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Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/20) Mark 13:1-36

Feb20

A 5-day per week study.

February 20– Reading Mark 13:1-36.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.”  Mark 13:33

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The Gospel according to Mark 13:1-36

Jesus (and His disciples) have been at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem all day. He has been teaching the crowds and confronting the religious leaders. He ends the time with praise for an extremely poor, but generous, widow and her meager offering.

Now, as they leave for the day, one of His disciples exclaims at the grandeur of the Temple buildings, specifically the great huge gleaming white marble stones.

(Some of the foundation stones were 40’x12’x12′.  The ones on the east-facing wall were covered with gold plates that gleamed in the morning sun. This was the Temple that Herod was rebuilding.)

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Vss. 1-2.

“Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” said one of the twelve.

“Do you see these great buildings?” Jesus asked. “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

That silenced them.  How did that relate to Jesus coming into His Kingdom, since they believed it was about to happen? (Remember His triumphant ride into Jerusalem?)

(What Jesus was talking about was the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D., when the Roman general, Titus, invaded.  He built large wooden scaffolds around the temple buildings, piled them high with flammable materials, and set them on fire.  The heat was so intense that the great stones crumbled.  Later, the rubble was sifted to retrieve the melted gold. The remaining ruins were “thrown down” into the Kidron Valley.)  

(Most of the disciples will be martyred before this happens.  We only know for sure that John lived to hear of Jerusalem’s destruction. (It’s believed John died in 100 A.D.)  It’s also possible that Simon the Zealot lived a couple of years after (74 A.D.). But before General Titus came, all the disciples would have left the city to carry the Gospel “to the uttermost parts of the world.”)

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Vss. 3-8.

Once outside the city, Jesus and the men rested on the Mount of Olives before continuing over and down to Bethany to His friends’ home, where they would stay the night.  From where they sat, the Temple Mount was in clear view. (Today, the Muslim Dome of the Rock stands in that place.)

Jesus’ four closest disciples came near, and one asked Him, “Tell us when these things will be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to happen.”

Of course, the disciples “thought” that Jesus was about to usher in His Kingdom. They probably thought some huge miracle would happen – like the Temple being gone – to announce the coming Millennial Kingdom of Jesus.

They had a rude awakening.

“See that you are not led astray,” Jesus warned. “Many will come in my name. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  Do not be alarmed.  This MUST take place, but the end … is not yet.”

Jesus went on to tell of continuous wars, earthquakes, and famines that would happen.  But THAT was only the beginning (the birth pangs) of the End.

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Vss. 9-13.

Jesus speaks of persecution and martyrdom, of their witness before kings, and of the gospel first spreading to all nations, and warns, “Be on your guard.”

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Vss. 14-23.

Then Jesus warns them about “the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be.”  (This first happened during the time of the Maccabees when Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the altar. But it would be duplicated in the end times by the Antichrist, who would also set up an image of himself in the Holy place.)

Jesus tells them that those living in Judea at that time should immediately flee to the mountains. (He says, “Let the reader beware,“ speaking to those who live in the end times, and not to His disciples.)  The tribulation in THOSE days will be worse than ever before, since Creation.  Many will try to duplicate Jesus and deceive people.  But the Lord says again, “Be on guard!”

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Vss. 24-27.

Jesus tells them that after “that” tribulation (the Great Tribulation in the end times), horrific signs will occur in the literal heavens (sun, moon, and stars) and in the spiritual heavens (the “powers” will be shaken).

And THEN, they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”  And He will send out His angels to gather His elect from the ends of the earth.

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Vss. 28-31.

Jesus seems to return to the disciples’ initial question, “When will this happen, and what is the sign of your coming?”  Perhaps His gaze took in that withered fig tree from a day ago, and He said, “From the fig tree (a healthy one), learn its lesson.  When its branch puts out leaves, you know summer is near. So also when you see these things taking place, you know that He is near, at the very gates.”   

Jesus then says that “THIS generation,” meaning the one who lives in the end times, “will not pass away until all these things take place.”

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Vss. 32-37.

Then to keep the disciples, and indeed US READERS. from predicting exactly when Jesus will return, He says, “Concerning that day or that hour, NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels in heaven, NOR THE SON, but only the Father.  Be on guard, keep awake. For YOU do not know when the time will come.”

It’s like a master going away (Jesus says) and leaving his servants to stay awake and watch for his return.  The servants won’t know if he is to return in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.  They are just to stay awake and be ready to open the door and welcome him in.

Jesus concludes with, “What I say to you, I say to all: STAY AWAKE.”

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(NOTE:  Take some time with your Bible and a Bible commentary, and read this again. See where Jesus is talking about the disciples, and when He tells about the times still future to us, when the Antichrist will appear, the Great Tribulation will happen, and Jesus’ glorious second coming in the clouds.

