Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Mark » Chapter 2 » Verse 1-28

Mark 2:1-28 King James Version (KJV)

1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

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.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

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.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

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?

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?

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,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

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.

13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

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.

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.

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.

24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

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?

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?

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.


Mark 2:1-28 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 again G3825 he entered G1525 into G1519 Capernaum G2584 after G1223 some days; G2250 and G2532 it was noised G191 that G3754 he was G2076 in G1519 the house. G3624

2 And G2532 straightway G2112 many G4183 were gathered together, G4863 insomuch that G5620 there was G5562 no G3371 room to receive G5562 them, no, not so much G3366 as about G4314 the door: G2374 and G2532 he preached G2980 the word G3056 unto them. G846

3 And G2532 they come G2064 unto G4314 him, G846 bringing G5342 one sick of the palsy, G3885 which was borne G142 of G5259 four. G5064

4 And G2532 when they could G1410 not G3361 come nigh G4331 unto him G846 for G1223 the press, G3793 they uncovered G648 the roof G4721 where G3699 he was: G2258 and G2532 when they had broken it up, G1846 they let down G5465 the bed G2895 wherein G1909 G3739 the sick of the palsy G3885 lay. G2621

5 When G1161 Jesus G2424 saw G1492 their G846 faith, G4102 he said G3004 unto the sick of the palsy, G3885 Son, G5043 thy G4675 sins G266 be forgiven G863 thee. G4671

6 But G1161 there were G2258 certain G5100 of the scribes G1122 sitting G2521 there, G1563 and G2532 reasoning G1260 in G1722 their G846 hearts, G2588

7 Why G5101 doth G2980 this G3778 man thus G3779 speak G2980 blasphemies? G988 who G5101 can G1410 forgive G863 sins G266 but G1508 God G2316 only? G1520

8 And G2532 immediately G2112 when Jesus G2424 perceived G1921 in his G846 spirit G4151 that G3754 they so G3779 reasoned G1260 within G1722 themselves, G1438 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Why G5101 reason ye G1260 these things G5023 in G1722 your G5216 hearts? G2588

9 Whether G5101 is it G2076 easier G2123 to say G2036 to the sick of the palsy, G3885 Thy sins G266 be forgiven G863 thee; G4671 or G2228 to say, G2036 Arise, G1453 and G2532 take up G142 thy G4675 bed, G2895 and G2532 walk? G4043

10 But G1161 that G2443 ye may know G1492 that G3754 the Son G5207 of man G444 hath G2192 power G1849 on G1909 earth G1093 to forgive G863 sins, G266 (he saith G3004 to the sick of the palsy,) G3885

11 I say G3004 unto thee, G4671 Arise, G1453 and G2532 take up G142 thy G4675 bed, G2895 and G2532 go thy way G5217 into G1519 thine G4675 house. G3624

12 And G2532 immediately G2112 he arose, G1453 took up G142 the bed, G2895 and G2532 went forth G1831 before G1726 them all; G3956 insomuch that G5620 they were G1839 all G3956 amazed, G1839 and G2532 glorified G1392 God, G2316 saying, G3004 G3754 We G1492 never G3763 saw G1492 it on this fashion. G3779

13 And G2532 he went forth G1831 again G3825 by G3844 the sea side; G2281 and G2532 all G3956 the multitude G3793 resorted G2064 unto G4314 him, G846 and G2532 he taught G1321 them. G846

14 And G2532 as he passed by, G3855 he saw G1492 Levi G3018 the son of Alphaeus G256 sitting G2521 at G1909 the receipt of custom, G5058 and G2532 said G3004 unto him, G846 Follow G190 me. G3427 And G2532 he arose G450 and followed G190 him. G846

15 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 that, G1722 as Jesus G846 sat at meat G2621 in G1722 his G846 house, G3614 many G4183 publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners G268 sat G4873 also G2532 together with G4873 Jesus G2424 and G2532 his G846 disciples: G3101 for G1063 there were G2258 many, G4183 and G2532 they followed G190 him. G846

16 And G2532 when the scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees G5330 saw G1492 him G846 eat G2068 with G3326 publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners, G268 they said G3004 unto his G846 disciples, G3101 How G5101 is it that G3754 he eateth G2068 and G2532 drinketh G4095 with G3326 publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners? G268

17 When G2532 Jesus G2424 heard G191 it, he saith G3004 unto them, G846 They that are whole G2480 have G2192 no G3756 need G5532 of the physician, G2395 but G235 they that are G2192 sick: G2560 I came G2064 not G3756 to call G2564 the righteous, G1342 but G235 sinners G268 to G1519 repentance. G3341

