Bible Commentaries
Mark 2

Verse 1

into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

after. Greek. dia . App-104 .Mark 2:1 ,

noised = . reported.

that He was in the house = "He is [gone] into the house [and is there]".

in. Greek. eis (as above).

Verse 2

straightway = immediately. See note on Mark 1:12 . Omitted by [L Tr. ] T WH R.

no room = no longer any room.

no . . . about = no. not even (mede meketi) at (Greek. pros. App-104 ) the door.

preached = was speaking (when what follows took place).

Verse 3

unto. Greek. pros. App-104 .

sick . . . palsy = a paralytic.

of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

Verse 4

could not = were not able to.

not . Greek. me . App-105 .

come nigh unto . Greek. proseggizo, Occurs only here in N.T.

for the press . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "for press".

for = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .Mark 2:2 .

press = crowd,

uncovered. Easily done in an Eastern house. Occurs only here in NT. [Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:15 . ]

broken it up . Greek. ewrussb. Occurs only here and

bed = couch, or pallet. Greek. krabbaton , a Latin word. A poor man's bed. Not the same word as in Mark 4:2 .

wherein = on which. Greek. epi . App-104 .

Verse 5

Jesus . App-98 .

saw. Greek. eidon. App-133 .

their faith . We cannot exclude the faith of the paralytic himself, who had doubtless persuaded the four to do this for him.

Son , Greek. Teknon . Sea App-108 .

thy sins be forgiven thee. Thus proclaiming His Deity, being the second subject of His Ministry. See App-119 .

sins. See App-128 .

Verse 6

in . Greek. en. App-104 .

Verse 7

but God only = except One [that is] God.

God. App-98 .

Verse 8

immediately. A keyword of this Gospel, to mark the activities of Jehovah's Servant. Soo note on Mark 1:12 .

perceived. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .

in His spirit = in Himself. Greek. pneuma. See App-101 .

within = or among. Greek. en. App-104 .

Verse 9

Whether is it . . . ? = Which is . . . ?

Verse 10

know = see. App-133 .

the Son of man. See App-98 . Thus setting forth His Person, which is the subject of this second period. See P. 1383; and App-119 . Compare Matthew 8:20 . The first occurrence of this title in Mark. Compare the last (Mark 14:62 ).

power = authority. App-172 .

on. Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 13

by = beside. Greek. para. App-104 .

resorted . . . taught = kept coming . . . kept teaching.

Verse 14

Levi . Probably his former name before changing it to "Matthew"- the gift of God (Matthew 9:9 ).

the son of Alphseus. Occurs only here (i.e. in connection with Levi) in N.T.

Alpheaus . Aramaic. See App-94 .

at = in charge of. Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 15

And it came to pass . A Hebreism.

sat at meat = reclined [at table].

his house = i.e. Levi's. Not the Lord's. Compare Matthew 8:20 .

publicans = tax-gatherers.

sinners . Greek. Plural of hamartolos . Compare App-128 .

sinners sat also = sinners also set.

Verse 16

and Pharisees . L and Tr. read "of the Pharisees". App-120 .

eat = eating.

with . Greek. meta. App-104 .

said = kept saying.

How is it . . . ? Why [doth] . . . ?

Verse 17

whole = strove, or able.

no. Greek. ou . App-105 . The emph. is on "no need".

the = a.

not. Greek. ou, as above.

the righteous = righteous ones.

to = for. Greek. ois. App-104 .

Verse 18

used to fast = were fasting: i.e. were then observing a fast. It is not the custom that is referred to, but the fact.

Verse 19

children, &c. = sons, &c. App-108 . A Hebraism, referring to the guests, not to the "friends" (or grooms men) of John 3:29 .

bridegroom . The Lord, here, refers to Himself.

cannot = are not (as in Mark 2:17 ) able to.

Verse 20

away from. Greek. apo . App-104 .

Verse 21

seweth . . . on . Greek. epirrapto. Occurs only here.

new = unfulled.

on = upon. Greek. rpi. App-104 .

new = new (in character). Greek. kainos. See note on Matthew 9:17 .

Verse 22

new = fresh made. Greek. ties. See note on Matt.

bottles = wine-skins.

marred = destroyed.

Verse 23

through . Greek. dia. App-104 , Mark 2:1 .

on = in, or during. Greek. en. App-104 .

as they went . Greek. to make their way. AHebreism. See Judges 17:8 (marg,): = as they journeyed; not to make a path by destroying the stalks of corn, but only plucking "the ears".

to pluck , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 23:25 ). Compare App-92 . A recognised custom to this present clay, not only for travellers, but for their horses. So with grapes (Deuteronomy 23:24 ),

Verse 24

Behold = Look. App-133 .

Verse 25

Have ye never read . . . ? = Did ye never read . . . ? See App-143 . Figure of speech Anteieagoge, App-6 .

never = not (as in Mark 2:17 ).

had need. A Divine supplement to "was hungry"(Matthew and Luke). Occurs only in Mark. "Lied need" is, generic, and "was hungered" is specific (explaining the need).

Verse 26

in the days of. Greek. epi. App-104 .

Abiathar. Called Ahimelech in 1 Samuel 21:1 ; 1Sa 22:9 , 1 Samuel 22:11 , 1 Samuel 22:20 ; and Ahiah in 1 Samuel 14:3 . The father and his son Ahiathar must have had two names, as was frequently the case. And why left, as in our own day? In 2 Samuel 8:17 , and 1 Chronicles 18:16 , we have Ahimelech the son of Abiathar; and in 1 Samuel 22:20 Abiathar the son of Abimelech (who was the son of Ahitub). There is no "confusion in the Hebrew text". The Lord's enemies are the best witnesses of this, for they would not have missed such an opportunity of effective reply (See Mark 3:8 ). They knew what moderncritics do not know.

the shewbread. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 25:30 ; Exodus 35:13 ; Exodus 39:36 . Leviticus 24:5-9 ). Compare 2 Chronicles 13:11 . See App-92 and App-117 .

but = except. To eat this was the priest's first duty on the Sabbath,

gave also = gave to them also.

with. Greek. sun. App-104 .

Verse 27

sabbath. Note the Figure Antimetebole , ( App-6 ), "sabbath . . . man . . . man, . sabbath".

was made = came into being.

man. Greek. anthropos . App-123 .

and. All the texts omit "and". In that case, note the Figure of speech Asyndeton ( App-6 ).

Verse 28

Therefore = So then.

is Lord . App-98 . This is the subject of this second period of the Lord's ministry. See App-119 .

Lord also of the sabbath = Lord of the Sabbath also. Occurs only here.