Mark 2
1 [Jesus and his disciples] returned to Capernaum [town]. A few days later, because it was {people} heard that Jesus was in [his] house,
Some days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, the news spread that he was in a house there;
2 many people gathered there. As a result, [after the people filled the house], there was no longer space to stand [in the house or outside] around the doorway. Jesus preached [God’s] message to them.
and so many people collected together, that after a while there was no room for them even round the door; and he began to tell them his Message.
3 Some people came to the house bringing to Jesus a man who was paralyzed. He was carried by four men {Four men carried [him]} [on a sleeping pad].
And some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, who was being carried by four bearers.
4 They were not able to bring the man to Jesus because there was a crowd there. So they [went up the steps to the flat roof and] removed [some of] the tiles [above] where Jesus was. Then, after they made a [big] hole in the roof, they lowered [by ropes] the sleeping pad on which the paralyzed man lay. They lowered [it through the hole, down in front of Jesus].
Being, however, unable to get him near to Jesus, owing to the crowd, they removed the roofing below which Jesus was; and, when they had made an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralysed man was lying.
5 After Jesus perceived that the men believed [that he could heal this man], he said to the paralyzed man, “My friend, [I] forgive your sins!”
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man: “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
6 There were some men who taught [the Jewish] laws sitting there. They started thinking like this:
But some of the Teachers of the Law who were sitting there were debating in their minds:
7 “(Who does this man think he is, talking like that/This man shouldn’t talk like that!) [RHQ]? (He is insulting God!/Does he think he is God?) [RHQ] (No person can forgive sins!/Who can forgive sins?) [RHQ] Only God can forgive sins!”
“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God?”
8 Jesus sensed that they were deliberating like that within themselves. So he said to them, “(You should not question within yourselves [whether I have the right to forgive this man’s sins]!/Why do you question [whether I have the right to forgive this man’s sins]?) [RHQ]
Jesus, at once intuitively aware that they were debating with themselves in this way, said to them: “Why are you debating in your minds about this?
9 It is [not risky] [RHQ] for someone to tell the man who is paralyzed, ‘Your sins are forgiven {[I] forgive your sins},’ [because no one can prove that it has happened]. But no one would say to him, ‘Get up, pick up your stretcher, and then walk away’, [unless he really had the power to heal him, because people can easily see whether it happens or not].
Which is easier? — to say to the paralysed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’? or to say ‘Get up, and take up your mat, and walk about’?
10 So I [will do something] in order that you may know that [God] has authorized me, the one who came from heaven, to forgive sins on earth [as well as to heal people].” Then he said to the paralyzed man,
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power to forgive sins on earth” — here he said to the paralysed man —
11 “To you I say, ‘Get up! Pick up your sleeping pad! And then go home!’”
“To you I say, Get up, take up your mat, and return to your home.”
12 The man stood up immediately! He picked up the sleeping pad, and then he went away, while all the people [there] were watching. They were all amazed, and they praised God and said, “We have never before seen anything like [what happened] just now!”
The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went out before them all; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said: “We have never seen anything like this!”
13 Jesus left [Capernaum town again and walked with his disciples] alongside [Galilee] lake. A large crowd came to him. Then he taught them.
Jesus went out again to the Sea; and all the people came to him, and he taught them.
14 As he walked on further, he saw a man named Levi, whose other name was Matthew, and whose father’s name was Alpheus. He was sitting in his office where he collected taxes [for the Roman government]. Jesus said to him, “Come with me [and become my disciple]!” So he got up and went with Jesus.
As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him: “Follow me.” Levi got up and followed him.
15 [Later], Jesus was eating a meal in Levi’s house. Many men who collected taxes and [other] people who were [considered to be] sinning regularly were eating with Jesus and his disciples. [This was not surprising], for there were many people like this who were going [everywhere] with Jesus.
And later on he was in his house at table, and a number of tax-gatherers and outcasts took their places at table with Jesus and his disciples; for many of them were following him.
16 The [men who taught the Jewish] laws [who were there] and who were members of the Pharisee [sect] saw that Jesus was eating with men who collected taxes and [others who were considered] {[whom they considered]} [to be] sinners. So they said to his disciples, “(It is disgusting that he eats with [such disgusting] men as those who collect taxes, and with [other] sinners!/Why is it that he eats with [such disgusting] men as those who collect taxes, and with [other] sinners?)” [RHQ]
When the Teachers of the Law belonging to the party of the Pharisees saw that he was eating in the company of such people, they said to his disciples: “He is eating in the company of tax-gatherers and outcasts!”