18 And G2532 the disciples G3101 of John G2491 and G2532 of the Pharisees G5330 used G2258 to fast: G3522 and G2532 they come G2064 and G2532 say G3004 unto him, G846 Why G1302 do G3522 the disciples G3101 of John G2491 and G2532 of the Pharisees G5330 fast, G3522 but G1161 thy G4674 disciples G3101 fast G3522 not? G3756

19 And G2532 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 G3361 Can G1410 the children G5207 of the bridechamber G3567 fast, G3522 while G1722 G3739 the bridegroom G3566 is G2076 with G3326 them? G846 as long as G3745 G5550 they have G2192 the bridegroom G3566 with G3326 them, G1438 they cannot G3756 G1410 fast. G3522

20 But G1161 the days G2250 will come, G2064 when G3752 the bridegroom G3566 shall be taken away G522 from G575 them, G846 and G2532 then G5119 shall they fast G3522 in G1722 those G1565 days. G2250

21 No man G3762 also G2532 seweth G1976 a piece G1915 of new G46 cloth G4470 on G1909 an old G3820 garment: G2440 else G1490 the new piece G2537 that filled it up G4138 taketh away G142 from G846 the old, G3820 and G2532 the rent G4978 is made G1096 worse. G5501

22 And G2532 no man G3762 putteth G906 new G3501 wine G3631 into G1519 old G3820 bottles: G779 else G1490 the new G3501 wine G3631 doth burst G4486 the bottles, G779 and G2532 the wine G3631 is spilled, G1632 and G2532 the bottles G779 will be marred: G622 but G235 new G3501 wine G3631 must be put G992 into G1519 new G2537 bottles. G779

23 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 that he G846 went G3899 through G1223 the corn fields G4702 on G1722 the sabbath day; G4521 and G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 began, G756 as they went, G3598 G4160 to pluck G5089 the ears of corn. G4719

24 And G2532 the Pharisees G5330 said G3004 unto him, G846 Behold, G2396 why G5101 do they G4160 on G1722 the sabbath day G4521 that which G3739 is G1832 not G3756 lawful? G1832

25 And G2532 he G846 said G3004 unto them, G846 Have ye never G3763 read G314 what G5101 David G1138 did, G4160 when G3753 he had G2192 need, G5532 and G2532 was an hungred, G3983 he, G846 and G2532 they that were with G3326 him? G846

26 How G4459 he went G1525 into G1519 the house G3624 of God G2316 in the days G1909 of Abiathar G8 the high priest, G749 and G2532 did eat G5315 the shewbread, G740 G4286 which G3739 is G1832 not G3756 lawful G1832 to eat G5315 but for G1508 the priests, G2409 and G2532 gave G1325 also G2532 to them which were G5607 with G4862 him? G846

27 And G2532 he said G3004 unto them, G846 The sabbath G4521 was made G1096 for G1223 man, G444 and not G3756 man G444 for G1223 the sabbath: G4521

28 Therefore G5620 the Son G5207 of man G444 is G2076 Lord G2962 also G2532 of the sabbath. G4521


Mark 2:1-28 American Standard (ASV)

1 And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room `for them', no, not even about the door: and he spake the word unto them.

3 And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.

5 And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven.

6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, `even' God?

8 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy),

11 I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.

12 And he arose, and straightway 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.

13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the `son' of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

15 And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, `How is it' that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

17 And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

18 And John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.

21 No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.

22 And no man putteth new wine into old wineskins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but `they put' new wine into fresh wine-skins.

23 And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears.

24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

25 And he said unto them, Did ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him?

26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and gave also to them that were with him?

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28 so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.


Mark 2:1-28 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And again he entered into Capernaum, after `some' days, and it was heard that he is in the house,

2 and immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door, and he was speaking to them the word.

3 And they come unto him, bringing a paralytic, borne by four,

4 and not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken `it' up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying,

5 and Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, `Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'

6 And there were certain of the scribes there sitting, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 `Why doth this one thus speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins except one -- God?'

8 And immediately Jesus, having known in his spirit that they thus reason in themselves, said to them, `Why these things reason ye in your hearts?

9 which is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk?

10 `And, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority on the earth to forgive sins -- (he saith to the paralytic) --

11 I say to thee, Rise, and take up thy couch, and go away to thy house;'

12 and he rose immediately, and having taken up the couch, he went forth before all, so that all were astonished, and do glorify God, saying -- `Never thus did we see.'

