Chapter XVIII: Part VII: The Great Galilean Ministry (1)

Probably[a] Autumn of A.D. 27 to Spring of 29

(Apparently about a year and a half)

_Sects. 37-71. Great fulness of detail in Mark for this period and condensed report in Luke while Matthew is chiefly topical in this portion. Mark's Gospel plunges at once into the Great Galilean Ministry (cf. Peter's summary of Christ's life in Acts 10:36-43 to the household of Cornelius). The mass of material makes clear grouping difficult, but there is progress[b] in the development of events._

1. The Rejection at Nazareth and the New Home in Capernaum, Sects.
37-43.

2. The First Tour of Galilee with the Four Fishermen and the Call
of Matthew (Levi) on the Return with the Growing Fame of
Jesus, Sects. 44-48.

3. The Sabbath Controversy in Jerusalem and in Galilee, Sects. 49-51.

4. The Choice of the Twelve and the Sermon on the Mount, Sects.
52-54.

5. The Spread of Christ's Influence and the Inquiry from John in
Prison, Sects. 55-59.

6. The Second Tour of Galilee (now with the Twelve) and the Intense
Hostility of the Pharisees, Sects. 60-63.

7. The First Great Group of Parables with the Visit to Gerasa
(Khersa) and to Nazareth (final one), Sects. 64-69.

8. The Third Tour of Galilee (Following the Twelve) and the Effect
on Herod Antipas, Sects. 70-71.

[Footnote a: We cannot confidently determine the length of the ministry in Galilee. We are not sure whether it _began_ in summer or late autumn (see footnote 7 in Explanatory Notes at end of Harmony). If the feast of John 5:1 was a passover or there is an unknown passover, the Galilean ministry lasted at least sixteen months, for it _ended_ when another passover was near (John 6:4). Otherwise we should not certainly know that it lasted more than some six or eight months. About the two subsequent periods of our Lord's ministry we shall find no room to question that each lasted six months; but _here_ we have to admit much uncertainty as to the time. After all, a determination of the time employed would be a matter of very little importance to our study of this period. But the immense amount of material in this period argues for a length of over a year.]

[Footnote b: Throughout this great ministry in Galilee, and the periods that will follow after, the reader ought to trace carefully the _progress_ of the history along several lines: (1) the Saviour's progressive self-manifestation; (2) the gradual training of the Twelve who are to carry on his teaching and work after his death; (3) the deepening and spreading hostility of the Jewish influential classes and official rulers. By constantly observing these parallel lines of progress, it will be seen that the history and teachings of our Lord exhibit a vital growth, moving on to an end by him foreseen (Luke 12:50), when the hostility of the rulers will culminate as he before the Sanhedrin avows himself to be the Messiah, and the Twelve will be almost prepared to succeed him.]

Sect. 37. GENERAL ACCOUNT OF HIS TEACHING IN GALILEE

Mark 1:14-15 |Matt. 4:17 |Luke 4:14-15
| |
14 [Now after that |17 From that time |14 [And Jesus
John was delivered | began Jesus to | returned in the
up, Jesus came into | preach, and to say, | power of [_see
Galilee], preaching | Repent ye; for the | John 4:3, 43_] the
the gospel of God, | kingdom of heaven is| Spirit into
15 and saying, The time| at hand. | Galilee]: and a
is fulfilled, and | | fame went out
the kingdom of God | | concerning him
is at hand: repent | | through all the
ye, and believe in | | region round
the gospel. | |15 about. And he
| | taught in their
| | synagogues, being
| | glorified of all.

_In sections 38-43 (the Rejection at Nazareth and the New Home in Capernaum) Jesus revisits Cana and Nazareth, recalls the four fishermen by the Sea of Galilee, and begins his ministry of teaching and healing in Capernaum._

Sect. 38. THE HEALING AT CANA OF THE SON OF A COURTIER OF CAPERNAUM

John 4:46-54

46 He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the
water wine. And there was a certain [1]nobleman, whose son was
47 sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea
into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought _him_ that he would
come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
48 Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye
49 will in no wise believe. The [1]nobleman saith unto him. [2]Sir,
50 come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy
son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him,
51 and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his [3]servants
52 met him, saying, that his son lived. So he inquired of them the
hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him,
53 Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father
knew that _it was_ at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy
54 son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is
again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea
into Galilee.

[Footnote 1: Or, _king's officer_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _Lord_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _bondservants_.]

Sect. 39. THE FIRST REJECTION AT NAZARETH

Luke 4:16-31

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he
entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day,
17 and stood up to read. And there was delivered unto him [1]the book
of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the [2]book, and found the
place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
[3]Because he anointed me to preach [4]good tidings to the poor:
He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [_see Isa. 58:6;
61:1-2_].
20 And he closed the [2]book, and gave it back to the attendant, and
sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on
21 him. And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture
22 been fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and
wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth:
23 and they said, Is not this Joseph's son? And he said unto them,
Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal
thyself [_see John 6:42; 7:15_]: whatsoever we have heard done at
24 Capernaum, do also here in thine own country. And he said, Verily
I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country [_see
25 John 4:44_]. But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows
in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three
years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the
26 land [_see 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1-2_]; and unto none of them was
Elijah sent, but only to [5]Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto
27 a woman that was a widow [_see 1 Kings 17:8-9_]. And there were
many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none
of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian [_see 2 Kings
28 5:1-14_]. And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as
29 they heard these things; and they rose up, and cast him forth out
of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their
30 city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. But he
31 passing through the midst of them went his way. And he came down
to Capernaum, a city of Galilee.

