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 2:6 mean?

Explanation

Mark 2:6 refers to an incident in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is teaching in a house that is so filled with people that some have to remove a section of the roof to lower a paralyzed man down to him on a mat.

The verse states, "But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts," which describes the presence of scribes who were silently questioning Jesus' actions, particularly His claim of having the authority to forgive sins.

These scribes, being experts in Jewish law, were likely skeptical or critical of Jesus' statement, analyzing it within their understanding of religious law and possibly considering it blasphemous since only God can forgive sins.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, scribes were well-educated individuals who were skilled in writing and interpreting the Jewish scriptures.

They were often associated with the Pharisees, a religious group that strictly adhered to Jewish law and tradition.

The historical context of this verse occurs early in Jesus' ministry in the region of Galilee.

Jewish religious leaders were beginning to notice Jesus and question His teachings and authority. The encounter takes place in a society where religious authority was paramount, and any challenge to that authority, especially regarding the forgiveness of sins, was a serious matter.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse is significant as it highlights the divine authority of Jesus.

The scribes' reasoning in their hearts suggests a conflict between the established religious order and the new teachings being brought by Jesus.

This conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders is a recurrent theme in the Gospels and emphasizes the distinction between the laws of men and the grace of God.

Practical Applications

The verse can be viewed as an encouragement to recognize and question where there may be conflicts between traditional religious understandings and the teachings of Jesus.

It is an invitation to not merely accept the teachings of those in authority but to seek a deeper personal understanding of faith. In today's context, it may suggest that individuals be aware of their internal skepticism and biases when encountering new interpretations of faith and spirituality.

Cross-References

Mark 2:7: "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"
Luke 5:21: "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
Matthew 9:3: "And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth."

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse is "reasoning in their hearts" (Greek: "dialogizomenoi en tais kardiais auton"), where "dialogizomenoi" is derived from the word "dialogizomai," meaning to reason, debate internally, or consider.

"Kardiais" is the dative plural of "kardia," meaning heart, denoting the inner thoughts or intentions. This indicates that the scribes' questioning took place internally, not openly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of ancient religious traditions, the power to forgive sins was often reserved for deities.

The confrontation depicted in Mark 2:6 echoes the sensitivity of attributing divine powers to a human figure, a motif seen across various ancient mythologies wherein individuals who position themselves as possessing divine attributes are often met with skepticism or hostility from established religious figures.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse itself does not have direct scientific implications, as it deals with religious authority and the nature of forgiveness, which are theological and moral concepts.

However, the understanding of internal thought processes and silent reasoning may intersect with psychological studies on cognitive processes, belief systems, and how individuals react internally to challenges to their beliefs.

Commentaries

Modern biblical scholars and commentators highlight the significance of the scribes' internal dialogue as a narrative device to establish Jesus' divine authority.

They often note the scribes' role in laying the groundwork for the increasing tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities that culminates in His eventual trial and crucifixion.

They suggest that this narrative emphasizes the silent, yet critical, resistance among the learned religious elite to Jesus' claim of authority to forgive sins, an authority they believed belonged solely to God.

Mark 2

Mark 2

What does Mark 2:6 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 2:6 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?