The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 88

EXPOSITION, CHAPTER II. we must also notioe the authoritative oh~ meter of the address, " Thy sins are for- Ver.1.-Tbe first sentence of this verse is given." Bede observes here that our Lord better rendered thus: And when he entered first forgives his sins, that he might show again (da-,xe,;,., ..-cf>.,v) into Capemaum after him that his suffering was ultimately due aome days; literally,a/ter days(6,' ;,µ,p&w). It to sin. Dede also says that he was borne of is probable that a considerable interval had four, to show that a man is carried onwards taken place since the events recorded in the by four graces to the assured hope of heal- former chapter. It was noised that he was ~g, namely, by prudence, and courage, and in the holl8e (llT1 ,ls oir<&v ,a-Tl); or, if the nghteousness, and temperance. Jesus seeing 3T, be regarded as recitative, it tDas noi.sed, their faith. Some of the Fathers, as Jerome He ii in the house, at home, in his usual and Ambrose, think that this faith was in place of residenoe at Capernaum. the bearers of the sick man, and in them Ver. 2.-Many were gathered together, so only. But there is nothing in the words to that there was no longer room for them (C,a-TE limit them in this way. Indeed, it would µ.,,r<fr, xwp,w), no, not even about the door. seem far more natural to suppose that the The description is very graphic. The house paralytio must have been a consenting could not contain them, and even its court- party. He must have approved of all that yard and 11,pproaches were inconveniently they did, otherwise we can hardly suppose thronged. This is one of the many ex• that it would have been done. We may amplea of minute observation of details, so therefore more reasonably conclude, with observable in St. Mark's Gospel. And he St. Chrysostom, that it was alike their faith preached (h..cf>.«)-moreliterally, was speak- and his that our Lord crowned with his ing-the word unto them. 'Ibis little sen- blessing. Thy sins are forgiven. These tence indicates the great object of his words of our Lord were not a mere wish ministry. The exercise of miraculous power only; they wore this sick man's sentence of was subordinated to this; the miracles being absolution. They were far more than the -simply designed to fix the attention upon word of absolution which Christ's ambas- the Teacher as One sent from God. sadors are authorized to deliver to all those Vere. 3, 4.-And they oome, bringing unto who "truly repent and unfeignedly believe.'' mm a man sick of the palsy, bome of four. For Christ could read the heart, which they Here again the minuteness of detail is very cannot do. And therefore hie sentence is observable. It is also interesting to notice absolute, and not conditional only. It is how the three writers of the synoptic not the announcement of a qualified gift, Gospels supplement and illustrate one but the assertion of an undoubted fact. It another. St. Matthew gives the outline, his own name, and by his own inherent St. Mark e.nd St. Luke fill np the picture. power, he there and then forgives the .man St. Luke (v. 18) tells us how they sought his sins. means to bring the paralytic into Chri,,1;'s Vere. 6, 7.-The words, Why doth this presence. They carried him on his bed up man thus speak blasphemies l in aocordanoe the flight of steps outside the house, and with the altered reading (/3>.aa-.p.,,µ,i for reaching to the roof: and then both St. /3>.a.<TtpT)µ.las ), shoul<l stand thus: Why doth Mark and St. Luke tell us how, having first this man thus speal, f h6 blasphemeth. It is removed a portion of the tiling and broken evident that the scribes, who were secretly up the roof, they then let him down through amongst themselves finding fault with our the opening thus made into the midst before Lord's words, understood that, by the use of Jesus. The chamber into which be was thus these words, our Lord was assuming to him- abruptly lowered we.a most probably what self a Divine attribute. And if he had been is elsewhere called the "upper chamber," a mere man; if he had not really been, as he a large central room, convenient for the assumed to be, Divine, the only begotten Son purpose of addressing both those who filled of the Father,-then no doubt they would it and also the crowd that thronged the have been right in supposing that he blas- outer court below. phemed. But their error was that they could Ver. 5.-Son, thy sins be forgiven thee; not perceive in him the glory of the only literally, thy sim are forgi-oen. The word begott.en Son. The light was shining in " son " is in the Greek the more endearing the darkness, and the darkness apprehended word (Tiicvov) "child." St. Luke uses the it not. word " man." St. Matthew adds the words Vere. 8-11.-It does not clearly appear "Be of good cheer.'' It is here to be care- whether these murmurers communicated fully observed that the spiritual gift, the their thoughts audibly to one another. At gift of forgiveness, is first conveyed; and all events, their words were evidently not. CII. II. 1-28.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. M.ARK. 85