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 2:23 mean?

Explanation

Mark 2:23 is a passage from the New Testament that describes an event where Jesus and his disciples are walking through cornfields on the Sabbath.

As they travel, the disciples begin to pluck ears of corn.

According to Jewish law, the Sabbath was a day of rest, and any form of work was prohibited.

However, Deuteronomy 23:25 permitted an individual to pluck heads of grain with their hands when walking through a neighbor's grain field. Jesus would later use this event to teach about the purpose of the Sabbath and the nature of mercy over ritualistic adherence to the law.

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Historical Context

At the time of this writing, Jewish society was governed by the Torah, which included laws about observing the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11).

The Sabbath, being the seventh day of the week, was designated as a day of rest.

The Pharisees, a sect of Judaism known for their strict adherence to the law, often clashed with Jesus over interpretations of the law and the Sabbath.

The disciples' act of plucking grain could have been interpreted as reaping, which was considered work and therefore a violation of the Sabbath.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted from various perspectives:

Divine authority: Jesus' response in the following verses emphasizes that he has authority over the Sabbath, indicating his divine nature.
Mercy over law: It signifies a shift from strict adherence to the law towards a more compassionate understanding, where human need is placed above ritualistic practice.
Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath: This event exemplifies the idea that Jesus is the ultimate interpreter and fulfiller of the law, including the Sabbath.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse can be applied in the following ways:

Prioritizing human need: It encourages believers to assess laws and rules with compassion and prioritize helping and caring for others above ritual compliance.
Balancing rest and responsibility: It suggests that the need for rest (Sabbath) should be balanced with the pressing needs of life.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 23:25: "When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn."
Exodus 20:8-11: The command to keep the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:1-8: The parallel account of Jesus' disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text include:

διέπορευοντο (dieporeuonto): Translates to "they went," indicating a journey or passing through.
σπορίμων (sporimon): Translates to "corn fields" or "grainfields," referring to a place where grain is grown.
τοῖς σάββασι (tois sabbasi): Refers to "the Sabbath," a holy day of rest in Jewish tradition.
ἤρξαντο (ērxanto): Translates to "began," indicating the initiation of an action.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The Pharisaic interpretation of the Sabbath in Jesus' time can be compared to religious observances in other cultures where rituals, ceremonies, or strict adherence to religious laws play a vital role.

For instance, the concept of a day of rest is not unique to Judaism.

In ancient Babylon, there were days called "evil days" that had similar restrictions to labor.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly relate to scientific concerns, the concept of a day of rest aligns with modern understandings of the need for periodic rest for human health and well-being, as acknowledged by psychological and medical sciences.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Mark 2:23:

John Calvin: He saw this event as a demonstration of Christian liberty and a rejection of ceremonial laws that were abrogated by Christ.
William Barclay: Barclay contends that Jesus is emphasizing that the Sabbath should be a day of joy and refreshment, not legalistic constraint.
Craig Keener: In his commentary, Keener focuses on the social justice aspect, highlighting how the disciples' hunger was more important than ceremonial law.

Mark 2

Mark 2

What does Mark 2:23 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 2:23 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?