Religious Leaders Who Blaspheme

 

Welcome to a study of the Gospel according to Mark. If you followed our study of the Book of Matthew, you will be excited about this next cooperative effort of Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. In this study, observations about each chapter of Mark are followed by 10 questions. The answers may be found by scrolling to the bottom of the post.

Prepare for this lesson by reading Mark Chapter 3.


Let's begin with prayer.

Holy God, Lover of Mankind, illumine our hearts with the pure light of thy divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of thy Gospel teachings. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

While in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus restored the withered hand of a man. This action angered the religious leaders, leading the Pharisees and Herodians to plot His destruction.

Jesus withdrew from the city of Capernaum to the Sea of Galilee. There huge crowds gathered around Him. The people came from Galilee, Idumea, Judea, Jerusalem and other regions, seeking healing and deliverance from evil spirits. The crowds pressed on him to such a degree that Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for them to depart.

On a mountain in Galilee, Jesus appointed twelve disciples to preach, heal, and drive out demons. These are the original Twelve Apostles. Except for John who lived to an old age, and Judas Iscariot who killed himself, all were eventually martyred.

Jesus' family came to speak to him, fearing that He had lost his mind. The Jerusalem scribes claimed that He cast out demons by the power of Beelzebul, a deity that never existed. Jesus then spoke of how a kingdom divided against itself will fall and He warned about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

When His mother and brothers arrived, seeking to speak to him, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom as His family, stating that His brother, sister, and mother are those who do the will of His Father.

Questions

1. Who were the Pharisees and the Herodians?

2. Why did the Pharisees and the Herodians want to destroy Jesus?

3. Jesus and his disciples had a crowd control problem. What plan of escape did Jesus have while at the Sea of Galilee?

4. Mark is the only book of the New Testament that mentions Idumea, the "Land of Red People". Why is Idumea (also known as Edom) significant in reference to Jesus Messiah?

5. Who are the twelve men called by Jesus to be His Apostles? What does the name "Bartholomew" mean?

6. What specific ministries were the Twelve Apostles appointed to do?

7. The Jewish religious leaders claimed that Jesus cast out demons by the power of Beelzebul. What does Beelzebul mean? 

8. Jesus defined blasphemy as sin against the Holy Spirit. How did the Pharisees blaspheme against the Holy Spirit?

9. Who were Jesus' brothers and sisters and what concerned them about Jesus?

10. How did Jesus define "family"?

Answers

1. The Pharisees were a strict Jewish sect that wanted to uphold Jewish religious traditions. The Herodians were Jewish politicians who were willing to compromise Jewish traditions to gain the favor of the Romans who dominated Galilee and Judea. The Herodians systematically marginalized the traditionalist priests, including some of Jesus' ancestors. An example is Herod's removal of a High Priest named Matthias, a descendant of David. The family of Matthias, once a favorite of Herod the Great, was ostracized from Jewish political life and came to have limited political influence with the House of Zadok. The name Matthias, or variant spellings of that name, appear 4 places in Luke's list of the ancestors of the Virgin Mary. Though the Pharisees and the Herodians differed in their goals and political loyalties, they briefly united in opposition to Jesus (Mk. 3:6).

2. The Pharisees regarded Jesus as a violator of their strict religious code. The Herodians saw Him as a threat to their political control. They feared that He would incite rebellion against their Roman overlords.

3. Wherever Jesus and his disciples went, crowds followed them. Jesus asked his disciples to have a boat ready so the massive crowd would not cause injury to them. Crowds can be stirred to sudden action that can result in people being trampled.

4. Idumea or Edom was Abraham's territory and the region of the Horite Hebrew rulers before there was a king in Israel. Genesis 36:31 says, "These were the kings of Edom before there was a king over the people of Israel." This detail in Mark's Gospel is significant because it means that people from what was Abraham's territory wanted to see Jesus. Abraham's territory extended between Hebron and Beersheba to the south. Both places are shown on the map.

5. The twelve Apostles were Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew (or Levi), Philip, James, Thomas, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot, and Bartholomew. Bartholomew is the English version of the Aramaic Bar-Talmai, meaning "son of Talmai". The fact that he takes this name indicates that Talmai was a prominent Galilean Jew.

6. Jesus told the twelve Apostles to preach, heal, and cast out demons. These are the marks of the Apostolic ministry. They were not to demonstrate, organize rallies, promote their favorite agendas, etc.

7. Beelzebul means "Lord of flies" and was a play on the word Baal-zebal, used to mock Jesus. The word Baal-zebal means "Lord of the Heights". The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of casting out demons and healing by the power of a deity that existed only in Jewish folklore. However, their intention was clear. They attributed Jesus' power to the demonic. 

8. The Pharisees saw the miracles done by Jesus with their own eyes and maliciously claimed that Jesus was working by demonic power. Jesus knew their hearts were hardened against the power of the Holy Spirit. Rejection of the Holy Spirit's work makes forgiveness impossible.

9. Jesus was Mary's only child. The brothers and sisters mentioned in Mark 3 were Joseph's children by his other wife. They were Jesus' half-siblings. They came to fetch Him, having heard rumors about him that made them think that Jesus had become mentally unstable.

