Mark 2:8 kjv
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?
Mark 2:8 nkjv
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
Mark 2:8 niv
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?
Mark 2:8 esv
And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts?
Mark 2:8 nlt
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts?
Mark 2 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 139:2 | You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. | God's comprehensive knowledge of human thoughts. |
| Jer 17:10 | "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings." | God alone is the searcher of hearts and minds. |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | For the LORD searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts. | Divine omniscience regarding internal thoughts. |
| Mt 9:4 | But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?" | Parallel account emphasizing Jesus' knowledge of thoughts. |
| Lk 5:22 | But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?" | Parallel account demonstrating Jesus' divine perception. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. | The discerning power of God's Word, reflecting His knowledge. |
| Rev 2:23 | "I am He who searches the minds and hearts..." | Jesus claims the divine attribute of searching hearts. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. | Contrast between human and divine perception, highlighting God's focus on the heart. |
| Jn 2:24-25 | But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them... for He Himself knew what was in man. | Jesus' inherent knowledge of human nature and hearts. |
| Isa 43:25 | "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins." | God alone is the ultimate forgiver of sins. |
| Acts 5:31 | Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. | Jesus' authority to grant repentance and forgiveness. |
| Col 1:13-14 | He has delivered us from the power of darkness... in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. | Forgiveness of sins accomplished through Christ. |
| Psa 32:1-2 | Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered... | The blessedness of divine forgiveness. |
| Isa 11:2 | The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding... | The Spirit's anointing on Jesus, giving divine insight. |
| Lk 4:18 | "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel..." | Jesus' ministry empowered by the Spirit. |
| Psa 95:8 | "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness..." | Warning against hardening one's heart against God's truth. |
| Rom 1:21 | For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God... but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. | The consequence of rejecting God leads to darkened hearts and futile thoughts. |
| Mt 15:19 | For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. | The heart as the source of sinful thoughts and intentions. |
| Lk 24:38 | And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?" | Jesus addressing disciples' inner doubts, showing He perceived them. |
| Phil 2:6 | who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. | Christ's equality with God, underscoring His divine attributes like omniscience. |
| Col 2:9 | For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. | The divine nature of God fully residing in Christ. |
| Jn 10:30 | "I and My Father are one." | Jesus' assertion of unity with God, explaining His divine authority and knowledge. |
Mark 2 verses
Mark 2 8 Meaning
Mark 2:8 reveals Jesus' divine attribute of knowing the unexpressed thoughts and internal reasonings of men. While the scribes secretly questioned His authority to forgive sins in their hearts, Jesus immediately perceived their inner doubts without being told. He challenged their private blasphemous accusations, affirming His omniscient knowledge and exposing their spiritual blindness. This demonstrated that His power to forgive sins was not a presumption, but stemmed from His true identity as God Incarnate who knows the deepest intentions of the heart.
Mark 2 8 Context
Mark 2:8 occurs within the narrative of Jesus' early ministry in Galilee. The preceding verses (2:1-7) describe Jesus' healing of a paralyzed man who was lowered through a roof. Before healing him physically, Jesus declares the man's sins forgiven (Mark 2:5). This immediately provokes the scribes present, who privately accuse Jesus of blasphemy, reasoning that only God can forgive sins. Verse 8 directly addresses these unstated, inner accusations, demonstrating Jesus' divine perception and challenging the scribes' spiritual opposition and legalistic understanding of God's authority. This passage marks an early confrontation with religious authorities over Jesus' claim to divine prerogative.
Mark 2 8 Word analysis
- Immediately (Greek: euthys): This adverb is characteristic of Mark's Gospel, appearing frequently to convey a sense of swiftness, urgency, and decisiveness in Jesus' actions and the unfolding of events. Here, it emphasizes the instantaneous nature of Jesus' discernment, preceding any outward indication from the scribes.
- Jesus, perceiving (Greek: epignōs Iēsous): Epignōs means "to fully know," "to discern," or "to recognize completely." It implies more than simple observation; it denotes deep, comprehensive insight. Jesus didn't deduce their thoughts; He innately knew them, underscoring His divine capacity.
- in His spirit (Greek: tō pneumati autou): This phrase is pivotal. While "spirit" (pneuma) can refer to the human spirit, in this context, coupled with the demonstration of supernatural knowledge, it points strongly to Jesus' inherent divine nature, through which He exercises attributes of God (omniscience). It suggests the Holy Spirit's immediate work within Him, or directly refers to His own divine consciousness.
- that they were thus reasoning (Greek: hoti outōs dialogizontai): Dialogizontai means "to ponder," "to dispute," "to deliberate," or "to question." It often carries the nuance of inner, critical, or even skeptical questioning, especially concerning divine matters. They were internally challenging Jesus' words.
- within themselves (Greek: en heautois): This specifies the internal and unvoiced nature of their thoughts. They were not speaking out loud; their reasoning was private, making Jesus' perception of it even more profound.
- said to them (Greek: elegei autois): Despite their thoughts being hidden, Jesus spoke directly to their inner objections. This confrontational response exposes their private skepticism and invites a direct reply.
- "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?" (Greek: Ti tauta dialogizesthe en tais kardiais hymōn?): Jesus directly quotes their unspoken thoughts. The "heart" (kardia) in biblical terms is not merely the emotional center, but the seat of the will, intellect, intentions, and moral character. Their spiritual "heart" was the source of their doubt and opposition. This question challenges the very root of their unbelief.
Mark 2 8 Bonus section
This incident showcases a core polemic of Mark's Gospel against religious formalism and unbelief. The scribes, masters of the Law, were blindsided by the presence of the Lawgiver Himself, not recognizing God's authority clothed in human flesh. Their reliance on external legal interpretation blinded them to the internal, spiritual reality unfolding before their eyes. Jesus' ability to read thoughts shattered the conventional boundaries between man and God, serving as an undeniable sign of His deity to those willing to see. It underscores that true spiritual understanding comes from God, not from human legalistic reasoning.
Mark 2 8 Commentary
Mark 2:8 vividly illustrates Jesus' divine omniscience and serves as a direct counter-challenge to the scribes' hidden accusations. Before any physical action, Jesus addresses the invisible realm of human thought, exposing the scribes' private mental disputations against Him. This supernatural ability to perceive unspoken internal reasoning is a clear attribute of God, as evidenced in many Old Testament passages. By exercising this divine knowledge, Jesus validates His earlier claim of forgiving sins (Mark 2:5), which the scribes had mentally deemed blasphemous. His question, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?", is both a revelation of His identity and a spiritual interrogation. It highlights that the root of their unbelief lay not in a lack of evidence, but in the hardened, questioning posture of their spiritual "hearts." The verse concisely portrays Jesus as not just a healer or a prophet, but as the Lord of hearts and minds, possessing ultimate authority, which includes the power to forgive sins.