Mark 2:14

And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. For the exposition, see the notes at Matthew 9:9....

13-17 Matthew was not a good character, or else, being a Jew, he would never have been a publican, that is, a tax-gatherer for the Romans. However, Christ called this publican to follow him. With God, through Christ, there is mercy to pardon the greatest sins, and grace to change the greatest sinners, and make them holy. A faithful, fair-dealing publican was rare. And because the Jews had a particular hatred to an office which proved that they were subject to the Romans, they gave these tax-gatherers an ill name. But such as these our blessed Lord did not hesitate to converse with, when he appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh. And it is no new thing for that which is both well done and well designed, to be slandered, and turned to the reproach of the wisest and best of men. Christ would not withdraw, though the Pharisees were offended. If the world had been righteous, there had been...

Verse Mark 2:14. _LEVI_] The same as _Matthew_; he appears to have been a Jew, though employed in the odious office of a tax-gatherer. For an account of his call, see his Gospel, Matthew 9:9, c....

LEVI, THE SON OF ALPHEUS - The same, undoubtedly, as “Matthew,” the writer of the gospel which bears his name. It was not uncommon among the Jews to have two names. THE RECEIPT OF CUSTOM - See the notes at Matthew 9:9....

EXPOSITION MARK 2:1 The first sentence of this verse is better rendered thus: AND WHEN HE ENTERED again (εἰσελθῶν πάλιν) INTO CAPERNAUM AFTER SOME DAYS; literally, after days (δι ̓ ἡμερῶν). It is probable that a considerable interval had taken place since the events recorded in the former chapter. IT WAS NOISED THAT HE WAS IN THE HOUSE (ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστὶ); or, if the ὅτι be regarded as recitative, it was noised, _He is in the house_,_ at home_,_ _in his usual place of residence at Capernaum. MARK 2:2 MANY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER, so that there was no longer room for

AND AS HE PASSED BY,.... As he went from Simon's house, and from the city of Capernaum, to go to the sea side: HE SAW LEVI, THE SON OF ALPHAEUS; the same with Matthew, Matthew 9:9, and son to the same Alphaeus as James was, Matthew 10:3, Beza's most ancient copy reads "James", instead of "Levi", very wrongly; but he was the brother of James, and also of Simon and Jude; so that there were four brothers of them apostles: and if Joses, called Barsabas, was the same Joses that was brother to these, as seems probable, a fifth was put up for an apostle, though the lot fell on Matthias. James, and Joses, and Simon, and Jude, are mentioned together, Matthew 13:55, because they lived together, and were

Mark 2:1. _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._ We expect to see the crowd round the door, but there was not room, even for the doorway hearers, when Jesus Christ was preaching. There is an attracting power about the voice of Jesus. We may expect that if we will let Jesus speak in the ministry, and not speak too much our own thought and our own words, there will still be the same attraction about the gospel. «He preached the Word unto them.» Mark 2:3. _And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy,_ A paralyzed person: that is the exact word one, who

MARK 2:14 Leui,n {A} The reading VIa,kwbon in Western witnesses shows the influence of Mark 3:18, where VIa,kwbon to.n tou/ ~Alfai,ou is included among the twelve....

CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Servant again in Capernaum. The healing of the Paralytic. (Mark 2:1 .Matthew 9:1; Luke 5:17 .)_ 2. Levi called. With the Publicans and Sinners. (Mark 2:13. Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27 .) 3. The Question concerning Fasting. (Mark 2:18 .Matthew 9:14;...

THE CALL OF LEVI. JESUS EATS WITH TAX-COLLECTORS. These two incidents are only loosely connected with each other and with what precedes. The notes of time are of the vaguest. The call of Levi, who is collecting tolls for the Tetrarch of Galilee on the highroad (p. 615), closely resembles the call of the first four disciples. There is nothing to suggest that the meal is a thanksgiving feast. In the large company of guests, some Pharisees (pp. 624, 666f.) mingle. They appear here in the gospel for the first time. The idea of holiness through separation is involved in their very name. Tax-collectors had a bad reputation in ancient society. A passage in Lucian classes them with adulterers and sycophants. The sinners seem to be people who were careless of the Law and perhaps even loose livers. It is very strange that Jesus the prophet chooses such company. Jesus meets the Pharisaic suggestion...