10. The Jewish leaders were proud of their national and ethnic identity. They regarded their blood kinship as the basis for their loyalties and most of their social obligations. Jesus redefined family as more than biological relatives. By His blood, all his followers are made His family. When his mother and siblings approached him, Jesus pointed to his faithful followers and declared them his family. He was speaking of a spiritual reality. All who are in Christ are his family and his kin. He makes us one people by his own blood, and we are his inheritance from his Father. 

Related reading: Mark Chapter 1: The Barmore-Linsley Study; Mark Chapter 2: Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath; The Hebrew Were a Caste; Belonging to Christ is a Serious Matter

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

 

Jesus with his disciples in the field of grain.

The artist is Gustave Doré (1832-1883).

Welcome to a study of the Gospel according to Mark. If you followed our study of the Book of Matthew, you will be excited about this next cooperative effort of Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. In this study, observations about each chapter of Mark are followed by 8 questions. The answers may be found by scrolling to the bottom of the post.

Prepare for this lesson by reading Mark Chapter 2.


Let's begin with prayer.

Holy Father, you call each soul to repentance that we might have eternal life through your Son, Jesus. May our lives be consecrated to you day by day. Illumine our minds as we meditate on the Holy Scriptures. This we ask through Jesus Christ, your eternally glorified Son. Amen.  

INTRODUCTION

Mark chapter 2 recounts events that speak of Jesus' power and authority as the Son of Man, the Divine Bridegroom, and Lord of the Sabbath. The events take place in Galilee where Jesus first encountered opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. The first confrontation came when Jesus healed a paralytic, claiming to forgive the man's sins. Four men lowered a paralyzed friend through a roof to reach Jesus. Jesus first forgave the man's sins which provoked accusations of blasphemy from the scribes, and then he healed the man, proving His divine authority.

The second confrontation with the religious leaders involved Jesus' association with Levi, a tax collector in whose home Jesus dined. Jesus called the tax collector Levi (Matthew) to follow Him and then sat down to dine with tax collectors and social outcasts. When criticized by the Pharisees, Jesus stated that He came as a physician to help sinners, not the righteous.

The third incident involved accusations about Jesus' disciples who were not fasting as was required by the religious authorities. When asked why His disciples were not fasting, Jesus used the metaphor of a wedding feast, explaining that fasting is not appropriate while He, the Divine Bridegroom, is with them. He then spoke of why new cloth cannot be sewn onto old garments and why new wine cannot be stored in old wineskins.

The fourth confrontation with the religious leaders came when Jesus' disciples picked heads of grain on the Sabbath. They were criticized by the Pharisees for doing this. Jesus defended them by referring to when David ate the consecrated bread that was for the priests only. Jesus implied that David's hunger as a man hunted by King Saul, justified that action. Jesus then declared that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," and he proclaimed Himself "Lord of the Sabbath."

Questions

1. What four titles in Mark chapters 1 and 2 indicate Jesus' all surpassing authority?

2. The phrase "Son of Man" could have more than one meaning. Why did Jesus use the phrase to describe himself?

3. How did the people react who witnessed Jesus' healing of the paralytic?

4. When Jesus first saw the tax collector Levi, Jesus told him "Follow me". What became of Levi after that?

5. What did Jesus say to the Pharisees when they criticized him for eating with tax collectors and sinners?

6. What did Jesus say to the religious authorities when they asked why Jesus' disciples did not fast?

7. What reality was Jesus pointing to when he spoke about new cloth and new wine?

8. What does Jesus' claim to be "Lord of the Sabbath" tell us about his identity?

Answers

1. Mark chapter 1 identifies Jesus as the Son of God. Mark chapter 2 identifies Him as the Son of Man, a Messianic figure in Daniel 7: 13-14. Chapter 2 also identifies Jesus as the Divine Bridegroom whose followers are his bride. He calls himself "Lord of the Sabbath" because the Son was with the Father before the Creation. These four titles speak of how Jesus' authority is greater than any other authority.

2. Jesus knew the prophesy in Daniel 7 about the Son of Man. Daniel had a vision of "one like a son of man" receiving eternal authority, glory, and an everlasting kingdom from the "Ancient of Days." Jesus understood that this prophesy described the relationship he has to his Heavenly Father and his authority on earth. It is also likely that Jesus used the phrase "Son of Man" to emphasize his full humanity because his miraculous acts stirred rumors that he was an angel, or an apparition, and not truly human. Christianity teaches that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. The Nicene Creed affirms that Jesus Christ is fully divine and fully human, which protects against early heresies like Arianism.

3. The common people who witnessed Jesus' healing of the paralytic were astonished, but the religious leaders were outraged that Jesus told the man that his sins were forgiven. They recognized that God alone could forgive sins. However, because Jesus is God, it was as easy for Him to tell the man you are healed, take up your bed, or your sins are forgiven.

