Mark 2
DOYLYMark 2:4
- — to do good—or to do evil?] He appeals to the Jews themselves, which is the best method of keeping the sabbath, and the most acceptable to God; to do a good work of great necessity and charity, or to neglect doing it, on pretence of resting on the sabbath. Dr. S. Clarke.
— to save life, or to kill?] To save life, or to suffer to perish.
Mark 2:5
- — with anger, being grieved &c.] Angry at their obstinate malice, and grieved at their incurable blindness, that they would not receive His gracious assistance. Dr. S. Clarke. His “anger” was not mixed with a desire of revenge, but was a serious displeasure of the mind arising from their misconduct. Dr. Whitby.
Mark 2:7
- — withdrew himself] His time of suffering not being yet come. Dr. Whitby. See also note at Matt. xii. 15.
— to the sea:] The sea of Galilee. He withdrew Himself from the dominions of Herod Antipas, on the western side of this lake, to those of Philip on the eastern, to preserve Himself from the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Mark 2:8
- — Idumea] Idumea, or the land of Edom in the Old Testament, means the country which lay between the lake of Sodom and the Red Sea, and was afterwards called Arabia Petrea. But the inhabitants of this country, being driven out while the Jews were captives at Babylon, took possession of that part of the south of Judea, which had been the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon and half the tribe of Judah. This is the only Idumea, spoken of after the Babylonish captivity. Dean Prideaux, Stackhouse.
Mark 2:10
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— hath power—to forgive sins,] It may be observed, that the Jews, having said at ver. 7, “Who can forgive sins but God only?” Jesus, by affirming that He had power to forgive them, led them to conclude that He claimed to be God; which most assuredly He would not have done, if the claim did not of right belong to Him. Bp. Pearce.
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— as had plagues.] Meaning diseases of a grievous kind. Bp. Pearce.
Mark 2:11
- And unclean spirits, &c.] That is, persons possessed with unclean spirits, as soon as they saw Him, ran and knelt down before Him, and confessed Him to be the Messiah, the Son of God. Dr. S. Clarke.
Mark 2:14
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— as he passed by,] As He passed by the custom-house, at the side of the lake. There were places for collecting toll on the principal roads, and on the lake, rivers, &c. Dr. Lightfoot. Respecting this and the following verses to ver. 23, see notes at Matt. ix. 9—17.
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And he ordained twelve,] Respecting the calling of the twelve Apostles, see notes at Matt. x. 1—6.
Mark 2:19
- — the children of the bridechamber] Thus the Greek phrase is literally translated: it means the bride-men, the young men who used to be attendant at marriages on the bride and bridegroom. Dr. Campbell.
Mark 2:23
- — began,—to pluck] A Hebrew form of speech
for “plucked.” Dr. Whitby. Respecting this transaction, see notes at Matt. xii. 1—8.
Mark 2:26
- — in the days of Abiathar the high priest,] In 1 Sam. xxi. it is said that Ahimelech was then “the priest,” meaning the high priest. Abiathar was the son of this Ahimelech, was then present with him, and perhaps acted as his deputy: he became high priest on his father’s death, and was a very distinguished person in the days of David, having fled to him with the ephod, 1 Sam. xxx. 7. Hence his name is mentioned here, as he was the more celebrated person of the two, and as this event happened a very short time before his accession to the high priesthood. Bp. Pearce, Grotius.
Mark 2:27
- — the sabbath was made &c.] He declares that the sabbath was to be subordinate to its purpose, and that this purpose was the real good of those who were the subjects of it. Archdeacon Paley. The meaning is,
Christ healeth the withered hand. He rebukeeth the unclean spirits. Anno DOMINI 31.
Mark 2:28
- — the Son of man is Lord &c.] The Messiah, who came into the world for the benefit of mankind, has power to regulate the sabbath. Abp. Newcome.
Chap. III. ver. 1. — into the synagogue;] At Capernaum. This was on another sabbath day, Luke vi. 6. Bp. Pearce.