Gospel of mark
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. 15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. The disciples now get into a boat and set sail for the eastern side of the sea of Galilee. During the journey the disciples realise that they had forgotten to take bread along, in fact they only had one loaf on board. However the Lord was not thinking about bread from a physical viewpoint but used their oversight to make a point to them, and told the disciples about spiritual leaven. Judas was the treasurer and responsible to purchase goods they would need. John tells us that he was a thief, John 12:6, and incidents like this remind us that some of those who take positions do not perform them. There are always people who want a role and title for its status, but they don't want to actually do anything. In this passage together with the passage in Matthew chapter 16 Jesus warns the disciples against three types of leaven/false teaching. 1. The leaven of the Pharisees is that Jesus is not the Messiah on the grounds that he is demon possessed. 2. The leaven of the Sadducees which occurs in Matthew is that Jesus is against the Temple and sacrificial system. 3. The leaven of Herodians is that Jesus is against the rule of Rome through the house of Herod. Jesus does not want the disciples to accept any of these false teachings. 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? However the disciples misunderstood the warning and take it to be a rebuke because they failed to put bread aboard the ship. The disciples completely missed the point. The only thing they can think of was the food. Jesus directed nine recorded questions to them. The first five reproved them for their lack of understanding. The last four rebuked them for worrying about the supply of their needs as long as He was with them. Had he not fed five thousand with five loaves leaving twelve baskets over? Had he not fed four thousand with seven loaves leaving seven baskets over? Then why did they not understand that He was able to supply the needs of a handful of disciples aboard the boat? Didn’t they realize that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe was in the boat with them? Philippians 4:19. APPLICATION Whilst we may well criticise the disciples for forgetting about bread we should be careful not to forget about the promises and doctrines of God when we are in need. How good is our memory? Memory is very important, as it is our criteria for decision making later. It forms our standards against which we measure things. It is very important to remember the Word of God, as it is a light to our path. There is only one criterion for decision making in life, which is the Word of God. If they forget Bible doctrine this creates a vacuum into which false doctrine and criterion is drawn. You can say that the Bible is the Word of God, but if you do not remember anything about the Bible it is useless to you to know that it is true. You have to get the word of God into your heart and mind. Food in the form of bread is of no consequence. Sorting out true from false doctrine is of the utmost importance. DOCTRINES ISRAEL - PHARISEES, SADDUCEES AND SCRIBES 1. Pharisees- Their name originates from the Aramaic name for "Separated". a) Believed in immortality of the soul. b) Resurrection. c) Existence of Spirits. d) Rewards and punishment in future life. e) Wicked held in prison (Hell) forever. f) Virtuous would ascend to live again. (Acts 23:8) g) They saw religion as an outward way of life rather than inner change. h) Worst persecutors of Jesus. i) Jesus criticised them. (Matthew 23-13-29, Luke 11:42, 43) j) Creators of tradition which they added to the Mosaic Law, specifically regarding the Sabbath.
a) Educated, and usually wealthy. b) Denied the resurrection. (Matthew 22:23-33) c) Denied the existence of angels and spirits. (Acts 23:8) d) Did not believe in the supernatural. e) Had membership in priesthood and Sanhedrin. 3. Scribes - Or writers. a) They were public writers and drew up legal documents and copies of the scriptures. They studied and interpreted religions and civil laws. b) They studied scriptures and were teachers. c) Many belong to the Sanhedrin. (Matthew 16:21, 26:3) d) Some believed in Jesus Christ. (Matthew 8:19) e) Most were antagonistic to him. (Matthew 21:15) f) They were associated with the persecution of Peter and John. (Acts 4:5) g) They were involved with the martyrdom of Stephen. (Acts 6:12) LEAVEN 1. Leaven in Principle: Denotes any substance used to induce fermentation as in a dough or liquid. 2. First mention in Scripture: Genesis 19:3 in connection with the angelic visitors to Lot's house prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot served them "unleavened bread". 3. First mention in Scripture relative to the Observation of a Feast: Exodus 12:8, 15-20 - Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. a) Leaven was undesirable and became a symbol of evil. b) Unleavened bread is a type of Christ and refers to His impeccability. 4. Leaven in Matthew 13:33 represents the infiltration of religious apostasy during the Tribulation. 5. The Leaven of the Sadducees is rationalism, the sin of human viewpoint, resulting in gospel rejection. (Matthew 16:6) 6. The Leaven of the Pharisees is the Satanic counterattack against sound doctrine by religion, legalism and ritualism. (Mark 8:15, Luke 12:1) 7. The Leaven of Herod is the sin of worldliness (Romans 12:2) and power lust within a local congregation. (Mark 8:15) 8. The Leaven of the Corinthians is the sin of licentiousness and perversion. (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7, 1 Corinthians 5:1,2) 9. The Leaven of the Galatians is the sin of legalism, specifically their insistence upon circumcision for salvation. (Galatians 5:9) MEMORIES Memories have a number of implications in the Bible:- 1. Memory of the Lord is a part of worship. (Psalm 145:7-10, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) 2. Memory produces happiness. (Proverbs 10:7) 3. It is of the greatest importance to use your memory while you are young. (Ecclesiastes 12:1) 4. Alcohol is related to memory. It causes rulers to forget their responsibilities (Proverbs 31:4-5) and those under great pressure to forget trouble. (Proverbs 31:6-7). 