March 11 Readings

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The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Deuteronomy 13-15; Mark 12.28-44

Deuteronomy 13
He warned about people who would deceive them about worshipping other gods. He warned that He was testing the people whether they would follow the Only True God or follow after other gods. He warned about false prophets, even relatives, spouses, friends who would try to turn away from the One True God. The punishment for deceiving someone away from God was death. What about us, today? We need to be on our guard, because there are false prophets and antichrists who would tell us lies about who God and Jesus is. There are many resources on the Internet, but be very careful about your selction of the site. They may call themselves a Christian Website but in actuality, are heretical. A good site to visit is the Watchman.org website. It exposes false prophets and cults. Another good site is full of resources in how to defend your faith is the CARM site.

Deuteronomy 14 deals with two topics clean and unclean food (Leviticus 13.1-23) and Tithes (V. 22-28) The issue of clean and unclean food was brought up because of public health reasons. Link to clean and unclean food Many of these animals were scavengers. The Bible is very particular about pigs. Pork if not properly cooked has many parasites attached to them. God knows what He is talking about. We should be careful what we eat because ur body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.(1Cor 3.16).
The second issue is tithing, the idea of ten per cent came up in this passage. Are we subject to tithing? Are we required to give ten percent of our income? The answer is no! We have to realize that we are stewards of our body, money and time, and God owns it ALL. In that perspective, we are then subject to more than ten percent of our income.2 Cor 9.7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Deuteronomy 15 deals with the Year of the Jubilee, the year of canceling debt and freeing servants. See Jubilee Link. Deuteronomy 15.1-11 and Lev 25.8-38 is the year to cancel debts. Deut 15.12-18; Exo 21.2-6 and Deut 15.12-28 along with Lev 25.38-55 speak about freeing servants. We also have the Year of Jubilee in the sense that our debts were cancelled and we were set free by the death of Jesus on the cross. We must either respond or reject the Gospel message. Paul said that we should own no one anything but love (Rom 12.8).

Deuteronomy 13 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Deuteronomy 14 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Deuteronomy 15 with Commentaries, verse by verse

Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Deuteronomy
Malik Introduction to Deuteronomy
Malik Argument of Deuteronomy
Israel's Covenant Renewal
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 2 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 3 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 4 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Spurgeon's Sermons on Deuteronomy
Biblebb.com Website
Stedman on Deuteronomy and Numbers

Mark 12:28-44 Commentaries, verse by verse

Mark 12.28-34; Matthew 22.34-40
One of the teachers of the law asked him, which was the most important commandment. Jesus replied “Hear ,O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6.4-5) The seond is this ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18). There is no commandments greater than these.‘ do we understand that love should be the motivating factor behind obeying the commandments (Commandments 1-4) is loving God and Commandments (6-10) is loving our neighbor as ourselves. The man realize both loving God and his neighbor was more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus told him that he was far from the kingdom of God. What about us? Do we love God and do we love our neighbors as ourselves?

Mark 12.35-47; Matthew 22.41-46; Luke 20.41-46
Mark 12.38-40; Matthew 23.1-7; Luke 20.45-47
Jesus asked them Why did the teachers of the law say that Christ is the son of David. He quoted from Psalm 110.1 “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” How could David be his son when he called him Lord. Jesus spoke with authority and he knew His scriptures. We must use Jesus as our model in growing as a man or woman of God.

Mark 12.38-44
Jesus warned the disciples to be be careful of the teachers of the law. In today’s terminology, let us not be like them they want to be important and respected for being religious, and having the most important seats in churches and have seats of honor at banquets. They oppress the poor especially the orphans and widows and are hypocrites praying long prayers.
Jesus observed the people giving in the temple treasury. Many rich people gave a large amounts but there was this poor widow who threw in two small copper coins that was all she could afford.. To Jesus, she gave all she could, all she had to live on. The issue is not how much of your income you give to the Lord but rather your attitude when you give. The woman COULD Not afford what she gave the Lord. The issue is not a ten per cent tithe as mentioned among some Christian circles. Maybe at the moment you are financially strapped and all you can afford is 1 percent, but if you gave sacrificially what you cannot afford. You could be doing well, financially and in God’s eyes 10% may not be enough, He may want 40% at that point. The issue is when you give, you should give sacrificially. Paul said 2Co 9:6 -8 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)


More Links in Mark
Dan Hill on Mark
Ray Stedman on Mark
Jeff Miller on Mark
Chadwick on Mark
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Mark by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermon's on Mark

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.