Accused of casting out demons by the prince of demons, Jesus warns of one sin that will not be forgiven. What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—and who is Jesus' true family?
The Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, records the charge that Jesus casts out demons by Beelzebul (Mark 3:20–35). In The Mass Readings Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre walks through this Sunday's readings and shows how Jesus answers his accusers, warns of an unforgivable sin, and redefines his true family.
Jesus replies that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, binds the “strong man,” and speaks of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that “never has forgiveness.” He then declares that whoever does the will of God is his brother and sister and mother. The first sin and God's promise of enmity between the serpent and the woman's offspring (Genesis 3) and Paul's hope in what is unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4–5) accompany it. Dr. Pitre unpacks the Beelzebul controversy, how the Church has interpreted the unforgivable sin, and the meaning of the true family of God.
GOSPEL, FIRST READING & PSALM TRANSCRIPT (Subscribe or Login for Full Transcript):
The Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time continues our journey through the Gospel of Mark, and it brings us to a very fascinating passage from that Gospel that gives us an account of the conflict that took place in Jesus' hometown over his exorcisms that he was performing. And it's in the context of that controversy that Jesus gives one of his most enigmatic sayings. It's the saying about the unforgivable sin, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. So today's gospel we’re going to look at this controversy over Jesus’ exorcism and the unforgivable sin and we'll try to unpack how the church understands this very strange and difficult passage and how the church has interpreted it in light of the living tradition. So, let's begin with 3:20-35 of Mark's gospel - that is the reading for today. It’s kind of a long one but there's a lot going on, so it says this:
Then he [Jesus] went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. And when his friends heard it, they went out to seize him, for they said, "He is beside himself." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Be-el'zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house. "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Okay, there is so much going on in this passage and it’s almost like three little pericopes, three little passages clustered into one. So the church has given us a lot to do for this particular Sunday. I'll do my best to walk through each of them and help put them in their original context. So let’s begin with the controversy over Jesus’ exorcisms...
SECOND READING TRANSCRIPT (SubscribeorLoginfor Full Transcript):
The 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time for Year B continues the Church's journey through Paul's rich and beautiful meditation, known as the Second Letter to the Corinthians. And here we're reading from 2 Corinthians 4:13 and following. It says this...
GOSPEL, FIRST READING & PSALM TRANSCRIPT (Subscribe or Login for Full Transcript):
The Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time continues our journey through the Gospel of Mark, and it brings us to a very fascinating passage from that Gospel that gives us an account of the conflict that took place in Jesus' hometown over his exorcisms that he was performing. And it's in the context of that controversy that Jesus gives one of his most enigmatic sayings. It's the saying about the unforgivable sin, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. So today's gospel we’re going to look at this controversy over Jesus’ exorcism and the unforgivable sin and we'll try to unpack how the church understands this very strange and difficult passage and how the church has interpreted it in light of the living tradition. So, let's begin with 3:20-35 of Mark's gospel - that is the reading for today. It’s kind of a long one but there's a lot going on, so it says this:
Then he [Jesus] went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. And when his friends heard it, they went out to seize him, for they said, "He is beside himself." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Be-el'zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house. "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Okay, there is so much going on in this passage and it’s almost like three little pericopes, three little passages clustered into one. So the church has given us a lot to do for this particular Sunday. I'll do my best to walk through each of them and help put them in their original context. So let’s begin with the controversy over Jesus’ exorcisms...
SECOND READING TRANSCRIPT (SubscribeorLoginfor Full Transcript):
The 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time for Year B continues the Church's journey through Paul's rich and beautiful meditation, known as the Second Letter to the Corinthians. And here we're reading from 2 Corinthians 4:13 and following. It says this...
The Readings for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
First Reading: Genesis 3:9–15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1
Gospel: Mark 3:20–35
Key passages & sources examined: the Beelzebul controversy (Mark 3); “a kingdom divided against itself” and binding the strong man; the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the unforgivable sin); the true family of God; the first sin and the protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15); what is unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4–5).
What are the Mass readings for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B? Genesis 3:9–15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1; and the Gospel, Mark 3:20–35.
What is the Beelzebul controversy? Scribes accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the prince of demons; Jesus shows the charge is self-contradictory, since a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
What is the unforgivable sin, or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? In context it is attributing the work of God's Spirit to the devil—a hardened refusal of the God who offers mercy.
Who is Jesus' true family? Whoever does the will of God, Jesus says, is his brother and sister and mother.
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I subscribed and offered payment
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dgbaugh
Hi David, I see you do have a subscrition. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
I have inherited leading a Bible Study based on the Mass Readings for each Sunday. The videos are very helpful in facts and insights to add to my research and prayerful preparations. Thank you for offering these teachings.
I subscribed and offered payment
but I have received nothing I requested???
Please advise
dgbaugh
Hi David, I see you do have a subscrition. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
I have inherited leading a Bible Study based on the Mass Readings for each Sunday. The videos are very helpful in facts and insights to add to my research and prayerful preparations. Thank you for offering these teachings.
