Lange Commentary - Mark 2:13 - 2:17

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Lange Commentary - Mark 2:13 - 2:17


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Second Conflict.—The Eating with Publicans and Sinners. Mar_2:13-17

(Parallels: Mat_9:9-13; Luk_5:27-32.)

13And he went forth again by the sea-side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. 15And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat [reclined] at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat [reclined] also together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him. 16And 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? 17When Jesus heard it, the 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.

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

See on the parallels of Matthew and Luke.—The narrative of Mark has here also its characteristic traits of vividness. A congregation of the people around Christ at the sea-side, and a discourse uttered there, form the introduction to the calling of Matthew. From Mar_2:15 we learn that many followed the Lord who belonged to the class of publicans and sinners (excommunicated persons). Meanwhile Matthew (Mar_9:13) alone has our Lord’s appeal to the saying of Hosea (Mar_6:6).

Mar_2:13. Forth (from the town), again (Mar_1:16) by the sea-side.—Setting plainly before us the position of Capernaum, connected probably with the sea by a suburb of fishers’ huts and custom-houses.

Mar_2:14. Levi (see the explanation in Matthew) the son of Alpheus.—Not to be confounded with Alpheus the father of James the Less.

Mar_2:15. In his house.—Not in his own house, as Meyer thinks. See on Matthew. The ἠêïëïýèçóáí must be understood of the spiritual following of the disciples, and not merely of outward accompanying.

Mar_2:16. When the Pharisees (see on Matthew) saw Him.—Not coming into the house, which is improbable; but as observers of the feast, after which they came forward towards the disciples coming out.

DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL

1. See on the parallels of Matthew and Luke.

2. The offence taken at our Lord’s table-fellowship with publicans and sinners has significance, first, in respect to Church principles as against Donatism and Novatianism; and, secondly, in relation to the true idea of communion as against Confessionalism; and, thirdly, in favor of Christian and social intercourse in opposition to the narrowness of Pietism.

3. The holy intercourse of Christ with sinners, the redemption of the world, is here represented in a concentrated image.

HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL

1. See on Matthew.—The multitude of the needy people gave the Lord occasion to summon helpers to Himself.—Levi (Matthew) better than his reputation: a warning against all premature condemnation of our neighbor.—How different is the glance of our Lord’s eyes into the world from that of the Pharisees’ eyes!—Christ in the house of publicans and sinners an offence to the Pharisee; Christ in the house of the Pharisee was not strange and repulsive to sinners (the woman, Luk_7:37): 1. Historical; 2. typical.—The feast in which Christ is a guest.—The feasts in which Christ was a guest all-saving and decisive for souls.—The slavish dread with which our Lord’s enemies come to attack His disciples.—The attempt of His enemies to turn away His disciples from the Lord.—The narrative of the gradual boldness of our Lord’s opponents: 1. The features of its development; 2. its symbolical character.—The mission of Christ a Gospel for sinners, who are in evil case: 1. For them with full assurance; 2. for them preëminently, and before those who think themselves sound; 3. for them in contradistinction to the others.—Jesus come for all, according to the law that He has come only for the sick.—The feast of Christ an expression of His Gospel.—The feast of a Christian an expression of his Christian vocation.—How this history stands in full harmony with Psa_1:1.

Starke, Quesnel:—Grace draws Matthew from the love of gold, and makes of him an apostle; the love of gold drew Judas away from Christ and his apostleship.—Hedinger:—As soon as God is revealed in thee, take no long counsel with flesh and blood.—Jesus receiveth sinners.—A converted man should bring all his acquaintance to God, and take care for their salvation.—Those are shameful enemies of the truth, who put on the guise of godliness but deny its power.—Quesnel:—He who has not love cannot understand what another may do in care for his neighbor’s salvation.—Be patient, and slow to judgment, 1Co_4:3.—That in which the children of God find their joy and blessedness is hateful to the wicked.—The more a man thinks himself righteous, the further does he remove himself from Christ.—Jesus calls to repentance.—We must bring into the pastoral work a heart filled with true sympathy with the wretched, and with Jesus the Physician.

Gerlach:—Every invitation to a feast was for Jesus an occasion for issuing His invitation to the heavenly feast.—Lisco:—Jesus the one Physician for all.—Schleiermacher:—The Pharisees a pure counterpart of the publicans.—The calling to repentance (that is, to change of mind) the essence of the work of Christ.—He describes them (the Pharisees) as they described themselves; but in such a manner that they could not but see that He thought quite differently concerning them (irony).—We should always, in our friendly social life, have spiritual things in view.

Mar_2:17.—The addition åἰò ìåôÜíïéáí is found only in cursive MSS., after Luk_5:32.