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Also, realize that these disciples do not know that their world is about to be turned upside down. Jesus is about to be arrested, tried, and crucified in just a matter of days.  All their beliefs of becoming partners in His earthly reign NOW, will be replaced by fear and confusion. Then, the resurrection, the ascension, and the Holy Spirit’s power on them.  They won’t be thinking of beautiful walls falling, or crowns on their heads.  They will begin fulfilling the Great Commission to take the Good News throughout the world.

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/18) Mark 12:28-34

Feb18

A 5-day per week study.

February 18– Reading Mark 12:28-34.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“You are not far from the Kingdom  of God.”  Mark 12:34b

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The Gospel according to Mark 12:28-34.

Jesus has been matched up with the various sects of Judaism. The chief priests, scribes, and elders accused Him concerning the radical clean-out of the Temple courtyard. The Pharisees and Herodians tried to catch Him up about paying taxes.  The Sadducees thought they had Him with that portion of Deuteronomy about a dead man’s brother marrying his widow, and life after death.  But Jesus knows the hearts of men. He can see right through their connivings and traps.  He can confidently tell them, “You are wrong.”

And so, when a lone scribe approaches Jesus, He is anticipating something different.

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Vss. 28-31.

A scribe (an expert in Old Testament Scriptures and often associated with the Pharisees) had been watching these encounters with Jesus.  He saw how Jesus had “answered them all well and with astonishing authority.”  He came up to Jesus and asked a question.

Now we don’t know his heart, so we don’t know whether this was one of those “test” questions meant to trap Jesus, or if he wanted to solidify what he was beginning to realize about Him: that He was a true prophet.

And so, without any “buttering-up,” he said, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Seeing the scribe’s sincerity, Jesus answered, “‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  AND the second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

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  1. (NOTE:  If you review the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai, you will see that this FIRST “great commandment” encompasses the first FOUR of the ten.  The SECOND “great commandment” that Jesus quoted to the scribe takes in the remaining SIX of the ten commandments.  Go and check them now, if you want.  Exodus 20:1-17.)
  2. (NOTE: Jesus also taught “who” was a person’s neighbor – basically everyone, including your enemies – in the parable of the Good Samaritan.  He also came right out and said, “Love (and pray for) your enemies,” in Matthew 5:44.)
  3. (NOTE: Later, Jesus expands again on the second great commandment for His disciples (and all believers to follow) in John 15:12-13.  He says, “This is my commandment, that you love ONE ANOTHER as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”   This is the second great commandment, magnified.)

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Vss. 32-34.

The scribe heard Jesus speak the two greatest commandments (Wow, did they sound like the voice of God to Moses on Mt. Sinai?) and agreed. I can almost see the scribe’s body relax, any confrontational stiffness leaving him, as He heard the words so close to his own heart come from Jesus’ mouth.  I believe it was as if the two of them were alone, cocooned off from the crowds, speaking God’s heart back and forth to each other.

“Teacher, You have truly said that He is One, and there is no other besides Him.”  That must have brought joy to Jesus.

The scribe continued in wisdom, “And to love Him with all the heart, understanding, and strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

(Yes, hadn’t God told King Saul the same thing, through Samuel? “To obey is better than sacrifice.” See 1 Samuel 15:22.)

Jesus looked on the scribe with compassion because he had answered in this way.  “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  An encouragement that I pray the scribe followed through on.

After THAT, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.

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Are those two great commandments the center of my own life?  Or do I use my time up on the outward actions of “good works” or, as the scribe said, “burnt offerings and sacrifices?”  Those are good, yes.  But what is in my heart?

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/12) Mark 11:12-25

Feb13

A 5-day per week study.

February 12– Reading Mark 11:12-25

Read and believe in Jesus

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”  Mark 11:17b

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The Gospel according to Mark 11:12-25

Last time, we saw Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, to the hails of “Hosannah!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”  The people thought that Jesus was finally going to set up His Kingdom and defeat the Romans.  They didn’t know that by that Friday, Jesus was going to be crucified by those very Romans at the behest of their Jewish religious leaders.

After He came into the Holy City, He went to the Temple Mount, where He looked carefully around at the buying and selling, the noise and the mess, the greed and the hypocrisy.  Then He went with His disciples back to Bethany, possibly to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus for the night.

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Vss.15-19.

The next morning (Monday), Jesus entered the city and went again to the Temple Mount.  A cacophony of raised voices and distressed animal cries assaulted Him. Vile odors filled his nostrils, and where peace and worship should have been, there was hypocrisy, greed, and extortion. Yes, many who traveled a great distance for Passover had to purchase animals for sacrifice upon their arrival. Their Roman or foreign coins were not accepted in the Temple, and they also had to be exchanged (for a fee). But this all should have been done outside the courts of the Temple!

In righteous anger for the sake of His Father, the Holy One of Israel, Jesus began driving out those who sold and those who bought animals.  He overturned the tables of the moneychangers, scattering the coins across the pavement, and He upset the seats of those who sold pigeons. Chaos ensued. Angry shouts and threats followed His actions.

