Mark 3 4

Mark 3:4 kjv

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

Mark 3:4 nkjv

Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent.

Mark 3:4 niv

Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.

Mark 3:4 esv

And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.

Mark 3:4 nlt

Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him.

Mark 3 verses

Mark 3 4 Meaning

Mark 3:4 records Jesus directly challenging the religious leaders, specifically the Pharisees, concerning their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law. He poses a rhetorical question, asking if it is lawful to do good or evil, or to save a life or kill on the Sabbath. This question forces them to confront the moral implications of their legalistic traditions, highlighting that inaction in the face of suffering or need is a form of doing evil. Jesus implicitly declares that acts of mercy and the preservation of life are not only permissible but commanded on God's holy day, contrasting God's compassionate will with their burdensome rules.

Mark 3 4 Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative block (Mark 3:1-6, paralleled in Mt 12:9-14 and Lk 6:6-11) where Jesus is once again confronting the religious authorities regarding the Sabbath. The specific event immediately preceding this verse is Jesus entering a synagogue where there was a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees, enemies of Jesus, were watching him closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath, so they might accuse him. Jesus, aware of their intent and hardness of heart, pauses and directly addresses them with the rhetorical question in verse 4. This incident immediately follows other Sabbath controversies (Mark 2:23-28), setting a pattern of Jesus asserting His authority over the Sabbath, redefining its true purpose, and challenging the Pharisees' legalistic and often uncompassionate interpretations. The broader historical and cultural context is the immense significance of Sabbath observance in first-century Judaism, where meticulous rules and traditions (Halakha) often superseded the underlying principles of the Mosaic Law, especially regarding acts of mercy.

Mark 3 4 Word analysis

• And he said (καὶ λέγει, kai legei): Introduces Jesus’ direct confrontation. This is Jesus speaking with authority to those observing Him.
• unto them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Refers directly to the Pharisees and likely scribes who were watching Jesus, poised to accuse Him.
• Is it lawful (Ἔξεστιν, Exestin): From ἔξεστι, implying religious legality or permissibility according to their understanding of the Mosaic Law and the oral traditions (Halakha). Jesus challenges their accepted interpretation.
• to do good (ἀγαθοποιῆσαι, agathopoiēsai): To perform an act that is beneficial, good, or kind. Here, it specifically refers to the act of healing and alleviating suffering.
• on the sabbath days (τοῖς σαββάτοις, tois sabbatois): Refers to the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, consecrated for rest and worship according to God’s law, but burdened by numerous human-made regulations.
• or to do evil? (ἢ κακοποιῆσαι;, ē kakopoiēsai): To perform an act that is harmful, destructive, or malevolent. This sharp contrast suggests that not doing good when one has the ability is equivalent to doing evil, framing it as a sin of omission.
• to save life (ψυχὴν σῶσαι, psychēn sōsai): To preserve or rescue a soul/life. Emphasizes the supreme value of human life.
• or to kill? (ἢ ἀποκτεῖναι;, ē apokteinai): To put to death, destroy life. This is the stark, ultimate antithesis to saving life. By contrasting these, Jesus highlights the gravity of their inaction: their legalism implicitly values rules over life itself.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil?": This foundational part of the question redefines "lawful" for the Sabbath. Jesus suggests that the choice is not merely between performing or not performing "work," but between actively doing good or permitting/facilitating harm through inaction.
• "to save life, or to kill?": This specific parallel elaborates on "good" and "evil," elevating the stakes to life and death. Healing is saving a life, while preventing healing (through adherence to restrictive rules) is akin to allowing a life to diminish or be destroyed, aligning with "killing" in its moral sense. This extreme contrast corners the Pharisees, forcing them to see the true implications of their rigid interpretations. Their silence demonstrates their moral dilemma.

Mark 3 4 Bonus section

• Divine Wisdom in Questioning: Jesus did not directly argue based on rabbinic traditions or give a detailed exegetical sermon. Instead, He asked a question that exposed the heart and forced His adversaries into a dilemma. Their inability to answer showed the flaw in their own system of thinking.
• Spirit vs. Letter of the Law: This incident is a prime example of Jesus' consistent emphasis on the spirit and intent of God's law over its mere literal or humanly embellished interpretation. The purpose of the Sabbath was to give rest and benefit humanity, reflecting God's benevolence, not to impose burdens that prevent compassion.
• The Sin of Omission: The question highlights the often-overlooked "sin of omission" – failing to do what is right and good when one has the opportunity and ability. Jesus presents it as equally grave, if not more so in this context, than committing overt acts of evil.
• Jesus' Authority and Lordship over the Sabbath: Although not explicitly stated in this verse, this confrontation firmly reinforces Jesus' previous claim to be "Lord of the Sabbath" (Mk 2:28). His actions demonstrate His ultimate authority to correctly interpret and apply God's will concerning the Sabbath.

Mark 3 4 Commentary

Jesus' question in Mark 3:4 is a powerful challenge to religious hypocrisy and legalism. It lays bare the perversion of God's compassionate law by the rigid interpretations of the Pharisees. They prioritized their burdensome traditions concerning "work" on the Sabbath above the actual intent of the Law, which was to honor God through rest, worship, and mercy. By posing a choice between doing good and doing evil, and specifically between saving a life and killing, Jesus implies that not acting mercifully in a moment of need is not neutrality, but rather a form of malevolence. Their silence, mentioned in the subsequent verse (Mark 3:5), condemns them, as they had no logical, morally defensible answer. The verse encapsulates Jesus' consistent teaching that the Sabbath was made for humanity's benefit, not as a legalistic snare. It serves as a profound reminder that true worship involves actively doing good, alleviating suffering, and valuing human life above rigid human-made rules or traditions.