Can I Figure Out These Passages With Only My Bible?

This is when you try to understand the meaning of the text. You answer the questions you asked which interprets the author’s intent for this passage. simply explain the passage

The letter R stands for relationship.

This is when you look to see the relationship of this passage with other passages. how does this single passage relate to it’s context, book, and entire Bible

The letter E stands for employment.

What is the timeless truth in this passage. How can we take that truth and employ it in our everyday lives? how can I employ the timeless truth from this passage?

Available Books in My Library I Recommend For This Lesson!

Michael Card: Mark: The Gospel of Passion

David Jeremiah: The Jeremiah Study Bible

John MacArthur: MacArthur Study Bible & The MacArthur NT Commentary (On loan from Pastor Ken)

Merrill Tenney: The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible

Walvoord & Zuck: The Bible Knowledge Commentary Warren Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

btw: feel free to bring your own books or resources!

NOT TONIGHT

Michael Card: Mark: The Gospel of Passion

We have to be careful not to put all our trust in commentaries. After all, some of the best commentaries can make mistakes.

John MacArthur: MacArthur Study Bible & The MacArthur NT Commentary (On loan from Pastor Ken)

So tonight’s game-plan is different - so pay attention.

Merrill Tenney: The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible

Tonight

Take & and explain the meaning (interpretation) of the cursing of the Fig Tree. Answer this question: what is the meaning of the cursing of the fig tree. I do not need familiarity or employment. I need the interpretation. It might be helpful to see the relationship (context) of this passage and how the term fig-tree is used throughout the Bible.

Walvoord & Zuck: The Bible Knowledge Commentary Warren Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

Mark 11:15–19 NKJV

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of the different characters & overall meaning of the parable.

btw: feel free to bring your own books or resources!

Example: Define the:

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of the different characters & overall meaning of the parable.

The Man represents ___________

The Vineyard represents ___________

The Man represents ___________

The Vinedressers represents___________

The multiple servants represents ___________

The beloved son represents ___________

The Vineyard represents ___________

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of Jesus’ words.

The Vinedressers represents___________

The multiple servants represents ___________

Mark 12:1–11 NKJV

1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 2 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. 6 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 11 This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of the different characters & overall meaning of the parable.

The beloved son represents ___________

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of Jesus’ words.

Example: Define the:

The Man represents ___________

The Vineyard represents ___________

The Vinedressers represents___________

The multiple servants represents ___________

The beloved son represents ___________

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of Jesus’ words.

Mark 12:35–37 NKJV

35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ 37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly.

My Goal

My goal is for you to figure out these passages by using knowledge mixed with wisdom.

Your F.I.R.E.

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of the different characters & overall meaning of the parable.

Example: Define the:

The Man represents ___________

The Vineyard represents ___________

The Vinedressers represents___________

The multiple servants represents ___________

The beloved son represents ___________

Take and explain the meaning (interpretation) of Jesus’ words.

Pastor Kenny’s F.I.R.E. on &

I’m going to try and keep this as simple as possible. I will start by summing up the passage and then giving you the interpretation.

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem and He sees a fig tree that has leaves which means it could have fruit on it. However, after Jesus examines the tree He finds that it is bare and unfruitful - so He curses it.

Jesus then walks into Jerusalem and into the Temple. He sees how they have turned the Temple into a market. This enrages Jesus and He casts out all those who were using the Temple as a marketplace. That night He leaves Jerusalem.

The next morning as He is on the road to Jerusalem - Peter notices that the fig tree Jesus cursed has died! Jesus uses this opportunity to preach about faith in prayer.

Interpretation of &

It is important to know that Israel was commonly compared to a fig-tree in the Old Testament:

“I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.

The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 11

Hos. 9:10

Hosea 9:10 NKJV

10 “I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.

Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, Like those who glean vintage grapes; There is no cluster to eat Of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires.

Micah 7:1 NKJV

1 Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, Like those who glean vintage grapes; There is no cluster to eat Of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 11:14

Micah 7:1

Also think of Jesus’ Parable which He told the 12 earlier;

Luke 13:6–9 NKJV

6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

With this Jewish imagery in mind - the rest of the passage makes sense.

Jesus saw this fig-tree from a distance and it looked like it had leaves. This tree is just like Israel- from a distance it seemed holy and set apart with its Temple and religious system. However, when Jesus examined the tree He found it barren. The tree was fruitless (just like the nation of Israel.) Jesus’ cursed the tree for its lack of fruit. Just like the tree - Israel would be judged and the Temple destroyed in 70 AD.

A side note from Wiersbe,

If He had power to kill the tree, why didn’t He use that power to restore the tree and make it produce fruit? Apart from the drowning of the pigs (), this is the only instance of our Lord using His miraculous power to destroy something in nature. He did it because He wanted to teach us two important lessons.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 150). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Jesus walked into the Temple. Just like the fig-tree, it looked good from the outside, but when He walked in and saw the people selling things - He knew they were fruitless and corrupt.

Notice that back in - Jesus went throughout the Temple inspecting it. It is His Father’s Temple. He knew He was coming to clean it out!

