The Paralyzed Man Healed

When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. And (A)many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. (B)And some people *came, bringing to Him a man who was (C)paralyzed, carried by four men. And when they were unable to [a]get to Him because of the crowd, they (D)removed the roof [b]above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the (E)paralyzed man was lying. And Jesus, seeing their faith, *said to the paralyzed man, “Son, (F)your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! (G)Who can forgive sins except God alone?” Immediately Jesus, aware [c]in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, *said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the (H)paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He *said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and (I)were glorifying God, saying, “(J)We have never seen anything like this!”

13 And He went out again by the seashore; and (K)all the [d]people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.

Levi (Matthew) Called

14 (L)As He passed by, He saw [e](M)Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He *said to him, (N)Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

15 And it *happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and [f]sinners were [g]dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. 16 When (O)the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the [h]sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “(P)Why is He eating with tax collectors and [i]sinners?” 17 And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, (Q)It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

18 (R)John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they *came and *said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “While the groom is with them, [j]the attendants of the groom cannot fast, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the (S)days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast, on that day.

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, [k]the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

Question of the Sabbath

23 (T)And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while (U)picking the heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, (V)why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; 26 how he entered the house of God in the [l]time of (W)Abiathar the high priest, and ate the [m]consecrated bread, which (X)is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 Jesus said to them, (Y)The Sabbath [n]was made [o]for man, and (Z)not man [p]for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 2:4 Lit bring to
  2. Mark 2:4 Lit where He was
  3. Mark 2:8 Lit by
  4. Mark 2:13 Lit crowd
  5. Mark 2:14 Also called Matthew
  6. Mark 2:15 I.e., irreligious Jews
  7. Mark 2:15 Lit reclining with
  8. Mark 2:16 I.e., irreligious Jews
  9. Mark 2:16 I.e., irreligious Jews
  10. Mark 2:19 Lit sons of the bridal chamber
  11. Mark 2:21 Lit that which fills up
  12. Mark 2:26 Or passage about
  13. Mark 2:26 Lit loaves of presentation
  14. Mark 2:27 Or came into being
  15. Mark 2:27 Lit because of; or for the sake of
  16. Mark 2:27 Lit because of; or for the sake of

1-2 Some days later when Jesus came back to Capernaum, people heard that Jesus was back in town and many gathered at the house where He was staying. Soon the crowd overflowed from the house into the streets, and still more people pressed forward to hear Jesus teaching the message of God’s kingdom. Four men tried to bring a crippled friend to Him; but since the crowd prevented their carrying him close enough to get Jesus’ attention, they climbed up onto the roof, opened a hole in it, and lowered the paralyzed man on his mat down to Jesus.

Jesus recognized the faith of these men.

Jesus (to the paralyzed man): Son, your sins are forgiven.

6-7 Some scribes were sitting in the crowd, and they didn’t like what they were hearing.

Scribes (reasoning to themselves): What does this Jesus think He is doing? This kind of talk is blasphemy, an offense against the Most High! Only God can forgive sins.

At once Jesus realized what they were thinking. He turned to them.

Jesus: Why do My words trouble you so? Think about this: is it easier to tell this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to tell him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk”? 10 Still, I want to show you that the Son of Man has been given the authority on earth to forgive sins. (to the paralytic) 11 Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.

12 The man rose to his feet, immediately rolled up his mat, and walked out into the streets. Everyone in the crowd was amazed. All they could do was shake their heads, thank God for this miracle, and say to each other, “We’ve never seen anything like that!”

To some who believe wholeheartedly in God’s laws, Jesus is a troublemaker, a mere man who has a bad habit of making statements that take away from the honor due to the one true God. The “scribes” who make these kinds of accusations against Jesus are usually connected to the Pharisees (a Jewish sect popular with the people, mostly middle class, and religiously strict when it comes to following God’s laws) or the Sadducees (a smaller Jewish sect made up of priests and aristocrats from Jerusalem). While the two groups often clash with each other politically and theologically, they do find common ground—and sometimes even work together—in opposing Jesus.