13 And he went forth again by the sea, and all the multitude was coming unto him, and he was teaching them,

14 and passing by, he saw Levi of Alpheus sitting at the tax-office, and saith to him, `Be following me,' and he, having risen, did follow him.

15 And it came to pass, in his reclining (at meat) in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners were reclining (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.

16 And the scribes and the Pharisees, having seen him eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners, said to his disciples, `Why -- that with the tax-gatherers and sinners he doth eat and drink?'

17 And Jesus, having heard, saith to them, `They who are strong have no need of a physician, but they who are ill; I came not to call righteous men, but sinners to reformation.'

18 And the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting, and they come and say to him, `Wherefore do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples do not fast?'

19 And Jesus said to them, `Are the sons of the bride-chamber able, while the bridegroom is with them, to fast? so long time as they have the bridegroom with them they are not able to fast;

20 but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast -- in those days.

21 `And no one a patch of undressed cloth doth sew on an old garment, and if not -- the new filling it up doth take from the old and the rent doth become worse;

22 and no one doth put new wine into old skins, and if not -- the new wine doth burst the skins, and the wine is poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; but new wine into new skins is to be put.'

23 And it came to pass -- he is going along on the sabbaths through the corn-fields -- and his disciples began to make a way, plucking the ears,

24 and the Pharisees said to him, `Lo, why do they on the sabbaths that which is not lawful?'

25 And he said to them, `Did ye never read what David did, when he had need and was hungry, he and those with him?

26 how he went into the house of God, (at `Abiathar the chief priest,') and the loaves of the presentation did eat, which it is not lawful to eat, except to the priests, and he gave also to those who were with him?'

27 And he said to them, `The sabbath for man was made, not man for the sabbath,

28 so that the son of man is lord also of the sabbath.'


Mark 2:1-28 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And he entered again into Capernaum after [several] days, and it was reported that he was at [the] house;

2 and straightway many were gathered together, so that there was no longer any room, not even at the door; and he spoke the word to them.

3 And there come to him [men] bringing a paralytic, borne by four;

4 and, not being able to get near to him on account of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was, and having dug [it] up they let down the couch on which the paralytic lay.

5 But Jesus, seeing their faith, says to the paralytic, Child, thy sins are forgiven [thee].

6 But certain of the scribes were there sitting, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why does this [man] thus speak? he blasphemes. Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?

8 And straightway Jesus, knowing in his spirit that they are reasoning thus within themselves, said to them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, [Thy] sins are forgiven [thee]; or to say, Arise, and take up thy couch and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, he says to the paralytic,

11 To thee I say, Arise, take up thy couch and go to thine house.

12 And he rose up straightway, and, having taken up his couch, went out before [them] all, so that all were amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it thus.

13 And he went out again by the sea, and all the crowd came to him, and he taught them.

14 And passing by, he saw Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at the tax-office, and says to him, Follow me. And he rose up and followed him.

15 And it came to pass as he lay at table in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners lay at table with Jesus and his disciples; for they were many, and they followed him.

16 And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing him eating with sinners and tax-gatherers, said to his disciples, Why [is it] that he eats and drinks with tax-gatherers and sinners?

17 And Jesus having heard [it] says to them, They that are strong have not need of a physician, but those who are ill. I have not come to call righteous [men], but sinners.

18 And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting; and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and [the disciples] of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

19 And Jesus said to them, Can the sons of the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

20 But days will come when the bridegroom shall have been taken away from them, and then shall they fast in that day.

21 No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old garment: otherwise its new filling-up takes from the old [stuff], and there is a worse rent.

22 And no one puts new wine into old skins; otherwise the wine bursts the skins, and the wine is poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; but new wine is to be put into new skins.

23 And it came to pass that he went on the sabbath through the cornfields; and his disciples began to walk on, plucking the ears.

24 And the Pharisees said to him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath what is not lawful?

25 And *he* said to them, Have ye never read what David did when he had need and hungered, *he* and those with him,

26 how he entered into the house of God, in [the section of] Abiathar [the] high priest, and ate the shew-bread, which it is not lawful unless for the priests to eat, and gave even to those that were with him?

27 And he said to them, The sabbath was made on account of man, not man on account of the sabbath;

28 so that the Son of man is lord of the sabbath also.


Mark 2:1-28 World English Bible (WEB)

1 When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house.

2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.

3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.

4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.

5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 "Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic--

11 "I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house."

12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

13 He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught them.

14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him.

15 It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.

16 The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"

17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

18 John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?"

19 Jesus said to them, "Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can't fast.

20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.

21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.

