The Gospel According to St. Mark

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Matthew 9:1–8; Luke 5:17–26)

When he came back to Capernaum after a few days, it was heard that he was at home.

And so many were gathered there that there was no more space, not even at the door, and Jesus spoke the word to them.

Then some men came to him who were bringing a paralyzed man; four people were carrying him.

When they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where he was. And when they had dug a hole in it, they lowered the bed on which the paralyzed man lay.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, and they reasoned in their hearts,

“How can this man speak this way? He blasphemes! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

And Jesus immediately knew in his spirit what they were thinking among themselves. He said to them, “Why are you thinking this in your hearts?

What is easier to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk’?

But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralytic,

“I say to you, get up, take up your mat, and go to your house.”

He got up and immediately took up the mat, and went out of the house in front of everyone, so that they were all amazed and they gave glory to God, and they said, “We never saw anything like this.”

Jesus Calls Levi

(Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32)

He went out again by the lake, and all the crowd came to him, and he taught them.

As he passed by, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s tent and he said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.

And when Jesus was having a meal in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinful people were dining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many and they followed him.

When the scribes, who were Pharisees, saw that Jesus was eating with the sinful people and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinful people?”

When Jesus heard this he said to them, “People who are strong in body do not need a physician; only people who are sick need one. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinful people.”

Questions about Fasting

(Matthew 9:14–15; Luke 5:33–35)

John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And some people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and in those days, they will fast.

The Patches and the Wineskins

(Matthew 9:16–17; Luke 5:36–39)

No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment, otherwise the patch will tear away from it, the new from the old, and there will be a worse tear.

No man puts new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins will be lost. Instead, put new wine into fresh wineskins.”

The Lord of the Sabbath

(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5)

On the Sabbath day Jesus went through some grainfields, and his disciples began to pick heads of grain.

And the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing something that is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry-he and the men who were with him-

how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the presence, which it is unlawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he even gave some to those who were with him?”

Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath.

Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”

(Matthew 9:1–8; Luke 5:17–26)

When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was at home.

Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.

Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.

When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.

Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,

“Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?

Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk’?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

“I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.”

He arose, and immediately took up the mat and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Jesus Calls Levi

(Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32)

He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught them.

As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.

He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.

The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Questions about Fasting

(Matthew 9:14–15; Luke 5:33–35)

John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?”

Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can’t fast.

But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

The Patches and the Wineskins

(Matthew 9:16–17; Luke 5:36–39)

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.

No one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.”

The Lord of the Sabbath

(1 Samuel 21:1–7; Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5)

He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.

The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

He said to them, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him?

How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”

He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”