4. After Levi became one of Jesus' followers, he became known as Matthew. Most scholars believe that this is the same person as the Apostle Matthew and the author of the Gospel of Matthew. As a tax collector, Levi was hated by the Jewish people because he collected taxes for the Romans who dominated Galilee and Judea. The tax collectors did not receive wages from Rome, so they earned money by charging the people more than the Romans required. Levi was obviously very wealthy because his house was large enough for a big group of people to dine together. Jesus ate there with his disciples and many other tax collectors. Mark 2:13-15 says, "While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him."

5. Jesus told them that he came to call sinners to repentance (Mk. 2:17-18), and he implied that the Pharisees who regarded themselves as righteous did not need Him. Jesus compared Himself to a doctor who treats the sick. 

6. Jesus explained that He is the Divine Bridegroom and being with him was an occasion for celebration. Fasting would not be appropriate at such a time. Jesus was drawing on a common Old Testament picture of the relationship between God and his people as husband and wife. An example is Psalm 45, a royal wedding song celebrating a Messianic King and his royal bride. This is interpreted by Christians and Jews as an allegory of God's covenant of marriage with his people. (Also see these passages: Isaiah 54:5-6, Isaiah 62: 4-5, Hosea 2:19-20, Ezekiel 16:8-13, and Jeremiah 31: 31-31.)

7. When Jesus spoke about new cloth and new wine (Matt. 9:16–17; Lk. 5:36–39), He was pointing to the incompatibility between the life of the Kingdom and the legalistic religious system of Judaism. So many religious rules had made the daily lives of the Jewish people burdensome. Jesus came to bring new life and liberty from sin, and this would be proved by his Resurrection.

8. As Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus is revealed as Creator of the cycle of days leading up to the Sabbath. For the Jews, the Sabbath was from Friday evening through Saturday evening. Sunday was regarded as the first day of the week and it was on the first day of the week that Jesus rose from the grave. This indicates an entirely new cycle of days, not to be confused with the old cycle, just as the new cloth cannot be sewn into the old cloth or the new wine stored in old wineskins. God the Father desires Sabbath communion with us through the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.

Related reading: Mark Chapter 1: The Barmore-Linsley Study, Shrines, Temples, and Synagogues; Officers of the Synagogues in Ancient Rome – International Catacomb Society

Mark Chapter 1: The Barmore-Linsley Study

 

The wings identify John the Baptist as a divine messenger, the “Evangelos” 

who proclaimed Messiah's appearance in the flesh.

Welcome to a study of the Gospel according to Mark. If you followed our study of the Book of Matthew, you will be excited about this next cooperative effort of Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. In this study, observations about each chapter of Mark are followed by 10 questions. The answers may be found by scrolling to the bottom of the post.

Prepare for this lesson by reading Mark Chapter 1.

Let's begin with prayer.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

The Gospel of Mark is believed to be the work of John Mark who traveled with Paul and Barnabas and later assisted Peter (1 Pt. 5:13). The book does not mention the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, so most scholars believe it was written before that catastrophic event. According to Church tradition, Mark's account is the earliest of the Synoptic Gospels and was composed while the author was in Rome.

Mark's main message is about Jesus Christ, God's Son, whose Messianic ministry was characterized by mighty works of God and whose sacrifice on the Cross was for the redemption of the world. In Mark's account, Jesus seems to keep his identity as the eternal Son of God a secret. However, his power and authority are evident throughout his ministry as the "Son of Man" and fully revealed after His death and resurrection. 

Mark's Gospel is a fast-paced book. Jesus is always on the move, making his way over time to his destiny in Jerusalem, where prophets are killed (Matt. 23:27; Lk. 13:34). The connective tissue is the word immediately which appears more than 40 times in the book. An example is Mark 1:21 which states that Jesus and some of his disciples went to Capernaum "and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught."

Compared to Matthew's Gospel, Mark records fewer words from Jesus. Instead, Jesus is seen as a man of action.

CHAPTER ONE

The first chapter of Mark's Gospel opens with the ministry of John the Baptist (1:1–11). John was the son of the Jewish priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. John was preaching repentance in the wilderness, thus preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah. The people came out of the towns and cities to be baptized by John in the Jordan River.

Jesus traveled from Nazareth to be baptized by John. As Jesus came up out of the water the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven declared Jesus as God's beloved Son. At Jesus' Baptism the reality of the Holy Trinity was perfectly manifested.

The Spirit then directed Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days where He was tempted by Satan and where angels ministered to Him. 

After John the Forerunner was arrested, Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee where He proclaimed that the kingdom of God is near and called people to repent and believe. At the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called two sets of brothers to be his first disciples. All were fishermen. Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew, and James and his brother John left their fishing nets and followed Him.

The chapter closes with accounts of Jesus teaching in the synagogues, delivering a man from the oppression of an evil spirit, and cleansing a leper. By this time, Jesus was not able to move about as freely as before because news of his miracles brought out large crowds.

QUESTIONS

1. According to Mark's account Jesus began His public ministry in Galilee. How does this differ from the account in John's Gospel?