In a loud voice, Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations!'” and Jeremiah 7:11, “But you have made it a den of robbers!”

The chief priests and scribes were furious at the loss of their commerce.  They wanted to destroy Jesus, but feared Him, because the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 

Later, towards evening, when things quieted down, Jesus and the disciples left the city.

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That was the “meat” of this section’s “sandwich.”  You remember Mark’s sandwiches?  Next, we’ll look at the top and bottom “bread” sections.

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Vss. 12-14. (bottom slice)

Early that same morning, Jesus and the men left Bethany. Jesus was hungry. (Perhaps they’d left before Martha could prepare food.)  As they walked over and down the Mount of OLIVES, Jesus saw a green FIG tree in the distance, along the road.  A handful of figs would do nicely for breakfast. But when they got close, they saw the tree had NO FRUIT, despite being fully leafed out. 

(When fig trees end their winter dormancy, they first develop figs, which grow ripe as the leaves come on.  It was early in the year, but if there were leaves, the tree SHOULD have had fruit.)  What a disappointment.

Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”

Okay, Jesus was not having a temper tantrum. 

Because He spoke “to” the tree, this shows He was personifying it.  The fig tree was frequently an Old Testament “type” of the Jewish nation of Israel. (See Hosea 9:10, Joel 1:7, Nahum 3:12, Zechariah 3:10.)  This was a divine “object lesson” about Israel’s hypocrisy and fruitlessness despite all its advantages.  Jesus’ cursing of it illustrated God’s judgment against the earthly Israel, especially in the rejection of their Messiah.

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Vss. 20-26. (top slice)

Morning again.  It’s Tuesday, and again Jesus and the disciples are leaving Bethany and heading towards the City. They come by the fig tree, which is now completely withered from the ground up.

At once, Peter notices it and cries out, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed has withered.”

And Jesus answers, “Have faith in God. Truly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass … it will be done for him.”  And, “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

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Now, what in the world was Jesus teaching?  Surely NOT the “Name it and Claim it” doctrine so foolishly taught by some tele-evangelists today.

The expression “rooter up of mountains” was used in Jewish lore about great rabbis or leaders who could solve difficult problems and seemingly do the impossible. 

(NOTE: Jesus never did gratuitous miracles, although the Pharisees demanded Him several times for such a sign to prove He was a Messiah.)   

No, Jesus was telling His disciples that if they sincerely trusted in God and realized the power that is available through such faith in Him, they would see mighty powers at work. 

In His private “upper room discourse” with them (John 14:12-13), Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” And, “Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED in the Son.”

And of course, 1 John 5:14. “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us.” (and will give us what we request.)

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Yes, Jesus is still teaching His disciples by words and actions. His time with them is very short.  In two days, what He told them three times  will begin to come to pass:

  1. The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes.
  2. They will condemn him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles.
  3. They will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him … and kill Him.
  4. And after three days, He will rise.  (Mark 10: 33-34)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/10) Mark 10:32-52

Feb10

A 5-day per week study.

February 10– Reading Mark 10:32-52

Read and believe in Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?”  Mark 10:50b

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The Gospel according to Mark 10:32-52

We left Jesus and the disciples on the eastern side of the Jordan River.  They’d just watched the rich young ruler turn away from Jesus.  Jesus told them that riches did not buy their way into the kingdom of God, but following Him and giving up material things was the way to blessing.

Now they were heading west towards Jerusalem.  They would pause for a short time in Jericho, then walk through the wilderness up to the holy city for Passover.

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Vss. 32-34.

Right on the heels of that conversation about leaving all to follow Jesus, He – for the third time – told the disciples that He would “be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they would condemn Him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise.”

Again, we see no response.  Surely they heard the words. Pain. Death. Resurrection….

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Vss. 35-45.

But it seems it was the turn of the “Sons of Thunder” to ask about the Kingdom of God.  Not about leaving everything behind or about suffering and dying, but about honor and privilege when the kingdom came.

  • “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you,” said James and John.
  • “What do you want me to do for you?” asked Jesus, although He knew exactly what they were going to ask.
  • “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in Your glory.”
  • I imagine Jesus just shook His head at their naivety. “You do not know what you are asking.  Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” 

Jesus, of course, was speaking of the suffering and the horrible substitutional death He would experience for all who would be saved from their sins.

  • Proudly, the two answered, “We are able.”

Jesus probably looked at them with love, these two fiery young men who willingly followed Him. He knew that James would be the first martyr of the Twelve in just a few years, and that although John would live to an old age, he would be tortured and spend years in exile.

  • “The cup I drink, you WILL drink, and my baptism, you WILL experience.  But to sit at my right and left hands … is not mine to grant, but for those for whom it’s been prepared.”

Of course, the other ten disciples were indignant with James and John.  How dare they!  Why did they think THEY were better?

  • Jesus had to calm them all down. “Actually…”He said, “Ruling and authority over others shall NOT be so among YOU.” 
  • He looked around at them closely. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”
  • “Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”  

(I bet that quieted them for a while.)

