BOOK 41 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Mark 2

Mark book home•Chapter 2 of 16•28 verses

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Mark 2 Overview

Jesus heals a paralytic after first forgiving his sins, calls Levi from the tax office, eats with publicans and sinners, answers questions about fasting, and defends His disciples for plucking grain on the sabbath. Conflict with scribes and Pharisees sharpens around forgiveness, fellowship, religious custom, and the meaning of the sabbath.

MarkBook

2Chapter

28Verses

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Before you read Mark 2

Coming from

Mark 1 established the immediate context: Mark begins immediately with the gospel of Jesus Christ, identifies John the Baptist as the promised forerunner, records Jesus’ baptism and wilderness temptation, and then moves rapidly into Galilee.

In this chapter

Mark 2 shows Jesus exercising authority over sin and religious boundaries while opponents increasingly question who He is and why He acts as He does.

Leads into

Mark 3 continues the account: Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the sabbath, provoking a plot against Him.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The paralytic miracle is a visible verification of Jesus’ invisible claim to forgive sins. The scribes understand that the claim belongs to God, which makes Jesus’ authority central to the episode.

Jesus’ table fellowship does not endorse sin; His physician analogy explains why He moves toward people recognized as sinners.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Jesus has authority to forgive sins

Healing confirms the Son of man’s authority rather than replacing the greater spiritual claim.

Mercy moves toward people who know they are sick

Jesus calls Levi and eats with socially despised people.

New-covenant messianic presence cannot be forced into every old religious expectation

Bridegroom, garment, and wineskin images explain why Jesus’ ministry cannot be reduced to existing patterns.

The sabbath serves God’s good purpose for man

Jesus rejects interpretations that turn the gift into oppressive rule-keeping.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Daniel 7:13–14

Son of man language gives Jesus’ authority a larger biblical horizon.

Hosea 6:6

Matthew’s parallel records Jesus grounding His table fellowship in mercy rather than empty sacrifice.

1 Samuel 21:1–6

David’s use of holy bread supplies Jesus’ sabbath precedent.

Colossians 2:16–17

Paul later treats sabbath and festival regulations as shadows in relation to Christ.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not read eating with sinners as approval of sin

Jesus presents Himself as a physician calling the sick.

Do not use new-wine imagery as permission to reject all old Scripture

Jesus fulfills the Old Testament; He is challenging attempts to contain His mission within inadequate forms.

Do not make sabbath debates into a condition for eternal salvation

The issue is authority and faithful interpretation, not how sinners receive eternal life.

Read Mark 2 watching for…

The sequence from forgiveness to healing.

Who questions Jesus internally and externally.

Levi’s immediate response to Jesus’ call.

The bridegroom explanation for fasting.

The David example.

Jesus’ final claim concerning the sabbath.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-12Jesus forgives and heals a man sick of the palsy 13-22Jesus calls Levi and answers questions about eating with sinners and fasting 23-28Jesus defends his disciples for plucking grain on the Sabbath and declares authority over the Sabbath

And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

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.

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.

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

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

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?

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

And 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.

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

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.

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.

And 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.

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

And 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?

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?

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

Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

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Mark 2:4

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