Swat Bible Study

This week, we continue to look at Jesus’ warning to the crowd and His disciples about the religious “Posers.” Jesus warns us against them, their pride, their pretense, and their perversion of the faith. He points out a lonely widow who had been abused by the system as an example of how bad things had become. She gave her last little bit of money to secure her blessings and salvation from God. Sounds a lot like the religious hucksters of today!

This week, Jesus gave the crowd and His disciples a final warning about the religious “Posers.” He has already exposed their character and faulty theology. Now, he condemns them and their hypocrisy and states that their judgment is coming. These posers pretended to represent Yahweh, but actually represent Satan. Satan is a liar, father of lies, and can appear as an angel of light. The Jewish people saw the Sanhedrin, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Levites, and the scribes as God’s representatives, when in reality, they represented the evil one. You can’t represent Yahweh and teach lies, take advantage of widows, and disregard Yahweh’s commands, and His Messiah. They presented themselves as “holy men” who served as Yahweh’s shepherds, but in reality, they served themselves for the sake of power, money, and their own glory. They were supposed to feed and care for Yahweh’s sheep. They were supposed to be gatekeepers of the Scriptures and guard Yahweh’s people. Instead, they led them to murder Yahweh’s Mes

This week, it was Jesus’ turn to ask the questions, and he poses a question to the religious leaders (with the crowd listening) and then exposits an Old Testament passage that Jewish teaching had always affirmed was about the Messiah. Every Jew knew that Messiah was David’s son, but they did not see or comprehend that He was David’s God!! They believed that Messiah would be a human ruler with great power from Yahweh. He would have a great impact on the world by leading Israel to conquer all their enemies and fulfill Yahweh’s promises to Abraham and David. They saw Messiah as a savior of Israel as a nation, not for individuals.

This week, we come to a text that is simple and straightforward. There is not a lot of interpretation with this passage, but a lot of application and accountability with it. This will probably cause many of us to be uncomfortable or uneasy and what we should do is reflect on the heart of God and how we all miss the mark and really need Jesus! The Sanhedrin debriefed (see Acts 4:23, Psalm 2:2 – fulfilled prophecy) after the first two attempts and come up with a question that they all agree on and hopefully will move this rogue Rabbi (Jesus) to respond with a statement that puts himself above Moses and The Law. They wanted to turn the people against Him before they arrested Him. There were 613 laws (613 letters in the Ten Commandments) in the Torah and they wanted Him to answer which one is the most important in hopes he would slip up.

This week, we see the wave of attacks continue. All these groups, Chief Priests, Pharisees, Herodians, Scribes try to trap Jesus with questions that reveal how they have departed from God’s Word in some way. The Sadducees, a group in charge of the Temple and supposedly the spiritual leaders of Israel now try to trap Jesus with the second question. They try to discredit Him with a question about the resurrection. His response gives us some insights into the Sadducees’ faulty view of Heaven, Scripture, and even Yahweh and His power. Also, His answers give us insight on applying God’s Word to our lives and the way we live as His Kingdom priests.

This week, the religious leaders desperately want to get rid of Jesus. So, they come up with a plan that has a series of traps with questions about 1) how much do they defer to Roman authorities, 2)the resurrection, and 3)which commandment is the greatest? They hated and feared Jesus and after the last two interactions, they wanted Him off the scene. They were looking for a way to turn the people against Him or have Rome arrest Him and kill Him. Remember, it was Passover week, and this was the time for messiahs to rise up. The questions were meant to trap Jesus, but He gives us insight into how we are to live out what we believe practically relating to the government, our view of Heaven, and living out the greatest commandment. In Israel, the priests (Levi) represented God’s rule/law and the Kings (Judah) represented government rule/law. King Uzziah tried to cross the line and was struck with leprosy. There is only one priest/king – Jesus! Politicians/gov’ts don’t define or dictate God’s law.God’s Law re

This week, Jesus goes further into exposing the unbelief of the religious posers and their coming judgment with a parable about a landowner who leases out a vineyard to tenants who were greedy and violent. It is another revelation from Jesus about the coming judgment on Israel’s religious leaders, religious system, their temple, and their nation. You can harden your heart for so long that you go past the point of God’s patience and mercy…it’s TOO LATE! When Jesus came on the scene, He came to a spiritually dead nation. God’s Spirit had left the temple and their temple was dead…their leaders were dead…their nation was dead. So much so, that when Jesus appeared, they questioned His authority. Don't wait to trust Him. Trust Him NOW!

This week, the religious leaders question Jesus as to whose authority He was operating under as He cleared out the temple and taught the things that He taught. Jesus responded to their questions with a question of His own and His question to them exposed their lack of faith in Him as Messiah, and their lack of belief in the One True Living God, Yahweh. They were paralyzed by his questions because it forced them to reveal their true unbelief in God’s Word.

This week, Jesus uses a Fig tree to symbolize the departure of Israel from True Faith in God. He cursed the Fig tree and within 24 hours it was dead. He also took the disciples into the temple, where He overturned tables and chairs, shut down the marketplace of Annas, and took the leaders back to a couple of Old Testament passages that had an ominous warning about what was about to happen to them and their religious system. He also instructed the disciples about their source of power going forward and the secret to effective prayer.

