Mark
2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that
he was in the house. 2 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. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick
of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 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. 5 When
Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven
thee. 6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning
in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive
sins but God only?
8
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? 9
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? 10 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,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into
thine house. 12 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. 13 And he went forth again by the sea side;
and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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? 17 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. 18 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? 19
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. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from
them, and then shall they fast in those days. 21 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. 22 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. 23
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. 24 And the
Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is
not lawful? 25 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? 26 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? 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for
man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also
of the sabbath.
Chapter
Two: Sin, Sinners, and the Law
Outline
of the Chapter
A.
Verse 1-12- Jesus forgives sin.
B.
Verse 13-22- Jesus visits with sinners.
C.
Verse 23-28- Jesus accused of sinning against the law.
____________________________________________
A.
Verse 1-12- Jesus forgives sin.
1.
Sinners need to hear the Word preached Vs. 1-2
a. What was Christ's authority
to preach the Word?
John 1:1- No other preacher had this authority-- That is, he was God. John
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
I John 1:1- John heard the Preacher. 1
John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of
the Word of life;
I John 5:7- Why do the modern translators hate this verse? 1
John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Answer- It makes tampering with the Word an attack of the person of Christ.
Note: "We believe this was not in the original manuscript" is the only way the
Bible mutilators can cover their tracks.
In other words, they really are saying "We reject this Word of Christ, and we
reject His person."
Therefore:
Revelation
22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words
of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of
life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book.
The
Word will have the last word! Bible mutilators will have their right to the tree
of life taken away. That means hell. Is it worth it to carry around and teach
from a redacted or abbreviated Bible?
NEVER
ONCE in the Gospels did Jesus ever say, "This verse was not in the original
Hebrew." Why? Simply because he got it right the first time.
b.
Why preach?
Romans
10:8-11 "the word of faith, which we preach;"
2
Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap
to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
The Word is not absorbed.
Jesus did not wow the crowd.
HE PREACHED. He had to get a verdict:
I Corinthians 1:18 For the
preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God. 1
Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Verse 21- Jesus wanted to be
one of two things to Israel- 1 Corinthians
1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
- Their Lord or - Their fool
Did He succeed?
Discuss.
What
part of the Sunday service is shorted? Preaching!
Many can't take more than 20
minutes.
John
Knoll- "Sermonettes are preached by preacherettes for Christianettes."
Paul preached all night in
Acts 20:7-11
Nehemiah
8:1-8- About 6 hours preaching. Kids
listened who could understand. No "Junior church"
Don't
get saved if you can't stand preaching.
Isaiah
61:1-3; Matt. 4:23- In the coming kingdom, Jesus will preach. You won't
get away from it.
Rev.
14:6- Either rejoice in preaching now-- Or hear it as you are tormented
in the Tribulation!
Why
do good preachers preach so eagerly and long? Ans.- I Cor. 9:16-
The terror of a good preacher
is this-- I didn't preach long enough!
The
scourge of the Lord's Church-- Saints who limit the preacher.
When I was in the US Army at
Fort Knox, Kentucky, I was a chaplain's assistant. My job was mostly to be a clerk
and driver to a chaplain. We had an Episcopal Chaplain who was an absolute dead
beat. He had a big red book of sermons that the Episcopal Church sent him every
year, and he simply read the sermons from that book. You never heard anything
so dry and dull as those canned sermons. There was nothing dull about the preaching
of Jesus and Paul. Why was it called "foolish" by Paul? Simply because
the Gospel is exactly that to the man of the world who is in love with situation
ethics and self-love. The Gospel turns his world upside down.
UPDATED
TO HERE
2.
Sinners need spiritual healing first. Vs. 3-5
a.
"They come" Verse 3 Friends bring sinners!
It is still true.
Why? Ans.- It is the Lord's plan.
Mark 16:15; John 14:31; Acts 1:8; II Timothy 2:2; Revelation 11:3
Witnesses GO.
