Friday, June 09, 2006
KING MESSIAH?
Matt. 12:22-24. Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
23. And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
Under close scrutiny of the Jerusalem scribes, a man with three afflictions is brought to Jesus. The reason for those bringing him was so that Jesus would cure the man’s eyes and speech, and rid him of demon possession. This is a simple enough task for our Lord in His ability, so He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. This may have been symptoms of demon possession but we are not definitively told in scripture. It is obvious that the demon was removed because of the reaction of the scribes that we will later see. The fact remains that the thrice inflicted man was healed.
The observation of the investigators is shifted to the perspective of the multitudes. The religious leadership could not bear to hear the words of the inquisitive crowd from their amazed reaction to Jesus healing of this man. This congregation, expecting the negative answer, began to say amongst themselves, “This cannot be the Son of David, can he?” The word, amazed – existemi – could be rendered in today’s vernacular as: “They were blown out of their minds.”
The very core of Judaism is the promise of Messiah, the anointed one (Greek equivalent = Christos) who will come and reign over the land promised to Abraham as the mighty Jewish king. This theme runs throughout the Old Testament but can readily be seen it the following passages: Dan. 9:25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. We see Messiah is a royal prince and is further defined as the Son of David in Is. 11:1 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse [King David’s father], And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. As a final example we look to Jer. 23:5-6 "Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "When I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. 6. "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, `The Lord our righteousness.' No one ever questioned that Jesus was from David’s lineage and when compare the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 we find that both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David. The concept envisioned from the religious perspective was that Messiah would have these supernatural abilities but their idea of kingly authority was a concept far from Jesus’ humble approach to His throne.
That the Jewish multitudes would even consider the chance that Jesus could be the Son of David was enough to fuel the wrath of the religious toward Him. We see that when the Pharisees heard it, (the crowd refer to Jesus as the Son of David) they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
23. And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
Under close scrutiny of the Jerusalem scribes, a man with three afflictions is brought to Jesus. The reason for those bringing him was so that Jesus would cure the man’s eyes and speech, and rid him of demon possession. This is a simple enough task for our Lord in His ability, so He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. This may have been symptoms of demon possession but we are not definitively told in scripture. It is obvious that the demon was removed because of the reaction of the scribes that we will later see. The fact remains that the thrice inflicted man was healed.
The observation of the investigators is shifted to the perspective of the multitudes. The religious leadership could not bear to hear the words of the inquisitive crowd from their amazed reaction to Jesus healing of this man. This congregation, expecting the negative answer, began to say amongst themselves, “This cannot be the Son of David, can he?” The word, amazed – existemi – could be rendered in today’s vernacular as: “They were blown out of their minds.”
The very core of Judaism is the promise of Messiah, the anointed one (Greek equivalent = Christos) who will come and reign over the land promised to Abraham as the mighty Jewish king. This theme runs throughout the Old Testament but can readily be seen it the following passages: Dan. 9:25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. We see Messiah is a royal prince and is further defined as the Son of David in Is. 11:1 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse [King David’s father], And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. As a final example we look to Jer. 23:5-6 "Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "When I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. 6. "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, `The Lord our righteousness.' No one ever questioned that Jesus was from David’s lineage and when compare the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 we find that both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David. The concept envisioned from the religious perspective was that Messiah would have these supernatural abilities but their idea of kingly authority was a concept far from Jesus’ humble approach to His throne.
That the Jewish multitudes would even consider the chance that Jesus could be the Son of David was enough to fuel the wrath of the religious toward Him. We see that when the Pharisees heard it, (the crowd refer to Jesus as the Son of David) they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
JEWISH INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Mark 3:22a. And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul,"
This is no small confrontation because there were the scribes who came down from the capital of Judaism, Jerusalem (+2500 ft. msl); the higher elevation to Galilee (-600 ft. msl) with Jesus focused in their sights. It is important to know that the scribes were the intelligencia who had studied the oral law as lifelong students. These were those who had generated rules and regulation for their day, culture, and tradition. They had mastered and wrote the law and were called “rabbi” by their students; the Pharisees.
Mark has now set the stage for Matthew to play the scene within the multitude that would have been dispersed by the cold water applied by Jesus’ own people.
Matt. 12:22-24. Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
23. And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
This is no small confrontation because there were the scribes who came down from the capital of Judaism, Jerusalem (+2500 ft. msl); the higher elevation to Galilee (-600 ft. msl) with Jesus focused in their sights. It is important to know that the scribes were the intelligencia who had studied the oral law as lifelong students. These were those who had generated rules and regulation for their day, culture, and tradition. They had mastered and wrote the law and were called “rabbi” by their students; the Pharisees.