17 After Jesus heard [what they were saying], he said to the men who taught the [Jewish] laws, “People who [consider that they] are well do not seek a doctor. On the contrary, it is those who are sick [who seek a doctor] [MET]!” [This he said to indicate that it was those who knew that they had sinned who were coming to him in order that he might help them spiritually]. And he said, “I did not come to invite people [who think that] [IRO] they are righteous [to come to me and turn from their sinful behavior]. On the contrary, I came [from heaven to invite] people who [know that they] are sinners, [in order that they might turn from their sins and come to me].”
Hearing this, Jesus said: “It is not those who are in health that need a doctor, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast.”
18 The disciples of John [the Baptizer] and some men who belonged to the Pharisee [sect] used to abstain from food [to show that they wanted to please God]. One day, some people came [to Jesus] and asked him [critically], “The disciples of John and the Pharisees (fast/abstain from food) [from time to time], but your disciples do not. [We think they should abstain from food also. What do you say about that] [RHQ]?”
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were keeping a fast, and people came and asked Jesus: “Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, while yours do not?”
19 [Jesus wanted them to understand that it was not appropriate for his disciples to show sorrow by abstaining from food while he was still with them]. So he said to them, “When a man is marrying a woman, his friends will certainly not abstain from food while he is still with them, will they [RHQ]? No. During the time that he is with them, they will not abstain from food [because they are happy together].
Jesus answered: “Can the bridegroom’s friends fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But some day, he will be taken away {his [enemies] will take him away} from them. Then, in those days, they will abstain from food, [because they will be sad].”
But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be parted from them, and they will fast then — when that day comes.
21 [Jesus wanted to show that those who desire to live in accordance with his new message should not try to continue to obey the old religious traditions like fasting. So he also said to them], “People do not sew a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old garment [in order to mend a hole]. If they did that, [when they washed the garment, the patch would shrink] and the new [piece of cloth] would tear off more of the old cloth. As a result, the hole would become bigger!
“No man ever sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it — the new from the old — and a worse rent is made.
22 [Similarly], people do not put newly [squeezed] grape juice into old skin bags [to store it]. If they did that, that juice will burst the skin bags [because they would not stretch when the wine ferments and expands]. As a result both the wine and the skin bags would be ruined! On the contrary, people must put new wine into new skin bags!” [MET]
And no man ever puts new wine into old wine-skins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are lost. But new wine is put into fresh skins.”
23 On one (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest) Jesus was walking through some grain fields with his disciples. As they were walking along [through the grain fields], the disciples were plucking some of the heads of grain. [They rubbed them in their hands to remove the chaff, and were eating the grain. The laws of Moses permitted people to do that if they were hungry].
One Sabbath, as Jesus was walking through the cornfields, his disciples began to pick the ears of wheat as they went along.
24 [Some of] the Pharisees [saw them doing what they considered to be work. So they] said to him, “Look! (They should not be doing on our (Sabbath day/day of rest) [work] that our laws forbid!/Why are they doing on our (Sabbath day/day of rest) [work] that our laws forbid?) [RHQ]”
“Look!” the Pharisees said to him, “why are they doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?”
25 [Jesus wanted to show them that the record in the Scriptures indicated that God permitted people to disobey certain religious laws when they needed food]. So he said to them, “[It is written in the Scriptures] what [our revered ancestor, King] David, did when he needed food, and both he and the men with him were hungry. You have read about that, but ([you do not think about what it implies./why do you not think about what it implies]?) [RHQ]
“Have you never read,” answered Jesus, “what David did when he was in want and hungry, he and his companions —
26 During the time Abiathar was high priest, David entered the big tent [where people worshipped] God [and asked for some bread. The high priest gave him some] of the loaves of bread. That bread was the bread he had presented to God. It was permitted in one of Moses’ laws that only the priests could eat that bread! But David ate some of it. Then he also gave some of it to the men who were with him. [But God did not consider that was wrong!]”
How he went into the House of God, in the time of Abiathar the High Priest, and ate ‘the consecrated bread,’ which only the priests are allowed to eat, and gave some to his comrades as well?”
27 Jesus said to them further, “[God] established (the day of rest/the Sabbath day) [to help] people! He did not create people to [obey rules about] (the Sabbath/the day of rest)!
Then Jesus added: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath;
28 And [think about this]: I am the one who came from heaven. So I have the authority [to determine what is right for my disciples to do] (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day)!”
so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
