1 Samuel 7-9 - Saul to Be Anointed Over Israel

1Sa 7:2 LSB - [2] Now it happened from the day when the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; it was twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.

Samuel Judges Israel

1Sa 7:4 LSB - [4] So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served Yahweh alone.

1Sa 7:9-10 LSB - [9] And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh; and Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him. [10] Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were defeated before Israel.

1Sa 7:14 LSB - [14] And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Israel Tells Samuel to Appoint a King

1Sa 8:3 LSB - [3] But his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after greedy gain and took bribes and caused justice to turn aside.

1Sa 8:5 LSB - [5] and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations."

1Sa 8:7-8 LSB - [7] Then Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. [8] "Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day--in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also.

The People Refuse Samuel’s Words

1Sa 8:19 LSB - [19] Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us,

Saul to Be Anointed Over Israel

1Sa 9:16-17 LSB - [16] "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people because their cry has come to Me." [17] Now Samuel saw Saul, and Yahweh answered him, "Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall restrict My people."

1 Samuel 4-6 - The Ark Returned to Israel

The Philistines Take the Ark

1Sa 4:3 LSB - [3] Then the people came into the camp, and the elders of Israel said, "Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies."

1Sa 4:10-11 LSB - [10] So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel 30,000 foot soldiers. [11] And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

The Death of Eli

1Sa 4:18 LSB - [18] And it happened that when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died, for the man was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years.

Yahweh’s Hand Against the Philistines

1Sa 5:4 LSB - [4] But they arose early the next morning, and behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [were] cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.

1Sa 5:11 LSB - [11] They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it will not put us and our people to death." For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very glorious there.

The Ark Returned to Israel

1Sa 6:7-9 LSB - [7] "So now, take and make a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them. [8] "And take the ark of Yahweh and place it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you return to Him as a guilt offering in a box by its side. Then send it away that it may go. [9] "See, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that smote us; it happened to us by chance."

1Sa 6:14-15 LSB - [14] And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stood there, and a large stone [was] there; and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to Yahweh. [15] And the Levites took down the ark of Yahweh and the box that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to Yahweh.

1Sa 6:19 LSB - [19] Then He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.

1Sa 6:19 ESV - [19] And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the LORD. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great blow.

1 Samuel 1-3 - Yahweh Calls Samuel

Elkanah and His Wives

1Sa 1:5 LSB - [5] but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had closed her womb.

1Sa 1:11 LSB - [11] And she made a vow and said, "O Yahweh of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a seed amongst men, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."

The Birth of Samuel

1Sa 1:20 LSB - [20] Now it happened in due time that Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, [saying], "Because I have asked him of Yahweh."

Samuel = "his name is El"

1Sa 1:27-28 LSB - [27] "For this young boy I prayed, and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of Him. [28] "So I have also dedicated him to Yahweh; as long as he lives, he is dedicated to Yahweh." So he worshiped Yahweh there.

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

1Sa 2:1 LSB - [1] Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in Yahweh; My horn is exalted in Yahweh; My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I am glad in Your salvation.

The Sin of Eli’s Sons

1Sa 2:17 LSB - [17] Thus the sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh, for the men spurned the offering of Yahweh.

Samuel Before Yahweh as a Boy

1Sa 2:18 LSB - [18] Now Samuel was ministering before Yahweh, [as] a young boy girded with a linen ephod.

Eli Hears About His Sons’ Evils

1Sa 2:25 LSB - [25] "If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who can pray for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for Yahweh desired to put them to death.

1Sa 2:26 LSB - [26] Now the young boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with Yahweh and with men.

Eli Honors His Sons Above Yahweh

1Sa 2:29 LSB - [29] 'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded [in My] habitation, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?'

1Sa 2:35 LSB - [35] 'But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him a faithful house, and he will walk before My anointed always.

Yahweh Calls Samuel

1Sa 3:19-21 LSB - [19] Thus Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. [20] So all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of Yahweh. [21] And Yahweh appeared again at Shiloh, because Yahweh revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.

Mark 13-16 - My Body and My Blood of the Covenant

Things to Come

Mar 13:2 LSB - [2] And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down."

Mar 13:4 LSB - [4] "Tell us, when will these things be, and what [will be] the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?"

Mar 13:9-11 LSB - [9] "But see to yourselves; for they will deliver you to [the] courts, and you will be beaten in [the] synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to them. [10] "And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. [11] "And when they lead you away, delivering you up, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but [it is] the Holy Spirit.