[Footnote 1: Or, _a roll_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _roll_.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _Wherefore_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _the gospel_.]

[Footnote 5: Gr. _Sarepta_.]

Sect. 40. THE NEW HOME IN CAPERNAUM

Matt. 4:13-16

13 And leaving Nazareth,[a] he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is
14 by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken [1]by Isaiah the prophet [_see Isa.
8:23; 9:1-2_], saying,
15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
[2]Toward the sea, beyond Jordan,
Galilee of the [3]Gentiles,
16 The people which sat in darkness
Saw a great light,
And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death,
To them did light spring up.

[Footnote 1: Or, _through_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _The way of the sea_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _nations_: and so elsewhere.]

[Footnote a: Nazareth was never the Saviour's residence during his public ministry. After the wedding at Cana he lived a short time at _Capernaum_, and henceforth that city will be his abode, till he leaves Galilee six months before the crucifixion--most of the time, however, being actually spent in several journeys throughout Galilee, together with a trip to Jerusalem, and retirement to districts around Galilee.]

Sect. 41. JESUS FINDS FOUR FISHERS OF MEN IN FOUR FISHERMEN[a]

By the Sea of Galilee, near Capernaum

Mark 1:16-20 |Matt. 4:18-22 |Luke 5:1-11
| |
16 And passing |18 And walking by | 1 Now it came to pass,
along by the sea | the sea of | while the multitude
of Galilee, he saw| Galilee, he saw | pressed upon him and
Simon and Andrew | two brethren, | heard the word of God,
the brother of | Simon who is | that he was standing
Simon casting a | called Peter, and | by the lake of
net in the sea: | Andrew his | 2 Gennesaret; and he saw
for they were | brother, casting a| two boats standing by
17 fishers. And Jesus| net into the sea; | the lake: but the
said unto them, | for they were | fishermen had gone out
Come ye after me, |19 fishers. And he | of them, and were
and I will make | saith unto them, | washing their nets.
you to become | Come ye after me, | 3 And he entered into
fishers of men. | and I will make | one of the boats,
18 And straightway | you fishers of | which was Simon's and
they left the |20 men. And they | asked him to put out a
nets, and followed| straightway left | little from the land.
19 him. And going on | the nets, and | And he sat down and
a little further, |21 followed him. And | taught the multitudes
he saw James the | going on from | 4 out of the boat. And
_son_ of Zebedee, | thence he saw | when he had left
and John his | other two | speaking, he said unto
brother, who also | brethren, [1]James| Simon, Put out into
were in the boat | the _son_ of | the deep, and let down
mending the nets. | Zebedee, and John | your nets for a
20 And straightway he| his brother, in | 5 draught. And Simon
called them: and | the boat with | answered and said,
they left their | Zebedee their | Master, we toiled all
father Zebedee in | father, mending | night, and took
the boat with the | their nets; and he| nothing: but at thy
hired servants, |22 called them. And | word I will let down
and went after | they straightway | 6 the nets. And when
him. | left the boat and | they had this done,
| their father, and | they inclosed a great
| followed him.[a] | multitude of fishes;
| | and their nets were
7 breaking; and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat,
that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both
8 the boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw
it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a
9 sinful man, O Lord. For he was amazed, and all that were with him,
10 at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; and so were also
James and John, sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.
And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt
11 [2]catch men. And when they had brought their boats to land, they
left all, and followed him.

[Footnote 1: Or, _Jacob_: and so elsewhere.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _take alive_.]

[Footnote a: Three of these two pairs of brothers (Andrew and Peter, John and James) had already become disciples of Jesus at Bethany beyond Jordan (James probably soon afterwards), but now they leave their prosperous fish business and follow Jesus continuously as many business men since have given up a lucrative business for the ministry. They, along with Philip and Nathaniel, had been with Jesus in the early ministry (the year of obscurity).]