13 Another time Jesus was out walking alongside the Sea of Galilee teaching the gathering crowd as He went. 14 He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the booth where he collected taxes.

Jesus (calling out to him): Follow Me.

Levi left the booth and went along with Him.

Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, like His invitations to all the disciples, involves a lot more than joining the caravan; Jesus’ invitation is for sinners to change their ways of life. Jesus makes it clear, despite the criticisms of some observers, that this invitation is indeed open to all—especially to the sinners who need it most. Jesus grants to those who choose Him not just companionship and forgiveness but the ability to truly receive a new identity and live a new life.

15 At Levi’s house, many tax collectors and other sinners—Jews who did not keep the strict purity laws of the Jewish holy texts—were dining with Jesus and His disciples. Jesus had attracted such a large following that all kinds of people surrounded Him. 16 When the Pharisees’ scribes saw who shared the table with Jesus, they were quick to criticize:

Scribes (to His disciples): If your master is such a righteous person, then why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners, the worst among us?

17 Jesus heard them.

Jesus (to the scribes): People who have their health don’t need to see a doctor. Only those who are sick do. I’m not here to call those already in good standing with God; I’m here to call sinners to turn back to Him.[a]

18 The disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees made a practice of fasting.

Some Jews fast twice a week and pray three times daily, but Jesus has a different set of practices for His followers. Some of the pious are disturbed by this.

Some People (to Jesus): Why is it that John’s followers and the Pharisees’ followers fast, but Your disciples are eating and drinking like it was any other day?

Jesus: 19 Guests at the wedding can’t fast when the bridegroom is with them. It would be wrong to do anything but feast. 20 When the bridegroom is snatched away from them, then the time will come to fast and mourn.

21 These are new things I’m teaching, and they can’t be reconciled with old habits. Nobody would ever use a piece of new cloth to patch an old garment because when the patch shrinks, it pulls away and makes the tear even worse. 22 And nobody puts new, unfermented wine into old wineskins because if he does, the wine will burst the skins; they would lose both the wineskins and the wine. No, the only appropriate thing is to put new wine into new wineskins.

23 One Sabbath Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain; as they walked, His disciples grew hungry. They began to pull from the stalks and eat.

24 The Pharisees confronted Him.

Pharisees: Did You see that? Why are Your disciples doing what our law forbids on the Sabbath?

Jesus (turning toward the Pharisees): 25 Do you remember the story about what King David and his followers did when they were hungry and had nothing to eat?

They said nothing, so He continued.

Jesus: 26 David went into the house of God, when Abiathar was the high priest, and ate the bread that was consecrated to God. Now our laws say no one but the priests can eat that holy bread; but when David was hungry, he ate and also shared the bread with those who followed him.[b]

27 The Sabbath was made for the needs of human beings, and not the other way around. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even over the Sabbath.

Footnotes

  1. 2:17 Literally, repentance
  2. 2:26 1 Samuel 21:3–6

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

When(A) He entered Capernaum(B) again after some days, it was reported that He was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message(C) to them. Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic,(D) carried by four men. Since they were not able to bring him to[a] Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

Seeing their faith,(E) Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins(F) are forgiven.”(G)

But some of the scribes(H) were sitting there, thinking(I) to themselves:[b] “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming!(J) Who can forgive(K) sins(L) but God alone?”(M)

Right away(N) Jesus understood in His spirit(O) that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?[c] Which is easier:(P) to say to the paralytic,(Q) ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?(R) 10 But so you may know that the Son of Man(S) has authority(T) on earth to forgive sins,”(U) He told the paralytic, 11 “I tell you: get up,(V) pick up your mat, and go home.”

12 Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded(W) and gave glory(X) to God,(Y) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”(Z)

The Call of Matthew

13 Then(AA) Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught(AB) them. 14 Then, moving on, He saw Levi(AC) the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office,(AD) and He said to him, “Follow Me!”(AE) So he got up and followed(AF) Him.

