Category Archives: Pastor Rick’s Study Notes

Commentary, translations, preparation for teaching from Pastor Rick.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 12:28-34

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Mark 12:28-34

(PRT) v. 28 Then, one of the religious teachers, after listening in on the discussion and discerning Jesus answered them well, approached him and asked: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” v. 29 Jesus answered: “The most important of all is this – “Here this, Israel; our Lord God is One Lord. v. 30 “And you will love your Lord God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. v. 31 “The second is this – You will love your neighbor like you love yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.” v. 32 Then, the religious teacher said to him: “Excellent, teacher – What you have said, that He is one and there is no one beside Him; this lines up with the truth. v. 33 And to love him fully with the heart, understanding, and strength and to love our neighbor like we love ourselves is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” v. 34 And Jesus, seeing that he answered wisely, told him: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Then, no one dared to ask him another question.

Study Notes:

v. 28 Then, one of the religious teachers, after listening in on the discussion and discerning Jesus answered them well, approached him and asked: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Matthew indicates that this priest “tested” Jesus, as if he was put up to it. But the curiosity seems to lead in this account. Could it be he was almost convinced to exchange allegiances?

Jesus is in the Outer Court where the Gentile God-fearers and the nations came to worship. He has a clear picture here of what love means.

This question was commonly debated among religious teachers. It relied on the level of piety to achieve or accomplish that law. But Jesus says in answer – the priority is immeasurable, unreachable, always the goal but never the attainment. That’s why grace is required.

If you were asked this question, what would you answer? Jesus accepts the question as valid and it has a valid response.

These religious leaders were the ones who interpreted the law. They saw life through the lens of the school of interpretation of either the Sadducees or the Pharisees (the full OT revelation or the Pentateuch.) Jesus is calling on him to see life through the lens of the Kingdom and he as King.

v. 29 Jesus answered: “The most important of all is this – “Here this, Israel; our Lord God is One Lord.

This is the Shema, the “Hear” or “listen up.” It’s the central passage in Jewish theology from Leviticus 6. Interesting that the word for “one” is the word for a compound unity that is a unity of elements into one. Father/Son/Holy Spirit.

To hear this is to seek to know the one true God.

Don’t miss the possessive – Our God is One, Our God is Lord, and Our God is relational. He has established a relationship with us.

v. 30 “And you will love your Lord God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And to hear this is to love the one true God.

To love God is thorough in all ways for the individual. It is a response to love first demonstrated.

All is completeness. God has redeemed and restored us fully; we love him back fully.

Our love is not philosophical or academic; it is active, real-time expression of our choice to follow Him and love the unlovely.

Back to the Garden – there was no separation. All that Adam did was out of love for the Father.

v. 31 “The second is this – You will love your neighbor like you love yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

And this second commandment goes with the first. We can’t love God without love toward others; we can love other without the love of God in our hearts. Our self-centeredness gets in the way. And we might try to fix the relationships on the horizontal level; but without the vertical in place, the horizontal gets in the way.

Illustration: With God at the center, like a spinning top, the rest of our relationships are balanced and moving at the right pace; but without God as the point, the center, the first place in our lives as our confession, the rest of our relationships wobble or lose control

To love others = to give life as ransom, to serve and not be served.

Jesus connects love on the horizontal with love on the vertical. We love others because we had found God’s love to matter.

Unlike the first, this love is in response to love poured in through the Father’s love, but not in response to a horizontal love first given.

Our love for God is toward one who is perfect and complete and utterly deserving; our love for others is toward one who is often hateful, deceptive, unconcerned, greedy, etc., imperfect, broken, and undeserving of our love – apart from the father’s love poured into us.

Luke 10:25-37 A neighbor is more than “my people.” A neighbor is everyone.

v. 32 Then, the religious teacher said to him: “Excellent, teacher – What you have said, that He is one and there is no one beside Him; this lines up with the truth.

This religious leader gets it, hears it as truth, and steps toward the Kingdom.

v. 33 And to love him fully with the heart, understanding, and strength and to love our neighbor like we love ourselves is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Hosea 6:6 Mercy above burnt offerings.

v. 34 And Jesus, seeing that he answered wisely, told him: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Then, no one dared to ask him another question.

