Mark 2

Mark 2:1

Chapter Summary Christ, followed by multitudes, healeth one sick of the palsy, calleth Matthew from the receipt of custom, justifieth himself for eating with publicans and sinners, excuses his disciples for not fasting, and vindicates them for plucking the ears of corn on the sabbath day. Ver. 1-12. We read the history of this miracle in Matthew nine. See Poole on “”, and following verses to , having there taken in those passages in this evangelist’ s relation which Matthew had not, I shall only take notice of some few things not there touched upon.

He preached the word unto them; the word of God, the gospel. There are other words, but that is the word, : the most excellent word, and the only word to be preached.

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God? So as it was on all hands then received, that none but the creditor could discharge the debt, none but God could forgive sins. But how spite cankers things! Our Saviour did not say till afterward that he forgave him his sins. What blasphemy was there in this saying, Thy sins be forgiven thee? But what if none but God could forgive sins? Could also any but God tell unto men their thoughts? . That Christ could tell their thoughts was matter of demonstration to them, ,8; why might they not also have allowed him a power to forgive sins? But they could not for this charge him with blasphemy, which was their malicious design.

Mark 2:2

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Mark 2:3

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Mark 2:4

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Mark 2:5

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Mark 2:6

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Mark 2:7

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Mark 2:8

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Mark 2:9

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Mark 2:10

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Mark 2:11

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Mark 2:12

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Mark 2:13

Still it is said he taught them, thereby letting his ministers know what is their great work; and therefore they should be persons apt to teach, as Paul directeth Timothy, .

Mark 2:14

Ver. 14-17. We had this piece of history with some addition in , where he was called Matthew: Mark and Luke both call him Levi: it was ordinary with the Jews to have two names. See Poole on “”.

Mark 2:15

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Mark 2:16

Ver. 16. See Poole on ""

Mark 2:17

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Mark 2:18

Ver. 18-22. See Poole on “”, and following verses to . The sum of all teacheth us:

1. That fasting is an exercise suited to afflictive dispensations of Providence, and ought to be proportioned to its season.

2. That new converts are not to be discouraged by too severe exercises of religion, but to be trained up to them by degrees.

Mark 2:19

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Mark 2:20

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Mark 2:21

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Mark 2:23

Ver. 23-28. We had also this history in , in our notes upon which we considered all those passages relating to it which this evangelist hath, for the explication of which I refer my reader thither. See Poole on “”, and following verses to . It refers to a story, , where Ahimelech is said to have been the high priest. Abiathar was his son, as appeareth by , who escaped the slaughter of his father’ s family upon the information of Doeg the Edomite, and followed David. It was in the latter end of the priesthood of Ahimelech, and probably Abiathar assisted his father in the execution of the office, and so suddenly succeeded, that Mark calls it the time of his priesthood. Besides that those words, epi ’ Abiayar, do not necessarily signify in the days of Abiathar, as we translate it, no more than epi metoicesiav signifies in the carrying into captivity, but about the time, or near the time; which it was, for Ahimelech was presently after it (possibly within a few days) cut off, as we read, ,18; and Abiathar was a more noted man than his father Ahimelech, enjoying the priesthood more than forty years, and being the person who was made famous by carrying the ephod to David.

Mark 2:24

Ver. 24. See Poole on ""

Mark 2:25

Ver. 25. See Poole on ""

Mark 2:26

Ver. 26. See Poole on ""

Mark 2:27

Ver. 27. See Poole on ""

Mark 2:28

Ver. 28. See Poole on ""