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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Bible Study (Online): Gospel of Mark ~ Study Twenty

Getting to Know Jesus in the Gospel of Mark
Study Twenty: Mark 4:10-12

10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that
“they may indeed see but not perceive,
    and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.” (Mark 4)

1.  What does this tell you about the way Jesus’ disciples related to the parables Jesus was telling everyone?

 

2. In verse 11, Jesus differentiates between two groups of people. How would you describe the difference between the two?

 

3. Again in verse 11, what contrast does Jesus present in relation to his use of parables?

 

4. Verse 12 gives us Jesus’ reason for using parables. Explain what this means.

 

5. The quote in verse 12 is from the prophecy of Isaiah given by God approximately 700 years earlier. It reads: “And he said, “Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10) What does Jesus’ application of this quote to his ministry tell his disciples about what is going on in the work of God?

 

6. What does this understanding add to the reason that Jesus ended his teaching in parables with the phrase, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (vs 9)?

 

7. Now that Mark is showing that Jesus’ ministry will effectively create two groups of people, where do you see yourself in the picture?

 

© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)

 

 

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