2. What activities characterize Jesus' early ministry in Galilee?

3. What was Jesus' relationship to John the Baptist?

4. What was John's message?

5. What central dogma of Christianity was made evident at Jesus' Baptism and why is this dogma to be preserved?

6. What was Jesus' main message after His temptation in the wilderness?

7. Who were the first disciples called by Jesus and what is known about them?

8. How did people respond to Jesus' teaching in the synagogues?

9. Mark's Gospel identifies Jesus as the "Son of God" (verse 1). What prophesies about the Son of God, or the Messiah, were fulfilled by Jesus' actions in this first chapter of Mark?

10. Why did Jesus command the evil spirits to be silent and why did he tell people not to broadcast how He healed them?

ANSWERS

1. According to Mark, Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee after John was arrested. In the Gospel of John, Jesus' public ministry began at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. 

2. Jesus' early ministry in Galilee was characterized by healing, teaching in the synagogues, and driving out evil spirits. 

3. Jesus and John were cousins. Both were descendants of the Hebrew ruler-priests who believed in God Father and God Son before Judaism emerged as a world religion. According to John's Gospel, Jesus regarded John as the greatest of all the prophets (Matt. 11:11; Lk. 7:28). John the Immerser personified all 3 types of authority: derived, attributed, and achieved. Read more about their relationship here: Jesus and John Fulfill All Righteousness.

4. John's message was to prepare the people to receive Jesus the Messiah by repenting of their sins and receiving the baptism of repentance by ritual purification in the Jordan River.

5. At Jesus' baptism, the central dogma of the Holy Trinity was made evident. The Son of God came up from the water. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and the voice of God declared that Jesus is the Father's beloved son. This is divine revelation to be preserved by all Christians. The term "dogma" refers to a teaching or belief that cannot be changed or eliminated because doing so would completely change the substance of the Christian Faith.

6. Jesus' main message was a call to repentance because the time of the Kingdom of God is at hand. 

7. The first disciples called by Jesus were Simon and his brother Andrew, and James and his brother John. All 3 were Galilean fishermen. Simon was married. Jesus healed his mother-in-law of a fever (Mk. 1:30). James and John were the sons of a Jewish man named Zebedee. Jesus called James and John Boanerges which means "Sons of Thunder" (Mk. 3:17).

8. When Jesus taught in the synagogues, the people were astonished because he taught them as one having real authority and not as the scribes (Mk.1:22). According to Mark 1:38, Jesus did not stay long in any one town. He believed his work was to preach throughout Galilee.

9. Many prophesies about the long-awaited Messiah were fulfilled in the first chapter of Mark. In Isaiah 40:3 John the Baptist's preparation for Jesus' servant ministry is declared: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." Jesus casting out demons and healing various diseases fulfilled the prophecies associated with the Messianic dawning of the Kingdom of God. 

10. Jesus commanded the evil spirits to be silent because He wanted freedom to preach and teach in as many places as possible without being hindered by large crowds. He told people he healed not to broadcast their experiences because the circulation of rumors would bring out crowds making it difficult for him to go about freely. Even with these precautions, Jesus spent much of his time in the countryside. Mark 1:45 explains that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town. Instead, He stayed out in the country. Even then, people found him, coming to him from every quarter.

Related reading: Mary Barmore's Testimony; John the Forerunner, the Greatest Prophet; A Disciple’s Guide to Bible Study; Formed and Informed by the Bible; A Living Faith Justifies; The Ethnicity of Abraham and David; Belonging to Christ is a Serious Matter

The Glorious First Easter

 

This is the final chapter of our study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 28. When you have finished, answer the 8 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

Matthew 28 recounts the resurrection of Jesus, beginning with women coming to the guarded tomb. An earthquake occurred and an angel descended from heaven and rolled away the stone at the entrance to the tomb. The guards trembled with fear. The angel greeted the women and announced that Jesus had risen. Jesus appeared to them, instructing them to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. The chapter ends with the Great Commission where Jesus commands his followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He promises to be with his people to the close of the age.

Questions

1.When did the women come to the tomb?

2. What did the angel say to the women?

3. How did the women react to the angel's message?

4. What did the women do when Jesus met them?

5. What did the chief priests and elders do when the guards came to report what had happened?

6. How did the eleven disciples react when they saw Jesus in Galilee?

7. Why did Jesus say, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me"? (v. 18)

8. What liturgical formula is essential to baptism as Jesus commanded? (A liturgical formula is a prescribed form of words or prayers used in public worship to perform specific religious acts such as the Lord's Supper and Baptism.)

Answers

1. Two women named Mary came to the tomb very early in the morning on a Sunday. They came toward dawn. John 20:1 indicates that it was still dark. Sunrise Easter services are a way of acknowledging Jesus' resurrection which happened before dawn. Among the early Hebrew (4000-2000 B.C.) the Son of God was associated with the sun. He was said to rise in the morning as a lamb and to grow to the mature strength of a ram at sunset. He rode with the Father on the solar boat. The boat of the morning hours was called Mandjet and the boat of the evening hours was called Mesektet. While the Son was on the Mesektet, he was in his ram-headed form. You will recall that God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Abraham would have recognized the ram as a symbol of the Son of God yet to come.