The teacher of the law moved from antagonistic to accepting. Jesus’ teaching smacks of Kingdom truth. He is almost there to connect the person of Jesus with the presence of the Kingdom.

It could be that, after hearing this scribe equate love of God and love of man as superior to the sacrificial system that was so precious and guarded, no one wanted to step into another possible non-PC conversation.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 11:15-18

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Pastor Rick’s Translation: Mark 11:15-18 (PRT)

v. 15 When they arrived in Jerusalem  and was going through the Temple, Jesus began to drive out those busy peddling their wares and doing business buying and selling in this sacred place. And he flipped over the tables of the currency exchange rate dealers and benches of the sacrificial dove hucksters.

v. 16 And he would not give space for anyone to carry their goods through the Temple.

v. 17 Then, he taught them and said: “Has it not been written, ‘My house will bear the name House of Prayer for all tribes and nations; but you have turned it into a safe house for robbers and gangsters.”

v. 18 And the chief priests and religious legal experts heard this and they plotted how they might kill him; for they all feared him because they saw the crowd was amazed at Jesus’ teaching.

Study Notes:

v. 15 When they arrived in Jerusalem  and was going through the Temple, Jesus began to drive out those busy peddling their wares and doing business buying and selling in this sacred place. And he flipped over the tables of the currency exchange rate dealers and benches of the sacrificial dove hucksters.

The passage prior is the physical “parable” Jesus presented with the fig tree with plenty of show, but no fruit, and its subsequent removal from the fruit-bearing stage. This fig tree near Bethphage (“the place of the winter fig” is what its name means) showed all potential through its “profession” to have fruit, but with no performance. Jesus proclaims through his actions what the national order of Israel had adopted: many words, but no fruit.

Jesus then faces the display of this very loud and physical activity of “profession” without producing fruit in the Temple. As Jesus walked through the courtyard known as the “outer court” or the “Court of the Nations,” he saw a return to the cacophony of a marketplace that had supplanted the purpose of the court – a place of prayer for all nations.

And in the progression of walking through, he became zealous once more for the place which His Father designated for His purpose usurped by greed and evil. There were people peddling their wares at tables and booths where the holy act of seeking the Father’s will and presence should hold sway.

The money changers were there first to give a way for pilgrims to pay their share, but it  had to be in temple tender. The dove and animal traders maintained a spot where they would sit on a bench with animals and cages awaiting purchasers. Fraud and price gauging were common. Still, this is neither a condemnation of capitalism as some might hold, nor a judgment of churches who ask for a donated price for a coffee mug or t-shirt; it is a condemnation of a religious culture that has supplanted the purpose of God’s people and their worship and prayer with schemes that push God’s purposes to the margin.

On top of all this, the Court of the Nations had become a market short-cut for loads of supplies, goods, and animals. You can see and hear (and smell) the scene! The press, the noise, the odor of animals and the travelers replaced the scent of worship, the sweet sound of prayer, and the weighty presence of God’s glory.


Jesus had enough.

v. 16 And he would not give space for anyone to carry their goods through the Temple.

And he shut down the corridors and pushed them to return to their normal paths of merchandise outside the courtyard.

v. 17 Then, he taught them and said: “Has it not been written, ‘My house will bear the name House of Prayer for all tribes and nations; but you have turned it into a safe house for robbers and gangsters.”

The temple is a place not “of” but “for” prayer for every tribe, language, culture, and geography; that God-fearers might seek the Father.

Instead, it has become a safe house for brigands, usurers, and gangsters in league with the cartel of priests, animal merchandisers, and money brokers.

v. 18 And the chief priests and religious legal experts heard this and they plotted how they might kill him; for they all feared him because they saw the crowd was amazed at Jesus’ teaching.

The result is reinforced that Jesus has to go. This man, this single person, must be sacrificed for the good of the nation of Israel (e.g. the established money-making scheme and the status quo); hence the “prophecy” of the High Priest that “validated” Jesus’ murder.