Dining with Sinners

15 While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors(AG) and sinners(AH) were also guests[d](AI) with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him. 16 When the scribes(AJ) of the Pharisees[e](AK) saw that He was eating(AL) with sinners(AM) and tax collectors,(AN) they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat[f] with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need(AO) a doctor,(AP) but the sick(AQ) do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous,(AR) but sinners.”(AS)

A Question about Fasting

18 Now(AT) John’s(AU) disciples(AV) and the Pharisees[g](AW) were fasting.(AX) People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests[h] cannot fast while the groom(AY) is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time[i] will come(AZ) when the groom is taken away from them,(BA) and then they will fast(BB) in that day. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth,(BC) and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine(BD) into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst(BE) the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins.[j] But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Lord of the Sabbath

23 On(BF) the Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and His disciples(BG) began to make their way picking some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees(BH) said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful(BI) on the Sabbath?”

25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David(BJ) and those who were with him did when he was in need(BK) and hungry(BL) 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar(BM) the high priest(BN) and ate the sacred bread(BO)—which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests(BP)—and also gave some to his companions?” 27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for[k] man and not man for[l] the Sabbath.(BQ) 28 Therefore, the Son of Man(BR) is Lord(BS) even of the Sabbath.”(BT)

Footnotes

  1. Mark 2:4 Other mss read able to get near
  2. Mark 2:6 Or thinking in their hearts
  3. Mark 2:8 Or minds
  4. Mark 2:15 Lit reclining (at the table); at important meals the custom was to recline on a mat at a low table and lean on the left elbow.
  5. Mark 2:16 Other mss read scribes and Pharisees
  6. Mark 2:16 Other mss add and drink
  7. Mark 2:18 Other mss read the disciples of John and of the Pharisees
  8. Mark 2:19 Lit The sons of the bridal chamber
  9. Mark 2:20 Lit the days
  10. Mark 2:22 Other mss read the wine spills out and the skins will be ruined
  11. Mark 2:27 Or because of
  12. Mark 2:27 Or because of

Curación de un paralítico

Cuando Jesús entró de nuevo en Capernaúm varios días después, se oyó que estaba en casa. Y se reunieron muchos(A), tanto que ya no había lugar ni aun a la puerta; y Él les explicaba[a] la palabra.

(B)Entonces vinieron* y le trajeron un paralítico(C) llevado entre cuatro hombres. Como no pudieron acercarse[b] a Jesús a causa de la multitud, levantaron el techo encima de donde Él estaba; y cuando habían hecho una abertura, bajaron la camilla(D) en que estaba acostado el paralítico(E). Viendo Jesús la fe de ellos, dijo* al paralítico: «Hijo, tus pecados te son perdonados(F)».

Pero estaban allí sentados algunos de los escribas, los cuales pensaban en sus corazones: «¿Por qué habla Este así? Está blasfemando; ¿quién puede perdonar pecados, sino solo Dios[c](G)?».

Al instante Jesús, conociendo en[d] Su espíritu que pensaban de esa manera dentro de sí mismos, les dijo*: «¿Por qué piensan estas cosas en sus corazones? ¿Qué es más fácil, decir al paralítico(H): “Tus pecados te son perdonados”, o decirle: “Levántate, toma tu camilla y anda”? 10 Pues para que sepan que el Hijo del Hombre tiene autoridad en la tierra para perdonar pecados», dijo* al paralítico: 11 «A ti te digo: levántate, toma tu camilla y vete a tu casa».

12 Y él se levantó, y tomando al instante la camilla, salió a la vista de todos, de manera que todos estaban asombrados, y glorificaban a Dios(I), diciendo: «Jamás hemos visto cosa semejante(J)».

Llamamiento de Leví y la cena en su casa

13 Jesús salió de nuevo a la orilla del mar, y toda la multitud venía a Él(K), y les enseñaba. 14 (L)Al pasar, vio a Leví[e], hijo de Alfeo, sentado en la oficina de los tributos, y le dijo*: «Sígueme(M)». Y levantándose, lo siguió(N).