5. Memory has regrets beyond death for unbelievers, the memory of lost opportunity. (Luke 16:25). 6. The word of God must be part of your memories. (2 Peter 1:12-15) 7. Memory can provide for misery and happiness. (Lamentations 3:17-24) 8. Memory is designed to orientate one to grace. (Psalm 103:2) ASCETICISM 1. All things are good, for God created all things. Genesis 1:31. The fall means that nature no longer obeys God, but it has not become evil, merely fallen. Genesis 3:17-19, 8:20-22, 9:1-3. 2. All produce is now good for believers to eat. No food or drink is banned for believers. Acts 10:9-16. The mind is evil, but the things of this world are simply morally neutral; they become things of evil in the hands of evil men. 3. Dealing with sin is the issue for believers, not trying to be morally pure by stopping eating various foods. Philippians 3:13-14, 1 John 1:9. 4. We are able to worship and serve the Lord in freedom. If one day is to be treated as “special” that is fine for the person to do as unto the Lord, but he desires all days to be days of service. Romans 14:5-7. 5. We are responsible to the Lord for our own tender consciences; which are the result of our backgrounds, not the teaching of scripture. Romans 14:10-20. We are free to adopt any practice that helps us serve the Lord and maintain holiness, but not to superimpose it on others, nor consider our choice makes us more spiritual than others. Refer PRIDE. A BLIND MAN HEALED MARK 8:22-26 22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. KEY WORDS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. This is the only two stage healing in the Gospels. Miracle stories in antiquity usually stressed the suddenness of the miracle thus healing by degrees was quite rare. This man is also led out of town before the healing takes place. The Lord is drawing this man apart from the crowds for some personal reason, and does this healing in two stages, most likely to help this man in some way. In the first stages blindness is removed partially, he has partial sight, he’s able to see things but when he looks at people they are blurred, they look like trees walking. In the second stage Jesus removes the blindness fully and now the man fully sees. Perhaps this healing is a parable in itself – a parable of learning - probably representing the fact that the disciples have begun to see the truth partially, they do not see the full truth until after the resurrection. For Israel as a result of the rejection of the Messiahship of Jesus a blindness in part has befallen Israel. Romans 11:1ff. The blindness of Israel will be lifted, and it will be when they call for the Lord to return for the Second Advent. Zechariah 12:10ff. The Old Testament prophets sometimes acted out parables to get people’s attention and communicate their teaching in a very visible way. Isaiah 20:2-6, Jeremiah 19:1-15. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. Prophets usually presented healed persons to their families but Jesus private action here emphasizes the fact that He wishes of the healing to remain secret and he will not heal in front of the masses. Had the man returned to the town everyone would have known of the miracle. There must be some private reason for this also, and this man needed the privacy. It is not for us to intrude on this. John 21:20-24. APPLICATION Today Israel is blind, but the blindness, we are clearly told is partial, and because of this some Jews are coming to a saving knowledge of Christ. However when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, after the rapture the church, at that point Israel’s blindness will be totally removed and then all Israel shall be saved. Without the intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ the blind man would have remained blind. In principle then we need the intervention of God for us to advance anywhere in the spiritual realm. The more doctrine you know the more clearly you can see the plan of God not only for your personal life but for the life of the nation in which you live. DOCTRINES MIRACLES: HEALING AND MIRACLES [see page 20 BLIND MAN AS A PICTURE OF THE UNSAVED [see page 92] PETER'S CONFESSION MARK 8:27-30 [MATTHEW 16:13-20, LUKE 9:18-21] see HARMONY 74-12 27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. KEY WORDS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. Jesus took his disciples about 40km north of Bethsaida to Caesarea Philippi, a city located at the source of the Jordan River on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon. It was in the tetrarchy of Herod Philip who gave the city his own name to distinguish it from Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast. Jesus asks His disciples what the people were saying about him. Their response was the same as given in Mark 6:14-16 John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. All three responses of course are wrong, indicating that Jesus’ identity and mission remained obscured from the people. There was confusion about his true identity, even though he taught clearly. Then more directly and personally Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” The emphasis is on “you”, those he had chosen and trained. Peter as usual acts as spokesman. Mark’s recording of Peter’s confession is in the simplest and most direct form, “Thou art the Christ”, indicating that He is the Messiah. Jesus sternly warns them not to tell anyone He is the Messiah. People had all sorts of false ideas about the concept of the Messiah. The promised Davidic Messiah was commonly thought to be a political figure destined to free the Jews from Roman domination. The people are confused and the Lord wants their confusion lifted slowly, and it will be for those who are truly interested in the truth. To those whose interest are superficial – they will be on going confusion. Jesus knew He was God’s Anointed One, so he accepted Peter’s declaration as correct. However because of the disciple’s misunderstandings, He commanded that they keep silent until he could explain that it was necessary for him to suffer and die in obedience to God’s will. Mark 8:31 |