Mar 13:14 LSB - [14] "But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

What Is the ‘Abomination of Desolation’?

The Return of Christ

Mar 13:26-27 LSB - [26] "And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory. [27] "And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.

Mar 13:29-31 LSB - [29] "Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, [right] at the door. [30] "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. [31] "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Mar 13:33 LSB - [33] "See to it, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the [appointed] time will come.

The Return of Christ

The Plot to Kill Jesus

The Costly Perfume

Mar 14:3 LSB - [3] And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining [at the table], there came a woman with an alabaster jar of perfume of very costly pure nard; [and] she broke the jar and poured it over His head.

Mar 14:8-9 LSB - [8] "She has done what she could; she anointed My body beforehand for the burial. [9] "And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of in memory of her."

The Passover Meal

Mar 14:18 LSB - [18] And as they were reclining [at the table] and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me--the one who is eating with Me."

The Lord’s Supper

Mar 14:22-24 LSB - [22] And while they were eating, He took [some] bread, and after a blessing, He broke [it], and gave [it] to them, and said, "Take [it]; this is My body." [23] And when He had taken a cup [and] given thanks, He gave [it] to them, and they all drank from it. [24] And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Mar 14:36 LSB - [36] And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will."

Mar 14:39-40 LSB - [39] And again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. [40] And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Mar 14:51-52 LSB - [51] And a young man was following Him, wearing [nothing but] a linen sheet over [his] naked [body]; and they seized him. [52] But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

Jesus Before His Accusers

Mar 14:61-62 LSB - [61] But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him and said to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed [One]?" [62] And Jesus said, "I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

Peter’s Denials

Mar 14:68 LSB - [68] But he denied [it], saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out into the entryway.

Mar 14:70 LSB - [70] But again he was denying it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are [one] of them, for you are also a Galilean."

Mar 14:71 LSB - [71] But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!"

Mar 14:72 LSB - [72] And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said the statement to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And throwing himself down, he [began to] cry.

Jesus Before Pilate

Mar 15:2 LSB - [2] And Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "You yourself say [it]."

Jesus Is Mocked

Mar 15:19 LSB - [19] And they kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him; and kneeling, they were bowing down before Him.

The Crucifixion

Mar 15:34 LSB - [34] And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Mar 15:37 LSB - [37] And Jesus, uttering a loud cry, breathed His last.

Jesus Is Buried

Mar 15:46 LSB - [46] And when Joseph had bought a linen cloth and took Him down, he wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Should Christians Always Stand with Israel? John Piper

Mark 10-12 - Permit the Children to Come to Me

Teaching About Divorce

Mar 10:6-9 LSB - [6] "But from the beginning of creation, [God] MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. [7] "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, [8] AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. [9] "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

Jesus Blesses Little Children

Mar 10:14 LSB - [14] But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Children Brought to Christ, Not to the Font - Spurgeon

I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn words of my good mother. It was the custom on Sunday evenings, while we were yet little children, for her to stay at home with us, and then we sat round the table and read verse by verse, and she explained the Scripture to us. After that was done, then came the time of pleading; there was a little piece of "Alleyn's Alarm," or of Baxter's "Call to the Unconverted," and this was read with pointed observations made to each of us as we sat round the table; and the question was asked how long it would be before we would think about our state, how long before we would seek the Lord. Then came a mother's prayer, and some of the words of a mother's prayer we shall never forget, even when our hair is grey. I remember on one occasion her praying thus: "Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ." That thought of a mother's bearing swift witness against me, pierced my conscience and stirred my heart. This pleading with them for God and with God for them is the true way to bring children to Christ. Sunday-school teachers! you have a high and noble work, press forward in it. In our schools you do not try to bring children to the baptistry for regeneration, you point them away from ceremonies; if I know the teachers of this school aright, I know you are trying to bring your classes to Christ. Let Christ be the sum and substance of your teaching in the school. Young men and young women, in your classes lift up Christ, lift him up on high; and if anybody shall say to you, "Why do you thus talk to the children?" you can say, "Because my soul yearns towards them, and I pant for their conversion;" and if any should afterwards object, you can remember that Jesus is greatly displeased with them, and not with you, for you only obey the injunction, "Feed my lambs."

Alarm to Unconverted - Joseph Alleine.pdf

A Call to the Unconverted

 

Mar 10:15 LSB - [15] "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it [at all]."