Sect. 42. THE EXCITEMENT IN THE SYNAGOGUE BECAUSE OF THE TEACHING OF JESUS AND THE HEALING OF A DEMONIAC ON THE SABBATH

Mark 1:21-28 |Luke 4:31-37
|
21 And they go into Capernaum; |31 [And he came down to Capernaum,
and straightway on the sabbath| a city of Galilee.] And he was
day he entered into the | teaching them on the sabbath
22 synagogue and taught. And they|32 day: and they were astonished at
were astonished at his | his teaching; for his word was
teaching: for he taught them |33 with authority. And in the
as having authority, and not | synagogue there was a man, which
23 as the scribes. And | had a spirit of an unclean
straightway there was in their| [3]devil; and he cried out with
synagogue a man with an |34 a loud voice, [4]Ah! what have
24 unclean spirit; and he cried | we to do with thee, thou Jesus
out, saying, What have we to | of Nazareth? art thou come to
do with thee, thou Jesus of | destroy us? I know thee who thou
Nazareth? art thou come to | art [_see Ps. 16:10_], the Holy
destroy us? I know thee who | One of God.
thou art, the Holy One of God.|35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying,
25 And Jesus rebuked [1]him, | Hold thy peace, and come out of
saying, Hold thy peace, and | him. And when the [3]devil had
26 come out of him. And the | thrown him down in the midst, he
unclean spirit, [2]tearing him| came out of him, having done him
and crying with a loud voice, |36 no hurt. And amazement came upon
27 came out of him. And they were| all, and they spake together,
all amazed, insomuch that they| one with another, saying, What
questioned among themselves, | is [5]this word? for with
saying, What is this? a new | authority and power he
teaching! with authority he | commandeth the unclean spirits,
commandeth even the unclean |37 and they come out. And there
spirits, and they obey him. | went forth a rumour concerning
28 And the report of him went out| him into every place of the
straightway everywhere into | region round about.
all the region of Galilee |
round about. |

[Footnote 1: Or, _it_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _convulsing_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _demon_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _Let alone_.]

[Footnote 5: Or, _this word, that with authority ... come out?_]

Sect. 43. HE HEALS PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW AND MANY OTHERS

At Capernaum, in Peter's Home

Mark 1:29-34 |Matt. 8:14-17 |Luke 4:38-41
| |
29 And straightway | |
[3]when they were | |38 And he rose up
come out of the | | from the synagogue,
synagogue, they came | | and entered into the
into the house of | | house of Simon. And
Simon and Andrew, |14 And when Jesus | Simon's wife's
with James and John. | was come into | mother was holden
30 Now Simon's wife's | Peter's house, he | with a great fever;
mother lay sick of a | saw his wife's | and they besought
fever; and | mother lying sick |39 him for her. And he
straightway they tell|15 of a fever. And he| stood over her, and
31 him of her: and he | touched her hand, | rebuked the fever;
came and took her by | and the fever left| and it left her:
the hand, and raised | her; and she | and immediately she
her up; and the fever| arose, and | rose up and
left her, and she | ministered unto | ministered unto
ministered unto them.| him. | them.
32 And at even, when |16 And when even |40 And when the sun
the sun did set, they| was come, they | was setting, all
brought unto him all | brought unto him | they that had any
that were sick, and | many [1]possessed | sick with divers
them that were | with devils: and | diseases brought
[1]possessed with | he cast out the | them unto him; and
33 devils. And all the | spirits with a | he laid his hands
city was gathered | word, and healed | on every one of
together at the door.| all that were | them, and healed
34 And he healed many |17 sick: that it |41 them. And [4]devils
that were sick with | might be fulfilled| also came out from
divers diseases, and | which was spoken | many, crying out,
cast out many | [2]by Isaiah the | and saying, Thou
[4]devils; and he | prophet [_see Isa.| art the Son of God.
suffered not the | 53:4_], saying, | And rebuking them,
[4]devils to speak, | Himself took our | he suffered them
because they knew | infirmities, and | not to speak,
him.[5] | bare our diseases.| because they knew
| | that he was the
| | Christ.

[Footnote 1: Or, _demoniacs_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _through_.]

[Footnote 3: Some ancient authorities read _when he was come out
of the synagogue, he came &c._]

[Footnote 4: Gr. _demons_.]

[Footnote 5: Many ancient authorities add _to be Christ_. See Luke
4:41.]

_In sections 44-52 Jesus makes his first tour of Galilee with the Four Fishermen whom he has now called to follow him continuously. On the return to Capernaum Matthew is called and various miracles arouse the enthusiasm of the multitudes and the hostility of the Pharisees to Christ's teachings._

Sect. 44. THE FIRST TOUR OF GALILEE WITH THE FOUR FISHERMEN

Mark 1:35-39 |Matt. 4:23-25 |Luke 4:42-44
| |
35 And in the | |42 And when it was
morning, a great | | day, he came out
while before day, he| | and went into a
rose up and went | | desert place: and
out, and departed | | the multitudes
into a desert place,| | sought after him,
36 and there prayed. | | and came unto him,
And Simon and they | | and would have
that were with him | | stayed him, that
followed after him; | | he should not go
37 and they found him, | |43 from them. But he
and say unto him, | | said unto them, I
All are seeking | | must preach the
38 thee. And he saith | | [5]good tidings of
unto them, Let us go| | the kingdom of God
elsewhere into the | | to the other
next towns, that I | | cities also: for
may preach there | | therefore was I
also; for to this | | sent.
end came I forth. | |
39 And he went into |23 And [1]Jesus went |44 And he was
their synagogues | about in all | preaching in the
throughout all | Galilee,[a] teaching| synagogues of
Galilee, preaching | in their synagogues,| [6]Galilee.
and casting out | and preaching the |
[4]devils. | [2]gospel of the |
| kingdom, and healing|
| all manner of |
| disease and all |
| manner of sickness |
| among the people. |
|24 And the report of |
| him went forth into |
| all Syria: and they |
| brought unto him all|
| that were sick, |
| holden with divers |
| diseases and |
| torments, |
| [3]possessed with |
| devils, and |
| epileptic, and |
| palsied; and he |
|25 healed them. And |
| there followed him |
| great multitudes |
| from Galilee and |
| Decapolis and |
| Jerusalem and Judea |
| and _from_ beyond |
| Jordan. |

