Mark 10:1 He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Crowds came together to him again. As He usually did, He was again teaching them. 2 Pharisees came to Him testing Him, and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce Read more…

Mark 10: 17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do that I may inherit everlasting life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one–God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your Read more…

Mark 10:32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him. 33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to Read more…

Right out of the gate, Mark identifies Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 1:1). A few verses later we see the baptism of Jesus with the voice from heaven identifying Him as “my beloved Son”. Next is the assertion from a demon (Mark 1:24) who identifies Jesus as the “Holy One of God”. In chapter two, Jesus forgives the sins of the man he is healing. This riles up the Pharisees and scribes because Read more…

John 1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, but the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received him, to them He gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in His name, 13 who Read more…

The Sadduccees, Pharisees and Essenes are the three main groups in Israel at this time (although the Essenes are not mentioned in the Bible). The Sadducees were a group of wealthy, aristocratic people who maintained control over the Temple. In contrast, the Pharisees were more working class in nature while the Essenes were a breakaway group opposed to (“disgusted with” is the term used at Jewish Virtual Library) both the Sadducees and Pharisees and who Read more…

Mark 12:13 They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to Him, that they might trap Him with words. 14 When they had come, they asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You are honest, and do not defer to anyone; for You are not partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay, or should we not pay?” Read more…

Mark 12:28 Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your Read more…

Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” 2“Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” BSB Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple but this second version fell short in comparison to Solomon’s Temple. This changed just prior Read more…

Interpreting the Olivet Discourse is complicated which causes some people to personalize as it relates it to their own lives. To study it in greater detail, however, means that we will have to make some interpretative decisions for ourselves. Specifically, what part relates to things that will happen versus things that have happened? Second, what is God’s part and what is our part? In other words, is this something we build on or does it Read more…