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Vss 46-52.

They spent a short time in Jericho, then, amid a huge crowd of people, they went out from the city. By the side of the road was a blind beggar, whose name was Bartimaeus (Son of Timaeus).  He heard the crowd passing -possibly coughed at the dust that rose.  He learned that it was Jesus of Nazareth.  He’d heard of the great teacher/healer, and who He was.  Hope rose in him.  And panic that Jesus would pass him by.

  • “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” cried Bartimaeus.
  • The crowd looked at him, not in pity but in annoyance.  “Be quiet!”
  • “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” he cried even louder.

Jesus heard him and stopped. He called for someone to bring the blind man to Him.

  • Now the voice of the crowd changed. “Take heart. Get up; He is calling for you.”

Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus … following the sound of that kind voice.

  • “What do you want me to do for you?”
  • “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”
  • “Go your way; your faith has made you well.

And immediately he recovered his sight … AND FOLLOWED JESUS ON THE WAY.

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What a good story of simple faith. And determination.

Since the blind man was named (and was wearing a cloak), it’s possible that he was a known merchant of some standing in the city, who had, for some reason, lost his sight and was left to beg for a living.  Perhaps an accident or a disease had caused him to be blind. Notice he asked that his sight be recovered, as in, found after being lost.

He’d heard of Jesus.  And he believed in Him.  Notice what Bartimaeus called Jesus.  “Son of David” was Jesus’ Messianic title.  Bartimaeus knew Jesus was “the One to come,” and knew if he could get close to Him, he would be healed.

And afterward… Bartimaeus followed Jesus.   No question. So unlike the rich young ruler.

 

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/9) Mark 10:17-31

Feb9

A 5-day per week study.

February 9– Reading Mark 10:17-31

Read and believe in Jesus.

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Mark 10:17b

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The Gospel according to Mark 10:17-31

Last time, Jesus taught about divorce, man’s hardness of heart, and adultery. Then He gathered up children into His arms and taught that His Kingdom was made up of such tender souls as these, who openly desired and received Him.  His disciples were confused.  They will be even more confused after the encounter they watched in today’s reading.

(NOTE: Having a list of the ten commandments before you today might be helpful. Exodus 20.)

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Vss. 17-18

The man who met Jesus today is the kind of person that society admires and envies.  He is generally referred to as “the rich young ruler.”  Think about that.  He had mega wealth.  He had youth.  He had power. He had it ALL.  Most of us would be happy to have just one of these.  And yet, this man had a discontentment in his heart.  He knew he lacked something.  Something that he couldn’t buy, achieve through his strength, or demand to be given to him.

“Good Teacher, what must I DO to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered him with a question, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”  

Jesus was not saying that HE, Himself, was not good. In this statement, Jesus was pointing the young, rich, and powerful man to the first commandments.  #1 Thou shalt have NO OTHER gods before the LORD, and #2 Worship only God, never any idols you make.  God alone is good and due our worship.  We’ll find out later just what this man “worshipped.”

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Vs. 19 with Romans  13:7-10

Then, Jesus points this young man to the other commandments. #6 Do not murder, #7 Do not commit adultery, #8 Do not steal, #9 Do not bear false witness, and skips to #5, Honor your parents.

In both Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts, #10 is omitted altogether, but Mark says, for #10, Do not defraud.  Defrauding someone is causing shame or dishonor to be brought upon them, their reputation (name), or their integrity.  (Basically, this is commandment #3. Do not take the NAME of the Lord in vain. 

Jesus probably didn’t say, “Do not covet,” because that was actually the young man’s basic sin.  He coveted wealth and the power it brought.

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Take a minute to read the verses in Romans, where Paul says, Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes, revenue, respect, and honor. “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments (he names some) are summed up in this word: ‘Love does no wrong to (doesn’t DEFRAUD) a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.'”

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Vss. 20-22.

Okay, back to Mark.  The rich, young ruler looked at Jesus sincerely and said, “Teacher, all these I  have kept from my youth.”  He saw no fault, no sin in himself.

Jesus looked at this man, so blessed in life, and “trying” to be a good person, and He loved him.  But it’s clear that the young man missed what Jesus said at the beginning, “Only God is good.”

“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, AND YOU SHALL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN, and come follow me.”

Now, selling all our possessions and giving the proceeds to the poor does not make us eligible for Heaven.  Jesus knew the man’s weakness.  His wealth, greediness, covetousness… and of course, the power all that wealth brought was VERY IMPORTANT to him.   TOO important for him to give up… EVEN to have eternal life.  Wow.

Disheartened, the young man walked away with his head down and shoulders slumped.  He was sorrowful … because of his “great possessions.”

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(What about us?  The “thing” we lack before coming to Jesus is the acknowledgment, confession, and forsaking of our sin. HE must be the most important thing to us.  After we confess and forsake sins, we can joyfully “follow Him.”

I John 1:9: “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.”