[Footnote 1: Some ancient authorities read _he_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _good tidings_: and so elsewhere.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _demoniacs_.]

[Footnote 4: Gr. _demons_.]

[Footnote 5: Or, _gospel_.]

[Footnote 6: Very many ancient authorities read _Judea_.]

[Footnote a: This journey about all Galilee included a _great mass_ of teaching and healing (dwell on Matt. 4:23-25), of which only a few specimens are recorded, and these apparently occurred at Capernaum, his headquarters. The journey given by Luke only (8:1-3) is probably distinct from this, and if so it would be a _second_, while that of Luke 9:1-6 (= Mark 6:6-13 = Matt. 9:35-11:1), which is quite certainly distinct, would then be a _third_ journey about Galilee. The reader ought to expand his imagination and take in these extended labors.]

Sect. 45. A LEPER HEALED, AND MUCH POPULAR EXCITEMENT

Mark 1:40-45 |Matt. 8:2-4 |Luke 5:12-16
| |
40 And there cometh to| 2 And behold, there |12 And it came to
him a leper, | came to him a leper| pass, while he was
beseeching him, | and worshipped him,| in one of the
[1]and kneeling down | saying, Lord, if | cities, behold, a
to him, and saying | thou wilt, thou | man full of
unto him, If thou | canst make me | leprosy: and when
wilt, thou canst make| clean. | he saw Jesus, he
41 me clean. And being | | fell on his face,
moved with | | and besought him,
compassion, he | | saying, Lord, if
stretched forth his | 3 And he stretched | thou wilt, thou
hand, and touched | forth his hand, | canst make me
him, and saith unto | and touched him, |13 clean. And he
him, I will; be thou | saying, I will; be | stretched forth
42 made clean. And | thou made clean. | his hand, and
straightway the | And straightway | touched him,
leprosy departed from| his leprosy was | saying, I will; be
him, and he was made | cleansed. | thou made clean.
43 clean. And he | | And straightway
[2]strictly charged | | the leprosy
him, and straightway | | departed from him.
44 sent him out, and | 4 And Jesus |14 And he charged him
saith unto him, See | saith unto him, See| to tell no man:
thou say nothing to | thou tell no man; | but go thy way,
any man: but go thy | but go thy way, | and shew thyself
way, shew thyself to | shew thyself to the| to the priest, and
the priest, and offer| priest, and offer | offer for thy
for thy cleansing the| the gift that Moses| cleansing,
things which Moses | commanded, for a | according as Moses
commanded, for a | testimony unto | commanded, for a
testimony unto them. | them. | testimony unto
| | them [_see Lev.
| | 13:49; 14:2-32_].
45 But he went out, and | |15 But so much the
began to publish it | | more went abroad
much, and to spread | | the report
abroad the [3]matter,| | concerning him:
insomuch that | | and great
[4]Jesus could no | | multitudes came
more openly enter | | together to hear,
into [5]a city, but | | and to be healed
was without in desert| | of their
places: and they came| |16 infirmities. But
to him from every | | he withdrew
quarter. | | himself in the
| | deserts, and
| | prayed.

[Footnote 1: Some ancient authorities omit _and kneeling down to
him_.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _sternly_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _word_.]

[Footnote 4: Gr. _he_.]

[Footnote 5: Or, _the city_.]

