In today’s study, we have these titles. Verses 1-12 Jesus heals a palsied man. Verses 13-14 Jesus calls Levi (Matthew). Verses 15-17 Jesus eats with sinners. Verses 18-22 The question about fasting. Verses 23-28 The purpose of the Sabbath. Mark 2 and verse 1 reads.
Mark 2:1] And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
In Matthew 4:13 we learned that Jesus left Nazareth and began to dwell in Capernaum. And in Matthew 9:1 we learned that he called Capernaum his own city.
Mark 2:2] 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.
It was noised of his coming, so many came that there was little room to bring the sick to be healed.
Mark 2:3] And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
[4] 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.
These four with the man with palsy equals five, which in biblical numerical, means; Grace. Now these four men not only showed Faith by carrying the man, but also Works by digging the roof and lowering him down. Let’s go to James 2 and verse 17 reads.
James 2:17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
[19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Now let’s go to Revelations 14 and verse 13 reads.
Rev.14:13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
We took this detour to show that first, without faith there can be no healing. Second, without works faith is dead. Third, works are the only thing we can take with us to heaven. Back to Mark 2, Jesus is impressed with their works and their faith, verse 5 reads.
Mark 2:5] When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
We know that only God can forgive sins. We also know Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 that a virgin will conceive and bare a son and call him Emmanuel. Which is to say God with us. Now, these scribes obviously haven’t read Isa.7:14 and we continue.
Mark 2:6] But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
[7] Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
How right they are. Let’s go to Isaiah 43 and verse 25 reads.
Isa.43:25] I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
I, even I, twice for great emphasis. Only he can blot out sin so that as if it never existed. But, he continues, verse 26 reads.
Isa.43:26] Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
What he is saying here is; Remind me of my promises, for they justify you. It’s not that he has forgotten, he wants to know if you have read them. Now, because of Isaiah 7:14, God with us, these scribes have proven they don’t know the Word of God, and we have standing before them the very Word of God himself. Mark 2 and verse 8 reads.
Mark 2:8] 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?
Not only is God the only one who can forgive sins, he also is the only one who can read your thoughts.
Mark 2:9] 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?
These are of my favorite verses in the New Testaments. He asked them a question without letting them answer.
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,)
[11] I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
[12] 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.
This is why it’s my favorite healing. He questions them with which is easier to speak, thy sins be forgiven or stand, take up thy bed and walk. To say your sins be forgiven is easy, but to heal is something none of the priests could do. He did this by simply speaking it. This is why all who witnessed were amazed and glorified God, not Jesus, but God. Who could argue with that, certainly not the scribes.
Mark 2:13] And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
[14] 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.
This Levi is Matthew, the writer of the gospel Matthew. Let’s look at his name, G3018 Leuis pronounced lyoo-is’. And means; Joined. Levi or Lewis in English.
Mark 2:15] 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.
They sat at meat in Matthew’s house. Though Matthew was a tax collector, he was highly educated and not as other tax collectors. He was a Hebrew and knew scriptures very well. When Jesus said follow me, he was called, chosen and Sent (apostle means; Sent). Has God opened your eyes to his Truth, then you too are called and chosen and will be sent.
Mark 2:16] 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?
[17] 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.
Jesus didn’t say it, but these scribes and Pharisees were bigger sinners than those who sat at meat with Jesus. Because they thinking they were holier than thou, are an abomination to the LORD. Let’s go to Isaiah 65 and verse 3 reads.
Isa.65:3] A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
[4] Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
[5] Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
And Jesus while teaching about the lost sheep said in Matthew 18 and verse 10 reads.
Mat.18:10] Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
[11] For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
And in 1Timothy verse 15 reads.
1Tim.1:15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
This was Paul speaking of himself when he said; Of whom I am chief. Paul persecuted the Christians until Jesus himself met him on the road to Damascus and called him and chose him and Sent him. Back to Mark 2 and verse 18 reads.
Mark 2:18] 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?