The Rich Young Ruler

Mar 10:29-30 LSB - [29] Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, [30] except [one who] will receive one hundred times as much now in the present age--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, [along] with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Mar 10:33-34 LSB - [33] "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles. [34] "And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill [Him], and three days later He will rise again."

A Request for Status

Mar 43-45 LSB - [43] "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; [44] and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. [45] "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Bartimaeus Regains His Sight

Mar 10:47 LSB - [47] And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Mar 10:51-52 LSB - [51] And Jesus answered him and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And the blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, [I want] to regain my sight!" [52] And Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has saved you." Immediately he regained his sight and [began] following Him on the road.

The Triumphal Entry

Mar 11:3 LSB - [3] "And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you say, 'The Lord has need of it'; and immediately he will send it back here."

Mar 11:7-9 LSB - [7] And they brought the colt to Jesus and put their garments on it; and He sat on it. [8] And many spread their garments in the road, and others [spread] leafy branches, having cut [them] from the fields. [9] And those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;

The Barren Fig Tree

Jesus Drives Merchants from the Temple

Mar 11:17 LSB - [17] And He [began to] teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN."

Isa 56:6-7 LSB - [6] "Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh, To minister to Him, and to love the name of Yahweh, To be His slaves, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And takes hold of My covenant, [7] Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them glad in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."

Mar 11:23-24 LSB - [23] "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be [granted] him. [24] "For this reason I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be [granted] to you.

Mar 11:25-26 LSB - [25] "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. [26] ["But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

Parable of the Vine-Growers

Mar 12:10-11 LSB - [10] "Have you not even read this Scripture: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNER [stone]; [11] THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?"

Psa 118:22-23 LSB - [22] The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner [stone]. [23] This is from Yahweh; It is marvelous in our eyes.

1Pe 2:6-8 LSB - [6] For [this] is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER [stone], AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." [7] This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNER [stone]," [8] and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this [stumbling] they were also appointed.

 

Taxes to Caesar

Mar 12:17 LSB - [17] And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

Mar 12:25-26 LSB - [25] "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. [26] "But regarding the fact that the dead are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the [passage] about [the burning] bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'?

The Foremost Commandment

Mar 12:32-33 LSB - [32] And the scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; [33] AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

The Widow’s Offering

Mar 12:43-44 LSB - [43] And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those putting [money] into the treasury; [44] for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."

Mark 7-9 - I Believe, Help My Unbelief

God’s Commandments, Man’s Traditions

Mar 7:6-8 LSB - [6] And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. [7] 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDS OF MEN.' [8] "Leaving the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."

The Heart of Man

Mar 7:21-23 LSB - [21] "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, [22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, [and] foolishness. [23] "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."

A Gentile Woman’s Faith

Mar 7:27 LSB - [27] And He was saying to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

Mar 7:28-29 LSB - [28] But she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, [but] even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs." [29] And He said to her, "Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter."

The Deaf Hear, the Mute Speak

Mar 7:33-35 LSB - [33] And Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue; [34] and looking up to heaven with a sigh, He said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" [35] And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he [began] speaking plainly.

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

Mar 8:6 LSB - [6] And He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them. And He kept giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the crowd.

Mar 8:23 LSB - [23] And taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He was asking him, "Do you see anything?"

Peter Confesses Jesus Is the Christ

Mar 8:29 LSB - [29] And He [continued] asking them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."

Mar 8:31 LSB - [31] And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mar 8:33 LSB - [33] But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

Take Up Your Cross

Mar 8:34 LSB - [34] And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

The Transfiguration

Mar 9:2-4 LSB - [2] And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; [3] and His garments were shining intensely white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. [4] And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses and they were conversing with Jesus.

Christ’s Transfigured Face - Spurgeon

For Christ to be glorious was almost a less matter than for him to restrain or hide his glory. It is for ever his glory that he concealed his glory; and that, though he was rich, for our sakes he became poor; though he was God over all, blessed for ever, he “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”

Mar 9:7 LSB - [7] Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!"