Sect. 46. THRONGED IN CAPERNAUM, HE HEALS A PARALYTIC LOWERED THROUGH THE ROOF OF PETER'S HOUSE

Mark 2:1-12 |Matt. 9:1-8 |Luke 5:17-26
| |
1 And when he | 1 And he entered |17 And it came to
entered again into | into a boat, and | pass on one of
Capernaum after some| crossed over, and | those days, that
days, it was noised| came into his own | he was teaching;
that he was [4]in | city. | and there were
2 the house. And many | | Pharisees and
were gathered | | doctors of the law
together, so that | | sitting by, which
there was no longer | | were come out of
room _for them_, no,| | every village of
not even about the | | Galilee and Judea
door: and he spake | | and Jerusalem: and
the word unto them. | | the power of the
3 And they come, | | Lord was with him
bringing unto him a | 2 And behold, they |18 [6]to heal. And
man sick of the | brought to him a man| behold, men bring
palsy, borne of | sick of the palsy, | on a bed a man
4 four. And when they | lying on a bed: | that was palsied:
could not [5]come | | and they sought to
nigh unto him for | | bring him in, and
the crowd, they | | to lay him before
uncovered the roof | |19 him. And not
where he was: and | | finding by what
when they had broken| | _way_ they might
it up, they let down| | bring him in
the bed whereon the | | because of the
sick of the palsy | | multitude, they
lay. | | went up to the
| | housetop, and let
| | him down through
| | the tiles with his
| | couch into the
5 And Jesus | and | midst before
seeing their faith | Jesus seeing their |20 Jesus. And seeing
saith unto the sick | faith said unto the | their faith, he
of the palsy, | sick of the palsy, | said, Man, thy
[1]Son, thy sins are| [1]Son, be of good | sins are forgiven
6 forgiven. But there | cheer; thy sins are |21 thee. And the
were certain of the | 3 forgiven. And | scribes and the
scribes sitting | behold, certain of | Pharisees began to
there, and reasoning| the scribes said | reason, saying,
7 in their hearts, Why| within themselves, | Who is this that
doth this man thus | This man | speaketh
speak? he | blasphemeth. | blasphemies? Who
blasphemeth: who can| | can forgive sins,
forgive sins but | | but God alone?
8 one, _even_ God? And| |22 But
straightway Jesus, | 4 And | Jesus perceiving
perceiving in his | Jesus [2]knowing | their reasonings,
spirit that they so | their thoughts said,| answered and said
reasoned within | | unto them, [7]What
themselves, saith | | reason ye in your
unto them, Why | | hearts?
reason ye these | |
things in your | Wherefore think ye |
9 hearts? Whether is | evil in your hearts?|23 Whether is
easier, to say to | 5 For whether is | easier, to say, Thy
the sick of the | easier, to say, Thy | sins are forgiven
palsy, Thy sins are | sins are forgiven; | thee; or to say,
forgiven; or to say,| or to say, Arise, | Arise and walk?
Arise, and take up | and walk? |
thy bed, and walk? | |
10 But that ye may know| 6 But that ye |24 But that ye may
that the Son of man | may know that the | know that the Son
hath [3]power on | Son of man hath | of man hath
earth to forgive | [3]power on earth to| [3]power on earth
sins (he saith to | forgive sins (then | to forgive sins
the sick of the | saith he to the sick| (he said unto him
11 palsy),[a] I say | of the palsy), | that was palsied),
unto thee, Arise, | Arise, and take up | I say unto thee,
take up thy bed, and| thy bed, and go unto| Arise, and take up
go unto thy house. | thy house. | thy couch, and go
| | unto thy house.
12 And he arose, and | 7 And he |25 And immediately he
straightway took up | arose, and departed | rose up before
the bed, and went | to his house. | them, and took up
forth before them | | that whereon he
all; insomuch that | | lay, and departed
they were all | | to his house,
amazed, and | | glorifying God.
glorified God, | |26 And amazement took
saying, We never saw| 8 But | hold on all, and
it on this fashion. | when the multitudes | they glorified
| saw it, they were | God; and they were
| afraid, and | filled with fear,
| glorified God, which| saying, We have
| had given such | seen strange
| [3]power unto men. | things to-day.

[Footnote 1: Gr. _Child_.]

[Footnote 2: Many ancient authorities read _seeing_.]

[Footnote 3: Or, _authority_.]

[Footnote 4: Or, _at home_.]

[Footnote 5: Many ancient authorities read _bring him unto him_.]

[Footnote 6: Gr. _that he should heal_. Many ancient authorities
read _that_ he _should heal them_.]

[Footnote 7: Or, _Why_.]

[Footnote a: Note the parenthetic explanation of the writers in the middle of the saying of Jesus. It is proof that each of the Gospels had the same written source here or rather, as we know otherwise, that Matthew and Luke had Mark before them.]

Sect. 47. THE CALL OF MATTHEW (LEVI) AND HIS RECEPTION IN HONOR OF JESUS

Capernaum

Mark 2:13-17 |Matt. 9:9-13 |Luke 5:27-32
| |
13 And he went forth | |27 And after these
again by the sea | | things he went
side; and all the | | forth, and beheld
multitude resorted | | a publican, named
unto him, and he | | Levi, sitting at
14 taught them. And as | 9 And as Jesus | the place of toll,
he passed by, he saw| passed by from | and said unto him,
Levi the _son_ of | thence, he saw a | Follow me.
Alphaeus sitting at | man, called Matthew,|
the place of toll, | sitting at the place|
and he saith unto | of toll: and he |
him, Follow me. And | saith unto him, |28 And he
he arose and | Follow me. And he | forsook all, and
followed him. | arose, and followed | rose up and
| him. | followed him.
15 And it |10 And it came to |29 And
came to pass, that | pass, as he [1]sat | Levi made him a
he was sitting at | at meat in the | great feast in his
meat in his house, | house, behold, many | house: and there
and many | publicans and | was a great
[4]publicans and | sinners came and sat| multitude of
sinners sat down | down with Jesus and | publicans and of
with Jesus and his | his disciples. | others that were
disciples: for there| | sitting at meat
were many, and they | | with them.
16 followed him. And |11 And |30 And
the scribes [5]of | when the Pharisees | [8]the Pharisees
the Pharisees, when | saw it, they said | and their scribes
they saw that he was| unto his disciples, | murmured against
eating with the | Why eateth your | his disciples,
sinners and | [2]Master with the | saying, Why do ye
publicans, said unto| publicans and | eat and drink with
his disciples, [6]He| sinners? | the publicans and
eateth [7]and | | sinners?
drinketh with | |
publicans and | |
17 sinners. And when |12 But when he |31 And Jesus
Jesus heard it, he | heard it, he said, | answering said
saith unto them, | They that are | unto them, They
They that are | [3]whole have no | that are [3]whole
[3]whole have no | need of a physician,| have no need of a
need of a physician,| but they that are | physician; but
but they that are |13 sick. But go ye and | they that are
sick: I came not to | learn what _this_ |32 sick. I am not
call the righteous, | meaneth,[a] I desire| come to call the
but sinners. | mercy, and not | righteous but
| sacrifice: for I | sinners to
| came not to call the| repentance.
| righteous, but |
| sinners. |

[Footnote 1: Gr. _reclined_: and so always.]

[Footnote 2: Or, _Teacher_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _strong_.]

[Footnote 4: That is, _collectors or renters of Roman taxes_: and
so elsewhere.]

[Footnote 5: Some ancient authorities read _and the Pharisees_.]

[Footnote 6: Or, How is it _that he eateth ... sinners?_]

[Footnote 7: Some ancient authorities omit _and drinketh_.]

[Footnote 8: Or, _the Pharisees and the scribes among them_.]

[Footnote a: Hos. 6:6.]

Sect. 48. JESUS IN THREE PARABLES DEFENDS HIS DISCIPLES FOR FEASTING[a] INSTEAD OF FASTING

Mark 2:18-22 |Matt. 9:14-17 |Luke 5:33-39
| |
18 And John's |14 Then come to him |33 And they said
disciples and the | the disciples of | unto him, The
Pharisees were | John, saying, Why do| disciples of John
fasting: and they | we and the Pharisees| fast often, and
come and say unto | fast [1]oft, but thy| make supplications;
him, Why do John's | disciples fast not? | likewise also the
disciples and the | | _disciples_ of the
disciples of the | | Pharisees; but
Pharisees fast, but | | thine eat and
thy disciples fast | |34 drink. And Jesus
19 not? And Jesus said |15 And Jesus said unto | said unto them,
unto them, Can the | them, Can the sons | Can ye make the
sons of the | of the bride-chamber| sons of the
bride-chamber fast, | mourn, as long as | bride-chamber fast
while the | the bridegroom is | while the
bridegroom is with | with them? | bridegroom is
them? as long as | | with them?
they have the | |
bridegroom with | |
them, they cannot | |
20 fast. But the days | but the |35 But the
will come, when the | days will come, when| days will come;
bridegroom shall be | the bridegroom | and when the
taken away from | shall be taken away | bridegroom shall
them, and then they | from them, and then | be taken away from
will fast in that | will they fast. | them, then will
day. | | they fast in those
| | days.
| |36 And he spake also
| | a parable[b] unto
21 No man seweth a |16 And | them; No man
piece of undressed | no man putteth a | rendeth a piece
cloth on an old | piece of undressed | from a new garment
garment: else that | cloth upon an old | and putteth it
which should fill it| garment; for that | upon an old
up taketh from it, | which should fill it| garment; else he
the new from the | up taketh from the | will rend the new,
old, and a worse | garment, and a worse| and also the piece
22 rent is made. And no| rent is made. | from the new will
man putteth new wine|17 Neither do _men_ put| not agree with the
into old | new wine into old |37 old. And no man
[2]wine-skins: else | [2]wine-skins: else | putteth new wine
the wine will burst | the skins burst, and| into old
the skins, and the | the wine is spilled,| [2]wine-skins;
wine perisheth, and | and the skins | else the new wine
the skins: but _they| perish: but they put| will burst the
put_ new wine into | new wine into fresh | skins, and itself
fresh wine-skins. | wine-skins, and both| will be spilled,
| are preserved. | and the skins will
| |38 perish. But new
| | wine must be put
| | into fresh
| |39 wine-skins. And no
| | man having drunk
| | old _wine_
| | desireth new: for
| | he saith, The old
| | is [3]good.

[Footnote 1: Some ancient authorities omit _oft_.]

[Footnote 2: That is, _skins used as bottles_.]

[Footnote 3: Many ancient authorities read _better_.]

[Footnote a: It was probably the presence of the disciples of Christ at Matthew's feast on one of the Jewish fast days that occasioned the complaint of John's disciples and the Pharisees. It is sad to see disciples of John aligned with the Pharisees against Jesus.]

[Footnote b: Note the use of the term parable in Luke. There are three parables (the sons of the bride-chamber, the new patch on an old garment, the new wine in old wine-skins) here together. A few isolated ones have already occurred as in John 2:19.]

_In sections 49 to 51 we see the Pharisees attacking Jesus both in Jerusalem and in Galilee with great hostility and with the purpose of killing him because of violation of the Pharisaic regulations about the Sabbath. Jesus defends himself and his disciples by various arguments and personal claims._

Sect. 49. AT A FEAST IN JERUSALEM (POSSIBLY THE PASSOVER) JESUS HEALS A LAME MAN ON THE SABBATH AND DEFENDS THIS ACTION TO THE PHARISEES IN A GREAT DISCOURSE

John 5:1-47

1 After these things there was [1]a feast[a] of the Jews; and Jesus
went up to Jerusalem.[b]
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep _gate_ a pool, which is
3 called in Hebrew [2]Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a
5 multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered[3]. And a
certain man was there, which had been thirty and eight years in
6 his infirmity. When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been
now a long time _in that case_, he saith unto him, Wouldst thou be
7 made whole? The sick man answered him, [4]Sir, I have no man, when
the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am
8 coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him,
9 Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. And straightway the man was made
whole, and took up his bed and walked.
10 Now it was the sabbath on that day. So the Jews said unto him
that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to
11 take up thy bed [_see Ex. 20:10; Deut. 5:14_]. But he answered
them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy
12 bed, and walk. They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee,
13 Take up _thy bed_, and walk? But he that was healed wist not who
it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in
14 the place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said
unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse
15 thing befall thee. The man went away, and told the Jews that it
16 was Jesus which had made him whole. And for this cause did the
Jews persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I
18 work. For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill
him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God
his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of
himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever
20 he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. For the Father
loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and
21 greater works than these will he shew him, that ye may marvel. For
as the Father raiseth the dead and quickeneth them, even so the
22 Son also quickeneth whom he will. For neither doth the Father
23 judge any man, but he hath given all judgement unto the Son; that
all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that
honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into
25 judgement, but hath passed out of death into life. Verily, verily,
I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son
27 also to have life in himself: and he gave him authority to execute
28 judgement, because he is [5]the Son of man. Marvel not at this:
for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear
29 his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto
the resurrection of life; and they that have [6]done ill, unto the
resurrection of judgement.
30 I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement
is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of
31 him that sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not
32 true. It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that
33 the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye have sent unto
34 John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth. But the witness
which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that
35 ye may be saved. He was the lamp that burneth and shineth: and ye
36 were willing to rejoice for a season in his light. But the witness
which I have is greater than _that of_ John: for the works which
the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do,
37 bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father
which sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard
38 his voice at any time, nor seen his form. And ye have not his word
39 abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not. [7]Ye search
the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal
40 life; and these are they which bear witness of me; and ye will not
41 come to me, that ye may have life. I receive not glory from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves. I
43 am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another
44 shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye
believe, which receive glory one of another, and the glory that
45 _cometh_ from [8]the only God ye seek not? Think not that I will
accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, _even_
46 Moses, on whom ye have set your hope. For if ye believed Moses, ye
47 would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his
writings, how shall ye believe my words?[c]

[Footnote 1: Many ancient authorities read _the feast_.]

[Footnote 2: Some ancient authorities read _Bethsaida_, others
_Bethzatha_.]

[Footnote 3: Many ancient authorities insert, wholly or in part,
_waiting for the moving of the water: 4 for an angel of the Lord
went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the
water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water
stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was
holden._]

[Footnote 4: Or, _Lord_.]

[Footnote 5: Or, _a son of man_.]

[Footnote 6: Or, _practised_.]

[Footnote 7: Or, _Search the scriptures_.]

[Footnote 8: Some ancient authorities read _the only one_.]

[Footnote a: This feast of John 5:1 was _most probably_ a Passover (see note at end of volume, note 7). If so, we should know that our Lord's public ministry lasted three years and a fraction, and that the great ministry in Galilee lasted some 18 to 20 months. Otherwise, we should know of only two years and a fraction for the former, and 6 to 8 months for the latter; as John gives three passovers beyond question (John 2:13; 6:4; 12:1), and our Lord's ministry began some time before the first of these. If the feast of 5:1 was not a passover, it is quite impossible to determine what other feast it was. While one would be glad to settle these questions, if it were possible, yet it really does not matter as regards understanding our Lord's _recorded_ history and teachings during the great ministry in Galilee, the only point of difference being that if this feast was a Passover (or if there is an unmentioned Passover) we should conceive of the three journeys about Galilee as occupying a longer time, and including more extensive _unrecorded_ labors in preaching and healing.]

[Footnote b: It is to be noted that John's Gospel gives the Jerusalem Ministry of Jesus almost entirely except Galilee in ch. 2, Samaria and Galilee in ch. 4, Galilee in ch. 6 and again in ch. 21. It seems clear that John wrote with full knowledge of the Synoptic Gospels and supplements them at certain points. Both Luke and John were thus critics of the Gospel records.]

[Footnote c: Observe that here more than a year before the crucifixion, and probably two years (_i.e._ if the feast of 5:1 was a passover or if an unnamed passover is granted), the hostility of the Jews _at Jerusalem_ (comp. John 4:1) has reached the point of a desire to kill him, as a sabbath breaker and a blasphemer (5:16-18). So we shall find him staying away from Jerusalem at the passover of John 6:4, and until the Tabernacles six months before the crucifixion (John 7:1-10). Meantime, the hostility will go on increasing in other parts of the country (Mark 3:6, etc.).--Notice also that in this discourse at Jerusalem our Lord repeatedly declares himself in a high sense the Son of God, and the appointed judge of mankind (ver. 27), and says that Moses wrote concerning him (ver. 46). All this indicated that he was the Messiah, but he did not here expressly assert it as he did in Samaria (John 4:26). That would have precipitated the collision, for to claim to be the Messiah would in the view of the Jewish rulers involve _political_ consequences. Comp. John 11:48.]

Sect. 50. ANOTHER SABBATH CONTROVERSY WITH THE PHARISEES WHEN THE DISCIPLES PLUCK EARS OF GRAIN IN THE FIELDS

Probably in Galilee on the Way Back from Jerusalem[a]

Mark 2:23-28 |Matt. 12:1-8 |Luke 6:1-5
| |
23 And it came to | 1 At that season | 1 Now it came to
pass, that he was | Jesus went on the | pass on a
going on the sabbath| sabbath day through | [5]sabbath, that
day through the | the cornfields; and | he was going
cornfields; and his | his disciples were | through the
disciples [3]began, | an hungred, and | cornfields [_see
as they went, to | began to pluck ears | Deut. 23:25_]; and
pluck the ears of | of corn, and to eat.| his disciples
24 corn. And the | 2 But the Pharisees, | plucked the ears
Pharisees said unto | when they saw it, | of corn, and did
him, Behold, why do | said unto him, | eat, rubbing them
they on the sabbath | Behold, thy | in their hands.
day that which is | disciples do that | 2 But certain of the
not lawful? | which it is not | Pharisees said,
| lawful to do upon | Why do ye that
25 And he | 3 the sabbath. But he | which is not
said unto them, Did | said unto them, Have| lawful to do on
ye never read what | ye not read what | the sabbath day
David did, when he | David did, when he | [_see John 5:10;
had need, and was an| was an hungred, and | Ex. 20:10; Deut.
hungred, he, and | they that were with | 3 5:14_]? And Jesus
they that were with | 4 him; how he entered | answering them
26 him? How he entered | into the house of | said, Have ye not
into the house of | God, and [1]did eat | read even this,
God [4]when Abiathar| the shewbread, which| what David did,
was high priest, and| it was not lawful | when he was an
did eat the | for him to eat, | hungred, he, and
shewbread, which is | neither for them | they that were
not lawful to eat, | that were with him, | with him [_see
save for the | but only for the | Lev. 24:9; 1 Sam.
priests, and gave | 5 priests? Or have ye | 4 21:1-6_]; how he
also to them that | not read in the law,| entered into the
were with him? | how that on the | house of God, and
| sabbath day the | did take and eat
| priests in the | the shewbread, and
| temple profane the | gave also to them
| sabbath [_see Num. | that were with
| 28:9-10_], and are | him; which it is
| 6 guiltless? But I | not lawful to eat
| say unto you, that | save for the
| [2]one greater than | priests alone?
| the temple is here. |
| 7 But if ye had known |
| what this meaneth |
27 And | [_see Hos. 6:6_], I |
he said unto them, | desire mercy, and |
The sabbath was made| not sacrifice, ye |
for man, and not man| would not have | 5 And
28 for the sabbath: so | condemned the | he said unto them,
that the Son of man | 8 guiltless. For the | The Son of man is
is lord even of the | Son of man is lord | lord of the
sabbath.[b] | of the sabbath. | sabbath.

[Footnote 1: Some ancient authorities read _they did eat_.]

[Footnote 2: Gr. _a greater thing_.]

[Footnote 3: Gr. _began to make_ their _way plucking_.]

[Footnote 4: Some ancient authorities read _in the days of
Abiathar the high priest_.]

[Footnote 5: Many ancient authorities insert _second-first_.]

[Footnote a: Because in Mark 3:7 Jesus withdraws to the Sea of Galilee.]

[Footnote b: Note the five arguments made by Jesus in defence of the conduct of the disciples on the Sabbath (the historical appeal in the conduct of David, the appeal to the law about the temple service, the voice of prophecy, the purpose of God in the Sabbath, and the lordship of the Messiah over the Sabbath). Jesus had already (John 5:17) argued that he was equal to the Father and hence had the right to do certain things (acts of mercy) on the Sabbath.]

Sect. 51. A THIRD[a] SABBATH CONTROVERSY WITH THE PHARISEES OVER THE HEALING OF A MAN WITH A WITHERED HAND IN A SYNAGOGUE

In Galilee