Because the people hung on Jesus words, the religious ruling class was cautious in proceeding in the plot to kill Jesus. The words mean a continuous action of plotting and conniving and watching in order to accomplish what was in their hearts.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 10:13-16

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Mark 10:13-16 (PRT)

v. 13 And they brought little children to Jesus so that he might hold them; however, the disciples blocked them.

v. 14 Then they saw that Jesus was deeply displeased, and he said to them, “Make it easy for the little children to come to me; don’t stand in their way, for the Kingdom of God is here for people just like this.

v. 15 “I say to you, in all truth, whoever does not embrace the Kingdom of God as a little child will not step foot inside the Kingdom.”

v. 16 And after embracing the children and placing his hands on them, he celebrated them with blessings.

Notes:

v. 13 And they brought little children to Jesus so that he might hold them; however, the disciples blocked them.

The wording seems to indicate that the mothers kept bringing in succession their babies to Jesus for a blessing. And the disciples saw this as an interruption. These are little toddlers and infants that would crawl into laps or need tender holding. Imagine Jesus down in the dirt playing with a toddler or cradling carefully the head of an infant whom the parents laid in his arms for a blessing.

The word for hold is the same for touch tenderly or lay hands on. It can be hold or lay hands upon. In fact, Matthew spells this out: Jesus placed his hands on each child and blessed him or her. It’s an interesting juxtaposition in this: the tradition is that mothers would seek out the synagogue or temple leaders for a blessing. The blessing would invoke the Father to “make the child famous in the Law, faithful in marriage, and abundant in good works.” Here, the word is  masculine, so at least some of the dads had turned to Jesus instead. And he blesses each with the Father’s love in similar ways. Would that the Gospel writers had included this blessing in the text!

v. 14 Then they saw that Jesus was deeply displeased, and he said to them, “Make it easy for the little children to come to me; don’t stand in their way, for the Kingdom of God is here for people just like this.

Keep in mind that, just a short time before, Jesus reminded the disciples of the importance of children in the Kingdom.  And here they are again in need of the reminder. In fact, in Mark 9, children and our ability, willingness, and level of faith is illustrated by how readily children were to trust Jesus (and receive him.)

In Mark 9, Jesus affirmed the value of a child and how receiving him or her in Jesus’ name is like embracing Jesus. In Mark 10, Jesus affirms the value of the simplicity of faith, the position of “yes-ness” and receptivity to the gift of grace through Jesus that children have. How excited a child gets when they are offered a gift! No push back or analysis. Just, yes.

A child is dependent, vulnerable, of no apparent value to the culture. Yet, Jesus embraces. We come needy, dependent, and bring nothing but our worst. It’s a simple faith.

Some translations say Jesus was “indignant” – a similar word to “not pleased” with a motivation to express it. He didn’t choose to “look displeased’ but acted on what stirred this inside him. But the disciples saw it!

The “Kingdom of God is here – the word “here” is derived from the “exist” or “to be” but in this case, is present, here, or belongs to the moment.

In this passage, Jesus is responding to the disciples who were considering the moms and the babies an “interruption.” But Jesus takes this teaching toward a universal principle. Not only should we make it easy for children to say yes to Jesus; but if we stand in the way, if we hinder them, we are culpable in their eternity. Parents live your lives in a way that your children are not just encouraged to say yes to Jesus but aren’t discouraged. Make your life count so that your children will look at you and want the faith you embraced, and not be blocked by a life that “stands in the way” of the Kingdom’s activity in their lives.

Jesus sees us with eyes of grace; but when we stray or miss the mark, He is displeased with the action or pattern. He loves unconditionally; but He longs for our spiritual growth and health.

Most translations use the term “such as these” – it means that we, and not just children, enter into the blessings of the Kingdom with a simple, spontaneous, trust in the person, nature, gift and presence of Jesus, unfazed by sophisticated paths. Simple and uncomplicated. It’s a surrender, just like a little child’s raised arms to the Father.

v. 15 “I say to you, in all truth, whoever does not embrace the Kingdom of God as a little child will not step foot inside the Kingdom.”

The word “embrace” here is to “take for oneself” or to “receive or welcome.”  Though it’s not the same word, I see it as a parallelism to the next verse. He teaches – “embrace the Kingdom in simplicity and trust;” then he demonstrates it and celebrates it with the children in his arms and the mothers who are waiting nearby.

Embrace is represented by a passive and accepting posture; step foot inside, or enter, represents the active posture. We receive and we enter into God’s grace and Kingdom.