Are you a witness? Who are you bringing to Jesus?
b. Someone is always in
the way- Verse 4
Beware
of the "press"- This means, in old English, the mob gathered close to Jesus.
The one in the most need is often in the back row.
Story: Tony was not saved yet. His wife, Bobbie, was saved,
and she and the church prayed hard for Tony. One Sunday night he decided
to come to church alone for the first time. He was wearing a yellow and
red stripped T-shirt, and when he entered the church house, he took a seat
right in front of the back door. The pastor changed his sermon and started
preaching the Gospel. Tony finally gave in and believed in Christ for salvation.
The last row is where the sinner and backslider sit. But, they are
there-- rejoice.
Are you in the way of a soul seeking Jesus?
Discuss: Bad testimony? Poor attendance?
Critical of the saints, pastor, preaching?
Story: Ed Arnold and smoking- Ed was a deacon in a Bible Church. He
worked hard for the assembly, but he had the smoking habit. He kept it away
from folks so as not to bother them, and he honestly thought smoking was not really
a bad thing if he controlled it. One day, while walking in the city, Ed was passed
by a lady from the church and her young boy. They greeted and went on, but
Ed heard the boy say, "Mommy, smoking must be OK cause Mr. Arnold smokes." Ed
got convicted and quit on the spot. Why? Not the health issue. Ed
saw that his example was making trouble for a saint.
c. Sin is top priority.
Why?
Ezekiel
18:4- All souls day is Judgment day!
Sin = Death That's serious
John 8:21- Rejecting Jesus now is Sin.
Die that way, and never see Jesus
Palsy kills the body--
Sin takes a man to hell.
Matt. 10:28-- Jesus took care of first things first.
Sin forgiven kept separate from healing--
Who destroys body and soul in hell?
Luke 17:11-19-- Note: Difference between "cleansed" and "whole"
Key: "faith" and he worshipped Christ.
Discuss: Why did Jesus forgive sin first, then heal.
3. Sinners
blaspheme the Savior of sinners- Verses 6-12
Verse
6-12- Why heal the man?
NOT so that Oily Roberts will have a proof text!
Did the sick man "Claim his healing?" NO!
The 4 friends had faith, not the man.
This healing was a sign to bring Jews to belief in Messiah.
Signs
of the Father
Moses
with Pharaoh Pillar of fire / cloud following Isreal Elijah on Mount with
prophets of Baal Captivity predicted
Signs
of the Son
Healing
Jews Mk 2:10-11 Control nature- walk on water Feeding of the 5000 Sign
of Jonah
Signs
of the HolySpirit
Pentecost
and tongues Peter healing in temple Paul and snake bite Paul and
storm in Acts
Resurrection
Mk 16:15-20; Compare w/Pope JP II
Who are signs for? Answer: John 2:18-19 Can we demand a sign of Jesus?
I Cor. 1:22-23- What do the modern Gentiles seek? Answer: A good feeling
and super program.
Read "Quenching the Spirit" de Arteaga, p. 259 quoting MacArthur.
Wimber- Healing, tongues,
holy laughter = good recreation.
Carnival in the aisle, raging saints. "Whatever works"
Claim: Daniel 7:13-14 has been fulfilled. "Sentinel" Sept. 94. p. 6
Why is he wrong?
Ans. Where are the Jews in Wimber's program?
Christ- (Mark 2) Healing is war with Satan for the heart of Israel.
Christ seeks belief, not hollerin and roaring!
Read
"Foundation Magazine" July/Sept, 1987, p. 23
Discuss: Mt. 11:1-6- What was Messiah doing?
Answer- Offering signs.
Isaiah 53:5-6 fulfilled (partially?)
Mark 16:16-18- Who would give the signs here?
Acts 1:8 God the Holy Spirit.
To whom? The only Pentecostal church in all of history- the Jewish church at Jerusalem.
CONCLUSION:
Mark 2:7- This is blasphemy-- Accuse Jesus of blasphemy.
