Mark 2

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.

What does Mark 2:10 mean?

Explanation

Mark 2:10 comes in the context of the healing of a paralytic man by Jesus Christ.

In the narrative, Jesus has just told the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven, which causes some scribes present to question silently within themselves about Jesus’s authority to forgive sins, considering it blasphemous.

They believed that only God could forgive sins.

In response to their thoughts, Jesus addresses the question of His authority to forgive sins by demonstrating His divine power through a miraculous healing.

By telling the paralytic man to get up and walk and the man doing so, Jesus is showing that His authority is not only in words (forgiveness) but also in powerful deeds (healing), thus providing visible evidence of His invisible authority to forgive sins.

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Historical Context

This event takes place early in the ministry of Jesus. Mark's Gospel is generally considered to be one of the earliest written accounts of Jesus's life and was likely written for a Roman audience.

It is believed to date back to around 65-70 AD.

During this time, the religious leaders, such as the scribes and Pharisees, had a strong understanding of Jewish law and held that only God could forgive sins.

Forgiveness was sought through sacrifices and temple rites.

By claiming the authority to forgive sins, Jesus was positioning himself in a role that these religious leaders saw as belonging exclusively to God.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse has been interpreted in several ways. For Christians, it is seen as a clear statement of the divinity of Jesus, the Son of Man is not just a human figure but has divine authority on earth.

Christian theology acknowledges Jesus as the incarnate God who has the power to forgive sins. Here, the title "Son of Man" links Jesus to the earthly realm, but His actions connect Him to the divine realm.

Some theologians argue that this moment reveals the nature of Jesus’s ministry on Earth as including both spiritual renewal and physical healing.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers to have faith in the comprehensive power of Jesus, He has authority over both the physical and spiritual realms.

It suggests that one can turn to Jesus for healing, both physically and spiritually.

For Christians today, this verse can serve as a foundation for practicing forgiveness, understanding that if Jesus had the authority to forgive sins, then they should also be willing to forgive others.

It also provides comfort for those looking for healing, as it indicates that Jesus's power is not limited to the spiritual but is also available for physical struggles.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:6: "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."
Luke 5:24: "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house."
Daniel 7:13-14: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."

Language Study

In the original Greek, "power" is translated from "exousia," implying authority or jurisdiction.

"The Son of man" is a phrase derived from the Aramaic phrase "bar enasha," which has Messianic connotations and can denote a human being as well as a heavenly figure with divine prerogatives.

"To forgive" is from the Greek word "aphiemi," which means to send away or dismiss, a term often used in the context of forgiving debts or sins.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient world, many religious systems had rituals and practices for forgiveness, often involving sacrifices or penance.

The claim of Jesus in this verse presents a departure from these practices, as he directly forgives sins without any intermediary act.

It contrasts sharply with the ancient myths from cultures like that of the Greeks or Egyptians, where deities might interact with humanity, but there was no emphasis on the forgiveness of sins in a personal and direct manner as seen in Christianity.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific perspectives might not directly intersect with the theological claims of this verse.

However, the relationship between belief, health, and well-being is a topic of interest in psychology and medicine.

Some studies suggest that forgiveness can lead to psychological and physiological benefits.

From a scientific viewpoint, the healing described would be considered a miraculous event, beyond the current understanding of medical science.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse often focus on the authority of Jesus.

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the link between the forgiveness of sins and the miraculous healing as proof of Jesus's divine authority.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that the purpose of the miracle was to validate Jesus's preaching and claims about His identity.

William Barclay offers a view that Jesus is showing that the paralysis of the body is not as important as the paralysis of the soul, and his ability to heal both is a sign of His divine mission.

Mark 2

Mark 2

What does Mark 2:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 2:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?