v1-2: It seems likely that this incident occurred in the synagogue in Capernaum (or a house used for that purpose). This fits in with the presence of the scribes, and is consistent with His practice in the early chapters (1.21; 3.1; 6.2). The Lord had been to other towns, as He had intended (1.38-39), and now returned to His base. The Lord, as His practice was, preached the word first.

The Sabbath day became a key element of the battleground between Jesus Christ and the religious leaders of HIs day.

‘The gospels bring before us Christ more frequently on the Sabbath than on any other festive occasion. It seemed to be His special day for working the work of His Father. On the Sabbath He preached in the Synagogues; He taught in the Temple; He healed the sick; He came to the joyous meal with which the Hews were wont to close the Day. Yet their opposition broke out most fiercely in proportion as He exhibited the true meaning and object of the Sabbath. Never did the antagonism between the spirit and the letter more clearly appear.’ (Alfred Edersheim, The Temple, its Ministry and Service.)

v3-4: The four friends had recognised Jesus' power to heal, and they had determination to reach Him. We may see this as the Lord Jesus testing their faith.

v5: Jesus saw the real and more serious need, for forgiveness of sins, and dealt with that first. This is another indication that His primary concern was not for physical health. The teaching of forgiveness was illustrated by the healing.

v6-7: The first opposition that the Lord faced; within a period of some months, they were seeking to destroy Him (3.6). As was often the case in the N.T., opposition came from religious people; and that remains the case today. Unspiritual religious people do not like spiritual people.

v8: Jesus, being God, was able to discern their thoughts and intentions (Heb 4.12); nothing could be hidden from Him. In the circumstances, His was unanswerable wisdom, and there was an undeniable miracle.

v9: The unanswered question. It is easier to “say” that a person’s sins are forgiven, for that is not visual. However, to heal a paralysed man demands clear visual proof.

v10: Jesus went further, demonstrating again that He was God; He forgave the man's sins. The man left the meeting with a changed life. The tite "Son of Man," references Dan 7.13-14, and indicates Jesus' own deity. The teachers of the law would be aware of this reference. He uses the same phrase in Matt 26.64, during His trial before the Sanhedrin.

v11-12: In the presence of them all; as undeniable proof of what had happened, and as a testimony of Jesus' power to fulfil His own words.

v13: As well as preaching in synagogues, the Lord Jesus preached in a crowd, responding to an opportunity that arose.

v14: Levi, like the other disciples, had probably met Jesus before. The call here was the call to 'full-time' commitment. We note that Jesus chose His disciples; although He picked 'nobodies' He did not just pick anybody; He picked those He wanted (3.13). The reasons why these twelve were chosen is within the heart of the Lord.

The tax collector was a despised profession (Luke 19.1-7).

v15-16: Levi invited his friends, other tax collectors, to meet Jesus. Jesus associated with "sinners and tax collectors", but could never be corrupted by them. The Pharisees criticised Jesus; they would not associate with many groups of people, being an exclusive group.

v17: Jesus answered the criticism, and with a challenge to repentance. His illustration of physical healing to picture salvation was clear; sick people need a doctor, sinners need a Saviour. This illustration gives us permission to understand Jesus' healings as spiritual illustrations.

The way the Lord dealt with criticism and trick questions was to declare the truths of God powerfully. The Pharisees and scribes were not genuinely seeking to understand Jesus, and there was no willingness to change their own behaviour or attitudes.

v18: Orthodox Jews fasted regularly (Zech 7.5; Luke 18.12), and Jesus did not criticise the practice (Matt 6.16-18), and Paul taught Christians also to fast (1 Cor 7.5). The issue brought Jesus into conflict with the Pharisees, just as had the issue of forgiveness (v5-7), and the Sabbath (v23-28; 3.1-6), and other issues. Sometimes the Lord used a parable, and other times He quoted and explained Scripture; in this way, His words are given equal authority to those of the O.T.

The dangers for us are that we are unwilling to obey the word of Christ to us, and that we prefer man-made rules to the teaching of Scripture.

v19-20: The disciples' behaviour was different during Christ's ministry, as compared to during Acts. The "bridegroom" was with them, and they could not fast. But they would fast later.

v21-22: Jesus was speaking of a time to come, when the old covenant was replaced by the new; the new was not simply an addition to the old, but a replacement of it.

In Christ, there is an inner change, of heart and attitudes, by the wine of the Holy Spirit; and also an outer change of actions and words, represented by the new garment. These changes were not possible under the old covenant, the Levitical system of law.

v23-24: The Pharisees interpreted the O.T. in a particular way, and insisted that others did the same. They accused Jesus' disciples of doing what was unlawful; but they had measured by their own standards.

The O.T. did insist that the Sabbath be kept holy, but few other details were given. It was certainly not intended that many difficult rules were annexed to the law. The Pharisees did not appreciate that the Sabbath was actually given for man's benefit (v27).

We should beware of traditions, whether new ones or old ones. By traditions, we mean any man made rules which effectively supplant the teaching of Scripture.

v25-26: Jesus used an O.T. incident to illustrate His teaching; moral issues were ultimately more important than ritual matters.

v27-28: Since the Sabbath was made for man, it was counter-productive for anyone to create additional rules and demands. The Son of Man declared His authority over this issue.