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 2:21 mean?

Explanation

Mark 2:21 is a verse where Jesus uses a metaphor to convey a spiritual lesson.

The "new cloth" in the verse refers to the newly revealed teachings and principles of the gospel that Jesus was preaching.

On the other hand, the "old garment" represents the old Jewish Law and traditional practices.

Sewing a piece of new cloth onto an old garment would not be practical because the new cloth would shrink when it is washed, pulling on the old garment and making the hole worse.

Jesus is illustrating that his teachings are not meant to patch up the old ways but rather to introduce something entirely new and transformational.

The verse suggests the incompatibility of the old and new covenants and emphasizes the need for a complete renewal of spiritual life.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is found in the Gospel of Mark, which is believed to have been written around 70 AD.

At this time, the early Christian community was grappling with its identity and relationship to traditional Judaism.

Jesus' ministry was provocative, as he challenged the existing religious norms and authorities.

The metaphor he uses would be readily understood by his audience, who lived in a time when clothes were valuable, and repairs were common.

The parable speaks to the tension between the rigid adherence to the old Jewish laws and the new teachings that Jesus brought forward.

Theological Insights

The verse has been interpreted in several theological contexts:

Replacement Theology: Some view it as an indication that the new covenant in Christ replaces the old Mosaic covenant.
Fulfillment Theology: Others see Jesus' teachings not as a replacement but as a fulfillment and completion of the old law.
Continuity and Discontinuity: The verse also speaks to the idea of continuity and discontinuity in God's salvific plan; while there is a connection between the old and new, there is also a stark contrast and a new direction that Jesus' message takes.
Grace versus Law: The verse contrasts the grace found in Jesus with the law of the old covenant, highlighting that grace can't just augment the law; it must transform the believer completely.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 2:21 encourages individuals to fully embrace new beginnings rather than trying to mix old habits with new insights.

It's a call to not be half-hearted in one's spiritual transformation but to be willing to let go of outdated practices or beliefs that might hinder growth.

This can apply to personal habits, religious practices, or broader societal changes.

Cross-References

Here are a few related verses:

Hebrews 8:13: "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.

Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."

Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"
Colossians 2:14: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

Language Study

The original Greek terms play a key role in understanding the verse:

"New cloth": The Greek word used is "agnaphos," meaning "unshrunk," "new," or "unprocessed."
"Old garment": The Greek term is "palaios himation," with "palaios" meaning "old" or "antiquated," and "himation" meaning a garment or cloak.

Analyzing these terms underscores the theme of incompatibility between the new and old, as the unshrunk fabric would react differently to conditions than the older material.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The metaphor used by Jesus can be compared to various cultural practices where old and new elements are brought together with either harmonious or discordant results.

In many ancient religions, the idea of renewing or replacing old rituals with new ones was a common way of evolving religious practices.

Yet, in Judaism, there was a strong tendency to preserve tradition, which is why Jesus' message was seen as radical.

Scientific Perspectives

While not directly related to science, the verse's metaphor can be tied to the concept of incompatibility and change over time, things that are common subjects in various scientific fields like materials science and evolutionary biology.

Just as materials have properties that may not always integrate well, in biological evolution, new traits can supplant old ones, leading to substantial changes over time.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Mark 2:21:

John Calvin: Suggested that Jesus' teachings cannot be mixed with human traditions, as this would distort their meaning.
William Barclay: Noted that Jesus' message cannot be confined within the structures of existing practices or beliefs.
David Guzik: Comments on the necessity of understanding that Jesus brought something new and that the new life in Jesus must not be hindered by old structures or customs.

Mark 2

Mark 2

What does Mark 2:21 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 2:21 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?