, and the well-meant remonstrances of ignorant friends, were alike powerless to turn Him from His course. He had set His face as a flint towards the cross and the crown. He knew the work He had come into the world to do. He had a baptism to be baptized, and was straitened till it was accomplished. (Luke xii. 50.) So let it be with all true servants of Christ. Let nothing turn them for a moment out of the narrow way, or make them stop and look back. Let them not heed the ill-natured remarks of enemies. Let them not give way to the well-intentioned but mistaken entreaties of unconverted relations and friends. Let them reply in the words of Nehemiah, " I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down." (Neh. vi. 3.) Let them say, " I have taken up the cross, and I will not cast it away." surely not to religious confidence and worship." It is difficult to men- tion any doctrine more completely destitute of Scriptural founda- tion, than the Romish doctrine of the efficacy of the Virgin Mary's intercession, or the utility of addressing our prayers to her. As to the doctrine of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, which has been lately accredited by the Romish Church, it is a mere man-made figment, without a single word of Scripture to support it. Holy and full of grace as the Virgin Mary was, it is plain that she regarded herself as one "born in sin," and needing a Saviour. We have her own remarkable words in evidence of this last point : M My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke i. 47.) As to the opinion of the Fathers on the conduct of the mother of our Lord in this place, Whitby has collected some curious expres- sions : - " Theophylact taxes her with vain-glory and guilt, in en- deavoring to draw Jesus from teaching the word, Tertullian pro- nounceth her guilty of incredulity - Chrysostom of vain-glory, in- firmity and madness, for this very thing."

We learn from these verses one mighty lesson.

We learn, who they are that are reckoned the relations of Jesus Christ. They are they who are His disciples, and " do the will of God." Of such the great Head of the Church says, " the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." How much there is in this single expression ! What a rich mine of consolation it opens to all true be- lievers ! Who can conceive the depth of our Lord's love towards Mary the mother that bare Him, and on whose bosom He had been nursed ? Who can imagine the breadth of His love towards His brethren according to the flesh, with whom the tender years of his child- hood had been spent ? Doubtless no heart ever had within it such deep well-springs of affection as the heart of Christ. Yet even He says, of all who " do the will of God," that each " is his brother, and sister, and mother." Let all true Christians drink comfort out of these words. Let them know that there is One at least, who knows them, loves them, cares for them, and reckons them as His own family. What though they be poor in this world ? They have no cause to be ashamed, when they remember that they are the brethren and sisters of the Son of God. - What though they be persecuted and ill-treated in their own homes because of their religion? They may remember the words of David, and apply them to their own case, " When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." (Psal. xxvii. 10.)

Finally, let all who persecute and ridicule others be- cause of their religion, take warning by these words, and repent ? Whom are they persecuting and ridiculing ? The relations of Jesus the Son of G-od ! The family of the King of kings and Lord of lords ! - Surely they would do wisely to hold their peace, and consider well what they are doing. These whom they persecute have a mighty Friend : " Their redeemer is mighty ; he shall plead their cause." (Prov. xxiii. 11.)