Mark 2:1 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters | Metropolitan Tabernacle

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Mark 2:1

Comments

This healing is singled out because of the remarkable lengths to which some were ready to go to reach Christ, and for the lessons about forgiveness which Christ taught through it. Luke says that many Pharisees and teachers of the law were present on this occasion. They had come from every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. They felt threatened by Christ’s ministry and came to find fault with him, which we soon find them doing. Because they were not prepared to confess their sins and accept a spiritual Messiah, they saw him as their enemy. But they were careful about how they launched their attack, because they knew how popular he was with the common people, so they hid their hatred until an opportune time. Christ had to deal with much subtlety and cunning from his enemies throughout his ministry.The population of Capernaum was about 2000: everybody knew everyone, and his presence could not be hidden. Mark tells us that the crowds quickly gathered around so that it became difficult to get close to him. He was ‘in the house’ (Mark 2:1), or more literally ‘in a house’ or ‘at home’. This probably refers to the previous house mentioned – that of Simon Peter (Mark 1:29, 33) – but it may be some other house to which he had been invited. The crowd were inside and outside and were so packed that there was no longer room to get near the door. This explains Mark’s account of events, which gives us the most detailed account of the measures taken to get close to him. The crowds saw their physical needs clearly enough, but was there the same urgency about the sickness of their souls which was always with them? Capernaum was later to be solemnly warned for not repenting. For now Christ teaches them, but why have they come? To behold a spectacle? He expounded the Scriptures. And always the theme that he would lead up to – because Mark tells us that a few verses earlier – are the twin themes of repentance and remission of sin.

Application

The Pharisees were ‘sitting by’ – a pregnant phrase – out of sympathy with the general excitement. They looked as if didn’t belong there. More and more the crowds felt he was the Messiah, but the Pharisees were cynical, critical. They thought they kept the law and so were better, superior. They objected to Christ’s command to come to God. How many who hear the gospel are ‘sitting by’, cool about this message? You listen because someone wants you to hear. You are perfectly well-behaved, but at a distance. You want to sit by and say, this has nothing to offer me.

Christ’s power was ‘present to heal’, and yet that power was not operating on all. Why? Because many of the Pharisees didn’t see their need. Often it happens that one here or there is converted, but others look on unaffected by the message because they cannot accept they are sinners. Many were healed but the cynical went untouched. ‘I am not that sinner; I am not interested in heaven.’ People around us can be converted and we are untouched because we are disconnected.

Questions

The healing of the paralytic took place before the visit to Decapolis, and, as Hendriksen argues, the chronology of events is better established by Mark’s Gospel. Matthew’s material is often arranged topically rather than in chronological order. Although Matthew’s previous verse has brought us back to Capernaum where this healing took place, this is not the same entry to Capernaum as is recorded in Marks’s parallel account (Mark 2:1). Mark is recording a return to Capernaum after being in the desert places, while Matthew has the ship return to Capernaum after being in Decapolis.

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Mark 2:1 Commentary and Bible Study