CF Mk 3:28-30- To apply this to faith healers is totally out of context.... Unless:
the faith healer is Jesus, standing in Israel, and those healed are Jews, and
the Messianic age is being offered!
B.
Verse 13-22- Jesus visits with sinners.
1. Verse
13-14- Levi
a. Levi- This name is still
with us. Leviwitz, Livinski, Levies!
His profession-
Collected customs- "toll," or tax.
b. Reputation-
Jews hated them.
Same reputation as harlots.
c. In Palestine- Tax went to Herod.
In Judea-
Tax went to Roman procurator.
d. Levi's zeal-
Luke 5:27-32
(1) He left all. I.E. He became unemployed.
(2) Threw a big feast for Jesus!
Discuss
Middle Eastern hospitality.
This showed Levi's love of Christ.
It drew the attention of Levi's friends.
Story:
Kid who got saved & went back to dope crowd to tell them of Christ in San
Francisco.
e. Who did Jesus call?
- No beggars
- No rich elite
Rich young ruler declined salvation.
Joseph of Aramathea was exception.
Zacchaeus- Lk. 19:2-4 Also a tax collector-- Head of the IRS.
Would he be welcome in the average
Fundamental church today?
Jesus invited Himself to eat with Zacch.
Tough way to come. 400%
loss.
- I Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how
that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
2. Verse 15- Publicans and sinners-
a. Publicans-
Toll collectors- Matthew's friends!
Discuss Reconstructionist
hate for tax collectors.
Tax rebels. Discuss.
Jesus
spent time with them, even eating.
Treason to the ave. Fundamentalist.
Jesus on tax collectors- Mt. 22:15-21; Rom. 13:5-7.
Taxation, to Christ, is not all that evil.
Those who live a simple
life like the Lord and Apostles have few tax worries!
We belly
ache, but how many of us have stopped driving on the highways to show our conviction
over taxation?
b. Sinners- Many followed him?
Any sinners follow you because of Jesus?
This is NOT fellowship!
This is hospitality in evangelism.
Where did Jesus get His fellowship?
Disciples, Mary&Martha,
Lazarus.
But it all got mixed up at times.
Are we
under the incubator or at the feed trough regarding sinners?
When
is the last time a sinner was invited to your dinner table- to a gathering of
friends?
3. Verse 16-17- Scribes and Pharisees.
a.
Who do saints like to see with their pastor?
IRS
agents and politicians? Sinners?
Do you suppose the disciples were
a bit uncomfortable?
Seems so. They were half way between Christ
and the Pharisees!
Mt. 15:1-14- Note vs. 12. Disciples were tender
toward religious elite.
Are you half way to Nicolaitans? Vs. 14-
"Let them alone..."
Give your ear to the religious elite.
Do you prefer the company of "religious" people to that of sinners. If so, you
need to reverse your thinking NOW.
b. Why were
the Pharisees mad?
Matt. 9:9-11- Jesus ATTRACTED
sinners.
The Pharisee repulsed them.
They lorded
it over them and mocked them.
CF- Lk. 18:9-13- What do you think
the religious elite really think of you?
Nicolaitans make me miserable.
Tempt me to become servile.
Some Fundamentalists are the worst.
Discuss. Spiritual hustlers?
c. Today? 70% of church
growth is by sheep stealing.
Look for S.S. teachers,
people with money, dynamic.
This is wicked.
ILL.
Church growth seminars- Promises of numbers. Busing programs.
Go
fishing in the world.
Get fellowship in local church.
4. Verse 18-22- Jesus ate with sinners.
When did Jesus fast?
Luke 4:1-3-
BEFORE His ministry. ALONE! Mt. 6:1-6; 16-18.
Fasting is personal-
at the most, with the saints.
With sinners- Feasting is the order.
How can a sinner be spiritual? He can only understand one thing-
the Gospel.
Rom. 8:7-8; Eph 1;12-13
Verse 20-22-
Messianic glory must not be added to Phariseeism.