2. The angel told them not to be afraid and explained that Jesus had risen. The women were invited to see the place where Jesus' body had been laid. They were witnesses that He was not there. The angel then told them to go quickly and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and that he was going before them to Galilee where they would see him.

3. The women left the tomb immediately. They felt fear and great joy. They ran to tell the disciples as Jesus had instructed them.

4. When Jesus met the women, they took hold of his feet and worshipped him. There was no doubt in their minds who the man was. They became firsthand witnesses to the reality of Jesus' resurrection.

5. The chief priests and elders paid the guards to spread a lie that Jesus' disciples had come and taken away the body by night.

6. When the disciples saw the Risen Lord Jesus in Galilee they worshipped him, but some still had doubts.

7. By his death and resurrection Jesus took complete authority over sin and death and over the Evil One on earth. He receives all authority from God the Father who will make all God's enemies Christ's footstool (Ps. 110:11). Acting on his supreme authority, Jesus authorized his disciples to go into the world and encourage others to be obedient to the Gospel.

8. Christian baptism requires that the person be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Christianity is a trinitarian faith. Jesus' early Hebrew ancestors believed in God Father, God Son, and the life-generating Spirit of God long before Judaism emerged as a world religion. The Christian faith is summarized in the Apostles' Creed (often recited at baptisms) and the Nicene Creed. The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are foundational summaries of the Christian faith.

Mary and Alice are thankful for the wide readership of our study of Matthew's Gospel. We pray that what we have written will be a blessing and will strengthen your faith. May this Bright Week be a time of rejoicing because Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

In May, we will begin our study of Mark's Gospel. Please join us!

Related reading: Christ's Third Day Resurrection; "Easter" Eggs in Antiquity; What Abraham Discovered on Mt. Moriah; Matthew's Testimony Concerning the Empty Tomb

Jesus Mocked and Crucified

 

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,

because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Welcome to this weekly study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 27. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

Matthew 27 describes Jesus' trial, crucifixion, and burial in a tomb provided by Joseph Arimathea. Feeling great remorse, Judas returns the silver to the Temple authorities and commits suicide. Pilate releases Barabbas to the angry crowd instead of Jesus. Jesus is whipped (scourged) and mocked by soldiers in the Praetorium. Jesus is led to Golgotha, the place of execution. Simon of Cyrene is enlisted to carry Jesus' cross. After 3 hours of darkness, accompanied by earthquakes, the opening of tombs, and the raising of saints, Jesus dies. The chief priest and elders insist that the tomb be sealed and guarded because they fear that Jesus' disciples will take away the body and claim that Jesus rose from the dead.

Questions

1. What did the religious authorities do with the silver that Judas returned to them?

2. What did Pontius Pilate recognize about the religious authorities?

3. Who was Barabbas?

4. What evidence in the chapter indicates that Pilate recognized that Jesus was innocent?

5. In what way is the mocking of Jesus by the soldiers ironic?

6. Who was Simon of Cyrene?

7. Who mocked and reviled Jesus while he was on the cross?

8. What signs of Jesus' last hours on the cross indicate the cosmic implications of his death?

9. Who took responsibility for the burial of Jesus' body?

10. What did the religious authorities in Jerusalem fear would happen to Jesus' body?

Answers

1. They purchased a field in Jerusalem's Hinnom Valley to be used to bury foreigners and as a burial site for the poor. The field was called Akeldama, which means "Field of Blood" in Aramaic. Matthew 27 states that Judas hanged himself but Acts 1:18-19 reports that he fell and burst open in that field which was bought with his blood money.

2. Pilate recognized that the religious authorities had delivered Jesus to be executed out of envy (v. 18). Envy is one of the seven deadly sins. It can lead to murder. Cain murdered his brother out of envy. The religious authorities in Jerusalem sought to murder Jesus out of envy.

3. Barabbas was a Jewish prisoner described as a murderer, robber, and a violent rebel against Roman authority. Pilate gave in to the crowd's demand that Barabbas be released from prison instead of Jesus. Bar-abbas means "son of the father" in Aramaic.

4. Pilate asked the crowd what evil Jesus had done (v. 23) because Jesus stood before him blameless. Pilate also washed his hands before the crowd and declared, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to that yourselves." This signified that he did want to bear the blood guilt for sentencing an innocent person. The Jews in the crowd who wanted Jesus to be executed were willing to bear the blood guilt. The agitators in the crowd shouted, "His blood be on us and on our children." Nevertheless, every human in every generation bears guilt for Christ's blood because of our sin. The paradox is that His blood frees us from the curse of sin and death, from guilt, and from anxiety.

5. The Roman soldiers attempted to humiliate Jesus by mocking him as king. By dressing him in a scarlet robe, placing a crown of thorns on his head, and hailing him as "King of the Jews" the soldiers acted out a coronation, and unintentionally proclaimed him king. Their cruel farse reveals that they knew of the reports that Jesus was a king.

