Mark 2

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23

If there is a rapid sequence in this part of the narrative, the fasting referred to in the last verses may have taken place the day before. St. Luke ( Luke 6:1 ) here adds to St. Mark's account the words, "and did eat, rubbing them [that is, the ears of corn] in their hands;" an incidental evidence of a simple life, that they did not here eat prepared food, but the simple grains of wheat, which they separated from the chaff by rubbing the ears of corn in their hands. This passage marks with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The sabbath. The grounds upon which the Pharisees and scribes took offense at our Lord and his ministry were various. Some of these—as, e.g. , his claim to pardon sin—were very serious; for in such a case Jesus was either an impostor and blasphemer, or he was the Son of God. Others were very trivial, as, e.g. , his neglect of some unauthorized traditions, or his preference of moral duty to observance of the ceremonial law. In this and in the following incident, the sabbath was the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The sabbath made for man. I. The purpose of The sabbath IS TO BE KEPT IN VIEW IN INTERPRETING ITS OBLIGATIONS . II. RULES WHICH DO NOT HAVE REGARD TO THIS MAY VIOLATE WHAT THEY PROFESS TO PRESERVE . 1 . The disciples were within the written permission of the Law. "To pluck and rub with the hand ears from the field of a neighbor was allowed; Moses forbade only the sickle ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ). But the matter belonged to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

Love greater than law. I. HUMAN LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE MEANS OF LIVING . All laws, ceremonial or otherwise, may be regarded as means towards ends. What end do we know higher than human weal and bliss? Christ points out that this is the real end of legislation—man, his education, his good, physical and spiritual. II. IT IS A GROSS FALLACY TO PUT THE MEANS BEFORE THE END . This the Pharisees did. They said, "Man for the sabbath." Christ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

Parallel passages: Matthew 12:1-8 ; Luke 6:1-5 .— Sabbath observance. I. WORSHIP , NOT AMUSEMENT , SUITS THE SABBATH . The common heading of this section in the Gospels is, "The disciples pluck the ears of corn on the sabbath day," On this occasion our Lord and his disciples were out walking on the sabbath; but they were not walking for pleasure or even for health. They were on their way to the house of God, as we learn from the parallel passage in St. Matthew, where we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:24

That which is not lawful . The supposed unlawfulness was not the plucking of the ears of corn with the hand, which was expressly permitted by the Law ( Deuteronomy 23:25 ), but the plucking and eating on the sabbath day. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:25-26

David … and they that were with him . This seems opposed to what we read in 1 Samuel 21:1-15 ., where David is stated to have been alone. But the facts appear to have been these, that David, fleeing from Saul, went alone to Ahimelech the high priest, and sought and obtained five loaves of the "shewbread," which he carried away with him to his companions in flight, and shared with them; for he says ( 1 Samuel 21:2 ), "I have appointed my servants to such and such a place." This incident... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:27

The sabbath was instituted for the benefit of man, that he might refresh and renew his body, fatigued and worn by six days' labour, with the restful calm of the seventh; and that he might have leisure to apply his mind to the things which concern his everlasting salvation; to consider and meditate upon the Law of God; and rouse himself, by the remembrance of the Divine greatness and goodness, to true repentance, to gratitude, and to love. The force of the argument is this: The sabbath was made... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:28

Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath . "The sabbath was made for man." It is the inferior institution, man being the higher, for whose sake the sabbath was appointed. But the Son of man is Lord of all men, and of all things that pertain to man's salvation; therefore he must of necessity be Lord even of the sabbath; so that when he sees fit he can relax or dispense with its obligations. It is true that for us Christians the first day of the week, the Lord's day, has taken the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 2:1

Into Capernaum - See the notes at Matthew 4:13.After some days - The number of days is not known. Jesus probably remained long enough in the desert to heal the sick who were brought to him, and to give instructions to the multitudes who attended his preaching. Capernaum was not “the city” mentioned in Mark 1:45, and it is probable that there was no difficulty in his remaining there and preaching.And it was noised ... - He entered the city, doubtless, privately; but his being there was soon... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:23-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:25-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:28

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 2:1

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