Mark 2

Previous Chapter|Next Chapter

2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
2:6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
2:13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
2:15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
2:19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
2:20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
2:21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
2:22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
2:23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
2:24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
2:25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
2:26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Next Chapter

Everything King James Bible:Mark

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 2

Overview:
Christ heals one sick of the Palsy. (1-12) Levi's Call, and
the entertainment given to Jesus. (13-17) Why Christ's disciples
did not Fast. (18-22) He justifies his disciples for plucking
Corn On the Sabbath. (23-28)

1-12 It was this Man's misery that he needed to be So carried,
and shows the suffering state of human Life; it was kind of
those who So carried him, and teaches the compassion that should
be in men, toward their fellow-creatures in distress. True Faith
and strong Faith may work in various ways; but it shall be
accepted and approved By Jesus Christ. Sin is the cause of all
our pains and sicknesses. The way to remove the effect, is to
take away the cause. Pardon of Sin strikes at the root of all
diseases. Christ proved his power to forgive Sin, By showing his
power to cure the Man sick of the Palsy. And his curing diseases
was a figure of his pardoning Sin, for Sin is the disease of the
soul; when it is pardoned, it is healed. When we see what Christ
does in healing souls, we must own that we never saw the like.
Most men think themselves whole; they feel No need of a
Physician, therefore despise or neglect Christ and his Gospel.
But the convinced, humbled sinner, who despairs of all help,
excepting from the Saviour, will show his Faith By applying to
him without delay.

13-17 Matthew was not a good character, or else, being a Jew,
he would never have been a Publican, that is, a tax-gatherer for
the Romans. However, Christ called this Publican to follow him.
With God, through Christ, there is Mercy to Pardon the greatest
sins, and Grace to change the greatest sinners, and make them
holy. A Faithful, fair-dealing Publican was rare. And because
the Jews had a particular Hatred to an office which proved that
they were subject to the Romans, they gave these tax-gatherers
an ill name. But such as these our blessed Lord did not hesitate
to converse with, when he appeared in the likeness of sinful
Flesh. And it is No new thing for that which is both Well done
and Well designed, to be slandered, and turned to the reproach
of the wisest and best of men. Christ would not withdraw, though
the Pharisees were offended. If the world had been righteous,
there had been No occasion for his coming, either to preach
Repentance, or to purchase forgiveness. We must not keep company
with ungodly men out of Love to their vain Conversation; but we
are to show Love to their souls, remembering that our good
Physician had the power of healing in himself, and was in No
danger of taking the disease; but it is not So with us. In
trying to do good to others, let us be careful we do not get
harm to ourselves.

18-22 Strict professors are apt to blame all that do not fully
come up to their own views. Christ did not escape slanders; we
should be willing to Bear them, as Well as careful not to
deserve them; but should attend to every part of our duty in its
proper order and season.

23-28 The Sabbath is a sacred and Divine institution; a
privilege and benefit, not a task and drudgery. God never
designed it to be a Burden to us, therefore we must not make it
So to ourselves. The Sabbath was instituted for the good of
mankind, as living in society, having many wants and troubles,
preparing for a state of happiness or misery. Man was not made
for the Sabbath, as if his keeping it could be of service to
God, nor was he commanded to keep its outward observances to his
real hurt. Every observance respecting it, is to be interpreted
By the rule of Mercy.