Demonstrates the potential of a simple abandonment to faith for a lifetime. It’s a celebration of blessing.

v. 16 And after embracing the children and placing his hands on them, he celebrated them with blessings.

This became the illustration of his teaching. Get out of their way and encourage the children (and their parents) to come to me. And the rest of the day, moms and dads came to Jesus with their babies for blessings, prayer, and celebration.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 9:29-41

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(PRT) Pastor Rick’s Translation

v. 29  And Jesus explained to them, this sort leaves only by prayer. v. 30-31 They left from there and passed through Galilee; but he didn’t want anyone to know they were there, because he was teaching his disciples. He explained plainly to them: “The Son of Man will be delivered into the power of men who will kill him; but after he is put to death, he will rise to life. v. 32 But they did not comprehend this message, and were afraid to ask him about it. v. 33-34 And he arrived at the house in Capernaum, and Jesus asked them: “What were you arguing about on our way here?” But they had nothing to say about one another since, along the road, they had been debating who out of all of them was the greatest. v. 35 Then he sat down and called the Twelve to gather around, and said to them: “If anyone longs to be first, he will choose to take last place and begin serving everyone else.” v. 36-37 And he took a child’s hand, and bringing him into the middle of the disciples, embraced him. Then Jesus taught them this: “Whoever chooses to take a little child’s hand and receives him in my name,  receives me. And anyone who chooses not to receive me, also choose to not receive the one who sent me.” v. 38 And John said to him: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out evil spirits in your name; but he is not walking with us; so we excluded and blocked him because he was not with us.” v. 39-40 Then Jesus commanded them: “Do not exclude and block him for no one will do powerful works in my name and, in the next breath, disparage me. For whoever is not against us is for us. v. 41 “Whoever chooses to give you a cup in my name filled with water to drink because you belong to Christ, with certainty, I tell you that he will in no way lose his reward.”

Study Notes:

v. 29  And Jesus explained to them, this sort leaves only by prayer

v. 30-31 They left from there and passed through Galilee; but he didn’t want anyone to know they were there, because he was teaching his disciples. He explained plainly to them: “The Son of Man will be delivered into the power of men who will kill him; but after he is put to death, he will rise to life.

He explained as a regular point of his teaching the kerygma.

v. 32 But they did not comprehend this message, and were afraid to ask him about it.

This message is radically different from what they expected from the Messiah. One of the reasons for regular teaching on this is so they will get it. They thought it “the Kingdom” would be set up soon and that’s a reason to jockey for the best positions when it happens.

v. 33-34 And he arrived at the house in Capernaum, and Jesus asked them: “What were you arguing about on our way here?” But they had nothing to say about one another since, along the road, they had been debating who out of all of them was the greatest.

They arrived after a quiet journey (the disciples were steamed at one another and embarrassed by their self-centeredness.

v. 35 Then he sat down and called the Twelve to gather around, and said to them: “If anyone longs to be first, he will choose to take last place and begin serving everyone else.”

v. 36-37 And he took a child’s hand, and bringing him into the middle of the disciples, embraced him. Then Jesus taught them this: “Whoever chooses to take a little child’s hand and receives him in my name,  receives me. And anyone who chooses not to receive me, also choose to not receive the one who sent me.”

Look how much teaching Jesus does without words. He sits down. He invites the twelve to join him. He sees a child and takes him by the hand and stands him right in the middle. He embraces this child. Then he talks.

In my name… the first in this passage. We embrace the forgotten and the weak in Jesus’ name.

v. 38 And John said to him: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out evil spirits in your name; but he is not walking with us; so we excluded and blocked him because he was not with us.”

Who would be using Jesus’ name to dispel darkness? This would be someone who knows the owner of this name.

v. 39-40 Then Jesus commanded them: “Do not exclude and block him for no one will do powerful works in my name and, in the next breath, disparage me. For whoever is not against us is for us.

Don’t prevent or forbid them. It’s my name and my Kingdom being expanded.

v. 41 “Whoever chooses to give you a cup in my name filled with water to drink because you belong to Christ, with certainty, I tell you that he will in no way lose his reward.”

Receiving God’s grace takes a willingness, too.