Mark 2

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:1-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:1-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:1-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:1-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 2:1-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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