Jesus told the people that the Temple should be a Temple of prayer - it is a place to hear the word of God and enhance one’s faith. However, it was a den of thieves - it was fruitless!

What was the result of Jesus cleansing the Temple? The religious leaders wanted to kill Him! The religious leaders should have been the strength and root of Israel - yet they were corrupt and fruitless. They had no faith in the words of Jesus, and thus rejected the word of God.

Jesus left the temple that night and returned to the house He stayed at.

The next morning He set out for the Temple and Peter saw the tree that Jesus cursed - it had withered from its root. In this sense, The Nation of Israel was withered because its root - the religious leaders were fruitless.

Jesus responded to Peter by saying “Have faith in God.” In other words, have faith in His words - if He curses a tree - it will be cursed. The Jewish leaders had rejected God’s word, were planning on killing the Messiah, and thus they were unfruitful and dry. Jesus wanted the disciples to put their faith in God’s word and obey Him - for God can do anything - just have faith in His word! In the same way that He can curse a tree and it dies - He can move a mountain with simple words. The 12 simply needed to have faith in God and His word, and they would not be fruitless and cursed like the religious leaders and Israel.

Therefore, this story is an object lesson. Israel would be cursed and wither due to its fruitlessness and lack of faith in Jesus. After all, John did say,

Jesus responds to Peter by saying that

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. -

Therefore, this story is an object lesson. Israel would be cursed and wither due to its fruitlessness and lack of faith in Jesus. However, a follower of Jesus should have faith in God’s word - because God can do anything.

Matthew 3:10 NKJV

10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

However, a follower of Jesus should have faith in God’s word (unlike Israel) - because God can do anything. That’s what this passage is saying.

Pastor Kenny’s F.I.R.E. on

In this parable, there is a man who planted a vineyard, and leased it out to vinedressers (people who tend the vineyard.) When the time was ready to harvest the grapes the man sent his servant to collect them. However, the wicked vinedressers beat him and sent him away. The man sent many other servants and each one was beaten or killed and sent away empty. The man finally sent his son to get the harvest, but the vinedressers showed him no respect and killed him too! Therefore, the man will come and destroy the vinedressers and hire others be his new vinedressers.

Let’s look at the different characters to discover the meaning of this parable.

The Man represents God the Father

The Vineyard represents The Nation Israel

The Vinedressers represents The Religious Leaders

The multiple servants represents Holy Men of God such as the Prophets

The beloved son represents Jesus The Christ

Let me back this up. This parable is based off of . In that parable God the Father is the owner of the vineyard (like the man) and the vineyard is Judah (the people of Israel.)

Verse 12 of our passage makes it clear that the wicked vinedressers of the parable are the religious leaders.

The men sent by the man are prophets. Look at and .

Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.

Jeremiah 7:25–26 NKJV

25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.

Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Matthew 23:33–39 NKJV

33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

If God the Father is the man, then clearly His beloved son is Jesus the Messiah.

Now let’s explain the parable.

God planted the Nation of Israel (Vineyard), and He carefully set it up, and protected it (dug a wall, set a fence around it.) He put the religious leaders, and Kings ahead of the Nation (leased it to vinedresser.) Think of the Levites and the Priest who were put in command of the Nation - their job was to protect the hearts and minds of the people by teaching the Word of God. God sent prophets and Holy men (servants) to the Nation of Israel (vineyard), yet the religious leaders and those in power (vinedressers) beat them and even killed some of them! These leaders hearts were far from God and they coveted the praise and honor that God deserved. Therefore, they killed the prophets and used Israel (the vineyard) for their own purposes. The man (God) sent His Son (Jesus) to Israel (Vineyard.) However, the wicked vinedressers (the religious leaders) killed Him too! The man (God) would one day judge the Vinedressers and give the vineyard to Holy Men.

Jesus finished the parable by referring to the stone which the builders rejected had become the chief cornerstone. Jesus is the stone that would be rejected, yet He would be made the main stone - the cornerstone! We know Jesus is the chief cornerstone because Peter told us in

Both of these stories point to the fact that Jesus would be rejected. Even though He would be rejected, He would become the cornerstone!

Both of these stories point to the fact that Jesus would be rejected, yet He would reign and the wicked people would be judged!

Pastor Kenny’s F.I.R.E. on

Jesus wanted to teach the people about the Nature of the Messiah. They wrongly believed that the Messiah was simply a decedent of David and was not divine. Notice how Jesus quoted the scribes as saying that the Christ is the Son of David - which implies that He is nothing more. Jesus than quotes

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

“Sit at My right hand,

The LORD (God the Father - Yahweh) said to David’s Lord (’Ădōnāy - Messiah) Sit at My (God the Father’s) hand till I make Your (Messiah’s) enemies Your (Messiah’s) footstool. If David calls the Messiah Lord, How is The Messiah his Son?

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Let me explain what Jesus was saying.

Jesus is saying that the Messiah is both human (David’s decedent) and Divine (He is David’s Lord.)

Yahweh

’Ădōnāy

Jesus is teaching that the Messiah is both God and Man.

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