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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_2:1-12
1When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic, 11"I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home." 12And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Mar_2:1 "Capernaum" The name means "village of Nahum." Because of the unbelief of the people in Nazareth, Jesus chose this town in Galilee (cf. Mat_4:13) as His headquarters. It was located on a major caravan route from Damascus to Egypt. For further discussion see Cities of the Biblical World by Moine F. DeVries, pp. 269-275.
▣ "it was heard" Jesus' reputation caused many people to come and see Him (i.e., the sick, the curious, the true seekers, and the religious leaders). Jesus' words are often addressed to different groups in the audience, but to which group is not usually recorded.
▣ "He was at home" Whether this was Peter's or Mary's house or a rent house is uncertain.
Mar_2:2 "many were gathered" In eastern societies an open door meant "come on in," and they did.
▣ "there was no longer any room even around the door" There may have been a small courtyard, but even so, this home would not hold a lot of people.
▣ "He was speaking the word to them" This is an Imperfect active indicative, which can be understood as (1) the beginning of an act or (2) the repeating of an act. The "word" refers to Jesus' recurring message stated in Mar_1:14-15. His signs and actions changed, but the central core of His message remained the same.
Mar_2:3 "a paralytic" This is a compound of "to loose" and "along side." Possibly this was a stroke victim, paralyzed on one side. Jesus' actions had a twin purpose: (1) to fulfill the Messianic prophecy of Isa_61:6 and (2) to proclaim His deity and authority by forgiving sin. For those who had spiritual eyes this was a clear, unambiguous sign!
Mar_2:4 "removed the roof" This is literally "they unroofed the roof." Roofs were accessible from the street and were often the place of social gatherings. They were usually flat and made of mud and branches with grass. Luk_5:19 has "tiles" which might imply a courtyard. Can you imagine Jesus trying to teach while pieces of the roof fell on all of them?
▣ "pallet" This was a small straw mat used for sleeping.
Mar_2:5 "their faith" Jesus saw the faith of the friends as well as the paralytic's faith and acted on their belief.
▣ "your sins are forgiven" This was probably or possibly an intentional provocation to the religious leaders who were present. Jesus was also encouraging this man's faith. The Jews believed there was a relationship between illness and sin (cf. Job; Joh_9:2; Jas_5:15-16). This man may have been concerned that his sin was somehow involved in his paralysis.
The UBS4 text has a present passive indicative. Some Greek texts have a perfect passive indicative (cf. P88, à , A, C, D, L, W), which is like Luk_5:20. However, Mat_9:2 and MS B have a present passive indicative. It is hard to choose which of these two options is original.
Mar_2:6 "scribes" These were experts on the oral and written Law. They were either (1) an official delegation from Jerusalem sent to keep an eye on Jesus or (2) local interpreters of the Jewish traditions for the townspeople. They must have come early to get into the house or they expected to be allowed to move to the front because of their social status. See hyperlink at Mar_1:22.
NASB, NKJV "reasoning in their hearts"
NRSV "questioning in their hearts"
TEV, NJB "thought to themselves"
The theological question is did Jesus read their thoughts, thus showing another evidence of His deity (cf. 1Sa_16:7; Psa_7:9; Psa_139:1-4; Pro_16:2; Pro_21:2; Pro_24:12; Jer_11:20; Jer_17:10; Jer_20:12; Luk_16:15; Act_15:8; Heb_4:12), or did He know their traditions and see their facial expressions?
This itself (cf. Mar_2:8) may have been another sign. The rabbis interpreted Isa_11:3 as the Messiah being able to discern people's thoughts.
hyperlink
Mar_2:7 "He is blaspheming" The penalty for blasphemy was death by stoning (cf. Lev_24:16). Jesus was guilty of this charge unless He was deity. Jesus' forgiving sin is also a not-so-subtle claim to deity or at least being a representative of divine power and authority.
