Bible Commentaries
Mark 2

Verses 1-12

Jesus Preaches Throughout Galilee - After calling His disciples (Mark 1:16-20), Jesus began His public ministry in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-34). He now expands His preaching ministry to other cities in Galilee.

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

a) Jesus Preaches in Galilee Mark 1:35-39

b) Jesus Heals a Leper Mark 1:40-45

c) Jesus Heals a Paralytic Mark 2:1-12

Verses 1-28

The Preaching Ministry of Jesus Christ Mark 1:14 to Mark 13:37 describes the preaching ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the miracles that accompanying the proclamation of the Gospel. His public ministry can be divided into sections that reflect God’s divine plan of redemption being fulfilled in Jesus’s life.

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

1. Indoctrination - The Preaching of Jesus Christ in Galilee Mark 1:14 to Mark 4:34

2. Divine Service Training the Twelve in Galilee Mark 4:35 to Mark 6:13

3. Perseverance: Preaching against Man’s Traditions Mark 6:14 to Mark 7:23

4. Perseverance - Beyond Galilee Mark 7:24 to Mark 9:50

5. Glorification - In Route to and in Jerusalem Mark 10:1 to Mark 13:37

Verses 13-17

Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew 9:9-13 , Luke 5:27-32 ) Mark 2:13-17 gives us the account of Jesus calling Levi or Matthew, one of the twelve apostles, to forsake all and follow Him. Mark places emphasis upon the calling of the disciples as well as Jesus’ ministry of preaching the Gospel with signs following.

Verses 13-28

Jesus Faces Opposition As Jesus’ public ministry expanded from Capernaum to other cities throughout Galilee, the Jewish leaders began to publically question His actions. Jesus took these opportunities to teach on the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

1. Jesus Calls Levi Mark 2:14-17

2. Jesus Teachings On Fasting Mark 2:18-22

3. Jesus Teaches About the Sabbath Mark 2:23-28

4) Jesus Heals Man with Withered Hand Mark 3:1-6

Verses 18-22

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting (Matthew 9:14-17 , Luke 5:33-39 ) Mark 2:18-22 gives us the account of Jesus being questioned by the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees regarding fasting.

Mark 2:21 Comments - Some English versions translate the phrase “a piece of new cloth” as “a piece of unshrunk cloth.” The Greek word “new” ( άγναφος ) (G46) is used two times in the New Testament (Matthew 9:16, Mark 2:21) and is translated as “new” in the KJV. Strong translates it to mean, “unfulled, i.e. new (cloth).” BDAG translates it to mean, “unbleached, unshrunken, unsized, or new.” Strong says the word άγναφος comes from the negative particle α and γναφεύς (G1102), meaning, “a cloth-dresser,” which is a variation of the word κνάρτω , which means, “to tease cloth.” Thus, a piece of new cloth was one in which it was not processed and thus not properly shrunken for use as a piece of garment.

Mark 2:22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

Mark 2:22 Comments - The bottles that Jesus mentioned to illustrate the story of wine and bottles were made of animal skins. The older they were, the more stiff them became, and less stretchable. If new wine was poured into old wineskins, the fermentation process, which is not complete, would produce gases and burst the old, stiff wineskins. Today, manufacturer in the wine industry add sulfites to the wine in order to kill the yeast and stop the fermentation process. In ancient times, wine must have continued fermenting until it was consumed.

Verses 23-28

Jesus Is Questioned About the Sabbath Day (Matthew 12:1-8 , Luke 6:1-5 ) In Mark 2:23-28 Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees about the Sabbath day.

Mark 2:23 Comments - Note that the Mosaic Law allowed them to pluck the grain in some else's field and eat it.

Deuteronomy 23:25, “When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.”