Discuss: How
is this applied today? What is the Pharisee model today?
Conclude:
Story: Radalla home.
I talked about Jesus.
He told of demonic power in his basement.
She cried for joy at the plain
stories of Jesus.
Story: L. Home, Patagonia.
Talked about the Lord.
Prayed for the food and for them.
They
just talked and talked.
Want me to meet their priest. There's a sinner,
not Pharisee.
Pharisees talk about hem lines, taxes, Billy
Graham, and brag on their programs.
They may be against
abortion, for prayer in schools, and know all of the sins of Clinton- How does
that fulfill the goal of the Church?
They make me miserable. Sinners give
me a lift if I can just get them to listen to something about Jesus.
Let's
move over closer to Jesus and the sinners.
C.
Verse 23-28- Jesus accused of sinning against the law.
Mark 2:23 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. 24
And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which
is not lawful? 25
And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and
was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? 26
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? 27
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore
the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
1. Vs. 23- "corn" is grain. Could be wheat of barley. They
sinned 4 ways:
First, they were not going
to the synagogue, but to dinner.
Second, they were harvesting
food.
Third, they were winnowing it in their hands.
Fourth, they did not consult the Pharisees.
Is this unfair? No. The Pharisees could arrange a way to break
every law. ILL. Acts 1:11-12- "Sabbath day's journey"
Tell of the
small tents provided by Pharisees.
If the disciples had asked,
the Pharisees would have found a way.
2. Verse 25-26 Jesus is not bound by the law He
made.
ILL. given- I Sam. 21:1-6-
Note: David lied about his mission.
David was not
given mercy because he was living right.
David received mercy because
of who God is.
ILL. of wrath of God- II Chron.
26:1-5 and 16-21.
Why? Was it because he was a
bad man?
No! It was because God is holy, and mercy gives place
to judgment so that God's holiness is satisfied.
How does this
explain the disciples in the grain field?
Answer- God was in charge,
and mercy allowed them to eat.
Could God have struck them dead
for eating?
Answer: Yes, but there is a higher call than the sabbath
law.
3.
Verse 27 Why was there a Sabbath?
Answer:
Gen. 2:2- Was God tired? NO!
Was God more holy
of the seventh day? NO!
Sabbath rest is not because of sin.
Sabbath rest is man's opportunity to be totally attentive to God... Which is exactly
what the disciples were doing!
ILL. Old Mennonites
in Russia.
Pacifists. Would not kill for the state.
Never were Christians told in the New Testament to kill for the
state.
Never have the saints of the last 1900 years been called
to kill for the state. Donatists, Waldenseans, to
Pilgrims- never
"Thou shalt not kill" has no, "except for Caesar" clause
Then came the Russian soldiers raping all women they came to.
Frank
Regier's father now had to answer to a higher law...
He was to
defend his wife and family. I Tim. 5:8
Out came the pistol.
Did he have a biblical ground for this?
Luke 22:35-38-
God was honored in their faith with no sword.
God was also honored in their defense of themselves.
Neither was
exalted over the other.
(Note in passing- [IF a question asked]
They were NOT told they could join either the Roman army or the Jewish zealots
to honor God. This passage does NOT justify the professional soldier or the guy
with the closet full of guns. Soldiers are trained to kill and ask no questions.
A Christian cannot let himself be oathed into such an arrangement.)
CONCLUDE:
The law of God is a schoolmaster to do what?
Gal. 3:24-25- Once the disciples
were with Jesus,
Jesus took charge of their conscience.
Don't tell me you are not under law until you are 100% under
the law of Christ and His presence in your life.
"No
man can serve two masters..." Luke 16:13
CONCLUDE:
CHAPTER TWO
If
you walk with Christ three things will happen to you:
1.
Your sins will be forgiven for ever, as with the man sick of the palsy.
2. You will become the friend
of sinners for the Gospel's sake.
3.
You will be accused of being a sinner because you walk with Jesus.
