Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 2]
general and great for words. The people could only say: "We never
saw it on this fashion" (\Hout•s oudepote eidamen\). Jesus had
acted with the power of God and claimed equality with God and had
made good his claim. They all marvelled at the {paradoxes}
(\paradoxa\, Lu 5:26) of that day. For it all they glorified
God.
2:13 {By the seaside} (\para t•n thalassan\). A pretty picture of
Jesus walking by the sea and a walk that Jesus loved (Mr 1:16;
Mt 4:18). Probably Jesus went out from the crowd in Peter's
house as soon as he could. It was a joy to get a whiff of fresh
air by the sea. But it was not long till all the crowd began to
come to Jesus (\•rcheto\, imperfect) and Jesus was teaching them
(\edidasken\, imperfect). It was the old story over again, but
Jesus did not run away.
2:14 {And as he passed by} (\kai parag•n\). Present participle
active, was passing by. Jesus was constantly on the alert for
opportunities to do good. An unlikely specimen was Levi
(Matthew), son of Alpheus, sitting at the toll-gate (\tel•nion\)
on the Great West Road from Damascus to the Mediterranean. He was
a publican (\tel•n•s\) who collected toll for Herod Antipas. The
Jews hated or despised these publicans and classed them with
sinners (\hamart•loi\). The challenge of Jesus was sudden and
sharp, but Levi (Matthew) was ready to respond at once. He had
heard of Jesus and quickly decided. Great decisions are often
made on a moment's notice. Levi is a fine object lesson for
business men who put off service to Christ to carry on their
business.
2:16 {The scribes of the Pharisees} (\hoi grammateis t•n
Pharisai•n\). This is the correct text. Cf. "their scribes" in
Lu 5:30. Matthew gave a great reception (\doch•n\, Lu 5:29)
in his house (Mr 2:15). These publicans and sinners not simply
accepted Levi's invitation, but they imitated his example "and
were following Jesus" (\kai •kolouthoun aut•i\). It was a motly
crew from the standpoint of these young theologues, scribes of
the Pharisees, who were on hand, being invited to pick flaws if
they could. It was probably in the long hall of the house where
the scribes stood and ridiculed Jesus and the disciples, unless
they stood outside, feeling too pious to go into the house of a
publican. It was an offence for a Jew to eat with Gentiles as
even many of the early Jewish Christians felt (Ac 11:3) and
publicans and sinners were regarded like Gentiles (1Co 5:11).
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MR2.RWP.html (4 of 7) [28/08/2004 09:03:36 a.m.]