MARK
(Answers)
(Updated 2/2024)
CHAPTER 1
- a. John the Baptist prepared
the way for Jesus. b. John preached a baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins preparing their heart for Jesus. c. If we repent and
begin doing the will of our Father we make straight paths (a righteous
highway).
- a. John wore camel's hair and
a leather belt. b. He ate locust and wild honey.
- John's baptism was an outward
sign of an inward commitment to God. Jesus' baptism by the Spirit is an
inward dwelling of power that helps us in our commitment to God.
- The unclean spirit Jesus was
casting out of the man knew Jesus.
- Jesus healed Peter's
mother-in-law who was sick with a fever.
- It was proper to perform the
ceremonial act and gift before the priest as a witness before the people
that the leper is now cleansed and now could be included in all of
society.
CHAPTER 2
- A paralytic man was lowered
through the roof to get to Jesus.
- a. The scribes could argue if
the man’s sins were forgiven. There was no way to prove it either way. b. Jesus
told the man to rise and walk, and he was able to do so. This proved the
power of God was with Jesus and He had power to forgive sins also.
- Fasting was not necessary at
that time since Jesus was still with the disciples. He would be gone and then
they would fast then for Him.
- The rituals of the law could
not continue with the new way of the Spirit (Luke 5:33-39; Mat. 9:14-17).
- The Sabbath was made for man.
Any good work or merciful deed could be done on the Sabbath or any day.
CHAPTER 3
- The unclean spirits called Jesus
the Son of God.
- Jesus called James and John Boanerges
- "Sons of Thunder".
- The strong man is Satan. His
house is the world. Jesus came to bind Satan's works and to take back
those bound by Satan.
- Blasphemies against men can
be forgiven.
- a. Blasphemy is knowingly
speaking against the Holy Spirit (as the priest did). b. The Pharisees
knew the source of power for the miracles that Jesus did came from God
through His Holy Spirit, but they still denied it for their own egocentric
preservation. Blasphemy of
the Holy Spirit is an attitude of a heart that cares nothing for God’s
forgiveness. There is never forgiveness because there is no desire for
forgiveness. This sin if never repented is unforgivable.
- Everyone who believes in and
upholds the will of the Father is part of one family. We are brothers,
sisters, and mothers in the Son of God.
CHAPTER 4
- a. The seed by the wayside
are hearers that won’t accept the word. They hear the word but do not
understand it, nor are they dedicated to it. b. The seed on shallow groung
are those who gladly receive the word of God but they do not seek further spiritual
growth and strength. They fall away after a short time and in tribulation.
c. The seed among thorns are those who receive the word, but the cares of
the world, wealth, and material things are more important to them. They
are unfruitful. d. The seed
on good ground are those who receive the word and seek further understanding,
which leads to growth and spiritual maturity, and steadfastness in God’s
will.
- Mark and Luke (8:16-18)
record this parable after the Parable of the Sower. Matthew (5:13-16) has
it after the Beatitudes. It has the same meaning in all three gospels. We
are not to hide or ignore the word of God we hear. We are to apply the
word to our life for our growth and benefit and to be an influence in the
world around us.
- The word of God is not
hidden to anyone. It will be revealed to those who want it. If you have
the truth of God you shall be a light to the world and not hide it.
- a. By the effort we seek to
understand God's word and apply it to our lives, we will receive
accordingly. b. Those who do not seek understanding will lose what he
knows about God because of lack of maturity.
- God’s word is planted in us
at different times and places and through diligent study of the Bible. We
will grow in knowledge and spiritual maturity in stages. With the same
measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more
will be given.
- God’s kingdom has a small
beginning but will rise above all kingdoms.
- Like a nest in the tree
that provides for the necessities of a bird we will find comfort, peace,
and rest in the kingdom now and in the time to come.
CHAPTER 5
- a. The name of the demon
was Legion. b. He wanted Jesus to send him and the others into the swine
that were there. c. There were about 2000 swine that went into the sea and
drowned.
- She had a flow of blood for
twelve years.
- a. Jesus healed the
daughter of Jarius, the ruler of the synagogue. b. Jesus wanted the people
to come to Him for the word of God rather for the miracles He could do.
CHAPTER 6
- Jesus had brothers James,
Joses, Judas, and Simon and some sisters not named.
- The hometown people did not
believe in Him as the Messiah and did not bring many people to Him.
- The daughter of Herodias
(Herod’s wife) prompted by her mother asked for the head of John the Baptist.
- Jesus fed 5,000 men with
only five loaves of bread and two fish.
