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In this lesson:
Jesus heals a paralyzed man in Capernaum and forgives sins, creating more hostility (2:1-12). Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) the tax collector and dines with sinners (2:13-17). Study Tip: Remember to review the margin notes in blue and to click on the links. |
Palestine during the time of Jesus.
Capernaum is north-west of the Sea of Galilee. |
Who were -
The Pharisees -
The Pharisees were one of four Jewish religious sects, alongside the Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes. The term "Pharisee" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "the separated ones," as they distanced themselves from anything non-Jewish. At the time of Jesus' birth, the Pharisees were the most numerous and powerful of the four sects.
The early Pharisees, originally known as the Chasidim, were instrumental in teaching the Mosaic Law to the returning Jews who had been released after 70 years of Babylonian captivity in 538 BC. Many of these returnees had lost touch with the essence of Judaism. Despite their noble beginnings, by Jesus' time, the Pharisees had largely devolved into a legalistic group marked by covetousness and self-righteousness, often looking down on others Luke 18:9. They fasted twice a week (Luke 18:10-12) and thought they were more devout than other Jews. However, few Pharisees were genuinely religious.
The Pharisees were a dominant force in Jewish society, skillfully twisting the truth and finding faults in others. All religious ceremonies, prayers, and sacrifices were conducted according to their decrees. While they strictly adhered to the Law of Moses (the Torah) and the "tradition of the elders" (Matthew 15:2), their adherence was often hypocritical.
The Pharisees believed in God, the authority of the Scriptures, the resurrection of the dead (Daniel 12:2), angels, and spirits Acts 23:8. However, they placed their own rules above God's commandments and continually imposed additional burdensome rites and ceremonies on their followers, leading to a loss of faith.
While the Pharisees anticipated the arrival of the Messiah, they expected Him to be a great military or political leader. Their focus on meticulously following Jewish law blinded them to the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah they had been waiting for. The Pharisees knew that Jesus performed miracles (John 11:47)) and witnessed many firsthand (Matthew 12:9-14; 21:14-15; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 5:24-26; 6:6-11; 14:2-4), yet they refused to accept Him as the Messiah. Jesus frequently called them hypocrites (Matthew 15:7-8; 22:18; 23:23-35; Luke 11:42-44; 12:1), and their jealousy, pride, and anger eventually turned into hatred. Ultimately, they called for the crucifixion of the very Messiah they had been waiting for. To eliminate Jesus, the anti-Roman Pharisees even collaborated with their adversaries, the pro-Roman Herodians (Mark 3:6). At the time of Jesus, there were approximately 6,000 Pharisees in Palestine.
The Pharisees -
The Pharisees were one of four Jewish religious sects, alongside the Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes. The term "Pharisee" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "the separated ones," as they distanced themselves from anything non-Jewish. At the time of Jesus' birth, the Pharisees were the most numerous and powerful of the four sects.
The early Pharisees, originally known as the Chasidim, were instrumental in teaching the Mosaic Law to the returning Jews who had been released after 70 years of Babylonian captivity in 538 BC. Many of these returnees had lost touch with the essence of Judaism. Despite their noble beginnings, by Jesus' time, the Pharisees had largely devolved into a legalistic group marked by covetousness and self-righteousness, often looking down on others Luke 18:9. They fasted twice a week (Luke 18:10-12) and thought they were more devout than other Jews. However, few Pharisees were genuinely religious.
The Pharisees were a dominant force in Jewish society, skillfully twisting the truth and finding faults in others. All religious ceremonies, prayers, and sacrifices were conducted according to their decrees. While they strictly adhered to the Law of Moses (the Torah) and the "tradition of the elders" (Matthew 15:2), their adherence was often hypocritical.
The Pharisees believed in God, the authority of the Scriptures, the resurrection of the dead (Daniel 12:2), angels, and spirits Acts 23:8. However, they placed their own rules above God's commandments and continually imposed additional burdensome rites and ceremonies on their followers, leading to a loss of faith.
While the Pharisees anticipated the arrival of the Messiah, they expected Him to be a great military or political leader. Their focus on meticulously following Jewish law blinded them to the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah they had been waiting for. The Pharisees knew that Jesus performed miracles (John 11:47)) and witnessed many firsthand (Matthew 12:9-14; 21:14-15; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 5:24-26; 6:6-11; 14:2-4), yet they refused to accept Him as the Messiah. Jesus frequently called them hypocrites (Matthew 15:7-8; 22:18; 23:23-35; Luke 11:42-44; 12:1), and their jealousy, pride, and anger eventually turned into hatred. Ultimately, they called for the crucifixion of the very Messiah they had been waiting for. To eliminate Jesus, the anti-Roman Pharisees even collaborated with their adversaries, the pro-Roman Herodians (Mark 3:6). At the time of Jesus, there were approximately 6,000 Pharisees in Palestine.
