Context is Crucial – A Commentary on Mark 12 (part 5)

Note (Nov. 3, 2009): Part 6 (Mark 12:35-40) is coming along, but I’m having to do alot more reading on Jesus’ “Son of David” comments than I expected. Combine that with my insanely busy schedule and you get a bit of a delay. Bare with me while I work around my schedule and wrestle with a tough question.

This is the fifth part of my commentary on Mark 12 as we look at this chapter in its original context.  We are asking the question, “what did this passage of scripture mean to its original hearers?” and it is transformative to our understanding for certain.  Be sure to see the other parts of this commentary too as each builds on the previous.

Part 1 – Setting the Stage: The Sadducees

Part 2 – The New Tenants

Part 3 – Give to Caesar…

Part 4 – A Silly Question

Context is Crucial – A Commentary on Mark 12 (part 4)

This is the forth part of my commentary on Mark 12 as we look at this chapter in its original context.  We are asking the question, “what did this passage of scripture mean to its original hearers?” and it is transformative to our understanding for certain.  Be sure to see the other parts of this commentary too as each builds on the previous.

Part 1 – Setting the Stage: The Sadducees

Part 2 – The New Tenants

Part 3 – Give to Caesar…

Context is Crucial – A Commentary on Mark 12 (part 3)

This is the third part of my commentary on Mark 12 as we look at this chapter in its original context.  We are asking the question, “what did this passage of scripture mean to its original hearers?” and it is transformative to our understanding for certain.  Be sure to see the other parts of this commentary too as each builds on the previous.

Part 1 – Setting the Stage: The Sadducees

Part 2 – The New Tenants

Context is Crucial – A Commentary on Mark 12 (part 2)

This is the second part of my commentary on Mark 12 as we look at this chapter in its original context.  We are asking the question, “what did this passage of scripture mean to its original hearers?” and it is transformative to our understanding for certain.  Be sure to see the other parts of this commentary too as each one builds upon the previous:

Part 1 – Setting the Stage: The Sadducees

In post will cover the question “who are the ‘new tenants’ mentioned in Jesus’ parable”?

Context is Crucial – A Commentary on Mark 12 (part 1)

Note: This was originally one post, but since it’s over 4,000 words, I decided to break it up into several smaller posts.  I’ll be posting the next parts one per day over the next few days.

Introduction

One of the ministers at my church, Bob Chisholm, told this story to the congregation not too long ago.  He was at a conference on Biblical studies attended by people from many different denominations when he went to a lecture given by a Jewish rabbi.  The rabbi got up to speak and began by telling everyone that what he was about to say would revolutionize his listeners’ studies.  Bob was naturally very intrigued by the idea and listened with great anticipation.  What secret, what kernel of Jewish wisdom would this rabbi impart to him?  The rabbi said something akin to, “When you study to Bible, in order to get the best understanding from it, do not ask merely ‘What does this text mean today?’ but rather ask yourself, ‘What did it mean to its original hearers?’”  Bob was stunned, but not because it was so revolutionary, but because he’d been taught that all along at the Harding Graduate School.  However, he noticed it was apparently quite shocking to many in the room.  Was it really that foreign of a concept to try to understand what the written Word meant to its original readers?  Apparently so.

In this series of posts I want to show you what understanding the original context of the Bible does for you by taking you through Mark 12.

The Community of God

America is the pinnacle of western society, an ideology founded by the ancient Greeks.  I do not mean in any way that America is superior to other nations traditionally considered “western” (as opposed to “eastern society”).  What I mean is that as a culture and society, we have completely bought into humanism and materialism.  We are obsessed with everything the ancients were:  education, entertainment, sports, media, and religion.  And in a culture where people are made into icons because of their achievements (or in the case of President Obama winning to Nobel, for intentions), naturally the society begins to turns inwards.  It’s all about me, what I’ve accomplished, and how much attention I can bring onto myself.  “I wanna be somebody!” people say.  I don’t think there’s any doubt that in our culture, “it’s all about me. Me. Me. Me!”

Eastern culture has traditionally been the complete opposite, focusing all about the community.  This is of course changing as the west influences the east more and more.  But eastern culture, and especially Jewish culture, is focused on the good of the community.  This is seen throughout the Bible and is something we tend to forget or overlook.

Grafted In: Echoes of Sukkot

Since it is still Sukkot, the seventh and final feast of the Lord found in Leviticus 23, I have decided to share more about the feast.  This particular morsel of revelation was shared with me on Shabbat Sukkot (Saturday, Oct. 3) at Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue by Rabbi Marty.

A Glimpse of the Throne from Sukkot

Friday at sunset begins the Festival of Sukkot (pronounced: sue-COAT, also known as Tabernacles or Booths), the last and most joyful of all the Lord’s holidays.  It is a time of intense celebration and joy because God has given us the Promised Land.  And so, during this time of joy, we remember what it was like to live in the desert so we can appreciate the land we have now.  But Sukkot has always held special significance not only for Jews, but also for the Gentiles.  Indeed, the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and even the New Testament uses Sukkot as a picture of the future Messianic times.  By studying Sukkot, we can get a glimpse of what Heaven will be like!

Look at What You Hear!

One very common teaching technique used by ancient rabbis (and even to this day) is to use what is around you as metaphors or examples.  Unlike Christian universities where students sit in a building at their desks, ancient Jewish rabbis would take their talmidim (disciples) through the world and use real examples to teach about God.  This is the way rabbis taught in the first century in Galilee.  A rabbi would almost never make an example of something and it not be right there for his audience to look at.  That may sound silly to you, but ancient Jewish culture was very eastern in nature, in which information comes in pictures (as opposed to western culture which attains information through abstract ideas).  So this is just part of the culture that the picture had to be there for the point to make an impact.  This is epitomized in the verse:

“Consider carefully what you hear!”

–Mark 4:24

The Greek here beautifully captures the Hebraic element of Jesus’ original saying because it says literally “Look at carefully what you hear!”  How do you look at what you hear?  If the information comes in pictures, then it’s possible.  In this post we’re going to look at what we hear.

You Celebrate “Old Testament” Feasts?

“Happy Rosh HaShannah,” my boss said with a smile to an elderly Jewish woman who worked at our office.  My boss, John West, goes to the same church my parents go to and that I went to growing up (Legacy Church of Christ).

I was shocked. “Rosh HaShannah?”  I asked after the woman had left.  “Aren’t those Jewish holidays?”

“Yes, they are,” John calmly replied with a slight grin as he knew what was coming next.

“But why would you do that?” I asked.  Having grown up in a conservative Christian home, I was very shocked to find that any Christian would actually celebrate such things.  Weren’t those “rules” abolished a long time ago?  We have no need for them now!

“It’s a way that I can pleasantly acknowledge her faith while acknowledging my own in the Messiah,” he replied.  I was dumbfounded that he would have anything to do with such things.  Wow, did I have alot to learn.