Mark 2

King James Version

Full text for Mark Chapter 2

1¶ And again he entered into Capernaum after [some] days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive [them], no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, ‹Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.›

6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7Why doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, ‹Why reason ye these things in your hearts?›

9‹Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?›

10‹But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,› (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11‹I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.›

12And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

13¶ And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, ‹Follow me.› And he arose and followed him.

15And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

16And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

17When Jesus heard [it], he saith unto them, ‹They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.›

18¶ And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

19And Jesus said unto them, ‹Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.›

20‹But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.›

21‹No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.›

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.›

23And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

25And he said unto them, ‹Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?›

26‹How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?›

27And he said unto them, ‹The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:›

28‹Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus returns to Capernaum, where a paralytic is brought to him through the roof. Jesus first forgives the man's sins, then heals him, demonstrating his authority over both sin and sickness. He then calls Levi, a publican, to be his disciple and defends his practice of eating with publicans and sinners. Finally, Jesus addresses questions about fasting and clarifies the proper observance of the Sabbath, declaring himself Lord of the Sabbath.

Medium Summary

Upon returning to Capernaum, Jesus is met by a large crowd, making it impossible for four men to bring their paralytic friend to him. They creatively lower the man through the roof, and Jesus, seeing their faith, declares his sins forgiven, provoking silent accusations of blasphemy from the scribes. Jesus perceives their thoughts and proves his authority to forgive sins by commanding the man to rise and walk, which he immediately does. Later, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him, and subsequently dines with many publicans and sinners, explaining to critical Pharisees that he came to call sinners, not the righteous. He also addresses why his disciples do not fast, using the analogy of a bridegroom, and offers parables of new cloth and new wine. The chapter concludes with Jesus defending his disciples' actions of plucking corn on the Sabbath, citing King David's example and asserting that the Sabbath was made for man, and the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

Long Summary

Jesus returns to Capernaum, drawing such a large crowd that the house is impassable. Four men, determined to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus, uncover the roof and lower his bed before him. Jesus, observing their faith, tells the paralytic, 'Son, thy sins be forgiven thee,' which prompts certain scribes present to question in their hearts, 'Who can forgive sins but God only?' Jesus, immediately perceiving their reasoning, challenges them by asking whether it is easier to forgive sins or to command healing. To demonstrate his authority as the Son of man to forgive sins on earth, he then commands the paralytic to 'Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house,' which the man instantly obeys, amazing all and causing them to glorify God. Subsequently, Jesus calls Levi, a publican, from his tax booth, who immediately follows him. Jesus then dines at Levi's house with many publicans and sinners, drawing criticism from the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus responds to their questioning by stating, 'They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Further, Jesus addresses a query from the disciples of John and the Pharisees regarding why his disciples do not fast. He explains that the 'children of the bridechamber' cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, but will fast when he is taken away. He reinforces this concept with parables of new cloth on an old garment and new wine in old bottles, illustrating the incompatibility of new spiritual principles with old traditions. Finally, as Jesus walks through corn fields on the Sabbath, his disciples pluck ears of corn, leading the Pharisees to accuse them of unlawful activity. Jesus defends his disciples by recalling how King David ate the shewbread, which was lawful only for priests, when he and his companions were hungry. He concludes by declaring, 'The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.'

Core Concepts

  • Authority to Forgive SinsJesus demonstrates divine authority by declaring the paralytic's sins forgiven, a power the scribes believed belonged to God alone. He then proves this authority by physically healing the man.
  • Faith and HealingThe faith of the four men who brought the paralytic, even going so far as to uncover a roof, is highlighted as the catalyst for Jesus's initial declaration of forgiveness and subsequent healing.
  • Calling of SinnersJesus calls Levi, a publican, to be his disciple, and openly associates with publicans and sinners, explaining that his mission is to call the sick, not the healthy, to repentance.
  • New Covenant vs. Old TraditionsJesus addresses questions about fasting, using the analogy of a bridegroom and parables of new cloth and new wine, signifying that his ministry introduces new principles incompatible with rigid adherence to old forms.
  • Lordship Over the SabbathJesus defends his disciples' actions on the Sabbath, citing a scriptural precedent and declaring that 'The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath,' asserting his authority as 'Lord also of the sabbath.'
  • Perception of Heart's ThoughtsJesus immediately perceives the scribes' unspoken accusations of blasphemy in their hearts, demonstrating his divine knowledge and insight into human thoughts.