15 Y sucedió[f] que estando Jesús sentado[g] a la mesa en casa de Leví[h], muchos recaudadores de impuestos[i] y pecadores estaban comiendo[j] con Jesús y Sus discípulos; porque había muchos de ellos que lo seguían. 16 Cuando los escribas de los fariseos(O) vieron que Él comía con pecadores y recaudadores de impuestos, decían a Sus discípulos: «¿Por qué Él come y bebe con recaudadores de impuestos y pecadores(P)?».

17 Al oír esto, Jesús les dijo*: «Los que están sanos[k] no tienen necesidad de médico, sino los que están enfermos; no he venido a llamar a justos, sino a pecadores(Q)».

Pregunta sobre el ayuno

18 (R)Los discípulos de Juan y los fariseos estaban ayunando; y vinieron* y dijeron* a Jesús: «¿Por qué ayunan los discípulos de Juan y los discípulos de los fariseos, pero Tus discípulos no ayunan?».

19 Y Jesús les respondió: «¿Acaso pueden ayunar los acompañantes del novio[l] mientras el novio está con ellos? Mientras tienen al novio con ellos, no pueden ayunar. 20 Pero vendrán días cuando el novio les será quitado, y entonces ayunarán en aquel día(S). 21 Nadie pone un remiendo[m] de tela nueva[n] en un vestido viejo, porque entonces el remiendo[o] al encogerse tira de él, lo nuevo de lo viejo, y se produce una rotura peor. 22 Y nadie echa vino nuevo en odres[p] viejos, porque entonces[q] el vino romperá el odre, y se pierden el vino y también los odres[r]; sino que se echa vino nuevo en odres[s] nuevos».

Jesús, Señor del día de reposo

23 (T)Aconteció que un día de reposo Jesús pasaba por los sembrados, y Sus discípulos, mientras se abrían paso, comenzaron a arrancar espigas(U). 24 Entonces los fariseos le decían: «Mira, ¿por qué hacen lo que no es lícito en el día de reposo(V)?».

25 Jesús les contestó*: «¿Nunca han leído lo que David hizo cuando tuvo necesidad y sintió hambre, él y también sus compañeros; 26 cómo entró en la casa de Dios en tiempos de Abiatar, el sumo sacerdote(W), y comió los panes consagrados[t] que no es lícito a nadie comer(X), sino a los sacerdotes, y dio también a los que estaban con él(Y)?». 27 Y Él continuó diciéndoles: «El día de reposo se hizo[u] para el[v] hombre(Z), y no el hombre para el[w] día de reposo(AA). 28 Por tanto, el Hijo del Hombre es Señor aun del día de reposo».

Footnotes

  1. Marcos 2:2 Lit. hablaba.
  2. Marcos 2:4 Lit. traer.
  3. Marcos 2:7 Lit. sino uno, Dios.
  4. Marcos 2:8 Lit. por.
  5. Marcos 2:14 O Mateo.
  6. Marcos 2:15 Lit. Y sucede.
  7. Marcos 2:15 Lit. recostado.
  8. Marcos 2:15 O Mateo.
  9. Marcos 2:15 O publicanos; i.e. los que explotaban la recaudación de los impuestos romanos, y así en el vers. 16.
  10. Marcos 2:15 Lit. reclinados.
  11. Marcos 2:17 Lit. fuertes.
  12. Marcos 2:19 Lit. hijos del tálamo.
  13. Marcos 2:21 Lit. cose lo que se pone encima.
  14. Marcos 2:21 Lit. sin encoger.
  15. Marcos 2:21 Lit. y si no lo que llena.
  16. Marcos 2:22 I.e. cueros usados como recipientes.
  17. Marcos 2:22 Lit. y si no.
  18. Marcos 2:22 I.e. cueros usados como recipientes.
  19. Marcos 2:22 I.e. cueros usados como recipientes.
  20. Marcos 2:26 Lit. los panes de la proposición.
  21. Marcos 2:27 O vino a ser.
  22. Marcos 2:27 Lit. por causa del.
  23. Marcos 2:27 Lit. por causa del.