1. Mark 1:23 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How is it that the man with the unclean spirit was allowed in the synagogue?

Mark 1:23 (ESV)

23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

People come into the synagogue, but in this fallen world they can become the dwelling place of unclean spirits. It need not have been a spirit that made this man a patient. It could also have been a spirit of contradiction and slander that made this Israelite a difficult and intractable person. In any case, he does speak intelligibly and the fact that he screams at Jesus makes it clear that he is his opponent. 1