Category Archives: Bible

Mark 8:1-13 Parallel Texts: Matthew 15:32-16:4 Once again, we are near the Sea of Galilee with Jesus, the disciples and a very large crowd of people. Apparently they have all been there for quite a while, because Jesus feels that … Continue reading →

Mark 7:24-37 Parallel Text: Matthew 15:21-37 A quick reading of this text will tell us that Jesus heals someone’s daughter, but quick readings don’t always yield the whole story, for there are those times when we are better off slowing … Continue reading →

Mark 7:1-23 Parallel Texts: Matthew 15:1-20; John 7:1ff. Mark’s account changes it’s focus at this point, as does Matthew’s and Luke’s, for from this point forward up to Jesus’ final arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus focuses on training His disciples. Here, … Continue reading →

Mark 6:30-44 Parallel Texts: Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14 Mark jumps back to Jesus and the disciples, who have just returned after their journey through Galilee, giving us the impression that Herod’s musings about who Jesus was had gone … Continue reading →

Mark 6:14-29 Parallel Texts: Matthew 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9 The real “meat” in this text is found in verses 14-16, the part most commentators discuss and teach is in 17-29, unfortunately. Thomas Jefferson had a painting of John’s head on the … Continue reading →

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s … Continue reading →

Mark 5:1-20 Parallel Texts: Matthew 8:28-33; Luke 8:26-39 Right after Jesus completed His teaching in parables, He and His disciples began to make their way across the Sea of Galilee, where they encountered a fierce storm that threatened to swamp … Continue reading →

Mark 4:35-41 Parallel Texts: Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25 Right after Jesus wrapped up His teaching in parables, He was tired and ready to leave, so the disciples joined Him in the boat, and they began to cross to the other … Continue reading →

Mark 4:21-25 Parallel Text: Luke 8:16-18  This brief section contains two more short parables, the Parable of the Lampstands and the Warning for Hearers. First, let’s talk about lamps… Lamps and lampstands are used several times in the New Testament … Continue reading →

Mark 4:1-20 Parallel Texts: Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:1-15 With the beginning of chapter four, we see a shift in Mark’s narrative to a battery of parables. Parables are interesting things, little stories that teach a moral lesson. They are not … Continue reading →