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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 2
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five modern translations. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one main subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
A. Mar_2:1 to Mar_3:6 relates four incidents during the preaching tour spoken of in Mar_1:38-39.
1. a healing (Mar_2:1-12)
2. a reaching out to an ostracized group (Mar_2:13-17)
3. a question about fasting (Mar_2:18-20)
4. a controversy over the oral tradition (Mar_2:23-28)
B. Mar_2:1 to Mar_3:6 is a literary unit that shows the expanding opposition to Jesus from the religious status quo. Jesus Himself acted in opposition to the Oral Tradition (i.e., Talmud) in order to initiate a theological dialog with the religious leaders. Notice the repetition of "why" (Mar_2:7; Mar_2:16; Mar_2:18; Mar_2:24).
C. Parallels
1. Mar_2:1-12 — Mat_9:1-8; Luk_5:12-26
2. Mar_2:13-17 — Mat_9:9-13; Luk_5:27-32
3. Mar_2:18-22 — Mat_9:14-17; Luk_5:33-39
4. Mar_2:23-25 — Mat_12:1-8; Luk_6:1-5
D. Jesus came to reveal the Father. Judaism had veiled Him in rituals and rules. Jesus exposes the religious leaders' bias and agenda in His conflicts with them recorded in Mark. These issues define the differences between rabbinical Judaism and Jesus' new covenant freedom and true religion.
1. Jesus' authority to forgive sin (Mar_2:1-12)
2. the necessity of fasting (Mar_2:18-22)
3. the necessity of keeping the Sabbath rules (Mar_2:23-28)
4. the necessity of the ceremonial laws (Mar_7:1-8)
5. the issue of divorce (Mar_10:2-9)
6. paying taxes to Rome (Mar_12:13-17)
7. the nature of the resurrection (Mar_12:18-27)
8. the chief commandment (Mar_12:28-34)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. List the metaphors Jesus used to describe Himself in 17, 19, 21-22, 28.
2. Why were the religious leaders so hostile to Jesus' teaching?
3. Why did Jesus call someone who was so hated and alienated as Levi to be His disciple?
4. How are Jesus' teachings related to the oral tradition of the Jews?
5. Why isn't fasting a regular part of our worship of God?
6. What is the central truth of Jesus' parable in Mar_2:19-22?
7. Was Jesus unconcerned with ceremonial Law or is there another possibility to His actions in Mar_2:23-28?
8. What do you think about the historical error in Mar_2:26?
9. How does Mar_2:27 relate to today?