The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 89

heard beyond themselves. But Jeeus per- of sin. He has first applied to Christ ceived in his spirH their ree.sonings. He perhaps by his own sense of his need' knew their thoughts, not by communication perhaps with the help of others. He may from another, e.s the prophets of old had have had difficulty in approaching him. A things made known to them by revelation, multitude of sinful thonghte and eares may but by his own Spirit pervading and pene- have thronged the door. But at length, trating all things. From this the Chris- whether alone or with the kind assistance tie.n Fe.there, age.inst the Arians, infer the of faithful friends, he has been brought to divinity of Christ, that he inspected the the feet of Jeans, and has heard those words heart, which it is the preroge.tive of God of love and power, "Thy sins are forgiven alone to do. St. Chrysostom says, " Be- thee.'' And then he will rise and walk. He hold the evidences of the divinity of will take np that whereon he lay. He will Christ. Observe the.t he knows the very carry away those things whereon he has secrets of your heart." Nor did Christ hitherto found satisfaction-his love of ease, only perceive their thoughts. He per- his self-indulgence. His bed, whatever it ceived e.lso the direction in which these may have been whereon he lay, becomes the thoughts were moving. Their feeling we.s proof of his cure. When the intempere.te no doubt this : "It is e.n ee.sy thing to cle.im man becomes sober, the passionate man the power of forgiving sin, since this is e. gentle, and the covetous man liberal, he power which ce.nnot be challenged by any takes up that whereon he lay. Thus does outwe.rd sign." Now, it is to this form of un- each penitent man begin a new life; setting belief that the next words of our Lord are forward with r:ew hopes and new powers the answer. It is as though he said, "You towards his true home, eternal in the accuse me of blasphemy. You say that I heavens. am usurping the attributes of God when I We are not informed of the effect of claim the power of forgiving sin. You ask this miracle upon the scribes and Phari- for the evidence that I really possess this sees. But it is too evident that, though power; and you say it is an easy thing they could not deny the fact, they would to lay claim to a power which penetrates not acknowledge the power; while the mass the spiritual world, and which is therefore of the people, more free from prejndice, and beyond the reach of material proof. Be it therefore more open to conviction, united in so. I will now furnish that evidence. I giving glory to God. Faith in Christ as will prove, by what I am now about to work sent by God was in fact increasing amonast upon the body, that what I have just said the mass of the people; while unbelief ;BB is effectual upon the spirit. I have just working its deadly result of envy and said to this paralytic, 'Thy sins are for- malice amongst those who ought to have given.' You challenge this power; you been their guides and instructors. question my authority. I will now give Vere. 13, 14.-It is probable that our Lord you outward and sensible evidence that this remained some time at Ce.pemaum before is no fictitious or imaginary claim. You see he went forth age.in. The word " again " this poor helpless, palsied mo.n. I will say to refers to hie former going forth ( see eh. i. him in presence of you all, 'Arise, take up 35). When he went forth on this occW!ion he thy bed, and go unto thy house.' And if appears to have travelled southwards along simply at my bidding his nerves are braced, the sea-shore. There, not far from Caper- and his limbs gather strength, and he rises naum, he saw Levi, the son of Alphmn.s, and walks, then judge ye whether I have sitting at the receipt of on.stom ( brl .,.1, o right to say to him, 'Thy sins are for- -re.\wv,ov); more literally, at the place of given.' Thus, by doing tho.t which is toll. This place would be in the direct line capable of proof, I will vindicate my power for traders from Damascus to Acebo, and to do that which is beyond the reo.ch of a convenient spot for the receipt of the sensible evidence; and I will make mo.nifest duties on the shipping. It is observable to you, by the9e visible tides of my grace, that in St. Matthew's own Gospel (ix. 9) in what direction the deep under-cu1Tent he de~oribes himself as ·• n man named of my love is moving.'' (See Trench on the Matthew.'' St. Luke, like St. Mark, culls Mire.oles, p. 205.) him Levi. The same person is no doubt Ver. 12.-The words are spoken, and the meant. It is most likely that his original paralytic arose, and stre.ightway took up the name was Levi, o.nd thi.t upon his call to be bed (1ryep811, ,cal Eb8os lipas)-such is the an apostl& he received II new name, that of most approved reading- and went forth Mo.tthew, or Mattathias, which, acoordin; before them all. There is a spirituo.l appli- to Gesenius, means "the gift of Jehovah.' cation of this miracle which it is well to In his own Gospel hf' names himself Matthew, notice. The paralytic lifting up himself is a that he might proclaim the kindness and figure of him who, in the strength of Obrist, love of Christ towards him, in the spirit of has U'ted himself up from the lethorgy St Paul, where be says, "Christ Jesllj  86 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. M.A.RK. [OH, D. 1-28.