Mark has now set the stage for Matthew to play the scene within the multitude that would have been dispersed by the cold water applied by Jesus’ own people.
Matt. 12:22-24. Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
23. And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
HIS OWN PEOPLE
Mark 3:21. And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses."
This verse identifies the reactions of His own people; quite possibly His brothers and Mary could be included in these as we see them personally identified in verses 31-32 And His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him, and called Him. 32. And a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You." Whether on not they are included in this instance we cannot be certain but we can be sure that His own people were concerned to the point that when they heard of this encounter they wanted to remove Him from it. His own people were interested in protecting Him from Himself and the demanding crowd that He poured all His compassion into.
The way they had intended to rescue Him was to take custody of Him. The expressed idea is to seize Him into their own protection so that refreshment would ensue without the requests of the demanding crowd. His own people had good intentions but their motives were reflective of the faithlessness that caused Jesus to lament the words of Matt. 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”
His own people publicly stated; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
This is tragic to think that Jesus has shown His own people great supernatural power and ability and yet associates with the “less-than-admirable” lending to their ideas that the Pharisees and religious may be correct in their confrontation.
This verse identifies the reactions of His own people; quite possibly His brothers and Mary could be included in these as we see them personally identified in verses 31-32 And His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him, and called Him. 32. And a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You." Whether on not they are included in this instance we cannot be certain but we can be sure that His own people were concerned to the point that when they heard of this encounter they wanted to remove Him from it. His own people were interested in protecting Him from Himself and the demanding crowd that He poured all His compassion into.
The way they had intended to rescue Him was to take custody of Him. The expressed idea is to seize Him into their own protection so that refreshment would ensue without the requests of the demanding crowd. His own people had good intentions but their motives were reflective of the faithlessness that caused Jesus to lament the words of Matt. 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”
His own people publicly stated; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
This is tragic to think that Jesus has shown His own people great supernatural power and ability and yet associates with the “less-than-admirable” lending to their ideas that the Pharisees and religious may be correct in their confrontation.
Monday, June 05, 2006
DEMANDS OF MINISTRY
In the following verses/this section we will note the reactions provoked on account of Jesus’ ministry by His own family, the multitudes that would readily assemble around Him, and the religious leadership.
Mark begins the chronology in a fast paced narrative that initiates right after His conflict with the Pharisees over the healing in the synagogue and the choosing of the twelve disciples.
Mark 3:20. And He came home, and the multitude gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.
We are given the facts that Jesus’ ministry was difficult do to the multitude that gathered again. The gathering of this crowd took place when He was returning home. However, the “and” that begins this verse really serves no assistance in a time location but only that of additional information. This information reveals the difficulty that Jesus had in His ministry with this reassembling of people wherever He would go. This particular time Mark tells us that the difficulty was to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. This crowd was so demanding of Jesus, and there is no doubt that His compassion drove Him to the point of neglecting His own comfort to satisfy the legitimate need of the multitude.
Mark begins the chronology in a fast paced narrative that initiates right after His conflict with the Pharisees over the healing in the synagogue and the choosing of the twelve disciples.
Mark 3:20. And He came home, and the multitude gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.
We are given the facts that Jesus’ ministry was difficult do to the multitude that gathered again. The gathering of this crowd took place when He was returning home. However, the “and” that begins this verse really serves no assistance in a time location but only that of additional information. This information reveals the difficulty that Jesus had in His ministry with this reassembling of people wherever He would go. This particular time Mark tells us that the difficulty was to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. This crowd was so demanding of Jesus, and there is no doubt that His compassion drove Him to the point of neglecting His own comfort to satisfy the legitimate need of the multitude.
RETURNING TO THE HARMONY
79. Blasphemous accusation by the scribes and Pharisees
Matt. 12:22-37 Mark 3:20-30
Matt. 12:22-37
22. Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
23. And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
25. And knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
26. "And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
27. "And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges.
28. "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29. "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30. "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31. "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32. "And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.
33. "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34. "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35. "The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.
36. "And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.
37. "For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."
Mark 3:20-30
20. And He came home, and the multitude gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.
21. And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses."
22. And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons."
23. And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?
24. "And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25. "And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26. "And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!
27. "But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
28. "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
29. but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"
30. because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
Matt. 12:22-37 Mark 3:20-30
Matt. 12:22-37
22. Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
23. And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"
24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."
25. And knowing their thoughts He said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
26. "And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
27. "And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges.
28. "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29. "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30. "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31. "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32. "And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.
33. "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34. "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35. "The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.
36. "And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.
37. "For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."
Mark 3:20-30
20. And He came home, and the multitude gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.
21. And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses."
22. And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons."
23. And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?
24. "And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25. "And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26. "And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!
27. "But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
28. "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
29. but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"
30. because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