Romans 10:9-10: “For if you confess with your mouth that JESUS IS LORD (in your life, not possessions, etc.) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

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Vss. 23-31.

The disciples had watched this scene silently (perhaps enviously), but I’m sure their thoughts were now all over the place.  They viewed that young man as a blessed and law-keeping, righteous person.  His walking away confused them.

“How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God,” Jesus said, shocking those twelve men around Him. The belief of that day was that wealth was a BLESSING of God to show He was pleased with you.  Now, Jesus was saying it was a “hindrance.” They just couldn’t take it in!

So, Jesus repeated for them, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Astonished at this concept, they cried out, “Then WHO can be saved???”

Jesus must have just looked at them until they quieted down.  Then, “With man it is impossible.  But not with God.  For all things are possible with God.”

Peter blurted out the mixed feelings of his heart, “Well, WE have left everything and followed You….”

Jesus smiled at his chief disciple, then looked around to the others.  “Truly, I tell you, there ia no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or lands for MY SAKE and for the Gospel’s …. who will not receive a hundredfold NOW in this time, houses, bothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands (WITH persecutions,) and in the age to come… eternal life.

Did the disciples feel better?  Understand more?  Feel assured?   A hundredfold, NOW??   Their minds buzzed.  Did they think of their homes and families back in Galilee?

Unknown to them, these disciples (except Judas) would travel a whole lot farther for the Lord and for the Gospel before they died. They would feel the sting and cut of persecution, but God would supply all their needs in the houses and provisions of other believers on their travels.  And then… ETERNAL LIFE with Him!

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Did the rich young ruler ever forsake all and believe in Jesus?   I hope so.  

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/6) Mark 10:1-16

Feb6

A 5-day per week study.

February 6– Reading Mark 10:1-16

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in.”  Mark 10:15

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The Gospel according to Mark 10:1-16.

Vulnerable people: unwanted wives, little children.  Who will love and care for them? Are adult men the only ones suitable for the Kingdom?   Jesus teaches otherwise.

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Vss. 1-2.

Jesus and the disciples now move south into the region of Judea, then east across the Jordan River. This area is the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas (who murdered John the Baptist). Crowds flocked to Him as usual, and He taught them.

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Vss. 3-12.

Some Pharisees came from Jerusalem to “test” or “trap” Jesus. The posed the question, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”  

This is not a question THEY really wanted to know the answer to, for they had well made up their minds already.  There were two schools of thought among the famed rabbis about divorce.  1) Divorce was allowed for ANY reason. (The wife was a bad cook, or the man found another, more desirable woman, etc.)   Or, 2) Divorce was allowed ONLY in the case of her adultery.   The Pharisees thought Jesus would side with one group, angering the other.

Jesus would NOT be trapped by any of their trick questions.  He asked one in return. ‘What did Moses command you?”  Jesus did not abide by rabbinical interpretations, but by the Scripture alone.

They piously answered, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”  (See Deuteronomy 24:1-4).

Jesus agreed and told them why.  “Because of your HARDNESS OF HEART, he wrote you this commandment.”  (Because otherwise, men who were dissatisfied with their wives could simply (and cruelly) send them away with no home or financial protection. That “certificate” served as her formal release from the marriage, and allowed her to remarry, assuming she was not guilty of immorality.)

Jesus then quotes Genesis 1:27 and 2:24.  “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.”  and  “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.” 

Regarding His stand on divorce as the Creator, Jesus says, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jesus had not answered the Pharisee’s trick question.  He had sided with neither of the extolled rabbis.  He, as the Son of God, spoke with divine authority.  The Jewish leaders had nothing to say in return. (Foiled again!)

But later, in the privacy of the house where they were staying, Jesus answered the disciples’ question.  He told them that whoever divorces his wife (or her husband) and marries another person commits adultery. (Because in God’s sight, they are still one with the first spouse.)

In the times when women were often considered merely as “chatel”, this was God’s hand of Fatherly care and protection on those who were also created in His image.  Praise God!

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Vss 13-16.

Later, when Jesus was again outside, teaching and healing, parents brought their little children (Luke calls them “infants”, 18:15) to Him so He could lay His hand on them and bless them. (A practice parents often did with prominent rabbis.)  The self-important disciples rebuked these parents and tried to send them away. (THIS, after Jesus had just recently told them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” See Mark 9:37.)

Jesus was indignant with their actions.  He told them, “LET the children come to me, do NOT hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child, shall not inherit it.”

Then Jesus tenderly took them into His arms and blessed them.  (What a glorious sight for these parents, and us!)

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(When we feel insignificant in God’s kingdom, perhaps useless, impotent, and helpless, these words of Jesus should encourage us.  God cares for each one of us! )

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/5) Mark 9:30-50

Feb5

A 5-day per week study.

February 5– Reading Mark 9:30-50

Read and believe in Jesus.

And He said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  Mark 9:35

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The Gospel according to Mark 9:30-50.

