American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Mark 2
1
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2
And straightway many were gathered together, so that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word to them.
Reference
3
And they come to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4
And when they could not come near to 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.
Reference
5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven you.
Reference
6
But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 8:17
7
Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 130:4
Job 14:4
Mark 14:64
Matthew 9:3
Matthew 26:65
References God
Daniel 9:9
Sin
Isaiah 43:25
Micah 7:18
Luke 5:21
Luke 7:49
8
And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said to them, Why reason you these things in your hearts?
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 8:22
Psalm 139:2
Luke 6:8
Luke 24:38
Ezekiel 38:10
References Jesus
Matthew 9:4
John 6:64
Luke 5:22
Spirit
Acts 5:3
9
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?
Reference
Resurrection
Matthew 9:5
10
But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy,)
Reference
11
I say to you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 1:41
12
And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Reference
13
And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted to him, and he taught them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 4:1
14
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said to him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 6:15
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.
Reference
Sin
Luke 15:1
16
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said to his disciples, How is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 19:10
Isaiah 65:5
1 Corinthians 2:15
Resurrection
Luke 18:11
Acts 23:9
Sin
Luke 19:7
17
When Jesus heard it, he said to 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 19:10
John 9:40
Luke 15:29
Matthew 18:10
Repentance
Acts 20:21
Righteousness
Luke 15:7
Isaiah 55:7
Sin
Luke 15:10
Isaiah 1:18
Titus 2:14
18
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not?
Reference
19
And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridal chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
Reference
21
No man also sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
Reference
22
And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine does burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Reference
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.
24
And the Pharisees said to him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
Reference
25
And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him?
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 10:26
26
How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the show bread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
Reference
27
And he said to them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Reference
Creation
John 7:23
Parallel theme
Colossians 2:16
Deuteronomy 5:14
Luke 6:9
Isaiah 58:13
Ezekiel 20:12
Ezekiel 20:20
Exodus 23:12
Summary of Mark 2
Mark 2 begins with Jesus returning to Capernaum, where His reputation has become so great that a large crowd fills the house where He is teaching, leaving no room even around the entrance.
Four people bring a paralyzed man to Jesus, but because the crowd blocks their path, they make an opening in the roof and lower the man directly in front of Jesus, demonstrating extraordinary determination and confidence that Jesus can help him.
Rather than immediately healing the man's physical condition, Jesus first declares that his sins are forgiven, which causes several teachers of the law to question His authority because they believe that forgiveness ultimately belongs to God.
Jesus knows their thoughts and then demonstrates His authority by healing the man, commanding him to get up, take his mat, and go home, and the man's immediate recovery provides visible evidence that Jesus possesses authority not only to heal but also to forgive sins.
Jesus then calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him, and Levi responds immediately, later hosting Jesus at a meal where many tax collectors and other people considered sinners are present.
The religious teachers criticize Jesus for associating with such people, but Jesus explains that those who are spiritually sick need a physician, and He has come to call sinners to repentance rather than those who believe they are already righteous.
The chapter then addresses questions about fasting, with Jesus explaining that His disciples are like guests celebrating with a bridegroom while He is present, meaning that His arrival represents a time of joy, although He also points toward a future period when the bridegroom will be taken away and fasting will again be appropriate.
Jesus follows this teaching with the illustrations of new cloth and new wine, emphasizing that His ministry cannot simply be added as another small adjustment to existing religious expectations because the new work of God's kingdom requires a corresponding new way of understanding God's purposes.
The final section focuses on the Sabbath, when Jesus' hungry disciples pick grain while walking through the fields, prompting the Pharisees to accuse them of breaking Sabbath regulations.
Jesus responds by referring to David's actions when he and his companions were hungry, demonstrating that human need and God's purposes must be understood together rather than through rigid rules that ignore the reason the command was given.
Jesus concludes with the powerful statement that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath, and then declares that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Mark 2 therefore develops a consistent theme of Jesus' authority, showing that He has authority to forgive sins, heal sickness, call socially rejected people, redefine the meaning of religious practices, and interpret the Sabbath according to God's intended purpose.
The chapter also shows the beginning of a growing conflict between Jesus and religious leaders, because His actions challenge established expectations about sin, purity, fasting, religious tradition, and Sabbath observance.
The central message is that Jesus came to bring God's kingdom with a new kind of authority and mercy, calling sinners to repentance, restoring broken people, and teaching that religious practices must serve God's purposes rather than become burdens that prevent people from experiencing His grace.
Mark 2 ultimately presents Jesus as the authoritative Son of Man who brings forgiveness, healing, mercy, and renewal, while His willingness to welcome outsiders and challenge rigid religious interpretations reveals a kingdom centered not on legalistic appearance but on God's transforming purpose and compassion.
Four people bring a paralyzed man to Jesus, but because the crowd blocks their path, they make an opening in the roof and lower the man directly in front of Jesus, demonstrating extraordinary determination and confidence that Jesus can help him.
Rather than immediately healing the man's physical condition, Jesus first declares that his sins are forgiven, which causes several teachers of the law to question His authority because they believe that forgiveness ultimately belongs to God.
Jesus knows their thoughts and then demonstrates His authority by healing the man, commanding him to get up, take his mat, and go home, and the man's immediate recovery provides visible evidence that Jesus possesses authority not only to heal but also to forgive sins.
Jesus then calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him, and Levi responds immediately, later hosting Jesus at a meal where many tax collectors and other people considered sinners are present.
The religious teachers criticize Jesus for associating with such people, but Jesus explains that those who are spiritually sick need a physician, and He has come to call sinners to repentance rather than those who believe they are already righteous.
The chapter then addresses questions about fasting, with Jesus explaining that His disciples are like guests celebrating with a bridegroom while He is present, meaning that His arrival represents a time of joy, although He also points toward a future period when the bridegroom will be taken away and fasting will again be appropriate.
Jesus follows this teaching with the illustrations of new cloth and new wine, emphasizing that His ministry cannot simply be added as another small adjustment to existing religious expectations because the new work of God's kingdom requires a corresponding new way of understanding God's purposes.
The final section focuses on the Sabbath, when Jesus' hungry disciples pick grain while walking through the fields, prompting the Pharisees to accuse them of breaking Sabbath regulations.
Jesus responds by referring to David's actions when he and his companions were hungry, demonstrating that human need and God's purposes must be understood together rather than through rigid rules that ignore the reason the command was given.
Jesus concludes with the powerful statement that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath, and then declares that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Mark 2 therefore develops a consistent theme of Jesus' authority, showing that He has authority to forgive sins, heal sickness, call socially rejected people, redefine the meaning of religious practices, and interpret the Sabbath according to God's intended purpose.
The chapter also shows the beginning of a growing conflict between Jesus and religious leaders, because His actions challenge established expectations about sin, purity, fasting, religious tradition, and Sabbath observance.
The central message is that Jesus came to bring God's kingdom with a new kind of authority and mercy, calling sinners to repentance, restoring broken people, and teaching that religious practices must serve God's purposes rather than become burdens that prevent people from experiencing His grace.
Mark 2 ultimately presents Jesus as the authoritative Son of Man who brings forgiveness, healing, mercy, and renewal, while His willingness to welcome outsiders and challenge rigid religious interpretations reveals a kingdom centered not on legalistic appearance but on God's transforming purpose and compassion.