I Believe, Help My Unbelief

Mar 9:22-24 LSB - [22] "And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" [23] And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." [24] Immediately the boy's father cried out and was saying, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

Feeble Faith Appealing to a Strong Saviour - Spurgeon

 II. We have now to consider, in the second place, THE TEARFUL DISCOVERY: “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

What was his discovery? Why, his discovery was, that he did not believe; and that is where the real difficulty lay. When did the man make this discovery? When he began to believe. Is it not a very singular thing that, as soon as ever he had a little faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he discovered the great abyss of his unbelief? “Lord,” said he, “I believe; but, oh! I do also disbelieve so much that my unbelief seems to swallow up my belief.” Until a man gets faith, he may think that he has got it; but when he gets real faith in Jesus Christ, then he shudders as he thinks how long he has lived in unbelief, and realizes how much of unbelief is still mixed with his belief. There are many of you, who have never believed to the saving of your souls; yet you say, “Oh, yes! We believe the Bible; we believe in God; we believe in Jesus Christ.” You stand up in church, and say, “I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,” and so on, but you do not do anything of the sort. If you did, you would be saved; since, true belief in Jesus Christ brings salvation to everyone who so believes. While men have no faith, — I repeat what I said just now, — while men have no faith, they are unconscious of their unbelief; but, as soon as they get a little faith, then they begin to be conscious of the greatness of their unbelief. When the blind man gets a little light into his eyes, he perceives something of the blackness of the darkness in which he has been living; so, you must be able to say, from your heart, “Lord, I believe,” or else you will never be able to pray, as this man did, “help thou mine unbelief.” Even the small measure of faith, is needful to discover the great measure of the unbelief.

While men have no faith, they are unconscious of their unbelief; but, as soon as they get a little faith, then they begin to be conscious of the greatness of their unbelief.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Mar 9:35 LSB - [35] And sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

Mar 9:36-37 LSB - [36] And taking a child, He set him before them. And taking him in His arms, He said to them, [37] "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me."

Warnings About Discipleship

Mar 9:38-40 LSB - [38] John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to hinder him because he was not following us." [39] But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. [40] "For he who is not against us is for us.

Mar 9:42 LSB - [42] "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.

Mar 9:43-44 LSB - [43] "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, [44] [and where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.]

Mar 9:49 LSB - [49] "For everyone will be salted with fire.

Eze 43:24 LSB - [24] 'And you shall bring them near before Yahweh, and the priests shall throw salt on them, and they shall offer them up as a burnt offering to Yahweh.

Rom 12:1 LSB - [1] Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice--living, holy, [and] pleasing to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship.

 

 

Mark 4-6 - He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear.

The Parable of the Sower

Mar 4:5-6 LSB - [5] "And other [seed] fell on the rocky [ground] where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. [6] "And after the sun rose, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Mar 4:8 LSB - [8] "And other [seeds] fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they were yielding a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

Gen 26:12 LSB - [12] And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year one hundredfold. And Yahweh blessed him,

Mar 4:9 LSB - [9] And He was saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Mar 4:11-12 LSB - [11] And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, everything comes in parables, [12] so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, LEST THEY RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN."

Isa 6:9-10 LSB - [9] He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not know.' [10] "Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their hearts, And return and be healed."

 

The Parable of the Sower Explained

Mar 4:14-20 LSB - 

[14] "The sower sows the word. 

[15] "And these are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 

[16] "And in a similar way, these are the ones being sown on the rocky [places]: those who, when hearing the word, immediately receive it with joy; 

[17] and they have no root in themselves, but are [only] temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. 

[18] "And others are those being sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 

[19] but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for anything else enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

[20] "And those are the ones which were sown on the good soil: they who hear the word and accept it and are bearing fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

The Seed upon a Rock - Spurgeon 

No Root in Themselves - Spurgeon

Then there are many more, whose religion must be sustained by enthusiastic surroundings. They seem to have been baptized in boiling water; and unless the temperature around them is kept up to that point, they wither away... the religion that is born of mere excitement will die when the excitement is over.” (Spurgeon)

The Parable of the Seed

Mar 4:26-29 LSB - [26] And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; [27] and he sleeps and rises, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows--how, he himself does not know. [28] "The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. [29] "But when the grain is ripe, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Mar 4:30-32 LSB - [30] And He was saying, "How shall we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? [31] "[It is] like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil, [32] yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes largest of all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE."

Jesus Calms a Storm

Mar 4:39-40 LSB - [39] And He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. [40] And He said to them, "Why are you [so] cowardly? Do you still have no faith?"