Jesus and all his disciples are together again when Jesus heals the boy with the unclean spirit. This demon had been tormenting him with violent and murderous assaults, and the nine disciples alone could do nothing to help.  But Jesus released him and encouraged the father’s small belief.  Afterwards, Jesus told the disciples that this kind of spirit would come out only through totally concentrated, selfless prayer.

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Vss. 30-32.

Jesus leads His disciples (a few elated by the incident on the Mount, and the rest subdued by their inability to help the boy) back through Galilee.  He didn’t want anyone to know He was there, because He had more to teach them. His time with them was growing short. He is heading more and more towards Jerusalem and His death.

For the second time, as they walked along, Jesus said, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him.  And when He is killed, after three days He will rise.”

This is very understandable to us, 2000 years AFTER the fact, but to the Twelve who believed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, this was nonsense.  Die?  No, their Messiah was to establish the Kingdom, defeat the Romans, and rule from Jerusalem!  They did not understand! And it seems they especially did not grasp what Jesus said about resurrection.

But after Jesus’ rebuke of Peter the last time He told them about His death, they were afraid to ask about it now.

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Vss. 33-37.

As they walked, some of the disciples were arguing about another topic.  Again, it was related to the soon and hoped-for setting up of the Kingdom by their Messiah. When they were once again in Capernaum and safely ensconced in Peter’s home, Jesus quizzed them about it.

“What were you discussing on the way?”  (Wow, is there nothing that Jesus did not know about them??)

Again, they were silent, which was foolish because He already knew.  They had been arguing over who was the greatest.  Surely Peter was a contender, but the brothers, James and John, were also in the inner circle.  Did any of the other nine think they should be on top, too?

Jesus must have been so discouraged with them.  Hadn’t they learned anything about Him? Had they ever seen Him elevating Himself above everyone else?  Hadn’t they observed the Messiah as meek and lowly?  Sure, He taught the scriptures with authority! Sure, he commanded sickness and legions of demons, and they instantly obeyed Him. But had He asked any followers to bow to Him?

“If ANYONE would be first, he must be LAST of all … servant of all.

Then Jesus picked up a child (Peter’s niece or nephew?) and held him in His arms, smiling and perhaps tickling him.  And looking up to His men, He said, “Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me (only) but Him who sent Me.”

Jesus would say more on this, but John interrupted Him.

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Vss. 38-41.

“Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”  (Oh man, was John ever looking for a pat on the head and an “atta boy!”  He thought they had done well.  NOPE.  Also, was this a “dig” on the nine disciples who were UNABLE to cast out that demon?)

Jesus said, “Do NOT stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in My name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of Me.  For the one who is not AGAINST us is FOR us.  For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”

Huh?  John (or any of them) said nothing to this rebuke.  Truly, Jesus had a lot more to teach them!)

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Vss. 42-50.

Again looking to the little one on His lap, Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

 

Okay, they understood that. But then, Jesus said,

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”

What??

“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.”

The disciples must have been stunned!

“AND, if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.  (See Isaiah 66:24)

What were they to make of this?  Surely self-mutilation was NOT what Jesus was teaching.  But sin is serious, whether it involves doing, going, or seeing.  They were to be brutal in eliminating it from their lives.  (Paul would later write, “Present our bodies as a living SACRIFICE, holy and acceptable to God. Do NOT be conformed to this world, but be transformed…  (See Romans 12:1-2)

 

Jesus continued, also thinking of sacrifice, “For everyone will be salted with fire.”

They all would be purified with suffering and persecution – not just Him – like the OT sacrifices that were often accompanied with salt.  Suffering?  Self-denial?  Sacrifice?  What kind of Kingdom was Jesus bringing?

“Salt is GOOD.  Have salt in YOURSELVES. And be at peace with one another.”   

Salt is a good preservative. Let the words of Christ enter and dwell in them (and us), cleansing, cauterising.  Then they will make a difference in the world … for Christ.

And, for goodness sake, STOP ARGUING among yourselves!

 

 

 

 

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Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/30) Mark 8:1-21

Jan30

A 5-day per week study.

January 30 – Reading Mark 8:1-21.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And He said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?'”  Mark 8:21

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The Gospel according to Mark 8:1-21.

Jesus and the disciples are perhaps still in the Decapolis region on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. (See your Bible map.) It’s a mostly Gentile area. It looks as if Jesus has been traveling around, and a crowd of people has been following Him. He’s probably done a lot of healing and hopefully some teaching as well.

It’s a seasonally dry area with barren soil and dried grass (not like the green grassland where Jesus fed the 5,000, see Mark 6:39).  And Jesus has compassion for this crowd. (Those who had come a long distance probably had food to begin with, but now it was all gone.)

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Vss. 1-10.

As in the other crowd-feeding, Jesus asked His disciples what food they had. They were discouraged to find but seven loaves (rolls) and a few small fish. 

(Now, WHY didn’t they remember the miracle Jesus had done not so long ago and EXPECT Him to do likewise?  Did they so easily forget that astonishing miracle??)

