GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 3:25
Some Bad Arguments
Some arguments are so obviously absurd that they are self-defeating. For example: “I’m always right because I said so, and since I’m always right, that means I must be right about being right.” Or: “I wore my lucky socks, and my team won the game. Clearly, my socks influenced the outcome.” Or: Zeno’s paradox—to reach a wall, I must first walk halfway there. Then, I must walk half of the remaining distance, and then half of that, forever, so technically, I can never reach the wall.
Jesus’ critics argued that he was casting out Satan by Satan’s power. Jesus used several illustrations to show how absurd their argument was. In one rebuttal, he said, “And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” (Mark 3:25) Some translators render the word “house” (oikia) in this instance as “household,” which helps readers understand Jesus’ argument since it was likely that he was using the word in a metaphorical sense, although the argument also works for a physical house—if a 2×4 refuses to cooperate with a 2×6, that house is going to fall.
In a house where spouses differ with each other over finances, child-rearing, vocation, or… that house will fall. In a house where children differ with their parents over mate selection, career choice, money, or… that house will fall.
It seems that Jesus’ refutation of the critics’ charge also presents a positive message about how important it is to ensure that a “house” remains united.
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