Mark 2

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:16

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?A feast of the size indicated here was probably held in the courtyard of the house, leaving passers-by an opportunity to observe all that was done. For a long while the Pharisees had opposed Jesus; and their cunning and craft were evident in their maneuvers here to open a wedge between the Lord and his... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:17

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.Jesus' reply was undisguised irony. That assemblage in Matthew's house knew the Pharisees for what they were, proud, arrogant, unscrupulous, hypocritical, ruthless, and thoroughly wicked sons of the devil. Matthew himself was called of God to outline the character of those men in his gospel in order that all future generations would... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:18

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?The Pharisees were up to their old tricks, trying to cause trouble for Jesus. Here. the strategy was designed to open a breach between the disciples of John the Baptist and those of Jesus.Thy disciples fast not ... This was equivalent to "You are not in style! John the Baptist's disciples and the Pharisees are fasting,... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:19

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.In context, this was a devastating reply, John the Baptist had already identified Jesus Christ as the bridegroom, and this metaphor was appropriately used here as an appeal to John's disciples. Furthermore, the Pharisees relaxed the rules for themselves regarding fasts on the occasion of their attending weddings. With many weddings to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:20

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away, from them, and then will they fast in that day.This is a clear prediction of the Lord's suffering and death. We cannot agree with the assertion that in Mark "Jesus does not mention suffering until after (Peter's) confession."[3] It is true that the word "suffering" is not here in this verse, but the concept of both suffering and death is inherent in the Lord's concise prophecy that the bridegroom (himself) shall be taken away from... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:21

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.Patching old clothes was a familiar thing to our Lord, suggesting his poverty that has made us rich. The force of this humble metaphor lies in the fact that: if a piece of new, unshrunk cloth is used to mend a hole in an old garment, then just as soon as the garment is washed, the new material will shrink, thus tearing out an even larger... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:22

And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins: else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.Skins of animals were used in those times for containing liquids; and, in the case of wine, if new, the process of fermentation increased the volume which was compensated for by the elasticity of the new skins. However, if new wine was put into old skins (hardened and no longer elastic), the fermentation process would burst them,... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:23

And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and the disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears.THE CHARGE OF SABBATH-BREAKINGThe Pharisees blew this incident up as a violation of the sabbath. It was, of course, a violation to thresh wheat on the sabbath; but the charge that Jesus' disciples' plucking a few ears of wheat, shelling them in their hands, and eating a bite as they passed along - the charge that made such actions threshing wheat on the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:24

And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?One can only be distressed at the interpretations of this event which accept this charge of the Pharisees as valid. It was not valid. It was a false charge. God's sabbath law had not been violated at all; but the petty regulations legislated and imposed by the Pharisees had been flouted. Of course, IN THEIR VIEW, their human regulations were equated with God's law; but no Christian should fall into... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:25

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?David did indeed do an unlawful thing, to which Christ referred; but why did Jesus cite such an example? Is this to be understood to mean: "Look, David sinned; therefore it is all right for us to sin"? No! Christ was not here seeking to justify his disciples on the basis that "everybody else" is doing it. The true purpose of David's conduct being brought in here was to show... read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:16

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:17

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:18

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:19

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:20

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:21

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:22

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:23

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:24

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 2:25

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