King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, November 04, 2024
Chapters: Mark Chapter 11-12, Matthew Chapter 23
Message: No Doubt About Jesus
Hello My Friend,
Yesterday I spent over an hour talking to God and was so revived that I knew that the day was going to be a challenge because both God and Satan was going to test my faith and they surely did. So, when I was up early this morning and did not pray as long God reminded me that when I am reading His Word and He is speaking to me through it, that I am doing that as well. God, does not always require us to have a lot of faith because sometimes it is only the size of a mustard seed, but what He does require is that we do not doubt Him. If we doubt Him we can be sure that challenges will come.
[Mark 11:23-26 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.]
Let me tell you, it is easy to keep our faith when we are getting everything we ask for, but sometimes it is not when we or our loved ones are suffering. The human side of me cannot understand why my mother acts like a three year old some days, but the Holy Spirit in me tells me that without the faith of a child I am not going to get very far with Jesus, [Matthew 18:3-4 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.] Now, as we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Mark, gives his account of the events that took place leading up to Christ’s crucifixion, beginning with His arrival into Jerusalem.
[Mark 11:1-6 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. 3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. 4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. 5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? 6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.]
[said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.] How is our response when Jesus asked us for something? Do we delay? Do we do it right away? Or do we not do it at all? When and how we respond to Jesus lets Him know where our priorities lie, [James 4:13-17 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.]
So, they brought the donkey to Jesus and sat Him on it, and as He passed through the people threw palm fronds and straw down on the ground, shouting Hosanna, [Mark 11:8-11 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.]
[spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches] Why did the people throw their clothes and branches in the street? This is what they used to honor a king. The clothes acted as carpets and the branches actually were a token of joy, in honor of the feast of Tabernacles, in which the people would build tents with the branches and straw to stay in during the event.
[Deuteronomy 16:13-15 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: 14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.]
[when he had looked round about upon all things,] Jesus, looks around and sees how they turned the grounds that led to the Temple into a market place, there were people selling merchandise as well as animals and grain used for ceremonial purposes. He did not like it at all and let them know the next day.
[Mark 11:15-18 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.]
[overthrew the tables of the moneychangers,] Jesus, did this before, with the same response, but this time He was much more bolder and stopped them from carrying anything that was not permitted in the Temple. Jesus, was referring to this passage, [Isaiah 56:6-7 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.]
[but ye have made it a den of thieves.] Do you understand why Jesus did what He did? First of all, the sacrifices themselves were meaningless because they were bought. The Law states that they were to bring their own offering, it did not matter if they had to transport the rams or doves with them, the important things was that it was an offering to God from what they were given.
[Leviticus 5:6-7,11 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. 7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.]
Do you see how the Law made a way for anyone to come to God regardless of their means or wealth? Jesus, simplified that with one sacrifice, Himself. We are not here to make friends with the world or religion, we are here to preach the truth of the Gospel to a lost and dying world. That effort that the world makes in attempting to bring peace by all religions and faiths coexisting is commendable, but unreasonable and unrealistic, it cannot be done because there will be a constant battle until one wins and since God wins I am pretty sure faith wins also. Jesus, actually starts upbraiding these religious cults.
[Matthew 23:3-8,10 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.]
[bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne…but they themselves will not move them] Religion, puts the leader of the organization at the top, it not only destroys the Word of God, it makes a mockery out of it by enforcing its own rules that even they cannot follow, but says that it comes from God. This is why Jesus has to remind them that true leaders are servants.
[Matthew 23:11-15 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.]
[for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men:] [Proselyte; To convert one into some religion, or to some opinion or system.] The Pharisees were really good and converting people to Judaism, but there were two things wrong, one; they were enforcing rules that even God would see as too strict. And two; they were denying the fact that all sin leads to hell and without repentance and atonement their works were worthless. Now, Jesus starts upbraiding them for making light of the Law.
[Matthew 23:20-24 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.]
[which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.] Do you know why Jesus used this as reference? Well, according to the Law of Moses, [Leviticus 11:41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.] Before they drank their wine they would strain it just in case a bug had gotten into it so they do not break the Law by accidentally consuming one, the penalty being forty stripes. They were very strict and precise in smaller matters of the Law, but careless and loose in weightier matters. This is why the Bible also says, [James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.]
Religion, loves to be the ones telling us, do this, do not do that, but they are the worse offenders of their own law. Those who have no clue of who God is, what He is capable of, or make up their own beliefs of who He is will be the first to not only question the Scriptures, but challenge them as well. Jesus, basically calls them walking corpses.
[Matthew 23:27-31 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.]
[Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves,] How is that for telling them like it is? Jesus not only said this once, but twice. It does not matter who you are, or what you believe, every knee will bow to Christ. Religion loves to be the ones to tell you they are in charge, telling us, do this, do not do that, but they are the worse offenders of their own law. This is no different than false religion, they reject Christ, in fact, hang Him on the cross every single time they say His name, and expect God to just hand heaven to them, [Hebrews 6:5-6 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.]
I do not care what era you are from, true believers of God were inspired by the Holy Spirit just as much before Christ got here in the flesh as they are now. Just because one knows that Scriptures that does not mean they have knowledge of them nor understand them. Remember when John the Baptist called them all vipers? Jesus, did the same thing.
[Matthew 23:33-36 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.]
[from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias] Since the creation of man, those who thought they knew better than God, killed those whom actually did know Him simply because God chose their efforts over theirs. Since we are all sinners saved by grace, and have our own understanding of the Bible, we can expect some of them to be of personal preference, but what they are to never do is change the Gospel, water down the Bible, or go completely off its message, and that is the key to a strong, Christ centered church.
[All these things shall come upon this generation.] The day that the Jews that see Jesus and agree with David when he says, [Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD:] that is the day that Jesus will return and judgment will begin. Jesus, confirms this as He speaks directly to the city of Jerusalem.
[Matthew 23:37-39 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.]
[Ye shall not see me henceforth,] Jesus declares the miseries Jerusalem was about to bring upon themselves after they hang Him on the cross, but also the hope that comes to those who see Jesus, both Jew and Christian, and become as one nation, led by the Lamb of God Himself, [Revelation 22:1-5 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Matthew 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You have given us the greatest example of how we are to live our lives through our faith in You. I am not saved because I earned it, but because I put my faith and trust in You as my Saviour. Because of my faith I know and have seen that the gate truly is strait and I am learning to be okay with that because I will forever choose You over the world. Lord, Thank You for all the work You do in my life, thank You for making things interesting and challenging sometimes. However, you lead me, give me Your power to live in and through You, give me Your strength to fight for my faith, and let me not get caught up in obeying rules that are not Yours, but simply love You with all my heart, and love others as You command. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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