Matthew 19:3-30, 20:17-34, 26:6-13, Mark 10:2-52, 14:3-9, Luke 18:15-43, 19:1-28, John 11:55-57, 12:1-11
Matthew 19:3-12 – Jesus’ stance on divorce is radical. How do churches get away with looking the other way? Certainly divorce is easier that staying together in may cases. A case could be made for divorce in circumstances of abuse or neglect. Jesus here says plainly that divorce and remarriage is adultery. He also says plainly that divorce is condemned by God. I’m also amazed by the disciples’ response. It’s as if they’re saying, “Gee, if I’m gong to be stuck with her forever, I better not get married.” I like Jesus’ response: “Marriage is not for everyone.” We look at people who are not married with pity. I know that I am not cut out to be unmarried, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t those who equally find married life unfathomable.
Mark 10:13-16 – I sometimes wonder what it means to receive the kingdom like a child. Innocence, trust, yes, but how would a child receive the kingdom? I just can’t quite get it, I’m missing something.
Mark 10:21-22 – I wonder if Jesus is thinking, “Dude, you’ve got a lot to learn about yourself.” I wonder what this rich young man did with the insight into his heart that Jesus gave him? Was he eventually changed? Or did it haunt him until his death.
Mark 10:23-27 – This passage, perhaps more than any other, should scare the bejeebez out of us in the USA. We are so stinkin wealthy, yet we are a ‘Christian Nation.’ Jesus tells us it hard for the rich to enter God’s kingdom. Yet most Christians in the US wouldn’t agree, I think.
Matthew 19:29 – This verse has been twisted to justify neglect of one’s family. In the context of the rich young ruler, is he really saying we must leave our family? Or he simply encouraging the disciples that those who have put their priorities in the right place, and given up many things to pursue God, will be rewarded. It’s an encouragement, in case you need it, not an admonishment to turn your back on those you ought to love.
Luke 18:34 – Intellectual Inertia again. The idea of Jesus being tortured and killed was unthinkable, so even when told plainly, they didn’t believe it.
Matthew 20:23 – I just now got that she was probably thinking of an earthly kingdom. I always wondered how she could be so arrogant to ask for those spots in heaven. She’s trying to secure her sons a prominent place in the new government!
Mark 10:41-45 – Give yourself to my people …
Luke 19:1-10 – Another Rich Young Ruler.
Mark 10:46-52 – Look at how this man’s faith makes him act. He is convinced that Jesus holds hope for him, so he ignores the jeers of the crown and shouts out for him. Then, when Jesus responds, he throw aside his cloak to go meet Him. His cloak was likely one of his only possessions, and his most valuable. Being blind, it would be difficult for him to ind it again in the crowd if it were lost. Yet he tosses it aside like an empty soda can to get to Jesus. I need that kind of faith again. Faith that runs to Jesus with little concern for anything else.
John 12:11 – Here’s an idea, let’s kill the guy who was dead already to stop folks from believing in Jesus. Were they banking that Jesus couldn’t do it twice?
I always enjoy it when you share your bible studies on this blog. That Matthew 19:29 scripture can be tricky. Jesus in so many ways, and so often through down the gauntlet, and this is no exception. I know that somewhere it also says that to neglect your family is worse than an unbeliever. So I think that there has to be a balance? I don’t know. Anyway, thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you enjoy it. I started doing this with ‘Nonny’ at infellowship last year. You could keep a journal there and he and I started posting our quiet times. I moved mine here when I started blogging.
Do you see that passage as throwing a gauntlet? I don’t. It doesn’t seem that he’s saying “go leave your family” or even “don’t be concerned about your family”, rather I see it as an admonishment to put your priorities in the right place. That may mean loosing your family. If so, then verse 29 gives some encouragement not to return to old priorities. Stay the course, God will take care of you.