Mark 2:1-22 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:2

Many were gathered together , so that there was no longer room for them ( ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν ), no, not even about the door. The description is very graphic. The house could not contain them, and even its courtyard and approaches were inconveniently thronged. This is one of the many examples of minute observation of details, so observable in St. Mark's Gospel. And he preached ( ἐλάλει )—more literally, was speaking— the word unto them . This little sentence indicates the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:3-4

And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four . Here again the minuteness of detail is very observable. It is also interesting to notice how the three writers of the synoptic Gospels supplement and illustrate one another. St. Matthew gives the outline, St. Mark and St. Luke fill up the picture. St. Luke ( Luke 5:18 ) tells us how they sought means to bring the paralytic into Christ's presence. They carried him on his bed up the flight of steps outside the house,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:3-5

The pardon of the paralytic. This miracle is recorded also by Matthew and Luke. The former indicates its chronological position as occurring after the return from Gadara. Our gracious Lord "again entered into Capernaum," so slow is he to leave the most undeserving. The news of his arrival quickly spread; indeed, whenever he enters a home or a heart, he cannot be hid. True love and eager faith will surely find him, and in this passage we find an example of that truth. I. THE COMING ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:5

Son, thy sins be forgiven thee; literally, thy sins are forgiven. The word "son" is in the Greek the more endearing word ( τέκνον ) "child." St. Luke uses the word "man." St. Matthew adds the words "Be of good cheer." It is here to be carefully observed that the spiritual gift, the gift of forgiveness, is first conveyed; and we must also notice the authoritative character of the address, "Thy sins are forgiven." Bede observes here that our Lord first forgives his sins, that he might... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:6-7

The words, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? in accordance with the altered reading ( βλασφημεῖ for βλασφημίας ), should stand thus: Why doth this man thus speak ? he blasphemeth. It is evident that the scribes, who were secretly amongst themselves finding fault with our Lord's words, understood that, by the use of these words, our Lord was assuming to himself a Divine attribute. And if he had been a mere man; if he had not really been, as he assumed to be, Divine, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:8-11

It does not clearly appear whether these murmurers communicated their thoughts audibly to one another. At all events, their words were evidently not heard beyond themselves. But Jesus perceived in his spirit their reasonings. He knew their thoughts, not by communication from another, as the prophets of old had things made known to them by revelation, but by his own Spirit pervading and penetrating all things. From this the Christian Fathers, against the Arians, infer the divinity of Christ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:12

The words are spoken, and the paralytic arose, and straightway took up the bed ( ἠγέρθή καὶ εὐθὺς ἄρας )—such is the most approved reading— and went forth before them all . There is a spiritual application of this miracle which it is well to notice. The paralytic lifting up himself is a figure of him who, in the strength of Christ, has lifted himself up from the lethargy of sin. He has first applied to Christ, perhaps by his own sense of his need, perhaps with the help of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:13-14

It is probable that our Lord remained some time at Capernaum before he went forth again . The word "again" refers to his former going forth. When he went forth on this occasion he appears to have traveled southwards along the sea-shore. There, not far from Capernaum , he saw Levi, the son of Alphseus, sitting at the receipt of custom ( ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον ); more literally, at the place of toll. This place would be in the direct line for traders from Damascus to Accho, and a convenient... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:13-17

Levi's discipleship and hospitality. The story of Matthew illustrates the part of improbabilities in human life. Some would see in it the irony of fate; we would recognize the mystery of Providence. The evangelists tell us of a man who occupied the humble and even despised position of collector of Roman dues or customs by the shores of the little Lake of Gennesaret, who was summoned to leave this lowly occupation, for what seemed the yet humbler office of attendant and scholar to a peasant... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:13-22

Levi's feast: the moral questions it occasioned. 1. ( Mark 2:13-17 .) Eating with publicans and sinners. In calling Matthew (Levi) from the receipt of custom, our Saviour made him relinquish all his old pursuits and companions, and conferred upon him an unexpected honor. The feast given by him was, therefore, partly a farewell, partly a celebration. In overstepping the boundary line of Jewish religious and social etiquette, the Lord performed an act of great significance, which was... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:3-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:6-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:13-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:13-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:13-22

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