This week, Jesus fulfills Scripture prophecy by riding a donkey down from the Mount of Olives to the Temple. He is heading into passion week and the last week of His life. The reaction of the crowd was celebratory and exalting, but not for the right reasons. Instead of recognizing Jesus as God’s Messiah and sacrificial lamb, they were trying to claim Him as their National Messiah and deliverer from Rome. Matthew and Mark dedicate 40 percent of their Gospel to the passion week. Luke devotes 25 percent and John over 50 percent to the week where Jesus is rejected, betrayed, scourged, crucified, buried, and resurrected. This is the main point of Jesus’ ministry. It is the week of Passover- the celebration of Israel being delivered from Egyptian bondage. It is during this week, that would-be messiahs would often appear in Jerusalem sparking riots and unrest. Rome would often beef up security. The Old Testament sacrificial system was a foreshadowing of Jesus coming to this moment. Jesus dies at Passover.

This week, Jesus continues his instruction by leading them into a situation that illustrates exactly what He was trying to teach them. They came to serve, not to be served. As they are traveling, they encounter a couple of blind beggars, providentially sitting by the exact road where they were walking. Jesus not only heals their blindness, He heals their hearts and they follow Him and the disciples on “the way.”

This week, Jesus instructs His disciples for the third time about his suffering and crucifixion…and, for the third time, they don’t understand or they simply don’t want to believe what He is telling them. Luke says, they “didn’t understand or grasp what He was saying.” Why? Their minds were not on the CROSS, but on a CROWN!! Matthew and Mark records that their response revealed some deep-seated pride issues that still needed to be rooted out.

This week, we are looking at a passage that deals with two types of people that approach Jesus- young children (people with no visible value) and a wealthy, influential, up and coming ruler. In all 3 Gospels, the story of the rich young ruler is preceded by Mothers bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus. What a contrast…young children (infants) who are totally dependent and have nothing to offer God versus a wealthy, influential, and religious man who thinks he can DO something to earn God’s blessing. Jesus uses these interactions as a teaching time for his disciples on the heart condition required to receive the Kingdom of God!

This week, we are looking at a passage that deals with a painful and unpleasant subject-DIVORCE. Most of us grew up during a time when people aspired to be married, be a good husband or a good wife, raise good children of faith and continue to obey God’s command to be fruitful and multiply. Now, God’s standard is ridiculed and hardly anybody expects to be married forever. Now, even children are divorcing parents! God intended for marriage to be a lifelong monogamous relationship, but many today (even in the church) feel that is unrealistic! If we get a divorce unbiblically, there’ll be no significant consequences, we’ll just remarry and do it all again! “I have to do what’s best for me”…God doesn’t want me to be unhappy the rest of my life”…We create our own reality and version of His truth…We try to be God! What does God think about divorce? He hates it! Malachi 2:16. God intended marriage for one man and one woman for life. Satan always goes for family and attacks the family by destroying marriages.

This week, Jesus again instructs the disciples on His death and resurrection, but again, they just don’t get it…they don’t understand. He is has to deal with their worldly ambition, self-exalting exclusivity, and some worldly influences that threaten to destroy His new leadership. He reminds them with a strong graphic message that they are to be humble servants, a “salting” influence for good in the world, and even when they stumble, God will use suffering and discipline to purify them. Is there really a difference between them and the disciples of the Pharisees? Is there a difference between us and the world around us? God’s people are to be known as humble servants of the Most High! John 13:12-17 The night before he was crucified, the one picture He wanted to leave with His disciples is one of service and humility. If we really want to be His Kingdom disciples, we WILL serve others with a humble heart.

This week, Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down off the mountain into chaos. The scribes are mocking the disciples who stayed behind because they could not cast out a demon in a demon possessed young man. The young man’s father brought his son to Jesus to be healed and the disciples could not cast out the demon. You can imagine the frustration, fear, and confusion taking places….especially with the scribes looking for a reason to discredit Jesus and His disciples. However, God was not surprised by any of it! His plan was unfolding and Jesus was about to educate the disciples that 1) you cannot live on your past accomplishments and 2) you must ALWAYS depend on Yahweh to fight your battles!!!

This week, Jesus fulfilled that Word and was transfigured before the three leaders, Peter, James, and John. He gave them a preview of His Glory that they would never forget! It was a gift to them to bolster them and anchor them through the storms they would encounter as the leaders Jesus that Jesus would entrust with His Euangellion!! He allowed them to see Him, Moses, and Elijah in their glorified state to get them through what was about to come. Every time God appears, it is to strengthen the faith of His servants.

This week, David Gray fills in for Doug and looks at Jesus' contrast of the great exchange of our kingdom for His Kingdom! He goes deeper with the disciples as he invites them to “Follow Me!” He also explains the TRUTH about the TRUE Messiah and shares with them the devastating consequences for those who choose “the world” or themselves over HIM!

This week, Jesus goes deeper with the disciples as he invites them to “Follow Me” and explains the TRUTH about Messiah and what it means to follow Him! Throughout my lifetime, I have heard many invitations given at churches and evangelistic events that fail to meet Jesus’ standard of an invitation to follow Him! Many people relate this invitation to a deeper level discipleship, but make no mistake, to trust in Jesus and His Euangellion means a life that is surrendered to His Lordship, that is ultimately loyal to HIM (daily, even to death), and follows Him wherever he goes!!! It is a high calling, a blessed calling, and a costly calling!!

This week, we see Jesus take His disciples to Caeserea Philippi where Peter makes his declaration that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah)! This is the first time in our journey through Mark, that his disciples referred to Him as the Messiah and from this point on, Jesus instructs them on his suffering, death, and resurrection. This passage really deals with the most important question any of us can answer, Who do we say Jesus is? Also, this is the first time we see the word church (ekklesia). The door is shut on Israel as the messengers of the Euangellion. This is a pivotal point in Jesus ministry.