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?"
who say, Stand by yourself, don't come near to me, for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.
The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight against God!"
When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
"Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them." He told them this parable. "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Mark 2
Commentary on Mark 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter, we have,
All which passages we had before, Matthew 9 and 12.
Mar 2:1-12
Christ, having been for some time preaching about in the country, here returns to Capernaum his head-quarters, and makes his appearance there, in hopes that by this time the talk and crowd would be somewhat abated. Now observe,
Mar 2:13-17
Here is,
Mar 2:18-28
Christ had been put to justify himself in conversing with publicans and sinners: here he is put to justify his disciples; and in what they do according to his will he will justify them, and bear them out.
Two things Christ pleads in excuse of his disciples not fasting.
Observe,