Jesus Saves a Man with Many Demons

Mar 5:18-20 LSB - [18] And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was pleading with Him that he might accompany Him. [19] And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and [how] He had mercy on you." [20] And he went away and began to preach in the Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was marveling.

Christ’s Curate in Decapolis - Spurgeon

Of course, this was because this man could be a light among the people of these Gentile cities in a way that Jesus and the disciples could not. But it was also to cure the man of any superstitions. He might have thought that he had to stay close to Jesus to keep the demons from coming back. “Perhaps, too, his prayer was not answered, lest his fear should have been thereby sanctioned. If he did fear, and I feel morally certain that he did, that the devils would return, then, of course, he longed to be with Christ. But Christ took that fear from him, and as good as says to him, ‘You do not need to be near me; I have so healed that you will never be sick again.’” (Spurgeon)

 

Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’ Daughter

Mar 5:34 LSB - [34] And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace and be healed of your affliction."

Mar 5:41-42 LSB - [41] And taking the child by the hand, He said to her, "Talitha kum!" (which translated means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"). [42] And immediately the little girl stood up and [began to] walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Mar 6:4-5 LSB - [4] And Jesus was saying to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his [own] relatives and in his [own] household." [5] And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

The Twelve Sent Out

Mar 6:7 LSB - [7] And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and was giving them authority over the unclean spirits;

Mar 6:12-13 LSB - [12] And they went out and preached that [men] should repent. [13] And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

The Death of John the Baptist

Mar 6:30-31 LSB - [30] And the apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. [31] And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." (For there were many [people] coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

Mar 6:34 LSB - [34] And when Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

Num 27:16-17 LSB - [16] "May Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, [17] who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of Yahweh will not be like sheep which have no shepherd."

 

Mar 6:37 LSB - [37] But He answered and said to them, "You give them [something] to eat!" And they said to Him, "Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them [something] to eat?"

Jesus Walks on the Sea

Mar 6:46 LSB - [46] And after bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

Mar 6:51-52 LSB - [51] Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly amazed, [52] for they had not gained any insight about the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

Many Healed at Gennesaret

Mar 6:56 LSB - [56] And wherever He was entering villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces, and pleading with Him that they might just touch the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were being saved [from their sicknesses].

Mark 1-3 - Jesus Preached the Gospel of God

The Preaching of John the Baptist

Mar 1:1 LSB - [1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mar 1:2-3 LSB - [2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; [3] THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'"

Isa 40:3 LSB - [3] A voice is calling, "Prepare the way for Yahweh in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

Mal 3:1 LSB - [1] "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says Yahweh of hosts.

Mar 1:4 LSB - [4] John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mar 1:7-8 LSB - [7] And he was preaching, saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. [8] "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The Baptism of Jesus

Mar 1:9-11 LSB - [9] Now it happened that in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; [11] and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

Mar 1:14-15 LSB - [14] Now after John had been delivered up [into custody], Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, [15] and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Mar 1:16-18 LSB - [16] As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. [17] And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." [18] And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Simon’s Mother-in-Law and Many Others Healed

Mar 1:35 LSB - [35] And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus rose up, went out of [the house], and went away to a desolate place, and was praying there.

Mar 1:38 LSB - [38] And He said to them, "Let us go elsewhere, to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came out for."

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Mar 2:3-4 LSB - [3] And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. [4] And being unable to bring [him] to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof [over] where He was; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the mat where the paralytic was lying.

Mar 2:5 LSB - [5] And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."

Mar 2:10 LSB - [10] "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic,

Levi and Sinners Called

Mar 2:17 LSB - [17] And hearing [this], Jesus said to them, "Those who are healthy do not have need for a physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Lord of the Sabbath

Mar 27-28 LSB - [27] And Jesus was saying to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. [28] "Consequently the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Jesus Heals a Man on the Sabbath

Mar 3:4-5 LSB - [4] And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent. [5] And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

Mar 3:13-15 LSB - [13] And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. [14] And He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) to be with Him and to send them out to preach, [15] and to have authority to cast out the demons.

Mar 3:21 ESV - [21] And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind."

Mar 3:31-35 LSB - [31] Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent [word] to Him, calling Him. [32] And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You." [33] And answering them, He said, "Who are My mother and My brothers?" [34] And looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! [35] "For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."

Ruth 1-4 - Boaz Will Redeem Ruth

Naomi’s Husband and Sons Die

Rth 1:1 LSB - [1] Now it happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the fields of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

Rth 1:4 LSB - [4] They took for themselves Moabite women [as] wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.