After Jesus gave thanks to His heavenly Father and distributed the food in an orderly manner, there were seven LARGE baskets of pieces left over.  These were not lunchbox-sized baskets as before, but BUSHEL baskets.  A whole lot more bread and fish than they began with. 

THEN Jesus sent away the crowd, their bellies now full and their strength renewed.  He and the disciples got into a boat and sailed straight across Galilee to the area of Dalmanutha (near Magadan or Magdala).

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Vss. 11-13.

They’d hardly stepped off the boat when some Pharisees came and began once again to argue with Jesus.  They wanted “a sign from heaven” to prove that He was the Messiah that He claimed to be.  Yes, Jesus had done tons of miracles (signs),  but they wanted something else, something supernatural from on high.  (An astronomical sign? God’s audible voice? What?)

Jesus knew they weren’t struggling to BELIEVE.  No, they were TESTING Him, to find a fault that they could run back to Jerusalem with.

Sighing deeply, Jesus said, “No sign will be given to this generation!”

With that, Jesus led the men back into the boat, and they went north to Bethsaida.

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Vss. 14-21.

On the long sail to Bethsaida, the disciples realized they had once again forgotten to bring the bread. (What IS the matter with them???)

With that on their minds, Jesus’ words confuse them. He said, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

Huh? 

Truly, the disciples had their minds on physical things, while Jesus was thinking of spiritual truths.

(This is so often my own case. I tend to ponder and worry over earthly problems, while Jesus wants me to “set my mind on things above.” Colossians 3:2)

The disciples were thinking about bread to eat. Jesus was thinking about leaven to avoid. 

So…. what WAS Jesus talking about?  He was thinking about the acid conversation He’d just had with the Pharisees. Their stubborn hearts questioned His mission and denied the good news of the Kingdom He was bringing.  They were like leaven spreading in a lump of dough. Not the good everyday bread, but that of Passover, symbolically His body, free from sin. 

Trying to elevate their thoughts, Jesus fired eight questions at them.

  1. Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread?
  2. Do you not yet perceive or understand?
  3. Are your hearts hardened?
  4. Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?
  5. And do you not remember?
  6. When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?  Twelve.
  7. And the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?  Seven.
  8. Do you not yet understand?

Did they?  Do we?

The “leaven” of the Pharisees was their false teaching and their hypocritical behavior. The “leaven” of Herod was his immoral, corrupt conduct. 

How to beware of these?  Keep ourselves buried in God’s Word and the teaching of our Lord Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/28) Mark 7:1-23

Jan28

A 5-day per week study.

January 28– Reading Mark 7:1-23.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”  Mark 7:15

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The Gospel according to Mark 7:1-23

Mark begins this section with “defilement” being digested and ends with “defilement” being regurgitated.  (Another nice “Mark” sandwich.)

The ever-watchful Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem begin to harass Jesus, accusing His disciples of not observing the “traditions of the elders.”

Remember, they were not concerned with keeping the Mosaic Law itself, but with the extreme extent to which the ancient rabbis (elders) had padded it and twisted it.

Anyone living through the COVID era has had hand washing drummed into them.  And it IS a good idea to wash your hands before you eat, especially when you’ve been shopping. It was even a better idea in those days when marketplaces openly displayed both live and butchered animals, with their accompanying flies.

But the “elders” had made a ceremonial ritual of the washing.

            Example: Someone had to pour water from a jar onto your hands, with your fingers pointing upward, so the water would run off your wrist. Then another jar would be poured over your hands with your fingers pointing downward.  After this, each hand would be rubbed with the fist of your other hand.   (Notice: no soap.) 

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Vss. 1-5

Jesus and His disciples were probably still in the town of Gennesaret, ministering to multitudes of sick people.  Perhaps they went to a street vendor in the marketplace and bought some falafel-pita sandwiches for lunch.  Maybe they wiped their hands on their robes or on an inside handkerchief. Maybe not. 

Soon they were chowing down on some yummy food.

Like unwanted flies, the religious leaders appear.

“Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?” the spokesman of the Pharisees and scribes demanded of Jesus.  (At least they were honest about their traditions vs The Law.)

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Vss. 6-16.

They were probably not ready for Jesus’ multi-part answer.

First, He quotes scripture to them.

“’THIS people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of MEN.’”  (Isaiah 29:13)

Then, Jesus nails some of the ways they do that.

  • MOSES SAID: “HONOR your father and mother,” and “Whoever reviles father and mother must surely die.”  (Exodus 20:12 and 21:17)
  • YOU SAY: “If a man tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever you could have gained from me is Corban (dedicated to God).” THEN, you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition. 
  • And you do MANY other things like this!
  • (NOTE: Jesus was not saying that your possessions or land property can’t be given to God as an offering.  He WAS saying that just slapping a “CORBAN” sign on these things while you are still using and enjoying them, because you are mad at your parents and don’t want to help them, is vile, unloving, selfish, and using God for your own purposes.)