6. Simon of Cyrene was the man compelled by the Roman soldiers to carry the cross when Jesus became too weak to carry it. Cyrene is the name of modern-day Libya in North Africa. Simon was probably a Jewish pilgrim who came to Jerusalem for the Passover. Mark 15:21 states that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus, who are believed to have become followers of Jesus.

7. While he was suffering on the cross, Jesus was mocked by people who passed by and by the chief priests, scribes and elders. Matthew states that he was also reviled by the robbers who were crucified with him (v. 44).

8. The cosmic implications of Jesus’ death are indicated by three hours of darkness because Jesus, the Light of the world, is the one who called light into being at the beginning. There was a violent earthquake because the whole creation trembled. The Temple veil split from top to bottom because the Lord Jesus Christ is the new Temple and our access to God the Father. Many who believed and trusted God's promises concerning the coming of the Son of God rose from their graves because Jesus trampled down death by his death. These events, witnessed by the centurion and others, signify the new divine order.

9. A high-ranking Jew named Joseph asked Pilate's permission to bury Jesus' body in his own rock cut tomb. He is designated Joseph Ar-Mathea which means that he was of the Horite Hebrew ancestry and the clan of Matthew. It is likely that the author of Matthew' Gospel was one of his relatives. 

The Ar is a shortened Horus name, as is evident in the case of the Nabataean King Harithath IV who bears the Horus name. King Harithath is called King Aretas in 2 Corinthians 11:32. The Har/Ar affix designates a royal person or a venerable figure. Many historical rulers have such names, including Artaxerxes, Archelaos, Arshem, Artix, Areli, Araxes, Arviragus, a Jebusite named Araunah, and Arishen, a Horite Hebrew who ruled a territory in the central Zagros between 2400-2301 BC. Ariaramnes was the great uncle of Cyrus the Great. In the ancient world, Horus was regarded as the patron of kings and priests. Joseph Ar-Mathea, was a high-ranking ruler-priest and a member of the Sanhedrin. He had sufficient political clout to petition Pilate for the release of Jesus’ body so he could be buried in the sepulcher that Joseph had excavated for himself.

10. The Jewish authorities knew that Jesus had foretold his third day resurrection, and they feared that Jesus' followers would take away his body and claim that he had risen from the dead. That is why they wanted the tomb sealed and guarded.

Join us next week as we begin to wrap up our study of Matthew's Gospel. A blessed Resurrection Sunday (Easter or Pasca) to all our readers!

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below. 

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected
Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Matthew Chapter 23: Woe to False Religious Leaders!
Matthew Chapter 24: Learning to Read the Signs
Matthew Chapter 25: Working While We Wait for Christ's Return
Matthew Chapter 26:  Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

Working While We Wait for Christ's Return

 

Sheep and Goats

Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

Welcome to this weekly study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 25. When you have finished, answer the 8 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.


Introduction

Matthew 25 is a continuation of the Olivet Discourse that begins in Matthew 24. This chapter contains three parables that illustrate the necessity of being ready for the Lord's return. They are the parable of the Ten Virgins, the parable of the Talents, and the parable of the Sheep and the Goats. While waiting for Jesus' return, his followers are to be faithful stewards of what he has given us, active in ministry, especially to "the least of these", and aware that some among us are not of Christ's sheep fold.

Questions

1. What does the Parable of the Ten Virgins/Maidens illustrate about the Kingdom of God?

2. Why is Jesus described as a bridegroom?

3. What does the Parable of the Talents teach about the Kingdom of God?

4. What principle of stewardship is emphasized in this Parable of the Talents? 

5. Who will be with Jesus when he returns?

6. After the sheep and goats are separated, Christ commends those at his right hand. For what actions are they commended?

7. What fate awaits those at Christ's left hand at the time of the Judgement?

8. The description of Christ's return speaks of his enthronement. Who will be gathered before the throne?

Answers

1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins illustrates that the Kingdom of God requires steadfast resolve and spiritual readiness because the timing of Jesus’ return is unknown. It highlights that Christians must be proactive, not slothful or spiritually lazy. We cannot lend to others what they have cared so little to acquire. The parable reminds us that our preparation ends when the bridegroom arrives for the wedding feast, a time of celebration.

2. In the Bible, marriage is often used to describe the relationship of God to his people. When Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom, he is speaking of the unique covenant relationship that He has with the Church. That same covenant relationship was offered to the people of Israel, many of whom expressed faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and the Son of God.

3. The Parable of the Talents speaks of how God provides resources to his servants. It illustrates the profound nature of our responsibility to be good stewards of those resources. The slothful servant lived in fear of his Master. His relationship to the Master was not one of love and devotion. Therefore, that servant is to be cast into the outer darkness (v. 30).

4. The Parable of the Talents emphasizes that those who use their spiritual gifts and resources faithfully will receive an abundance, while those who do not will lose what they have. This was expressed in Matthew 13:12 where Jesus stated that "whoever has will be given more". An analogy can be made in reference to the human body. A muscle that is not used will atrophy. 

5. Jesus stated that he would come with all the angels. The appearance of "all the angels" at Christ's second coming testifies to his absolute victory. Matthew 16:27 says that "the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." 2 Thessalonians 1:7 describes how Christ will appear from heaven with "mighty angels" in flaming fire. In Revelation, Christ returns with angels and the armies of heaven to judge the world and to reign. 

