The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 63

 

The Gospel Of Mark Bible Study Lesson 63:

This week’s Bible Study of Mark’s Gospel will again include questions for you to answer. Once you finish the lesson on your own. You can look at my answers. Anytime you do Bible study ask yourself these 3 questions:

3 questions:

·        What is this passage about?

·        What do I learn from this passage?

·        How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Scripture to meditate on before you do this week’s Bible study:

Romans 12:1 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Mark 7:6 NIV
He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

1 Timothy 6:3-6 NIV

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.

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This Week’s Bible passage from the Gospel of Mark:

Mark 12:38-40

Read the passage below:  

Mark 12:38-40 NIV     38As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Matthew 23:1-7 NIV       1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.     5"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' Scripture Links:   Matthew 23:1-7 /  Luke 20:45-47    Note: I used the Matthew passage get more specific info.

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Answer the questions below:

1.   Content:  What is this passage about?

·        Who are the people if any?  

  

·        What are they doing?         

                                 

·        Where does this take place? 

·        When does this take place? 

2.   Lesson:   What do I learn from this passage?

·        Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        Is there an example to follow or not to follow?

·        What is/are the main truth/truths of this passage?  

·        Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?

·        Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

What does the passage reveal about the character of God?

·        His Attributes/Characteristics (ex. loving, caring, Holy, Merciful etc.):

·        His ways of relating/Communicating to people:

·        His emotions:

·        His views:

·        Reasons for us to love God more:  

3.  Application:  How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        Can you think of a current situation in your personal life, home life, 

          Church, or business which is similar to what you are learning?

·        How can I apply what I am learning to my current circumstances?

·        Are there specific things in to which to pray about?

·        Is there a new thought to me? An encouraging thought?  

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Here is my layout for: Mark 12:38-40

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

·        Jesus warns about the hypocritical religious teachers, predicting severe punishment for them.

Who are the people if any?

·         Jesus, the crowds, and His disciples.

    What are they doing?

·         Jesus is teaching.

      

Where does this take place?

·        In the Temple Courts in the City of Jerusalem.

When does this take place?

·        After Jesus’ teaching about the Christ to the Pharisees. Near the end of Jesus ministry.

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2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        Watch out! Power can corrupt and hypocrisy will be severely judged by God.

Is there a warning, command or promise?

·        Obey the teachers of the law and the Pharisees but do not be like them or do what they do because they do not practice what they preach.

·        The teachers of the law and the Pharisees will be punished severely for their actions.

Is there an example to follow or not to follow?

·        Followers of Christ should not be legalistic about the law but should follow the spirit of the law.

·        If we lay a heavy burden on someone we should help them know how to remove that burden. (ex. If we tell others about how we are all sinners and are under the wrath of God, than we should in turn share the Gospel to give them hope.

·        We should practice what we preach.

·        We should not do things for the purpose of recognition and praise from men but our motives should be out of love for God.

·        The Teachers of the law and the Pharisees lacked humility and felt that they deserved to be treated better than others.  As followers of Christ our humility helps us consider others needs as even above our own.

Philippians 2:3 NIV 
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Galatians 5:14 NIV
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

What are the main points in this passage?

·        The teachers of the law and the Pharisees are in authority and should be obeyed but at the same time Jesus tells His followers not to be like them.

·        The teachers of the law and Pharisees are not putting into practice what they are preaching.

·        The legalism of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees puts a heavy burden on the Jewish people. They don’t lift a finger to help them and use their authority to take advantage of them.

·        The teachers of the law and the Pharisees do everything for show. Their outward appearance disguises their true heart which is to benefit from their authoritative position. They look good on the outside but are deceitful and scheming on the inside.

·        Ultimately God will punish them for what they have done.

Is there a lesson or principle that is a universal truth?

·        We will all be accountable for what we have done in this life.

·        Those who misuse their authority given by God will be punished.

  Why did God put this passage in the Bible?

·        To expose the contradictory behavior and legalism of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

·        To remind us not to be like the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. We should practice what we preach.

What does the passage reveal about the character of : God/Jesus?

A.   His attributes: 

·         Teacher.

  

B. His ways of relating/communicating to people:     

·         Through His teaching.

     C. His emotions:

·         

D. His views:

·        We need to practice what we preach.

·        We will be accountable for what we do in this life.

     E. Reasons for us to love Him more:  

·        Jesus exposes our motives in order to help us to live a life pleasing to God.  

3.  Application:  How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        How can I live today in reality, honesty and openness to God and others?

·        Will I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the pride and insincerity in my life?

·        Whose hypocrisy do I hate - mine or others?

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My prayer for you:

I pray you will take God’s Word to heart and ask God to help you apply what you have learned. I hope and pray that this Bible Study helps you grow spiritually by deepening your faith, trust and love for God.

Jesus declared that if we seek God, he will provide everything we need to live the abundant life, providing for us physically and spiritually:

Matthew 6:32-33  Living Bible (TLB)

 “So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.

John 10:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Philippians 4:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Also, remember the importance and impact of embracing of God’s Word in light of how we are to be God’s Ambassadors and Teachers, as well as to live abundantly in a fallen world:

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)   

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

John 8:31-32  (NIV)

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Daily Application ideas:

·        Pray! Ask God to help you understand the passage of scripture you are

          reading.

·        Pray! Ask God to help you apply what you are learning.

·        Write down your thoughts and prayers. Seek to understand what God is

          trying to teach you.

·        Begin to make changes in your patterns of behavior in accordance to 

          God’s teaching.

·        Act on God’s answer to prayer.

·        Put God first in your life in every area of your life 

         (Marriage, Parenting, Ministry, Work etc.).

·        Be determined to make quality & quantity time for God in your life

           (ex. Quiet time, prayer time, Bible reading/study).

Helpful Hints for this Bible Study:

·        Not everything we read will contain enough info to answer all the questions.

·        Other questions may come to mind as you read.

·        The questions are just helpful guidelines.

·        Following the reading of the passage of scripture take a moment to write

          down your thoughts.

·        After you have asked yourself the above Template questions, answer the

          questions specifically. 

·        Refer back to above questions when you need to.

·        Then concentrate on a couple of things that are meaningful to you

          personally. 

·        Then go to the application section.

·        Think through the application questions and journal your thoughts and

          prayers.

Just Sayin……………..Dave