- This was a lesson for the disciples’
faith. The disciples learned to seek Jesus for help instead of being
troubled and scared, and fearing they were seeing a ghost. We must call
out to the one who has all power and authority to help us.
- The disciples were not
against Jesus but were forgetting how He calmed the storm before (Mark
4:41) and the miracle of feeding the five thousand He had just done. They
were slow to realize the power and authority God had given Jesus on earth.
(Mar 8:18 NKJV "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you
not hear? And do you not remember?)
CHAPTER 7
- Before we give our money as
a gift we must provide for our mother and father. This honors the
commandment of God.
- The body eliminates food,
even unconsecrated food. It does not go into the heart.
- The things in our heart can
make us unclean. Evil inside produces evil outside.
- The purging of food is a
physical cleansing. The cleansing of the heart is a spiritual cleansing.
- The Phoenician woman was a
Gentile who worshiped idols. She did not worship God.
CHAPTER 8
- a. Jesus fed about four
thousand with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. b. Seven large baskets
of fragments were left over.
- The disciples were to
beware of the worldliness and hypocrisy of the political and spiritual
leaders, Pharisees and Herod. These would be opposed to Jesus.
- A sinner is considered
‘blind’ before being converted. Before being converted one does not see or
understand the way to life. After conversion, he will be filled with light
and see clearly.
- Jesus was appointed to die.
Many people knowing He was the Messiah would not kill Him but make Him
their king (John 6:15) instead of their Lamb.
- Satan was speaking through
Peter trying to tempt Jesus into not going through His death, which would
abort the plan of salvation for man.
- We deny ourselves by dying
to self-will, unholy pride, and the lust of the eye for the will and
principles of God and the gospel of Christ. We live for God, uphold the
gospel, and by obedience to His commandments we put to death the desires
of the flesh.
- You can't exchange the
world for your life. The world and everything in it belongs to God. You
have nothing to give to God except your heart.
- We are ashamed of Christ if
we are ashamed or fear what people think or say when we uphold truth and
righteousness and the doctrines of Christ. The Lord also will be ashamed
of us.
CHAPTER 9
- When we see God's truth and
receive it, we lose our life to live for the gospel. Some of the disciples
would not die to self and live for the gospel until after the death and
resurrection of Jesus.
- a. Peter, James, and John
were with Jesus at the transfiguration. b. God spoke to the disciples. c.
Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets and the old covenant
in unity with Jesus and the new covenant.
- a. John the Baptist symbolized
the spirit of Elijah (Lk. 1:17). b. John taught the people repentance from
their heart and to turn to God. He restored their worship to God.
- The faith of the disciples
was weak. They doubted because of the severity of the boy's problem. They
needed to pray first. This would involve God and show that the healing
power comes from Him.
- Putting yourself first is to
exalt yourself and seek your own gain and will instead of the kingdom of God.
- We become first to God by
denying self and being a servant to Him and putting His kingdom first.
- It is better to be handicapped
against sin, than to continue in it and lose your soul.
- a. God seasons us through the
fires of trials and tests to purify, preserve, and perfect us. b. When we
are negligent and unfruitful for the kingdom we cannot influence a
positive change in the world. (There is not enough salt in pot to purify
the world or there is too much world in the pot for the salt to have an
effect on the world.)
CHAPTER 10
- If any spouse divorces for
any reason (other than marital unfaithfulness) the commandment to not
commit adultery occurs when either re-marries.
- As children are submissive,
dependent, and trusting in the guidance and teaching of their parents we
too should be submissive, dependent, and trusting of our Father in heaven.
- The rich young ruler’s
security and happiness came from his wealth instead of God. He did not
want to give up his wealth.
- a. We will receive more than
we give up when we follow Jesus. b. When we follow Jesus we will receive eternal
life.
- Those who have worldly
priorities will be last. Those who have the kingdom of God as priority
will be first.
- The disciples too would be
persecuted and scorned by the people as Jesus would.
- Jesus healed blind
Bartimaeus at Jericho.
CHAPTER 11
- Jesus rode on a colt the
foal of a donkey coming into Jerusalem. (Matt. 21:5; Mark 11:2; Luke
19:30; John 12:14,15)
- The people spread their
clothes and leafy branches from trees for Jesus.
- They were buying and selling
and instead of praying and worshiping God. The temple was to be a house of
prayer and worship, not a place to do business.
- a. The fig tree cursed by Jesus
was withered. b. God expects us to produce fruit - not just profess our
faith. God doesn’t want a people who are all leaves and no fruit.
- God wants us to forgive
others then He will forgive us.