The Gospel According to St. Mark
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Mark: 2:1-17
Jesus heals and hostility grows 1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And 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. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And 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. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And 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. 12 And 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. 14 And 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. 15 And 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. 16 And 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? 17 When 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. |
Margin notes:
"Again he entered into Capernaum." (2:1) - Jesus returned to Capernaum (see map above). Earlier, Jesus left Capernaum because of the large, excited crowds He was drawing (Mark 1:45). "It was noised that he was in the house." (2:1) - "It was reported that Jesus was in the house." "And straightway many were gathered." (2:2) - "And immediately many people gathered." People travelled great distances in rough conditions to see Jesus (Luke 5:17). "One sick of the palsy, which was borne of four." (2:3) - "A paralyzed man was carried (on a bed) by four." "When they could not come nigh unto him for the press." (2:4) - "When they couldn't get near Jesus because of the press of the crowd." "They uncovered the roof." (2:4) - Many homes had outside staircases that led to flat roofs made with wooden cross beams and covered with brush and a mixture of clay. People often sat on the roof above the noise of the house to relax and catch a cool breeze. It would have been relatively easy for the four men to carry their paralyzed friend up the outside stairs and make an opening in the roof to lower him down to Jesus. "Son, thy sins be forgiven." (2:5) - Jesus showed His deity by forgiving the paralyzed man's sins. By forgiving sins, Jesus was declaring Himself God, and this angered the Pharisees and scribes (2:7). "Blasphemies." (2:7) - To blaspheme is to slander, insult (through words, thoughts, or actions), or speak irreverently of God, His authority, or grandeur. The Old Testament calls blasphemy one of the gravest sins, punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16). The New Testament refers to blasphemy as the unforgivable sin (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10), not because God is unwilling to forgive, but because the mocking sinner will not accept Jesus and ask for forgiveness. Unforgivable blasphemy is not a one-time lapse in a moment of spiritual uncertainty; it is a persistent willful attitude of rebellion against God. The ultimate act of blasphemy is to claim to be God. When Jesus forgave the sins of the paralyzed man in verse 2:5, the Pharisees accused Him of blasphemy. Later, they will use this false charge to condemn the Son of God during His trial (Matthew 26:65; Mark 14:64). "Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves." (2:8) - Jesus read their minds. "Son of man." (2:10) - The title "Son of man" comes from the Messianic passage in Daniel 7:13. See also "Today's Question" below. "Arise, and take up thy bed." (2:11) - Jesus was touched by the faith of the paralyzed man and his friends (2:5) and quickly healed him. This was not the only time Jesus healed the lame (John 5:8). "Went forth before them all." (2:12) - The paralyzed man "Walked out as they all (the crowd) watched." "We never saw it on this fashion." (2:12) - "We never saw anything like this before." This was not the only time Jesus did something never before seen (Matthew 9:32-33). "The multitude resorted unto him." (2:13) - "The crowd gathered around him." "Levi." (2:14) - Usually called Matthew (meaning gift of God). Matthew was born a Jew in Galilee, and as we see in this verse, he was the son of Alphaeus and worked as a tax collector for the Romans in Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27). His fellow Jews despised him for working with the Roman occupiers. Matthew left his lucrative job to follow Jesus and celebrated with "a great banquet at his house" (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). He then became the Messiah's traveling companion and record-keeper, a job he was well-suited for as a former tax collector. Although the Bible doesn't say so, biblical scholars credit Matthew as the author of "The Gospel According to St. Matthew." Matthew's Gospel is an eyewitness account of what he heard and saw during his years with Jesus. Because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" is wholly credible. Written sometime between AD 57 and 65 (before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70), the book of Matthew was likely composed in Hebrew and translated into Greek about fifteen years later. Matthew is last mentioned in Acts 1:13 as one of the twelve apostles present in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. It is unclear whether Matthew died of natural causes or was martyred for his Christian faith. "Sitting at the receipt of custom." (2:14) - "Sitting at the tax office." "As Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also." (2:15) - "As Jesus was eating dinner in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners joined Him." "They that are whole have no need of the physician." (2:17) - "Those that are well don't need a doctor." "The righteous." (2:17) - Those who believe in and put their trust in Jesus Christ. |
To learn more about Jesus healing the paralytic, go to Matthew 9:2-8 (lesson 15) and Luke 5:17-26. The story of Jesus choosing Matthew as a disciple is also found in Matthew 9:9-15 (lesson 16) and Luke 5:27-35.
New Living Translation
Mark: 2:1-17
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.
2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God's word to them,
3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
4 They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven."
6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,
7 "What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!"
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts?
9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
11 "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, "We've never seen anything like this before!"
Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)
13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him.
14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.)
16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?"
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase, not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.
2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God's word to them,
3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
4 They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven."
6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,
7 "What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!"
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts?
9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
11 "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, "We've never seen anything like this before!"
Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)
13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him.
14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.)
16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?"
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase, not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And 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. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." (2:3-5)
"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,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And 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." (2:10-12)
"When 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." (2:17)
"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,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And 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." (2:10-12)
"When 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." (2:17)
Today's Question:
1. Why did Jesus call himself the "Son of man?" (2:10)
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1. Why did Jesus call himself the "Son of man?" (2:10)
Did someone forward this lesson to you? Let us know if you'd like to receive them directly ([email protected]).
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. The crowds that followed Jesus could see that He was a man. He needed to eat, drink, and grew tired at the end of a long day. But Jesus was divine as well. But He also had the power and authority of God to forgive sins and to rule on earth. The title "Son of man" tells us that Jesus was human and a servant to mankind. It combines the earthly and heavenly aspects of Jesus.
Additional note: The coming of the "Son of man" was prophesied in Daniel five hundred years before the birth of Christ (Daniel 7:13-14). This is the first of fourteen times in Mark's Gospel that Jesus calls Himself "the Son of man." Look for the other thirteen times in future lessons.
Application thought for the day:
Mark 2:6-12 is an interesting passage. In it, Jesus reads the thoughts of others and cleverly asks them, which is easier, to say your "sins be forgiven" or to make a paralyzed man walk. Anyone can claim the power to forgive sins. Who can prove that the sins weren't forgiven? But to see a paralytic get up and walk was undeniable proof of Christ's authority and power.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series," published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Reader's Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible," published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version, published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament," published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation," published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible," published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible," published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible," published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke