Lesson 5226

 (Lesson 5226)(05-28-26) Mark 2:23-28 

   “And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” 

 

    In today’s quote, Jesus established his authority over the old law by declaring that the Sabbath was made to serve mankind, and that man was not created to serve the Sabbath. ~ 

Lesson 5225

 (Lesson 5225)(05-27-26) Mark 2:18-22 

   “And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.” 

 

    In today’s quote, Jesus explained that His apostles need not obey the old law, so long as He was with them, because He had come to fulfill it and establish a new law of grace through faith for them and all those who will come to believe in Him. Since the apostles of Christ were bound by the new law of grace, they were exempt from the old because the old law demanded works, while the new law only requires faith. ~

Lesson 5224

 (Lesson 5224)(05-26-26) Mark 2:15-17 

   “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

 

   Today’s quote defends Jesus' fellowship with societal outcasts (sinners) by establishing that his mission was not to validate the self-righteous Jews, but to act as a spiritual physician who came explicitly to call sinners to repentance. ~ 

Lesson 5223

 (Lesson 5223)(05-25-26) Mark 2:13-15 

   “And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. “ 

 

   In today’s quote, clarifies that with the selection of Levi as one of His apostles, Jesus demonstrated that his ministry was accessible to the most despised individuals. ~ 

Lesson 5222

 (Lesson 5222)(05-24-26) Mark 2:1-12 

   “And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, 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.” 

 

   Today’s quote recounts that after some days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, news spreading that He was there. In a full house Jesus preached to His fellow Jews and healed a man of the palsy saying “thy sins be forgive thee”. Certain of the Scribes questioned why this man Jesus spoke blasphemies and asked who could forgive sins but God only. Perceiving what they were thinking, Jesus asked them why they were doubting His method of healing and whether it was easier to say, "Thy sins be forgiven thee," or to say, "Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk." So that the Scribes would know that the Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins, he turned to the sick man and commanded him to rise, pick up his bed, and go home. Those who watched were astonished at the power of God through Jesus. 

In reconciling this account with the parallel testimonies in Matthew 9 and Luke 5, the shared historical details confirm that this event actually took place in Jesus' early Galilean ministry. Luke's account added the specific detail that the Pharisees and doctors of the law had come from every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem, indicating the growing institutional scrutiny Jesus faced. While Mark and Luke highlighted the dramatic action of the friends lowering the paralyzed man through the roof, all three gospels perfectly converged on the core issue. They uniformly recorded that Jesus used the physical healing as a visible, empirical proof to validate His divine authority to forgive sins. By commanding the man to walk, Jesus demonstrated to the skeptical Jews that the Son of man has the absolute authority of the Godhead on earth, a reality that left the crowds across all three accounts glorifying God in amazement.  ~