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: Saturday, November 04, 2023
Chapters: MARK 11-12, MATTHEW 23
Message: Holding On To The Gospel
Hello My Friend,
There is a very scary movement taking place all over the world right now, and is in the place where you least expect it, the churches. If you are a faithful, saved, born again Christian, you really are not that surprised, but it still brings great grief. And that movement is the push Christ out of the Church. Oh, they talk about Christ, but as far as they are concerned, He is just someone who died defending His faith, and not someone necessary for their salvation. It is mind boggling just how ignorant people are to the truth, and do you want to know why they are so prone to follow these fools? It is simple, they are waxed cold to the truth, [2 Timothy 3:12-13 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.]
As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Mark also gives his account on the triumphant entry of Jesus as He arrives into Jerusalem riding on a donkey prior to His being captured and crucified. The most noblest and humblest thing that any king or leader of a country could do was ride into town on a donkey. This showed the people that he or she was not above them, and respect toward them.
[Mark 11:1-2,7-10 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. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8 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.]
[Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:] This phrase actually plays a part in something that Jesus would say to the Pharisees and scribes, but it is something that David had said prior to God telling him that His Son would descend through his son, Solomon, [2 Samuel 7:12-13,18,21,29 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.]
God, indeed blessed David’s lineage forever even when some of the kings became wicked and turned the nation away from God. Nevertheless, God, proved through David’s account that even if you do mess up, God is faithful and just to forgive us and continue with the plan. Now, once they arrived in Jerusalem it was getting rather late, so they decided to go back to Bethany for the night. On their way back, Jesus sees a fig tree and hoped to have a couple of figs once they got to it, but there were none because it was not time for them to be on the tree. Jesus, fully knowing this, cursed the tree so that it would never produce fruit again.
[Mark 11:11-14,20-22 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. 12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.]
[Have faith in God.] When I first read this I wondered why Jesus cursed the tree knowing that it was not the trees fault that it had no fruit on it yet. Then it occurred to me that maybe the tree did not want to live any longer because it disappointed Jesus. Our faith in God is the key to receiving what looks impossible to us, and that is when it hit me what Jesus really meant through all this, death is not final when you have faith in God. Well, we must have faith in Christ and what He was about to do, and that was die hanging from a dead tree of all things, [Acts 5:30-32 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.]
The worlds religions actually are quite deceitful to the hungry soul that does not have the Holy Spirit inside of them to discern the truth because many of them do read from the Scriptures. Well, Jesus knows exactly what they are doing, and literally calls out the scribes and Pharisees for being good and reading the Scriptures, and expecting the congregation to follow them, but they are not.
[Mark 12:1-3,6,8-11 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. 10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?]
[The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:] Exactly what does it mean that Jesus has become the head of the corner? Well, the pure religion of both the Jews and Christians is compared to a building. The people are the stones, the princes and rulers are the builders of the stones, and the chief corner stone is the entire building, beginning with the foundation. Pure religion is not Jewish or Christian, it is an entire family of believers in Christ, the congregation are the stones, pastors and teachers are the builders of the stones, Jesus is the head of us all, and also the foundation as well, [1 Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.]
[This was the Lord’s doing,] They can believe all they want that they are the ones responsible for killing Jesus, but this was all foretold and is now coming to pass exactly as it was written, [Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.]
Mark, also gives as account to the religious sects trying to catch Jesus say something that they could use to discredit Him and also put doubt in His believers minds. The subject of paying taxes came up, and Jesus knew right away what they were up to. This time the Herodians were sent as well, this is the worldly crowd, and this actually has Satan written all over it as he is the true coward, and knows that he cannot trump Jesus.
[Mark 12:14-17 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.]
[Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,] Let me tell you, the biggest ploy that the world uses to try and discredit us or derail our faith is politics, especially during this, politically correct garbage. Jesus avoided the trap, by telling them to follow the Law, withing God’s Law, which is what we are to do as well, [Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.]
It does absolutely no good to argue politics with the world, and by the way, we do have a right to stand up for ourselves when they attempt to get us to go against God as that is actually against the law. Now, there was another religious sect as well that was not quite on board with Jesus and they were the Sadducees, who did not even believe in angels let alone the resurrection of the dead.
[Mark 12:19-20,23-27 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.]
[In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise,] 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. This is where discernment of the Scriptures comes in which can only be done through the Holy Spirit. 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, [2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:]
Just because one knows that Scriptures that does not mean they have knowledge of them nor understand them. Remember, only a true believer can discern Scripture as they start reading and learning it. Now, here come the scribes, the ones who were supposed to have discernment of the Scriptures and they were just as clueless as the rest of them, except for one who asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is.
[Mark 12:29-34 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.]
[And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly,] This man did not want anyone to know that he agreed with everything that Jesus said. This was when Jesus looked at the crown and told them to beware of the scribes doctrine, [Mark 12:38-40 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.]
[and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.] 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. As Jesus was in the temple teaching and observing things that were going on He started getting kind of angry. Fed up with all this, He began speaking, first of all, calling them out for their grievous rules that are doing nothing, but sending themselves to hell.
[Matthew 23:1-4,11-13 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 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. 11 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.]
[whatsoever they bid you observe…and do…but do not ye after their works:] Religion is not only what destroys God’s Word, it is what sends multitudes to hell. Ignorance saves no one, and all these people who are trusting in their religion to save them have some knowledge of the truth of Christ, so it is all on them if they reject Him, [Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.]
These men were determined to kill Jesus, they thought themselves to be righteous and God fearing, but the reality was they made up their own religion. Religion is not only what destroys God’s Word, it is what sends multitudes to hell. Ignorance saves no one, and all these people who are trusting in their religion to save them have some knowledge of the truth of Christ, so it is all on them if they reject Him. As Jesus continues upbraiding them, He literally calls them walking corpses headed straight for hell.
[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.]
These men were determined to kill Jesus, they thought themselves to be righteous and God fearing, but the reality was they made up their own religion. Religion is not only what destroys God’s Word, it is what sends multitudes to hell. Ignorance saves no one, and all these people who are trusting in their religion to save them have some knowledge of the truth of Christ, so it is all on them if they reject Him.
[Matthew 23:34-35,37-39 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. 37 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.]
[your house is left unto you desolate.] 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 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.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You have given us the greatest example of how we are to live our lives through our faith in You. Religions may earn titles and win prizes for following rules, but the greatest prize that I ever obtained is receiving eternal life through my faith in You alone. 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 strait truly is the gate, 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, 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
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2023 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.