1. Mark 3:27 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

When did Jesus bind the strong man?

Mark 3:27 (ESV)

27 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.

We are not told when the binding that Jesus talks about in this parable took place. Most likely it is a reference to his temptation in the wilderness (Mark 1:12–13), where Jesus did not fall into sin but resisted the devil. It could also point forward to the cross, where Jesus, through his death and resurrection, removed the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55–57) and triumphed over the evil powers and authorities (Colossians 2:15).