The Gospel according to Mark

Second book of the New Testament 

Mark (Peter's disciple)

(Part 7)

We continue this issue to the Systematic Study of the New Testament, which includes the study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the book of Acts. The study is based on the Portuguese version of the New Testament that the reader can see from this link: http://www.bibliaonline.com.br/asv/mt/1. 

Relevant answers to questions are at the end of the text below. 

Questions 

1. Referring to the episode of the withered fig tree that Jesus gave his disciples two lessons concerning prayer. What are the lessons?

2. Jesus wanted to teach say, Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God?

3. A scribe asked Jesus: Which is the first commandment of all? What was the response of the Master?

4. In referring to large disturbances that signal the called end times, Jesus mentioned when such things happen?

5. Finishing the call prophetic sermon, the Lord warned: "Take heed, watch and pray." Why the Master said these words?  

Text for reading

29. The Sadducees and the resurrection - Some Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, came to Jesus and asked, "Master, Moses wrote to us that someone's brother dies, leaving a wife, and has no children, his brother shall marry widow inheritance and give to the deceased. There were seven brothers: one married and died without succession, the second took her and died, leaving no inheritance, and likewise the third, so the seven left no estate. After all the woman died. In the resurrection, when rise, whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her." Jesus answered them: "There comes your error know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead neither marry nor are women given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. As for the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read in the book of Moses in the passage concerning the bush, how God told him: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead, but alive." (Mark, 12:18 to 12:27.) 

30. Jesus is David's son? - Being in the temple, and taught the people when he asked: "How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?" He added: "For David himself said, moved by the Holy Spirit: The Lord said unto my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. David himself calls him Lord, how is he his son? "The people heard him gladly. Jesus then warned her, saying: "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, to be hailed in the street, and occupy the first seats in the synagogues and the uppermost rooms at feasts, who devour the houses for widows and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation." (Mark, 12:35 to 12:40.) 

31. The widow's mite - then sitting in front of the box tithes, watched as people poured their money there. Now, many rich cast in much, but a poor widow came, he lay there two currencies, the value of a quadrant. Calling his disciples, the Master said: "Verily I say that this poor widow hath cast more in box tithes that all bidders, because they gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty gave all she had to your livelihood." (Mark 12:41 to 12:44.) 

32. The sermon prophetic announces wars, earthquakes and famine - As they left the temple, told him one of his disciples: "Look, Master, what stones and what buildings!" But Jesus told him: "You see these great buildings? will not be stone, not be thrown down. " That said, went to the Mount of Olives, situated opposite the temple, when Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him, in particular: "Tell us, when shall these things, and that will be the sign when all these to fulfill? "Jesus answered them," Take heed that no man deceive you. Many will come in my name, saying, I am and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars, be not terrified: for it is necessary to pass, but is still not the end. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famine: these things are the beginning of sorrows. Are ye on your guard, for they will deliver you to court, and be flogged in the synagogues, and you will appear before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony unto them. But first it is necessary that the Gospel be preached to all nations. " (Mark 13:1 to 13:10.) 

33. He who endures to the end will be saved - Jesus charged them again: "When you lead and deliver you up, do not worry about what you will say, but what you speak is given at the time, it is not ye that speak but the Holy Spirit. A brother shall betray his brother to death, and a father to his son, the children shall rise up against their parents and will die. You will also be hated by all for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end will be saved. But when they see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, who is on the housetop not come down not to take things from your house and what is in the field return back to take his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and that give suck in those days! Pray that this does not happen in winter, because those days shall be tribulation such as never was since the beginning of creation God made until now, nor ever shall be. If the Lord had shortened those days, nobody would be saved: but for the elect's sake, he chose the briefer. " (Mark, 13:11 to 13:20.) 

Respostas às questões propostas 

1. Referring to the episode of the withered fig tree that Jesus gave his disciples two lessons concerning prayer. What are the lessons?  

The first lesson was about the value of faith for effective prayer. Jesus said unto them, Have faith in God: for verily I say that whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, and no doubt in his heart but believes that it will do what it says, everything you say it will be done. Therefore I say that all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believe you receive, and have them here. The second lesson concerns the importance of forgiveness in our lives, especially when we turn in prayer to the Creator. Jesus said to them: When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven will not forgive your sins. (Mark, 11:11 to 11:14, 11:20 to 11:26.)

2. Jesus wanted to teach say, Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God?  

Recall first the context in which these words were spoken. Asked him whether it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar. He knew the malice of the question, he said unto them, why tempt ye me? Bring me a coin to see it. They brought it. The Master asked: Whose is this image and inscription? They said unto him, Caesar's. Then Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's teaching that we must fulfill our obligations in the face of the laws of men, without neglecting our duties under the laws of God, and vice versa. The earthly existence requires us tasks and appointments that must be met as far as the duties of the soul, especially the observance of the laws that God created and Jesus revealed in his teachings. (Mark, 12:14 to 12:17.)

3. A scribe asked Jesus: Which is the first commandment of all? What was the response of the Master?  

Jesus answered him, saying, 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. And the second is like it is, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark, 12:28 to 12:34.)

4. In referring to large disturbances that signal the called end times, Jesus mentioned when such things happen?   

No. But before I tell you, he said to his disciples, Take heed that no man deceive you: for many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for so must happen, but still not the end. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there will be famines and troubles. These things are the principles of pain. In truth I tell you, this generation will not pass, till all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words shall not pass away. But on that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son except the Father (Mark 13:1 to 13:8 and 13:30 to 13:32.)

5. Finishing the call prophetic sermon, the Lord warned: "Take heed, watch and pray." Why the Master said these words?  

Jesus' words were these: Take heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time. It's like a man, going into the ground, left his house and gave authority to his servants, and every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch therefore: for ye know not when you come home if the afternoon is at midnight, is cock-crow, or morning, so that coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And the things I say, I tell them all: Watch. This teaching of Jesus, so well known, demonstrates the importance of surveillance in our thoughts and our actions. Vigilance and prayer are essential steps in all our lives, particularly as preventive measures in the face of temptations, which as we know, the human creature attached along its evolutionary path. (Mark, 13:31 to 13:37.)