Then Jesus tells the Pharisees and the people a parable.  “It is NOT what goes INTO a person that defiles him, but the things that come OUT of him that defiles him.”

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Vss. 17-23.

Later, in private, Jesus clarifies what He was saying to the religious leaders, who weren’t open to His words.

(Remember that Jesus speaks in parables to those He knows have already closed minds and hearts.)

“Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him since it enters not his heart but his stomach and is expelled?”  

  • (Thus, He declared all foods clean, says Mark, reminding his readers about what later happened to Peter in Joppa when God brought down the sheet of unclean animals and told Peter to “kill and eat.”)

Jesus continues,

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the HEART of man come:  evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.   All these evil things come out from within and DEFILE a person.” 

(In Matthew 15: 20, Jesus adds, “To eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”)

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See also:  Matthew 12:34b-35, Galatians 5:22-24, and James 3:17-18, for the “good treasure” that comes out of the hearts of those who belong to Jesus Christ.

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“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (1/26) Mark 6:30-44

Jan26

A 5-day per week study.

January 26 – Reading Mark 6:30-44.

Read and believe in Jesus.

(Jesus) had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” MARK 6:34

The Gospel according to Mark 6:30-44

The Twelve had just returned from their mission journeys. They were excited and wanted to tell Jesus all about it, but the crowd in Capernaum was growing. The message spread, “The ‘Teacher’ is back!”  Some wanted to hear more of his teaching. Most needed to be healed.

But Jesus knew the disciples needed time to decompress from the excitement of ministry. He also wanted quiet time to evaluate their experience and encourage them.

Again, Mark writes a “sandwich.”  This section begins with “…they had no leisure even to eat,” and ends with everybody having eaten their fill and the disciples collecting 12 baskets (lunchbox size) of scraps, one for each of them to ‘chow down.’

(Watch for these in Mark’s Gospel.)

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Vss. 31-34.

Jesus said, ”Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while,” and they got into a boat and headed across the Sea of Galilee.

When the boat left, many people observed it, and the able-bodied decided to “run around to the other side and get there ahead of them.” (This was about 4-5 miles on foot.)  Their timing was perfect.  The crowd (probably the younger and more fit) had begun to arrive just as Jesus stepped off the boat.

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Were the disciples disappointed that their time with the Master been preempted?  Perhaps they had been able to talk on the boat trip, as they slowly made their way, with little or no wind. 

Was Jesus upset or even angry? Nope.

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As the verse at the top says, when Jesus saw the bedraggled but excited people, He had compassion on them.  He saw them as sheep without a shepherd.  And HE was “the good shepherd.”

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Vss. 34b.

“Jesus taught them many things.” 

Did He use their eagerness or the surroundings to tell parables? 

Or did He teach them simple truths of the Kingdom, as in the Sermon on the Mount?

Did He call to their remembrance how God had been faithful to them in the Wilderness, that other “desolate” place?

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Vss. 35-38.

The day waned, and Jesus knew the people were getting hungry.

The disciples saw it too.  Or maybe it was THEIR OWN STOMACHS that were growling. 

“This is a desolate place,” they reminded Jesus, “and the hour is late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

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(I can imagine Jesus smiling as He looked around at the crowd. He would teach His disciples a bit about “living by faith.” It would be needed later as they journeyed around the world with the Gospel.)

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“YOU give them something to eat,” Jesus said calmly to His disciples.

They must have stared at Him. “Shall WE go and BUY two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat???

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(NOTE: 200 denarii would be 200 days’ wages for a laborer at that time. For a fast-food worker in California today, that would be about $4,000.)

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“How many loaves do you have?  Go and see,” Jesus told them.  They returned shortly with the little boy mentioned in John’s account. (See John 6:9.)  They now had five barley loaves (rolls) and two fish (think sardines).

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Vss. 39-44.

Jesus told the disciples to have all the people sit down in groups of 50 and 100 for an orderly distribution.  They probably still did not understand what Jesus was going to do.  Nevertheless, they obeyed.  Soon, 10,000-15,000 people (including women and children) were seated, with aisles between all the groups. 

Goodness!  Could you even see the people in the back groups???

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Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked to heaven, and said a blessing.  Then He began breaking the loaves and giving them to the disciples to distribute.  Nest he divided the two fish and gave them to the disciples in the same way.

AND they ALL ate and were satisfied!  All those thousands of hungry people ate to their fill!

AND … there were twelve baskets full of broken pieces and fish LEFT OVER!!

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How did that happen?  Jesus, of course.

“Give us this day, our daily bread,” Jesus taught us to pray.

“He shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory.”

Ravens brought bread to the prophet Elijah during a drought and famine.

“Do not be anxious, saying, … ‘What shall we eat?’ … for your heavenly Father knows you need it.”
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They may not have been alone, but Jesus DID teach the Twelve a few lessons they would need when they went out to minister in His Name: compassion, trust and obedience, finding opportunities, order, prayer, and abundance repaid.