Can the children of the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? - Among the Hindoos, large parties of friends, belonging both to the bride and bridegroom, attend on both during the wedding day; on the following day, when the bridegroom leaves the house of his father-in-law, the attendants are filled with sorrow, especially the near relations. - Ward's Customs. read more
In those days - But instead of εν εκειναις ταις ἡμεραις , many of the best MSS. and versions read, εν εκεινῃ τῃ ἡμερᾳ , in that day; viz. the day in which Jesus Christ should be delivered up to the Jews and Gentiles. Mill and Bengel approve of this reading, and Griesbach adopts it. The former part of the verse seems to vindicate the common reading. read more
No man - seweth - See Matthew 9:16 . No man seweth a piece of unscoured cloth upon an old garment. In the common editions this verse begins with και , and, but this is omitted by almost every MS. and version of note. The construction of the whole verse is various in the MSS. The translation given here, and in Matthew 9:16 , is intelligible, and speaks for itself. read more
The first sentence of this verse is better rendered thus: And when he entered again ( εἰσελθῶν πάλιν ) into Capernaum after some days; literally, after days ( δι ̓ ἡμερῶν ). It is probable that a considerable interval had taken place since the events recorded in the former chapter. It was noised that he was in the house ( ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστὶ ); or, if the ὅτι be regarded as recitative, it was noised, He is in the house , at home , in his usual... read more
Christ's authority to pardon. Our Lord's miracles of healing were, upon the surface and obviously, designed to relieve from suffering and to restore to health. They, at the same time, directed the attention of both those benefited, and of spectators, to the supernatural power and to the benevolence of the Divine Physician. But no Christian can fail to see in them a moral significance. Disorders of the body were symbolical of spiritual disease. And the great Healer, who pitied and relieved... read more
Cure of the paralytic. I. DIFFICULTIES ARE READILY OVERCOME WHERE THERE IS FAITH . The house was probably a poor one, roofed with mud and shingle. It would be easy, therefore, to dig a hole and obtain entrance in that way. But doing it required a certain amount of ingenuity and effort, which proved that the man and his friends were resolved to get to Jesus and obtain the cure. All this trouble and thoughtfulness was the outcome of faith in Christ. Their boldness was the... read more
The paralytic. I. THE PARALYTIC A TYPE OF HELPLESSNESS IN GENERAL . In this case both physical and moral. No malady is serious but that which attacks the freedom of the soul in its seat. II. DIFFICULTIES ARE FOR THE TRIAL OF FAITH . The physical difficulty of getting to Christ's presence we may view as a parable or allegory of deeper moral difficulties. How hard to be a Christian—to reach the truth and live in the light of it! Argument breaks down; many gaps... read more
The sick of the palsy: the spiritual and physical healing. The excitement having subsided, Jesus enters again into Capernaum. He, in the house, was teaching, "Pharisees and doctors of the Law sitting by," from all parts. The mighty "power of the Lord was with him to heal," as was made evident before, or as was to be proved by this event. It being "noised that he was in the house, many were gathered together," crowding "about the door." But attention is arrested by the bold deed of four... read more
Parallel passages: Matthew 9:2-8 ; Luke 5:17-26 .— The cure of the paralytic. I. THE POPULARITY OF OUR LORD . After the cure of the leper, recorded at the close of the preceding chapter, our Lord, to avoid tumult or undue excitement on the part of the people, or an unseasonable precipitation of his plans, retired to and remained some short time in unfrequented places; but the crowds kept resorting ( ἤρχοντο , imperfect) to him from all directions. After an interval of... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 2:18
Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast - See this largely explained on Matthew 9:14 ; (note), etc. The following vices are very common to Pharisees. They are more busied in censuring the conduct of others than in rectifying their own. They desire that every one should regulate his piety by theirs; and embrace their particular customs and forms of devotion. They speak of and compare themselves with other people, only that they may have an opportunity of distinguishing... read more