   

Throughout Jesus' life, his identity as the incarnate Son of God was proven by the appearance of angels. The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the conception of Jesus by divine overshadowing (Luke 1:35). A host of angels appeared to the shepherds of Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus. Angels ministered to Jesus after his time of fasting and temptation in the wilderness. In Matthew 26:53 Jesus speaks of how the Father could send more than twelve legions of angels to deliver him. 

6. Jesus commends those at his right hand (the sheep) for their acts of compassion toward the "least of these", for feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. These actions are in the service of Christ Himself. They testify to the faithfulness of those servants.

7. At the final Judgement those at Christ's left hand (the goats) are separated from God and destined for the "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels". They are described as "cursed" because their lives produced no fruits of righteousness.

8. All the nations will appear before the throne of judgement because Christ's rule is universal. His authority is over every authority and over every individual. All will be held personally accountable for what they have done with the life God gave them.

Join us next week as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel. A blessed Palm Sunday to all our readers!

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected
Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Matthew Chapter 23: Woe to False Religious Leaders!

Matthew Chapter 24: Learning to Read the Signs

Learning to Read the Signs

 

Icon of the Final Judgement "written" by Fr Luke Dingman.

Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 24. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.


Introduction

Matthew 24 is a controversial passage because it lends itself to two errors: the Futurist and the Preterist errors. According to the former, the events described by Jesus in this chapter will happen in the future. According to the Preterist view, the events described in this chapter have already happened. 

Jesus predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple after his disciples point out the grandeur of its buildings. When asked by his disciples about the end times, Jesus says that the signs of the close of the age include famines, earthquakes, wars, persecution, and false prophets. He urges them to be faithful in the time of persecution. He tells them to be watchful for his return because no one knows the hour of his coming. This is part of the "Mount of Olives Discourse" which continues in Matthew 25. (Also see Mark 13 and Luke 21.)

Questions

1. In this Olivet Discourse, what was the first warning given by Jesus to his disciples?

2. Jesus described the time of trouble as the "beginning of birth pangs". What does this metaphor indicate about the events that were to come?

3. Some of the signs of the end were experienced by the people of Jesus' time. What statement of Jesus in the chapter makes this obvious? 

4. What signs did Jesus describe as coming before the Son of man appears in heaven with power and great glory?

5. What makes this chapter so controversial?

6. What did Jesus say about the day and hour of his second coming?

7. Jesus warned that many false prophets will arise and lead people astray. (v 11).  How might his be accomplished in this age of technology?

8. Jesus cursed a fig tree that did not have fruit (Matt. 21). The fruitless tree symbolizes the hypocrisy and spiritual barrenness of the religious leaders in Jerusalem. What does the fig tree represent in this chapter?

9. To what biblical event did Jesus refer when he warned of the Day of Judgement?

10. This chapter ends with a parable that contrasts two servants. In what ways are the servants different?

Answers

1. In this discourse, Jesus' first warning to his disciples was to beware that no one leads them astray.

2. Some Bibles use the phrase the "beginning of sorrows" instead of the "beginning of birth pangs". This indicates that trials and tribulations will increase in frequency and intensity, like labor pains, leading up to Christ's second coming.

3. In Matthew 24:34 Jesus states that "this generation shall not pass away till all these things take place." A "generation" in the Bible is 40 years. In less than 40 years from the time of Jesus' death and resurrection the Temple was destroyed by the Romans and Jerusalem was under siege. Jesus warns those living in Judea to immediately flee to the mountains. He tells his listeners to pray that they will not have to flee in winter. 

4. Before the Son of man appears in heaven with power and great glory, the sun will be darkened. As a result, the moon will not reflect the sun's light (refulgence) and will appear dark. Stars will fall from heaven. In earth's history, the sun has been darkened before. This can happen when a massive meteorite slams into the earth spreading an immense dust cloud or when a huge volcano spews vast amounts of ash and sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. Another possible cause is what is called "nuclear winter".

5. Matthew 24 is one of the most controversial passages of the New Testament because it lends itself to two errors. According to the Futurist view, the events described by Jesus in this chapter will happen in the future. Dispensationalists stress this view in their end times scenarios, including a seven-year tribulation, the global rise of the Antichrist, the so-called Rapture, and the second coming of Jesus. According to the opposite error, the Preterist view, the events described in this chapter have already happened. A more accurate understanding of this chapter recognizes that the disciples asked Jesus two distinct questions: first, in relationship to their calling attention to the Temple, when will the Temple be destroyed? Many who were alive in Jesus' time lived to see that happen in 70 A.D.. And the second question: what will be the sign of the end of the age? That is a future event.

6. Jesus said that no one knows the day and hour of his second coming, not even the angels or himself, but only his heavenly Father.

7. The misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can include false images and false information presented in a very compelling way. Social media platforms with an agenda can circulate fake news. Media outlets can narrate events according to the bias of those who support them financially. There are many ways that we can be deceived. People who are not grounded in the truth of the Gospel will be led astray.

8. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus used the fig tree to speak of the natural progression of events. People recognize that summer is approaching when the branch becomes tender and puts out leaves. Jesus used the fig tree to urge his followers to be observant of the signs of his return and the coming Day of Judgement. His disciples would remember the incident of the fig tree that withered after Jesus cursed it. (Imprecatory declarations are sometimes called "curses".) When Jesus cursed that fig tree, he was declaring judgement upon the faithless religious leaders. He could do this because he had divine authority.

9. Jesus referred to the time of Noah who heeded the warning when most of the people around him did not. Noah was busy preparing while others went about their lives as if nothing was going to change.

10. The servant set over the Master's household is described as faithful. He sees that the members of the household are fed at the proper times. The other servant is described as wicked and a drunkard. Though he serves in the Master's house, he will be cast out and will share the same fate as the hypocrites.

Join us as we approach the final chapters of Matthew's Gospel. We come to the betrayal of Jesus, his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and third day resurrection as we approach Holy Week and Easter.

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected
Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Matthew Chapter 23: Woe to False Religious Leaders!

Woe to False Religious Leaders!

 

Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of divine love and grace. One way he showed that was to call out the falsehoods of his day. This meant condemning religious leaders who burdened the people with rules that even they did not follow.

Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 23. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

In Matthew chapter 23 Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, spiritual pride, corruption, and legalism. He pronounces seven "woes" or imprecatory declarations against them and describes them as "whitewashed tombs" and a "brood of vipers". (The King James Version adds another woe, bringing the total number of woes to eight.) Jesus warns against seeking titles and emphasizes service with humility. The chapter concludes with Jesus' lament over Jerusalem for killing the prophets.

Questions

1. Did Jesus recognize that the scribes and the Pharisees had authority?

2. Why did Jesus tell his followers to call no man "father" and not to be called "masters"?

3. What is meant by "imprecatory declarations"?

4. What behavior does Jesus describe in the first woe?

5. Many Bibles omit verse 14 which appears in the King James Version (Authorized Version). For what behavior does Jesus condemn the scribes and Pharisees in verse 14 of the KJV?

6. What did Jesus say about the Pharisees' vigorous effort to convert Gentiles to their form of Judaism?

7. What actions did Jesus call attention to that indicate the hypocrisy of some of the religious leaders?

8. What analogy did Jesus use to describe the spiritual condition of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees?

9. In what way did the hypocritical religious leaders witness against themselves?

10. What final words of condemnation are found in this chapter? (vv. 34-39)

Answers

1. Yes. When Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees sit on "Moses' seat" (v. 2), he acknowledged that they held official authority to interpret and teach the Mosaic Law. But he commanded his followers not to emulate their actions because they did not practice what they preached. 

2. Jesus told his followers not to call any man on earth "father" to emphasize that spiritual authority belongs to God the Father. All true authority comes from Him. Nor were his followers to be called "master" as the religious leaders demanded, because they were obsessed with titles of honor. Jesus' followers are to be humble, remembering that whoever exalts himself shall be humbled (v. 12).

3. Jesus used imprecatory language which exposes falsehood and invokes divine judgment. He words focused on divine justice rather than personal vengeance. Examples include pronouncing "woes" upon hypocritical religious leaders in Matthew 23 and in Luke 6:26 - "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." The Psalms contain many imprecatory prayers. Psalm 5:10 is an example: "Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins..."

4.The woes in Matthew 23 are strong judgments against the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, spiritual blindness, and corruption. The first woe condemns the leaders for blocking the way to the heavenly kingdom by not entering themselves and by keeping others from entering.

5. In the King James Version, Jesus declares, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." Jesus condemned the religious leaders who took advantage of legal or financial situations to rob widows of their homes or property through excessive fees or coerced donations.

6. First-century Pharisees were eager to make converts. They actively made proselytes by encouraging Gentiles to adopt Jewish customs, laws, and worship. This effort included voluntary circumcision of Gentile men and baptism, though during the Hasmonean era (141–37 BC) some forced conversions of Gentiles in Judea took place. Jesus said that the converts were more zealous than the Pharisees in pursuing a false piety. He described the converts as "twice as much a child of hell as yourselves".

7.  Jesus said that the religious leaders were more concerned about ritual purity than about righteous living. He noted that they tithe but neglect justice, mercy and faith. They swear oaths without understanding the true nature of holy things. Gold is not holy, but the Temple is holy. The offerings on the altar are not holy, but the altar is holy.

8. Jesus described their spiritual condition as being like white-washed tombs full of dead people but attempting to appear righteous to the world.

9. Jesus said that the faithless religious leaders witness against themselves by claiming that they would not have killed the prophets as their fathers did in the past. Jesus reminds them that they are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.

10. The chapter ends with Jesus declaring that all the righteous blood shed on earth may come upon the false religious leaders. He yearned for them to come to him, but they rejected him and the result is that their house is forsaken and desolate. This is prophetic because in less than 40 years Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans.

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below. Join us next week as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected

Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast