21 And again he entered into Capernaum, after 'some' days, and it was heard that he is in the house, 2 and immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door, and he was speaking to them the word. 3 And they come unto him, bringing a paralytic, borne by four, 4 and not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken 'it' up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying, 5 and Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, 'Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.' 6 And there were certain of the scribes there sitting, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 'Why doth this one thus speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins except one—God?' 8 And immediately Jesus, having known in his spirit that they thus reason in themselves, said to them, 'Why these things reason ye in your hearts? 9 which is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk? 10 'And, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority on the earth to forgive sins—(he saith to the paralytic)— 11 I say to thee, Rise, and take up thy couch, and go away to thy house;' 12 and he rose immediately, and having taken up the couch, he went forth before all, so that all were astonished, and do glorify God, saying—'Never thus did we see.'
13 And he went forth again by the sea, and all the multitude was coming unto him, and he was teaching them, 14 and passing by, he saw Levi of Alpheus sitting at the tax-office, and saith to him, 'Be following me,' and he, having risen, did follow him. 15 And it came to pass, in his reclining (at meat) in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners were reclining (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. 16 And the scribes and the Pharisees, having seen him eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners, said to his disciples, 'Why—that with the tax-gatherers and sinners he doth eat and drink?' 17 And Jesus, having heard, saith to them, 'They who are strong have no need of a physician, but they who are ill; I came not to call righteous men, but sinners to reformation.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 2:1-17
Commentary on Mark 2:1-12
(Read Mark 2:1-12)
It was this man's misery that he needed to be so carried, and shows the suffering state of human life; it was kind of those who so carried him, and teaches the compassion that should be in men, toward their fellow-creatures in distress. True faith and strong faith may work in various ways; but it shall be accepted and approved by Jesus Christ. Sin is the cause of all our pains and sicknesses. The way to remove the effect, is to take away the cause. Pardon of sin strikes at the root of all diseases. Christ proved his power to forgive sin, by showing his power to cure the man sick of the palsy. And his curing diseases was a figure of his pardoning sin, for sin is the disease of the soul; when it is pardoned, it is healed. When we see what Christ does in healing souls, we must own that we never saw the like. Most men think themselves whole; they feel no need of a physician, therefore despise or neglect Christ and his gospel. But the convinced, humbled sinner, who despairs of all help, excepting from the Saviour, will show his faith by applying to him without delay.
Commentary on Mark 2:13-17
(Read Mark 2:13-17)
Matthew was not a good character, or else, being a Jew, he would never have been a publican, that is, a tax-gatherer for the Romans. However, Christ called this publican to follow him. With God, through Christ, there is mercy to pardon the greatest sins, and grace to change the greatest sinners, and make them holy. A faithful, fair-dealing publican was rare. And because the Jews had a particular hatred to an office which proved that they were subject to the Romans, they gave these tax-gatherers an ill name. But such as these our blessed Lord did not hesitate to converse with, when he appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh. And it is no new thing for that which is both well done and well designed, to be slandered, and turned to the reproach of the wisest and best of men. Christ would not withdraw, though the Pharisees were offended. If the world had been righteous, there had been no occasion for his coming, either to preach repentance, or to purchase forgiveness. We must not keep company with ungodly men out of love to their vain conversation; but we are to show love to their souls, remembering that our good Physician had the power of healing in himself, and was in no danger of taking the disease; but it is not so with us. In trying to do good to others, let us be careful we do not get harm to ourselves.