GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 3:30
What’s the Point
Not all arguments are worth answering. The Wise Man in the Old Testament said, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.” (Prov. 26:4) So there’s no reason to answer an argument designed to provoke or to manipulate rather than seek truth. Or an argument rooted in emotion rather than reason. Or an argument that is trivial or not worth the time or energy. Or an argument with someone who simply wants to win—“Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is made up.” On the other hand, the Wise Man said, “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” (Prov. 26:5) For example, arguments about conflicting values, policies, logical inconsistencies, or interpretations of facts should be answered.
St. Mark concluded his record of Jesus’ argument with the teachers of the law by saying that he took the time to answer them: “Because they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’” (Mark 3:30) There was a large audience listening to this confrontation, and they must not leave with a question about the source of the miracles. It was necessary to explain exactly what “blaspheming the Holy Spirit” was—saying that the miracles came from Satan. That interpretation of miracles allows no forgiveness or redemption. It could be compared to a man who refuses to grasp the hand of his rescuer because he says that it is Satan’s hand—he perishes. The position of the teachers of the law can never bring redemption because they disparage the source of redemption—there is no way to recover from such a belief except by rejecting that belief and accepting the hand of the redeemer.
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