▣ "who can forgive sins but God alone" Jesus' message of repentance and faith (cf. Mar_1:14-15) was predicated on the assumption of the sinfulness of all humans (even the OT covenant people, cf. Rom_3:9-18). Sin is serious and has not only a temporal fellowship aspect, but an eternal eschatology aspect. Sin, and its power and consequences, is why Jesus came (cf. Mar_10:45; 2Co_5:21).
Only God can forgive sin because sin is primarily against Him (cf. Gen_20:6; Gen_39:9; 2Sa_12:13; Psa_41:4; Psa_51:4). Since the book of Isaiah is a recurrent reference (or allusion) in Mark's Gospel here are some verses in Isaiah that deal with the new age and forgiveness: Isa_1:18; Isa_33:24; Isa_38:17; Isa_43:25; Isa_44:22. This is another Messianic sign.
Mar_2:8; Mar_2:12 "Immediately" See note at Mar_1:10.
▣ "Jesus, aware" See note at Mar_2:7.
▣ "in His spirit" The Greek uncial manuscripts of the NT did not have
1. space between the words
2. punctuation marks
3. capitalization (all letters were capitals)
4. verse and chapter divisions
Therefore, only context can determine the need for capitals. Usually capitals are used for
1. names for deity
2. place names
3. personal names
The term "spirit" can refer to:
1. the Holy Spirit (cf. Mar_1:5)
2. the conscious personal aspect of humanity (cf. Mar_8:12; Mar_14:38)
3. some being of the spiritual realm (i.e., unclean spirits, cf. Mar_1:23).
In this context it refers to Jesus as a person.
I personally reject the theological concept of humans having three aspects (body, soul, and spirit based on 1Th_5:23). Usually those who assert this concept turn this theological assumption into a hermeneutical grid by which all biblical texts are interpreted. These categories become airtight compartments by which God relates to humans. Humans are a unity (cf. Gen_2:7). For a good summary of the theories of mankind as trichotomous, dichotomous, or a unity see Frank Stagg's Polarities of Man's Existence in a Biblical Perspective and Millard J. Erickson's Christian Theology (second edition) pp. 538-557.
Mar_2:9; Mar_2:11 "'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'" These are two aorist imperatives followed by a present imperative. This was an instantaneous and lasting cure. It was done for three reasons.
1. because Jesus cared for the needy man and rewarded his and his friends' faith
2. to continue to teach the disciples the gospel as it relates to His person and mission
3. to continue to confront and dialog with the religious leaders
These religious leaders have only two options: believe in Him or explain away His power and authority.
Mar_2:10 "'the Son of Man'" This was an adjectival phrase from the OT. It was used in Eze_2:1 and Psa_8:4 in its true etymological meaning of "human being." However, it was used in Dan_7:13 in a unique context which implied both the humanity and deity of the person addressed by this new eschatological royal title (cf. Mar_8:38; Mar_9:9; Mar_13:26; Mar_14:26). Since this title was not used by rabbinical Judaism and therefore had none of the nationalistic, exclusivistic, militaristic implications, Jesus chose it as the perfect title of both veiling and revealing His dual nature, fully man and fully divine (cf. 1Jn_4:1-3). It was His favorite self-designation. It is used thirteen times in Mark (often in relation to Jesus' various sufferings, cf. Mar_8:31; Mar_9:12; Mar_9:31; Mar_10:33; Mar_10:45; Mar_14:21; Mar_14:41).
▣ "'has authority on earth to forgive sins'" Jesus performed this miracle for the purpose of witnessing to these scribes. This issue of authority (i.e., exousia) will become the focal issue. They cannot deny His power, so they will assert that His power and authority is demonic or Satanic in origin (cf. Mat_10:25; Mat_12:24-29; Luk_11:14-22).
Mar_2:12 "they were all amazed" This was not because of the healing; they had seen Him do that earlier, but for the forgiving of sins! They (the scribes and Pharisees) had their sign. Jesus clearly showed His power and authority. I wonder if these leaders were "glorifying God" on this occasion also.