3   And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.
      4   And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.
      5   And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven.
      6   But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
      7   Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?
      8   And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
      9   Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
      10   But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy),
      11   I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.
      12   And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

      15   And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
      16   And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
      17   And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verse 3. Where was this? (See v. 1). How many men carried the sick one? Why bring him to Jesus?

Verse 4. What obstacle did they find? (See v. 2). Did this obstacle stop them? Why not? How did they overcome it? Was this easy to do?

Verse 5. What did Jesus see? How can faith be seen? How was their faith seen? (Jas. 2:14-26). Did the sick nab share in this faith? What surprising word did Jesus speak to him? On what ground were his sins forgiven? (Rom. 5:1).

Verses 6, 7. Why did the scribes think he blasphemed? (John 10:33). Who alone (did they think) can forgive sins? Were they right as to that fact?

Verses 8, 9. How did Jesus know their thoughts? Which would be easier? Why? Which would be the greater blessing to the man? Why?

Verses 10, 11. For what expressed purpose did Jesus now heal the sick man?

Verse 12. How was the power of His word seen? What effect did this produce on those who saw it? Whom did they glorify for this?

Verses 15, 16. In whose house did Jesus eat? (Mark 2:14). Who sat down with Him? Did the Pharisees find fault? (Comp. Matt. 11:19).

Verse 17. What was Jesus reply? Did that explain why He was among [27] sinners? Did He associate with them as one of them? What was His purpose? (Comp. Luke 15).

NOTES AND TEACHING POINTS.

THE LESSON.

      The whole lesson is Mark 2:1-17. It falls into three parts:

      I. The Man Sick of the Palsy. Vs. 1-12.
      II. The Calling of Levi, the son of Alphaeus. Vs. 13, 14.
      III. Jesus eats with Publicans and Sinners. Vs. 15-17.

I. THE MAN SICK OF THE PALSY.

      The bringing of this man to Jesus was a remarkable manifestation of faith. The way to Jesus was blocked by the crowd. But undaunted by this hindrance the bearers of the sick man made their way to the roof, tore it up and let the sick man down before Jesus. Did the Lord resent that or did He appreciate it?

      "Jesus seeing their faith. Faith is something that takes place in the heart. (Rom. 10:10). How then can it be seen? (See James 2:14-26). Until faith comes out in action so that it can be seen, how much is it worth?

      Whose faith? Jesus seeing their faith. Was that only the faith of the four bearers, or that of the sick man also? Of the sick man also. For Jesus said to him, "Son thy sins are forgiven." That settles the point. No man can obtain forgiveness of sins on any but his own faith. "He that believeth," not another, is saved. Some have actually argued on this passage that one could be in the stead of another (as, in infant-baptism, the parents for the child.) Needless to say that such an idea is unfounded and opposed to all the teaching of the Scriptures. The sick man was evidently heart and soul in for this action; and could it not even be that his faith was the inspiration of the four that carried him?

      "Son, thy sins are forgiven." Was that what this man had been brought to Jesus for? But which is the greater blessing, to be healed physically, or to have one's sins forgive? Why the latter? So a man may come to Jesus for one thing and obtain some better thing than he had sought. One never loses anything by coming to Jesus: if he does not obtain that which he seeks after, he gets something better--and (as in this case) in the end perhaps the smaller blessing also. Jesus never disappoints the appeal of a true faith.

      "How can this man forgive sins?" To say, "Son thy sins are forgiven," may sound easy to the unbelieving critic. Any pretender and deceiver could say such a thing, and nobody could check up the result and tell whether the sins were really forgiven. Therefore Jesus said to them, "Which is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven, or to say, Arise and take up by bed and walk?" In the latter case everyone would be able to see whether it really so came to pass, and whether the word carried power. So, for an evidence to them that He had the right and power to forgive sins, Jesus said to the sick man, "Arise, take up thy bed, and walk." The man immediately did so before their eyes.

II. THE CALLING OF LEVI.

      The printed lesson omits the two verses which tell of this. This "Levi the son of Alphaeus," was the same as Matthew, the apostle, and writer of the first book of the New Testament. (Matt. 9:9; Luke 5:27). He was a publican, that is, a tax-gathered for the Roman government. Because of their business, and because they were generally also extortionists (making the people pay more than was right, Luke 3:12, 13) publicans were greatly [28] hated and despised by their people, and classed among the outcasts ("the publicans and harlots"). Such a man was Matthew. But at Christ's call he abandoned his disreputable business and followed Him, and became one of the Lord's apostles.

III. JESUS EATS WITH PUBLICANS AND SINNERS.

      Matthew, upon his conversion, made a great feast for the Lord, and his friends and acquaintances of the class he had belonged to. Jesus freely mingled with these social outcasts. But did He associate with them on common ground, as one of them, or as a helping Friend? The Golden Text tells His motive and purpose. Comp. Luke 5:32. Also Luke 15:1, 2 and all that chapter. We must not associate with evil-doers as companions. (Ps. 1:1; 1 Cor. 15:33 2 Cor. 6:17, 18). But we must go among them in humble love on Christ's mission, doing good and winning them to faith and repentance. Thus did Jesus.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CLASS.

1. Where was Jesus as the beginning of this lesson?
2. What was He doing?
3. What interrupted His teaching?
4. Who was tearing up the roof?
5. Why did they go up on the roof?
6. Was Jesus irritated at this?
7. Was He pleased? Why?
8. What did He see?
9. How can faith be seen?
10. Is it any good until it can be seen?
11. How is saving faith seen today? (Acts 2:37, 38, 41).
12. What did Jesus say to the sick man?
13. Was that what they had expected?
14. What did some think because Jesus said that?
15. What question did Jesus ask them?
16. For what purpose did He now command the sick man to rise and walk?
17. Whom did Jesus call to follow Him? (Mark 2:13, 14).
18. What was his business?
19. Was that a good business?
20. When Jesus called him, what did he do?
21. Where did Jesus associate with sinners?
22. Who criticised Him for that?
23. What answer did Jesus give them?
24. Did He associate with them as one of them?
25. For what purpose did He mingle with them? (Golden Text)
26. How and why ought we to mingle with sinners? [29]

Source: Third Lord's Day Lesson of January. Lesson 3. January 15, 1928. Jesus and Sinners (Mark 2:3-12,