CHAPTER 12
- a. The vinedressers were the
rulers (the priests and political leadership) in charge of leading the
people in God’s statues and principles. b. The servants were the prophets of
God but were persecuted and killed (by the priests and leaders) while
trying to turn the people to God. c. Jesus is the son who would be killed
by the priests. d. The Gentiles would advance the Kingdom
of God.
- A cornerstone was the principle
stone used to build a building. The rest of the building was built from
this cornerstone. In the same way Jesus is the foundation of the church.
Without Him there would be no blessed life here or in the world to come
eternal life. Jesus is also the judge or smiting stone of the unbeliever.
We can be broken
in humble surrender before God or be completely broken in judgment.
- We are to pay what is due to
the government and to God what is God’s.
- The Sadducees did not
understand the law of Moses concerning a brother’s wife. The brother was provide
an offspring for his dead brother to carry on his name. The widow is still
bound by name to her late husband. (Deuteronomy 25:5 NKJV - "If
brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of
the dead man shall not be [married] to a stranger outside [the family];
her husband's brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and
perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. )
- God remembers those who upheld
Him and who followed his commandments. They are still alive to Him and
will be raised at the resurrection.
- The scribe’s understanding
of God's law was fitting to the message of Jesus. He knew God wanted
internal worship from the heart rather than insincere external worship
through outward appearances and rituals of the law. However, his
intellectual convictions needed to have an actual influence on his heart
and life.
- Jesus was of the lineage of
David (but He also existed at the time of David in heaven) and the Son of
God making Him both divine and human. The scribes had only partial
understanding of the Messiah.
CHAPTER 13
- The temple would be
desecrated and destroyed.
- He who loves, advocates, and
offers Jesus will be hated and persecuted by those who don’t.
- a. Those who become
believers must bear the persecutions, hatred, resistance, and even the
threat of death from non-believers and even family members. b. If one
shrinks from their loyalty to Jesus for fear of what others will say or do
they will forfeit their soul and salvation.
- The abomination is the future
destruction and defilement again of the temple at the time of the Anti-Christ
(See Dan.9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Luke 21:20-24).
- The Jews were to quickly flee the city to safety,
not stopping to take anything with them.
- To save a remnant of Israel
God will shorten this tribulation period. Those
who heed the warning will survive.
- Jesus will gather His elect from the four winds of
the earth immediately after the Great Tribulation (Rev. 6:12-17)
- God is the only one who
knows the time of the end. (We will know the signs when it gets close.)
- We must continue to serve
God and live righteously while watching for His return.
CHAPTER 14
- Mary anointed Jesus with an
expensive perfume, the sister of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the
dead (John 11:2; 12:3). She seems to be the same woman in Luke 7:37-38,
Matthew 26:6, and John 11:2. Luke records this happening in the city of Nain
while Matthew, Mark, and John in Bethany.
Matthew and Mark record this as anointing of Jesus’ head. Luke and John as
anointing His feet.
- Judas Iscariot would betray
Jesus.
- The bread and wine
represented Jesus' body and blood given for forgiveness of sins and to
defeat death.
- Peter would deny knowing Jesus
three times.
- If we are not watching for spiritual
attacks and praying regularly and if we are fatigued and stressed we can
become weak and fall to temptation.
CHAPTER 15
- Barabbas who had made
insurrection and had committed murder was released instead of Jesus.
- The people abused Jesus by
hitting Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him. They mocked Him
by dressing Him in purple, putting a crown made of thorns on His head, and
bowing down to Him.
- The sour wine was used to
diminish the senses of the crucified. This would ease their suffering but
could also speed up their death as they would no longer lift themselves up
to breath while on the cross.
- a. The veil of the temple
tore when Jesus died. b. There is now no separation between the people and
God. We can come directly to Him with our prayers through our High Priest,
Jesus.
- The centurion was standing
by Jesus and heard His prayer to God and saw that it was soon answered.
Normally it takes longer for someone to die by crucifixion (see vs. 44).
- Jesus died on Preparation Day,
which is the day before the Sabbath (Friday).
CHAPTER 16
- The women found the tomb
empty on the day after the Sabbath, which was the first day of the week
(this would be our Sunday).
- Jesus suffered three days
and three nights just as He said would be His sign (as Jonah in the
whale). (The night before Preparation Day, the night of Preparation Day
and the night of the Sabbath. The day of Preparation Day, the day of the
Sabbath, and the morning on the day after the Sabbath.)
- The women saw an angel in
the tomb where Jesus was buried (who verified Jesus was risen).