Tag Archives: Bible study

Jesus Seizes the Initiative

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 12:35-37 Parallel Texts: Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44 On that fateful Tuesday, Jesus has fought off three waves of attack from Jewish authorities who each peppered Him with questions designed to entrap Him into a mistake they could use as … Continue reading →

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Jesus Under Attack: The Third Wave

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Don Merritt

On that busy Tuesday, Jesus came under assault first by the chief Priest, then by the Pharisees, and now the third wave of attacks, this time from the Sadducees and then the teachers of the law. First, the Sadducees: Mark … Continue reading →

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Nakedness as a Metaphor in Scripture: The New Testament

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Don Merritt

You might have thought after our last post on this subject that it’s all well and good to discuss nakedness in the Old Testament, but we live under the New Testament, and many things changed because of what Jesus has … Continue reading →

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Jesus Under Attack, the Second Wave

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 12:13-17 Parallel Texts: Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:20-26 The second wave began later that same Tuesday. Jesus had already repulsed the attack of the Chief Priest, and this time, the Pharisees and their Herodian allies come at Him. As you … Continue reading →

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Jesus Under Attack

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Don Merritt

After Jesus’ discussion of the fig tree, He and the disciples enter the Temple courts and are observed by the priests and their entourage; the priests waste no time in challenging Him… Mark 11:27-33 Parallel Texts: Matthew 21:23-27; Luke 20:1-8 … Continue reading →

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Figs, Corruption and Prayers

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 11:12-26 Parallel Texts: Matthew 21:18-19, 11-13, 20-22; Luke 19:45-48; 21:37-38 Few teachers teach this section from Mark’s account, preferring instead to use the parallel in Matthew or Luke with their more confused timelines, but Mark’s timeline is much more … Continue reading →

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Triumphal Entry

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 11:1-11 Parallel Texts: Matthew 21:1-12, 14-17; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19 As we have come to expect, Mark gives us the simple facts of the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem as King and Messiah without fanfare or explanation of … Continue reading →

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“Rabbi, I want to see.”

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 10:46-52 Parallel Texts: Matthew 20:29-34; Luke 18:35-43 Jesus continues His journey to Jerusalem and reaches Jericho; it isn’t far now to His destination. As they were leaving the city, followed by a large crowd, a blind beggar calls out … Continue reading →

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Are You Sure You Want That?

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 10:32-45 Parallel Texts: Matthew 20:17-28; Luke 18:31-34 This interesting passage begins with Jesus predicting what his fate would be again, and then takes an odd shift when James and John ask for something they don’t understand. In the end, … Continue reading →

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Jesus Teaches Many Things

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Don Merritt

Mark 10:1-31 Parallel Texts: Matthew 19:1 – 20:16; Luke 18:15-30 Jesus has now left Galilee behind and crossed into Judea, and the crowds are large. In the first part of this passage, the Pharisees attempt to trap Him with a … Continue reading →

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