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 2:5 mean?

Explanation

Mark 2:5 recounts an event in which Jesus heals a man with palsy, commonly understood as some form of paralysis.

The verse captures a profound moment where Jesus notices the faith of the people who brought the paralytic man to Him, probably involving some hardship, as they went so far as to remove part of the roof to lower the man into the room.

Jesus' response to their faith is not immediately to heal the physical condition, but to address the man spiritually by forgiving his sins.

This indicates that, in Jesus’ view, the spiritual wellbeing of the man was of paramount importance, and it also implicitly claims His divine authority to forgive sins, a prerogative typically ascribed only to God.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

At the time of this event, Jesus was in Capernaum, a town on the Sea of Galilee, where He had performed previous miracles.

Capernaum became the center of Jesus' ministry after leaving Nazareth.

The healing of the paralytic took place in a private home, which Jesus often used as venues for teaching and healing.

Jewish religious leaders were present, scrutinizing Jesus’ actions and teachings. The act of bringing the sick on a bed to Jesus shows the communal involvement and desperate need for healing, as medical knowledge in ancient times was limited compared to modern medicine.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations arise from this verse.

One perspective emphasizes Jesus' divine authority to forgive sins, which is a core belief in Christian theology.

Another perspective suggests that the communal faith of those bringing the paralytic to Jesus played a role in the healing process, underlining the communal nature of faith.

There's also a controversial discussion concerning the relationship between sin and illness, though most Christian theologians would argue against a simplistic causation and rather see Jesus’ statement as a way to address the holistic needs of the person.

Practical Applications

The applications of this verse in daily life can be manifold.

One is the importance of faith and community support in seeking healing, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual.

It also encourages believers to acknowledge Jesus' authority in all areas of their lives and come to Him for forgiveness.

Furthermore, it teaches that taking bold actions, such as the friends of the paralytic did, can lead to significant changes and blessings.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:2: "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."
Luke 5:20: "And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee."
Mark 2:10: "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,)"

Language Study

The original Greek for key terms in this verse includes:

"saw" (εἶδεν): Recognized or perceived with emphasis on the in-depth perception.
"faith" (πίστις): Trust, belief, or confidence toward Jesus.
"forgiven" (ἀφίενταί): A release or letting go of sins, with the implication of cancelling a debt.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the Greco-Roman world, miraculous healings were often attributed to gods and demigods like Asclepius.

However, Jesus' healings stand apart in that they were accompanied by forgiveness of sins, which was a unique assertion aligned with Jewish understanding of God's exclusive authority to forgive, yet novel in that Jesus, a man, claimed to exercise this divine function.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science distinguishes between physical and psychological causes for diseases, unlike in ancient times when they were often intertwined with spiritual beliefs.

However, contemporary research on psychosomatic medicine does suggest that mental and spiritual states can affect physical health. That being said, the miraculous healing described in this verse cannot be explained by scientific means and is considered a matter of faith.

Commentaries

Various Biblical commentators provide insights on this verse:

John Calvin emphasizes the primacy of forgiveness over physical healing and Jesus' authority to forgive sins.
William Barclay highlights the dramatic faith of the friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus.
Matthew Henry discusses the controversy sparked by Jesus forgiving sins and how this miracle validates Jesus’ claims about His identity and authority.

Mark 2

Mark 2

What does Mark 2:5 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 2:5 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?