Mark Chapter 3, Verse 5
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5: και περιβλεψαμενος αυτους μετ οργης συλλυπουμενος επι τη πωρωσει της καρδιας αυτων λεγει τω ανθρωπω εκτεινον την χειρα σου και εξετεινεν και αποκατεσταθη η χειρ αυτου υγιης ως η αλλη
5: And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being
grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the
man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and
his hand was restored whole as the other.
5: And looking round about on them with anger, being grieved for the
blindness of their hearts, he saith to the man: Stretch forth thy hand.
And he stretched it forth: and his hand was restored unto him.
With anger. With a severe and stern countenance; with indignation at their hypocrisy and hardness of heart. This was not, however, a spiteful or revengeful passion; it was caused by excessive grief at their state. It was not sudden and tumultuous hatred of the men whose hearts were so hard; it was hatred of the sin which they exhibited, joined with the extreme grief that neither his teaching, nor the law of God, nor any means which could be used, overcame their confirmed wickedness. Such anger is not unlawful, Eph 4:26. And, in this instance, Jesus has taught us that anger is never lawful, except when it is tempered with grief or compassion for those who have offended.
Hardness of their hearts. The heart -- figuratively the seat of feeling, or affection is said to be tender when it is easily affected by the sufferings of others; by our own sin and danger; by the love and commands of God; -- when we are easily made to feel on the great subjects pertaining to our interest, Ezek 11:19, Ezek 11:20. It is hard, when nothing moves it; when a man is alike insensible to the sufferings of others, the dangers of his own condition, and the commands, the love, and the threatenings of God. It is most tender in youth, or when we have committed fewest crimes. It is made hard by indulgence in sin; by long resisting the offers of life; or by opposing any great and affecting appeals which God may make to us by his Spirit or Providence, by affliction, or by a revival of religion. Hence it is that the most favourable period for securing an interest in Christ, or for becoming a Christian, is in youth; the first, the tenderest, and the best days of life. Nay, in the days of childhood -- in the Sabbath-school -- God may be found, and the soul prepared to die.
- "hardness" or, "blindness"
