Mark 2

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Mark 2:1–12 (ESV)

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.

And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,

“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”

And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Verse One: Jesus was at home.

Mark 2:1 ESV

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.

Matthew 4:12–17 (ESV)

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

Pause: Why did he have to go and live in Capernaum? Continue.

15— “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Isa. 9:1-2)

Prior to this Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, the angels came and were ministering to Him. Then He receives word that John was arrested.

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Our Lord fulfilled over three hundred prophecies and will still fulfill more during His second advent. If you’re not speechless, know at least that when I think on those things I am.

Verse Three: Carried by Four Men

Mark 2:3 ESV

And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament κράβαττος

κράβαττος (krabattos), mattress; pallet; bed; mat. Cognate word: κράββατος

Not a litter (rickshaw type)

Song of Solomon 3:6–11 (ESV)

What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?

Behold, it is the litter of Solomon! Around it are sixty mighty men, some of the mighty men of Israel,

all of them wearing swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh, against terror by night.

King Solomon made himself a carriage from the wood of Lebanon.

He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.

Verse Four: Removing the Roof

Mark 2:4 ESV

And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

Basic Bible Interpretation: A Practical Guide to Discovering Biblical Truth Architectural

How could four men let a paralytic man down through a roof? (Mark 2:1–12) Most houses in the Western world are built with slanted roofs, but in Bible times roofs were flat and often were made of tiles. Therefore it would be no problem for these men to stand on the roof, remove some of the tiles, and let the man down.

Verse 5-10: Jesus Proclaims His Deity

Mark 2:5–10 (ESV)

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,

“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?

I had questions for a long time. Why did this or that person get healed and my family member is sick? But what I have learned is that it’s much easier to praise. Examine your heart today. I pray that you have no questions, and if you do I would love to pray with you.

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

You will, or maybe you have heard people say, Jesus never said that He was God. Jehovah’s witnesses and other people who deny the deity of Christ may tell you this. However, surely this is a direct declaration, Why question these things? If it has been done, it has already been. There is no contest.

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Verse Eleven: Breaking Down the Commands of Jesus

Mark 2:10 ESV

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

Mark 2:11 (ESV)

“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (some translations have mattress or even pallet)

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:11–12

Jesus commanded the paralytic to get up (a test of his faith), take his mat, and go home (demand of obedience). The man was enabled to do this immediately (euthys; cf. 1:10) in full view of them all, including Jesus’ critics. They were forced to recognize that the man had received God’s forgiveness. This showed the character of salvation Jesus brought, namely, healing whole persons. Everyone (probably including the scribes) was amazed (existasthai, lit., “out of their minds”; cf. 3:21; 5:42; 6:51) and praised (ascribed glory to) God because of Jesus’ display of supernatural power.

I’m going to amend this a little bit, I really appreciate this statement but I think that the command to get up if for faith, take his mat is obedience and go home is reconciliation. What this man’s sins were we do not know. However, being a paralytic in this time, separate from his family, I have a feeling like is common with people who suffer with homelessness in our own time, he was alone. His friends were probably other vagabonds who had heard that Jesus was preaching, know that I do not and cannot diminish these people. The faith that these individuals had to come to Jesus truly was extraordinary. Digressing, the man was most likely disinherited because of his disability. Him returning home, which can in some contexts mean household, could very well mean, go and be reconciled with your family. That is how I have looked at it in my own studies, however, it remains somewhat ambiguous but has served as an encouragement to me and I hope it can to you as well.

Jesus Calls Levi

Mark 2:13–17 (ESV)

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The parallel accounts of the calling of Matthew are in Matthew ch. 9 and Luke ch. 5. The name Levi, is certainly Hebrew. Most likely indicating that Levi was a Levite. Now the equating of Levi and Matthew is generally recognized and accepted probably very near unanimity. However, it should be know that not everyone holds this position. Some think that this is a separate individual. Regarding Levi’s name, same think that the name Matthew was a romanized name attributed to Levi for his tax collecting job. However, the name Matthiyahu, meaning gift from God, is a Hebrew name. So this could be incorrect. Personally, I find the accounts require reconciliation because they are so parallel, probably much like yourselves I equate the two accounts. However, know that some might not equate these accounts.

Personal Speculation: His fellow disciples called him Levi (Mark and Luke), He could have called himself Matthew to remember his origin prior to salvation.

Personal Interest: Short on Rough Neighborhood background.

A Question About Fasting — Note: This is probably still at the Feast thrown by Matthew

Mark 2:18–22 (ESV)

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

What does this mean?

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament ἄγναφος

ἄγναφος (agnaphos), new; unshrunken.

To break down this word it is (kind of) compound word meaning simply meaning of good nature or pure. So what does that mean? I think it’s unfair and not then intent of the passage to say the old is bad and the new is good. Rather, I see the point of this passage to be that the new, the new covenant, Christianity is to take the place of the Law. That through Christ’s coming and ministry one may know that keeping the law is not the mission. Rather, the mission is to glorify god, guard our testimonies, and be shaped into Christ’s image more and more everyday. In doing so we are preparing the bride, encouraging the saints and preserving the body all through the Holy Spirit’s ministry through us of course not of our own will or strength.

Mark (3) Over Fasting (2:18–22)

The twin parables here teach the incompatibility of the old (scribal Judaism) and the new (Christianity). Judaism is the old garment and the old wineskin. Christianity is the new garment (implied), the new wineskin, and the new wine (on the last cf. John 2:1–11, especially v. 10). The point is not that the “old” is wrong or evil but that its time has passed. As Acts shows, the Twelve were slow to learn this truth.

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Mark 2:23–28 (ESV)

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.

And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him:

how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?”

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Let’s lay it out: When Saul tries to kill David in 1 Sam. 19, David flees. He is warned by Jonathon in chapter 20, finally in Chapter 21 we come to the business of the Holy Bread. Here because there is no other bread, and was given it and it was replaced as was the law. Now, beautifully this shows Jesus’ body in what will be commemorated in the New Covenant of His table. But, in the same way, I think in David’s receiving of the Holy Bread, one could appreciate the sense of divine provision behind the giving of the showbread. Not that he has recieved grace, or anything mystical, however, God provided for Him even on the sabbath, even His showbread which is solely for the priests.