And again he entered into Capernaum after some days ,.... After he had been preaching in the synagogues throughout Galilee, and after he had spent some days in prayer, and private retirement in desert places: and it was noised that he was in, the house; a report was spread throughout the city that he was in the house of Simon and Andrew, where he was before, and where he used to be when in Capernaum. read more
And straightway many were gathered together ,.... From all parts of the city, insomuch that there was no room to receive them ; in the house: by which it should seem to be a large one, though not large enough to hold such a numerous company as were got together: no, not so much as about the door ; or the places before the door, the porch, the court, or courtyard. The crowd was so great, that neither the house, nor the out places before, could hold them, nor could they come even near... read more
And they came unto him ,.... A considerable body of people, townsmen, friends, and relations of the person after mentioned: bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four ; carried by four men upon their shoulders, as if he was a dead carcass; so weak and enfeebled was he by his disease, that he could not walk, or be otherwise brought; or rather upon a bed, which four men, at the four comers of it, carried in their hands; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "four men carried... read more
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press ,.... To the room where Jesus was, nor into the house, nor even to the door, the crowd about it was so great, they uncovered the roof where he was . The Arabic version reads it, "they went up to the roof"; and the Persic thus, "they carried him up upon the roof". The place where Christ was, seems to be an upper room; for in such an one the Jewish doctors used to meet, and discourse together about religious matters; see Acts 1:13 ... read more
When Jesus saw their faith ,.... The faith of the sick man, and his friends, who seemed confident, that could they get at Christ, a cure would be wrought: the faith of the one appears in suffering himself to be brought in such a manner, under so much weakness; and with so much trouble; and of the other in bringing him, and breaking through so many difficulties to get him to Christ. He said unto the sick of the palsy, son, thy sins be forgiven thee ; pointing and striking at the root of... read more
But there were certain of the Scribes sitting there ,.... In the upper room where Jesus was, to watch and observe what he said:, and did: and reasoning in their hearts ; upon the above words of Christ, in the following manner. read more
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies ?.... They took Christ to be a mere man, and reasoned with themselves, that he must be a blasphemer, in assuming that to himself, which was peculiar to God: they seem astonished at his words, and wonder at his arrogance, and to be filled with indignation and resentment at him; saying, who can forgive sins but God only ? this was a generally received maxim with them, and a very just one. The Chaldee paraphrase of Job 14:4 , runs thus; "who can... read more
And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his Spirit ,.... "His own Spirit", as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read; not his human soul, nor the holy Spirit of God, though both may be said to be his Spirit; but his divine nature, in and by which he knew all things, even the most sacred thoughts of men's hearts: and as soon as ever the above thoughts were conceived in the minds of the Scribes and Pharisees, they were perceived by him, and told to them, that they so... read more
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy ,.... This question was put to them by Christ, in order to prove his deity, and clear himself from the charge of blasphemy; for he that could cure the sick of the palsy, by a word speaking, had power to forgive him his sins: and therefore proposes it to them, which was easiest to say, thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say arise, and take up thy bed, and walk ? Both of them were easy to say, but not with power and effect: they were both... read more
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William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 2:23-28
2:23-28 One Sabbath day Jesus was going through the corn fields. His disciples began to pluck the ears of corn as they made their way along. The Pharisees began to say to him, "Look! Why are they doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?" "Have you never read," he said, "what David did when he and his friends were in need and hungry? Have you never read how he went into the house of God, when Abiathar was High Priest, and ate the shewbread--which none is allowed to eat except the priests--and... read more