22 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins."

23 It happened that he was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields, and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.

24 The Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"

25 He said to them, "Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry--he, and they who were with him?

26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the show bread, which it is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?"

27 He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."


Mark 2:1-28 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And when he came into Capernaum again after some days, the news went about that he was in the house.

2 And a great number had come together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door: and he gave them teaching.

3 And four men came to him with one on a bed who had no power of moving.

4 And when they were unable to get near him because of all the people, they got the roof uncovered where he was: and when it was broken up, they let down the bed on which the man was.

5 And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to him, Son, you have forgiveness for your sins.

6 But there were certain of the scribes seated there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why does this man say such things? he has no respect for God: from whom does forgiveness come but from God only?

8 And Jesus, having knowledge in his spirit of their thoughts, said to them, Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?

9 Which is the simpler, to say to a man who is ill, You have forgiveness for your sins, or, Get up, take up your bed, and go?

10 But so that you may see that the Son of man has authority for the forgiveness of sins on earth, (he said to the man,)

11 I say to you, Get up, take up your bed, and go to your house.

12 And he got up, and straight away took up the bed and went out before them all, so that they were all full of wonder, and gave glory to God, saying, We have never seen anything like this.

13 And he went out again by the seaside; and all the people came to him, and he gave them teaching.

14 And when he went by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, seated at the place where taxes were taken, and he said to him, Come with me. And he got up, and went with him.

15 And it came about that he was seated at meat in his house, and a number of tax-farmers and sinners were at table with Jesus and his disciples: for there were a great number of them, and they came after him.

16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was taking food with the tax-farmers and sinners, said to his disciples, Why does he take food and drink with such men?

17 And Jesus, hearing it, said to them, Those who are well have no need of a medical man, but those who are ill: I have come not to get the upright but sinners.

18 And John's disciples and the Pharisees were taking no food: and they came and said to him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees go without food, but your disciples do not?

19 And Jesus said to them, Will the friends of a newly-married man go without food while he is with them? as long as they have him with them they will not go without food.

20 But the days will come when the husband will be taken away from them, and then they will go without food.

21 No man puts a bit of new cloth on an old coat: or the new, by pulling away from the old, makes a worse hole.

22 And no man puts new wine into old wine-skins: or the skins will be burst by the wine, and the wine and the skins will be wasted: but new wine has to be put into new wine-skins.

23 And it came about that on the Sabbath day he was going through the grain-fields; and while they were walking, his disciples took the heads of grain.

24 And the Pharisees said to him, Why are they doing what it is not right to do on the Sabbath?

25 And he said to them, Have you no knowledge of what David did, when he had need and was without food, he, and those who were with him?

26 How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and took for food the holy bread, which only the priests may take, and gave it to those who were with him?

27 And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath;

28 So that the Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath.

Commentary on Mark 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 2

Mr 2:1-12. Healing of a Paralytic. ( = Mt 9:1-8; Lu 5:17-26).

This incident, as remarked on Mt 9:1, appears to follow next in order of time after the cure of the leper (Mr 1:40-45).

1. And again he entered into Capernaum—"His own city" (Mt 9:1).

and it was noised that he was in the house—no doubt of Simon Peter (Mr 1:29).

2. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door—This is one of Mark's graphic touches. No doubt in this case, as the scene occurred at his informant's own door, these details are the vivid recollections of that honored disciple.

and he preached the word unto them—that is, indoors; but in the hearing, doubtless, of the multitude that pressed around. Had He gone forth, as He naturally would, the paralytic's faith would have had no such opportunity to display itself. Luke (Lu 5:17) furnishes an additional and very important incident in the scene—as follows: "And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town," or village, "of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem." This was the highest testimony yet borne to our Lord's growing influence, and the necessity increasingly felt by the ecclesiastics throughout the country of coming to some definite judgment regarding Him. "And the power of the Lord was [present] to heal them"—or, "was [efficacious] to heal them," that is, the sick that were brought before Him. So that the miracle that is now to be described was among the most glorious and worthy to be recorded of many then performed; and what made it so was doubtless the faith which was manifested in connection with it, and the proclamation of the forgiveness of the patient's sins that immediately preceded it.

3. And they come unto him—that is, towards the house where He was.

bringing one sick of the palsy—"lying on a bed" (Mt 9:2).

which was borne of four—a graphic particular of Mark only.

4. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press—or, as in Luke (Lu 5:19), "when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude," they "went upon the housetop"—the flat or terrace-roof, universal in Eastern houses.

they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed—or portable couch

wherein the sick of the palsy lay—Luke (Lu 5:19) says, they "let him down through the tilling with his couch into the midst before Jesus." Their whole object was to bring the patient into the presence of Jesus; and this not being possible in the ordinary way, because of the multitude that surrounded Him, they took the very unusual method here described of accomplishing their object, and succeeded. Several explanations have been given of the way in which this was done; but unless we knew the precise plan of the house, and the part of it from which Jesus taught—which may have been a quadrangle or open court, within the buildings of which Peter's house was one, or a gallery covered by a veranda—it is impossible to determine precisely how the thing was done. One thing, however, is clear, that we have both the accounts from an eye-witness.

5. When Jesus saw their faith—It is remarkable that all the three narratives call it "their faith" which Jesus saw. That the patient himself had faith, we know from the proclamation of his forgiveness, which Jesus made before all; and we should have been apt to conclude that his four friends bore him to Jesus merely out of benevolent compliance with the urgent entreaties of the poor sufferer. But here we learn, not only that his bearers had the same faith with himself, but that Jesus marked it as a faith which was not to be defeated—a faith victorious over all difficulties. This was the faith for which He was ever on the watch, and which He never saw without marking, and, in those who needed anything from Him, richly rewarding.

he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son—"be of good cheer" (Mt 9:2).

thy sins be forgiven thee—By the word "be," our translators perhaps meant "are," as in Luke (Lu 5:20). For it is not a command to his sins to depart, but an authoritative proclamation of the man's pardoned state as a believer. And yet, as the Pharisees understood our Lord to be dispensing pardon by this saying, and Jesus not only acknowledges that they were right, but founds His whole argument upon the correctness of it, we must regard the saying as a royal proclamation of the man's forgiveness by Him to whom it belonged to dispense it; nor could such a style of address be justified on any lower supposition. (See on Lu 7:41, &c.).

6. But there were certain of the scribes—"and the Pharisees" (Lu 5:21)

sitting there—those Jewish ecclesiastics who, as Luke told us (Lu 5:17), "were come out of every village of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem," to make their observations upon this wonderful Person, in anything but a teachable spirit, though as yet their venomous and murderous feeling had not showed itself.

and reasoning in their hearts.

7. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?—In this second question they expressed a great truth. (See Isa 43:25; Mic 7:18; Ex 34:6, 7, &c.). Nor was their first question altogether unnatural, though in our Lord's sole case it was unfounded. That a man, to all appearances like one of themselves, should claim authority and power to forgive sins, they could not, on the first blush of it, but regard as in the last degree startling; nor were they entitled even to weigh such a claim, as worthy of a hearing, save on supposition of resistless evidence afforded by Him in support of the claim. Accordingly, our Lord deals with them as men entitled to such evidence, and supplies it; at the same time chiding them for rashness, in drawing harsh conclusions regarding Himself.

8. Why reason ye these things in your hearts—or, as in Matthew, (Mt 9:4) "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?"

9. Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee—or "are forgiven thee";

or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed and walk?—"Is it easier to command away disease than to bid away sin? If, then, I do the one which you can see, know thus that I have done the other, which you cannot see."

10. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins—that forgiving power dwells in the Person of this Man, and is exercised by Him while on this earth and going out and in with you.

(he saith to the sick of the palsy),

11. I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house—This taking up the portable couch, and walking home with it, was designed to prove the completeness of the cure.

12. And immediately he arose, took up the bed—"Sweet saying!" says Bengel: "The bed had borne the man: now the man bore the bed."

and went forth before them all—proclaiming by that act to the multitude, whose wondering eyes would follow him as he pressed through them, that He who could work such a glorious miracle of healing, must indeed "have power on earth to forgive sins."

We never saw it on this fashion—"never saw it thus," or, as we say, "never saw the like." In Luke (Lu 5:26) it is, "We have seen strange [unexpected] things to-day"—referring both to the miracles wrought and the forgiveness of sins pronounced by Human Lips. In Matthew (Mt 9:8) it is, "They marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men." At forgiving power they wondered not, but that a man, to all appearance like one of themselves, should possess it!

Mr 2:13-17. Levi's (OR Matthew's) Call and Feast. ( = Mt 9:9-13; Lu 5:27-32).

See on Mt 9:9-13.

Mr 2:18-22. Discourse on Fasting. ( = Mt 9:14-17; Lu 5:33-39).

See on Lu 5:33-39.

Mr 2:23-28. Plucking Corn-ears on the Sabbath Day. ( = Mt 12:1-8; Lu 6:1-5).

See on Mt 12:1-8.