March 8 Readings

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Deuteronomy 4-6; Mark 11.1-18

In Deuteronomy 4, obedience was commanded. Obedience is not optional in the Christian life, it is mandatory. God command that the Israelites obeyed His decrees. They should follow them so that they might love and possess the land. Moses reminded them what happen at the Baal of Peor, how God destroyed among them everyone who obeyed the Baal. Observe them carefully… (v.6), Only be careful… (v.8) and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things… These are phrase to look for in the book of Deuteronomy. We have to be careful, not to forget God and his commandment.
In v. 15-31 Moses reminded them again that idolatry is forbidden. How may times do they have to be reminded so that they would not forget about the dangers of idolatry. Moses warned them not to make images of anything on the earth, in the sea or in the heavens. He told them because of their disobedience he could not enter Canaan (v. 21-22). Again the word careful appears in v. 23 Be careful not to forget.. Verse 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Have you ever thought of God as a consuming fire. That is an awesome thought. Fire destroys completely or it purifies. We should reverence God and hold Him in awe. Verse 24 is repeated again in Heb 12.29.
In verse 32-40 Moses stated that the Lord is God, he reminded the people how awesome God is from the day of creation of creation, ask the question. Verse 32b Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of. Has anyone heard of God speaking through a nation through fire. Moses reminded the people how God chose Israel, brought them out of Egypt, drive the nations from before them. They need to be reminded that the Lord is God and they should acknowledge that the Lord is God in heaven and on earth..
He reminded them of the cities of refuge )verse 41=43) then Moses introduced this new generation to the Law.

Deuteronomy 5 shows Moses teaching the new generation of the Ten Commandments. The word covenant is very important in the Bible. Moses reminded them in verse 2 that the Lord formed a covenant with them at Horeb. What is a covenant? Examples of covenants are given in this Covenant link This covenant is presented to them forty years and is the same as the forefathers in Exodus 20. He warned them that they must learn them and follow them. To reiterate the intent behind the Commandments, these were based on LOVE not a bunch of DOs and DONTs! Commandments 1-4 is loving God, commandments 5-10 is loving your neighbor. Again, in verse 32 the word be careful to do what the Lord commanded you, do not turn aside to the right or left.

Deuteronomy is known as the book of Love, this is seen especially in Deuteronomy 6.In verse 4-5: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. He reminded the people to tech their children the commandments (v.7-9). We tend to forget that God is a jealous God and that He is the only one who deserves our praise and worship. They were to remind their children what God had done for them (v.20-25). It is very important for us to spend time quality time with our children, teaching them the Word. Proverbs 22.6 says 'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it'

Deuteronomy 4 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Deuteronomy 5 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Deuteronomy 6 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 11:1-25 Commentaries, verse by verse
Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a colt instead of a military stallion because the Kingdom which He was proclaiming was one of peace not for the overthrow of the Roman Empire. The symbolism behing riding on a colt is found in Zec 9.9 (which was also was also quoted in Mat 21.5 amd John 12.15). This was known as the Triumphal Entry and would inaugurate Passion Week. The Jewish leaders would be upset at this because Zec 9.9 portrays the Messiah riding on a colt: 9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king [a] comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
On the following day Jesus cleared the Temple, driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves. He said that His house would be called a house of prayer nut they have made it a den of thieves. The Jewish leaders seeing Jesus clearing the Temple wanted to kill Him.
Before he arrived at the Temple, He was hungry and He saw a fig tree in leaf. He went to see if it had any fruit, but it did not bear any fruit. He said to the fig tree that no one would ever eat the fruit from it again.
This is the beginning of the passion week and there are many prophecies yet to be fulfilled and the challenges that Jesus faced in encounters with the Jewish leaders. Jesus had a righteous anger. he was angry but did not sin. What about us? What can we learn from this passage of scripture?

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

More Links on Commentaries for the Old Testament
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes (for both OT and NT) is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader

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.