Ruth Is Determined to Go with Naomi

Rth 1:16-17 LSB - [16] But Ruth said, "Do not press me to forsake you in turning back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people [shall be] my people, and your God, my God. [17] "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may Yahweh do to me, and more, if [anything but] death separates you and me."

Rth 1:20 LSB - [20] She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

Ruth Gleans in Boaz’ Field

Rth 2:12 LSB - [12] "May Yahweh fully repay your work, and may your wages be full from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."

Ruth’s Reward; or, Cheer for Converts

Charles Haddon Spurgeon June 29, 1884

Observe that he saluted her with words of tender encouragement; for this is precisely what I want all the elder Christians among yon to do to those who are the counterparts of Ruth. You who have long been believers in the Lord Jesus, who have grown rich in experience, who know the love and faithfulness of our covenant God, and who are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; I want you to make a point of looking out the young converts, and speaking to them goodly words, and comfortable words, whereby they may be cheered and strengthened.

Rth 2:14 LSB - [14] At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left.

Mealtime in the Cornfields

Charles Haddon Spurgeon August 2, 1863

She did eat, and was satisfied.” Your head shall be satisfied with the precious truth which Christ reveals; your heart shall be content with Jesus, as the altogether lovely object of affection; your hope shall be satisfied, for whom have you in heaven but Christ? your desire shall be satiated, for what can even the hunger of your desire wish for more than “to know Christ, and to be found in him.” You shall find Jesus fill your conscience, till it is at perfect peace; he shall fill your judgment, till you know the certainty of his teachings; he shall fill your memory with recollections of what he did, and fill your imagination with the prospects of what he is yet to do. You shall be “satisfied.” 

Boaz Will Redeem Ruth

Rth 3:2 LSB - [2] "And now, is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose young women you were? Behold, he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight.

Rth 3:9 LSB - [9] And he said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maidservant. So spread your wing over your maidservant, for you are a [kinsman] redeemer."

gā'al

Gen 48:16 LSB - [16] The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless [these] boys; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

Job 19:25 LSB - [25] "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will rise up over the dust [of this world].

Isa 44:22 LSB - [22] "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a cloud. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

Isa 54:4-5 LSB -
[4] "Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel dishonored, for you will not be humiliated;
But you will forget the shame of your virginity,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
[5] "For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is Yahweh of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.

Ruth Becomes Boaz’ Wife

Rth 4:9-10 LSB - [9] Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon from the hand of Naomi. [10] "And also, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the one who had died, on behalf of his inheritance, so that the name of the one who had died will not be cut off from his brothers or from the gate of his [birth] place; you are witnesses today."

The Generations of David

Rth 4:21-22 LSB - [21] and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed, [22] and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.

Judges 19-21 - Benjamites Violate a Levite’s Concubine

Benjamites Violate a Levite’s Concubine

Jdg 19:1 LSB - [1] Now it happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah.

Mat 19:4-6 LSB - [4] And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created [them] from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, [5] and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? [6] "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

1Ti 3:2 LSB - [2] An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Jdg 19:22 LSB - [22] They were making their hearts merry, and behold, the men of the city, certain vile fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house that we may know him."

Jdg 19:25 LSB - [25] But the men were not willing to listen to him. So the man took hold of his concubine and brought [her] out to them; and they knew her and abused her all night until morning, and they let her go at the breaking of dawn.

Hos 10:9 LSB - [9] From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; There they stand! Will not the battle against the sons of injustice overtake them in Gibeah?

 

A Battle Between Israel and Benjamin

Jdg 20:5 LSB - [5] "Then the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me; instead, they violated my concubine, and she died.

Jdg 19:22 LSB - [22] They were making their hearts merry, and behold, the men of the city, certain vile fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house that we may know him."

Jdg 19:25 LSB - [25] But the men were not willing to listen to him. So the man took hold of his concubine and brought [her] out to them; and they knew her and abused her all night until morning, and they let her go at the breaking of dawn.

Jdg 20:47 LSB - [47] But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.

A Tribe Is Cut Off

Sons of Benjamin Steal the Daughters of Shiloh

Jdg 21:12 LSB - [12] And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

Jdg 21:23 LSB - [23] And the sons of Benjamin did so and carried away wives according to their number from those who danced, whom they stole away. And they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the cities and lived in them.