Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Deuteronomy 3

Study 3 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 3

1.      How did the conquest of Sihon and of Og disprove the faithless fears of forty years before? Cf. 1:28 with 2:36 and 3:4-6.  What use did later generations make of the memory of these victories? Cf. Jos. 2:10; Pss. 135: 10, 11; 136:18-20.

2.     What do verses 21, 22 teach us about the duty of mutual encouragement? Cf. how Paul sought to share his assurance (2 Tim.1:12) with others (Phil. 1:6).

3.     Try to imagine the intensity of Moses’ desire in verses 24, 25. What insight are we given into prayer and its answer by this incident? Cf. Nu. 2. 20:12; Ps. 106:32, 33.

4.     Verse 26: ‘Let it suffice you’.  Moses must be content with his own place in God’s work. He was the law-giver, and Joshua (Hebrew form of ‘Jesus’) was the conqueror. How does Jn. 1:17 throw light on this?

Notes

1.       Verse 11.  ‘Bedstead’: or possibly ‘Sarcophagus’. It was eleven feet long and six broad.

2.      Verses 13-15. This double division of the tribe of Manasseh greatly weakened it, thus fulfilling Gn. 48:14ff., in which Ephraim, although the younger of the two sons of Joseph, is given priority over Manasseh.

3.    Verse 29.  “Beth-peor’: ‘house of Peor’, the Moabite god through which the people sinned (Nu.25).

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Deuteronomy 2

Study 2 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 2

1.   What do we learn from this chapter of the sovereignty of God over the nation? Cf. 32:8; Acts 17:26.

2.   Why were Edom, Moab and Ammon spared on this occasion, whereas the Amorites were exterminated? Note verses 4’ 5; 9’ 19; and cf. am. 1:11-2:3.

3.   What do verses 24 and 31 teach about the relationship between divine grace and human faith? Cf. Eph. 2:8.

Notes

1. Verse 1. ‘Many days’: nearly thirty-eight years; cf. verse 14.
2. Verses 4-8. This is not the same incident as that of Nu. 20:14-21, but a later instruction when Israel had reached the eastern border of Edom.
3. Verses 10-12 and 20-23 are parenthetical notes on ancient history.
4. Verse 30.  A judicial hardening, i.e., to punish one already opposed to God.
5. Verse 34. “Utterly destroyed’: devoted to destruction’. i.e., under God’s curse.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Deuteronomy 1

Study 1 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: Deuteronomy 1

1.       The burden of this chapter is the people’s sin in refusing to go forward to the promised land.  How is the sin described (see verses 26, 27, 32) and what made the guilt of it greater (see Note on verses 9-18; also verses 31-33)?

2.     What solemn lesson is taught in verses 40 -45? Cf. Is. 59:1, 2; Je. 11:14; Heb. 12:17.

3.     What does this chapter teach us about the importance of knowing history, especially Bible history? Cf. Pss, 78:1-8; 44:1-8; 1 Cor. 10:6-13; Rom. 15:4.

Note.  Verses 9-18.  These verses seem to be introduced to show that the people were both numerous and well organized when they reached Kadesh, and therefore fully ready to enter the land if their eyes had been upon the Lord.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction to the book of Deuteronomy

Study 0 From The Book of Deuteronomy is: The Introduction of Deuteronomy's Book

Introduction

The book of Deuteronomy finds the people again on the threshold of the land after the forty years of wandering. Moses, who is about to lay down his great task, address them before his death.  The book consists chiefly of his addresses.  Naturally, there is much matter repeated from earlier portions of the Pentateuch and, just as naturally, it is generally in a rather different form. Laws that were promulgated in the wilderness are adapted for use in the land. New matter, such as that relating to the central sanctuary and the setting up of the Kingdom, is introduced. Finally, Moses, after solemn warnings to the people, appoints his successor, and ascends Mount Nebo to be laid to the rest by God. 

Search The Scriptures —Study 19 — Mark 9:30-50

Study 19 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 9:30-50

With this study we will stop with the book of Mark, to be continued at a later time, then delve into the book of Deuteronomy.

1.      Verses 33-37. How does Jesus explain the way to become spiritually great?  What especially ought we to learn from the example of a little child? Cf. Mt. 18:4.

2.     Verses 38-41.  What three reasons does Jesus give here why the disciples should not have acted as they did? Why did they fail to gain similar understanding about His teaching concerning what was going to happen to Him (verses 30-32)?

3.     Verses 43-48.  What spiritual truth is Jesus seeking to convey here? In what sense are we to cut off a foot, or pluck out an eye? Why may it be necessary to apply such drastic measures?

Notes

1.      Verses 44, 46, 48. ‘Gehenna’ (Greek) is a conference to the Valley of Himmon outside Jerusalem where the refuse of the city was cast and burnt.  It had become a synonym for ‘hell’ i.e., the place of final ruin and destruction.

2.     Verse 49. ‘Salted with fire’: subjected to a fiery process of discipline to purge out corruption.  Cf. 1 Pet. 4:17; Heb. 12:11.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — Mark 9:1-29

Study 18 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 9:1-29

1. Verses 1-8. What should be the significance for the three disciples of the appearance of Moses and Elijah and also of the voice out of the cloud? Cf. Jn. 1:45; Lk. 24:27. How would this new experience be likely to help and encourage them?
2. Verses 11-13.  What question did the scene on the mountain raise in the minds of the disciples, and how did Jesus reply? Consider how closely john the Baptist resembled Elijah.
3. Why was Jesus so disappointed at what He found on His return to the rest of the disciples? What does this incident teach us about the chief causes of failure in our Christian witness and service (see verses 23 and 29)?

Note.  Verse 24. ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ This implies, ‘help me just as I am, a doubter who wants to believe.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 17 — Mark 8:27-38

Study 17 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 8:27-38

1. Verses 27-29. What did the disciples need to understand first of all, before Jesus could begin to explain to them about His death? Why was this so important, and why were most people so slow to understand it? Cf. Lk. 10:21, 22.
2. Why was Peter unable to accept Christ’s teaching about His death? What is the meaning of Christ’s rebuke? In this matter of a right attitude to Christ’s death, on whose side are you?
3. Verses 34-38.  What two alternative courses are presented to us in these verses?  Why is it so important to make the right choice? What does this involve and what does Jesus say will be the final result of a wrong choice?

Notes

1. Verse 33. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’  Jesus was faced with a similar temptation in the wilderness to avoid the cross. Cf. Mt. 4:8-10.
2. Verse 34.  For the meaning of the word ‘deny’, see Lk. 12:9; 22:34. Here it means to disown self, to refuse to recognize the claims of self as against those of Christ.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 16 — Mark 8:1-26

Study 16 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 8: 1-26

1. What characteristic features in the Lord Jesus stand out in the miracle of 8:1-9? Cf. Mt. 6:33. Of what was His provision a sign?
2. Why did Christ warn the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod (verse 15)? Why did He question them about the miracles that had recently taken place?  How do thought and reflection of this kind help us to grow spiritually?
3. Verses 22-26.  What may we learn from this incident about the way and the cost of leading someone in need to experience the saving power of Christ?

Note.  Verse 15.  The word ‘leaven’ used here symbolically refers to the unseen pervasive influence of sin.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 15 — Mark 7: 24-37

Study 15 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 7: 24-37

1. Why did Jesus at first seem to refuse the woman’s request (cf. Mt. 15:24), and why did He use such harsh words? What can we learn from her response, and from the Lord’s answer to her further plea?
2. Assuming that the deaf and dumb man knew little or nothing about Jesus due to his limitation, what would the strange actions of Jesus mean to him? How would they help him to respond in faith?
3. Is there anything we can learn here about personal witness from the example of those who brought their deaf and dumb friend to Jesus?

Note.  Verse 27.  The ‘dogs’ is an expression of contempt and disgust. In many parts of the East the dog is still basically a scavenger and by its very nature unclean and a potential carrier of disease.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 14 — Mark 7:1-23

Study 14 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 7:1-23

1. No-one would dispute the earnestness of the Pharisees in observing genuine historical traditions, aimed at the honouring of God.  Why then should Christ use such strong language in condemning then (verse 6), and how does He show up their inconsistency?
2. Notice in verses 21-23 that Christ makes no distinction between sins of thought and sins of deed; they all alike defile a man.  Cf. Mt. 5:28. Are we seeking deliverance from the uncleanness of an evil heart? Or, like the Pharisees, are we content with a fair appearance outwardly?
3. Verses 17, 18a.  Why do you think the discipleship were so slow to understand some of Christ’s simplest teaching? Are we perhaps also at fault here? If so, what ought we to do about it? Cf. Jn. 14:26.

Notes

1. Verse 3. ‘The tradition of the elders’: i.e., rules and regulations drawn up by past generations of scribes to guide people how to act.  The Pharisees were those who made it their aim to walk strictly according to this ‘tradition’. They regarded themselves, and were regarded by others, as ‘the righteous’.
2. Verse 6. ‘The Lord here both quotes Scripture and adds to it, thereby interpreting it’ and establishing His own authority.

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