Lessons From Authority

I. Those who do not bear fruit are accursed

vv.12-19

Both of these events are recorded in other gospels. But both are at considerably more length.

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This event or a similar one is found in all of the gospels

We must hold firm that these were separate occurrences.

Jesus kept the law perfectly, therefore we know he made more than one trip to the synagogue.

So what was the problem with them selling things in the Temple? (Secular rip off vs. a Rip off in the house of god)

We may not view our church as a market, but we can be guilty of using church for our own gain.

Notice the crowd feared him BECAUSE they were astonished by his teaching.

Mark Wants us to see that Jesus has great authority that does not come from Man.

vv.20-24

The cursed tree withered. A sign of what is to come for those who do not bear fruit.

These verses tell us that we can ask God and he will give us everything we ask for?

1 John 5:14 ESV

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

So how do we discern the will of God?

1 Corinthians 2:11 ESV

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:27 ESV

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Matthew 4:4 ESV

But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Just as we Worship in Spirit and in truth, I believe we must pray in the same manner.

v 25

Forgive to be Forgiven?

So what is he saying here?

II. Jesus’ Authority Confronted

vv. 27-33

Why is the authority of Jesus so important to the Pharisees?

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

- CS Lewis

Jesus is either a Liar a Lunatic or Lord - C S Lewis

Questions From Christ Centered Exposition:

Twice in this passage it has dealt with the fear of man. How can that hinder us?

What affect can the fear of Man have on ministry leaders today?