Notice these disciples are from both John the Baptist and the Pharisees. Let’s look at this word Fast. G3522 nēsteuō pronounced nace-tyoo’-o and means; to abstain from food (religiously). 1. to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days. We can see how today some choose to go several days, and get to pick which foods they want to fast from. I don’t fast because Jesus is Risen and not left in the Tomb.
Mark 2:19] 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.
For us today let this sink in, are we not waiting for that marriage to the Lamb.
Mark 2:20] But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
The days will come, three days in the tomb. His disciples will only have to fast for three days. Now, we come to another parable and this is very important to learn, so let’s pay close attention.
Mark 2:21] 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.
My generation can understand this better than today’s generation because we grew up with patches on our blue jeans. If you sow a new patch on an old pair of jeans then at the first washing, they will pucker. And the jeans will be ruined. You must sow an old piece on a old pair of jeans or a new piece on a new pair before it is washed, then the jeans will weather together.
Mark 2:22] 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.
Another parable similar to the first. This time he uses bottles. Bottles are made of lamb skins sewed together to form a pocket. In which, when it is new is still pliable. Because new wine expands when it ferments, it needs pliable skins. But old wine skins are hard and not pliable, thus the new wine will burst the old skins. Now, what do these two parables mean? Before you can teach the Truth of God’s Word, you must take away the false teaching they have been taught. Remember when Jesus taught his disciples about the baskets that were taken away when he fed the five thousand (twelve) or the baskets that were taken away when he fed the four thousand (seven). Let’s go to Matthew 16 and verse 9 reads.
Mat.16:9] Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
[10] Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
[11] How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
[12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Take away the traditions of men, which are false doctrines before you teach others the Truth. Now, this next lesson is for God’s Elect. Back to Mark 2 and verse 23 reads.
Mark 2:23] 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.
Being on the sabbath will be a problem, of course with the Pharisees, but what of these corn fields. Let’s go to Deuteronomy 23 and verse 25 reads.
Deu.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.
You can eat of his field but you cannot harvest his field. Back to Mark 2 and verse 24 reads.
Mark 2:24] And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
Funny how these Pharisees will bring up law to the Word of God. But before we continue, let’s look at the law. Let’s go to Exodus 20 where we find the fourth commandment, and verse 10 reads.
Exo.20:8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
[11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
It did not say, thou shalt not eat corn in the fields. It said do no work on the sabbath. Let’s go to Exodus 31 and verse 12 reads.
Exo.31:12] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[13] Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
[14] Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
[15] Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
[16] Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
[17] It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
First let me show you here it says for the children of Israel, and not for the gentiles. Second, it is lawful to eat the corn, even if it is in your neighbor’s field. But Jesus will set them straight on just who is who between his disciples and them. Back to Mark 2 and verse 25 reads.
Mark 2:25] 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?
[26] 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?
Abiathar means; father of abundance. This priest, unlike the high priest in the time of Jesus, was appointed by God. Caiphas was appointed by a Roman general. Abiathar is the son of Ahimelech which means; brother to the king. Let’s go to 1Samuel 21 and verse 1 reads.
1Sam.21:1] Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
[2] And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
[3] Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
[4] And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
[5] And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
[6] So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
Showing us here that king David was a priest, he was anointed by Samuel. And his men with him were priests also, showing us that God’s Elect are priests in these end times as well. But let’s not overlook Jesus brought us here for a reason. It’s the shewbread, Jesus is our Daily Bread, and we sabbath (rest) in him every day, not just one day of the week. Back to Mark 2 and verse 27 reads.
Mark 2:27] And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
[28] Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Let’s go to 1Corinthians 5 and verse 6 reads.
1Cor.5:6] Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Remember the shewbread and the parable of the baskets. The leaven represents sin.
1Cor.5:7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Not our Easter, but our Passover Lamb. The Passover is the high sabbath, and Jesus became our Passover.
1Cor.5:8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Remove all false doctrines before teaching your brothers and sisters the truth. Start over from the beginning, without the first six chapters of God’s Word the end can not be understood. Great study today. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible