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 2:28 mean?

Explanation

Mark 2:28 serves as the conclusion of a debate between Jesus and the Pharisees about the observance of the Sabbath.

In this verse, Jesus makes a profound statement regarding His identity and authority over the Sabbath.

The verse suggests that the Son of Man (a title Jesus frequently used for Himself) is not bound by the Sabbath laws but has authority over them.

This entails that the Sabbath, which was given for the benefit of humanity, should not be an oppressive burden but a day of rest and liberation.

Fundamentally, Jesus is asserting His divine prerogative as the one who is ultimately sovereign over all religious practices and observances.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

At the time of Jesus, the Sabbath was considered a holy day of rest, with its observance commanded in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:8-11).

The Pharisees, a religious group in Judea, had developed elaborate oral traditions that specified what constituted work and was therefore prohibited on the Sabbath.

Their interpretations often led to a restrictive and legalistic observance of the Sabbath laws.

Jesus, in His ministry, challenged these traditions and emphasized the spirit rather than the letter of the law.

Mark 2:23-28 recounts an incident where Jesus’ disciples were accused of breaking the Sabbath by plucking heads of grain to eat.

In response, Jesus cites the example of King David and ends with the statement in verse 28, thereby claiming a higher understanding and authority over the Sabbath.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse provides significant insights into the person of Jesus Christ.

From a Christian perspective, Jesus, by referring to Himself as the Son of Man and claiming lordship over the Sabbath, is identifying Himself with the divine.

It underlines the notion of Jesus' divinity and messianic role as one who has come to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17).

This concept can evoke various responses from different theological viewpoints:

Orthodox Christianity would affirm this as an indication of Jesus’ divine nature. 2.

Non-Trinitarian groups might interpret it as Jesus possessing a special divine authority given by God but not equating him with God. 3.

Judaism would traditionally reject the interpretation of Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath since this title is reserved for God alone.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers to reflect on the purpose of religious observance and the meaning of rest. Practical applications include:

The importance of mercy and compassion over strict legalism.
Permission to rethink religious practices that may have become burdensome rather than life-giving.
The invitation to find true spiritual rest in the person of Jesus Christ.

Cross-References

Exodus 20:10 - "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work..."
Matthew 5:17 - "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
Matthew 12:8 - "For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day."

Language Study

In the Greek text, the term "Son of Man" (υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου) is a self-designation Jesus uses that has roots in Daniel 7:13, denoting a messianic figure.

The word "Lord" (κύριος) carries connotations of mastery, authority, and divinity.

The phrase "also of the sabbath" (καὶ τοῦ σαββάτου) indicates Jesus' authority extends over the institution of the Sabbath, not just other areas of life.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religious interpretations:

In Greco-Roman myths, gods often had dominion over specific aspects of life and worship; Jesus claiming lordship over the Sabbath echoes this type of total authority but within a monotheistic framework. 2.

Various religions emphasize the need for a day of rest or contemplation, but in Judaism particularly, the Sabbath is uniquely central; Jesus' reinterpretation of Sabbath observance was revolutionary and at odds with the conventional Jewish teaching of the time.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific understanding does not directly intersect with the theological claims of this verse.

However, modern psychology and medicine recognize the importance of rest for human health and well-being. In this sense, the principle of the Sabbath as a day of rest aligns with the necessity for humans to have regular periods of rest and recovery.

Commentaries

Commentators from various backgrounds provide different perspectives on Mark 2:28:

Traditional Christian commentators, like Matthew Henry, see this verse as evidence of Jesus' divine authority and a reminder of the liberating intent of the Sabbath. 2.

Contemporary scholars, such as N.

Wright, might emphasize Jesus' role as redefiner of Jewish traditions in light of His mission and identity. 3.

Critical scholars may focus more on the historical and textual context, analyzing how the Gospel writers presented Jesus in contrast to existing Jewish religious leadership.

Mark 2

Mark 2

What does Mark 2:28 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 2:28 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?