BRF
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Poll Tax
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Poll Tax
by BRF - Dick France
The POLL TAX MARK 12: 13-17 A loaded question When the Romans deposed Archelaus, the son of Herod, from his kingship in Judea and imposed direct rule from Rome, one of the most resented by-products was the imposition of a poll tax on all adult Jewish males, to be paid to the Roma…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The CHALLENGE from OFFICIALDOM
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The CHALLENGE from OFFICIALDOM
by BRF - Dick France
The CHALLENGE from OFFICIALDOM MARK 11: 27-33 Jesus is back in the Court of the Gentiles, the ideal place for gathering a crowd for teaching, but a place on which he has already stamped his authority in a different way when he drove out the traders…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The DEATH MARCH
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The DEATH MARCH
by BRF - Dick France
The DEATH MARCH MARK 10: 32-34 ‘Were you there…?’ Verse 32 is one of the most vivid pieces of descriptive writing in Mark’s Gospel, and seems to preserve the impression of someone who was there at the time, who was himself part of the tableau this verse presents…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - NO HOPE for the RICH?
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - NO HOPE for the RICH?
by BRF - Dick France
NO HOPE for the RICH? MARK 10: 23-31 The eye of a needle The disciples are shocked, and Jesus does nothing to soothe their feelings, but rather makes things worse by the stark statement, twice repeated, that the way into the kingdom of God is hard for the wealthy…
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Potential Disciple Lost
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Potential Disciple Lost
by BRF - Dick France
A POTENTIAL DISCIPLE LOST MARK 10: 17-22 The man who had everything From the disciples’ point of view this man must have seemed the ideal recruit. He was an earnest seeker for eternal life, with a good moral record (v. 20)…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - WHAT about ELIJAH?
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - WHAT about ELIJAH?
by BRF - Dick France
WHAT about ELIJAH? MARK 9: 9-13 There is something bizarre and yet reassuring in the picture of Jesus walking down the mountain in earnest conversation with Peter, James and John, so soon after they have seen him bathed in dazzling light and talking with men long dead…
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Blind Man Cured—by Stages
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Blind Man Cured—by Stages
by BRF - Dick France
A BLIND MAN CURED—by STAGES MARK 8: 14-21 Another healing outside Galilee Bethsaida was across the Jordan at the north end of the lake, not in Galilee but in the neighbouring territory ruled by Herod Philip, adjoining the Decapolis…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - ASKING for a SIGN
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - ASKING for a SIGN
by BRF - Dick France
ASKING for a SIGN MARK 8: 10-13 When Jesus left Galilee in 7:24 he had been engaged in sharp debate with the Pharisees and scribes, and the dialogue had ended with Jesus making a radical pronouncement about purity which must have left his opponents seething, since he was apparent…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - PUTTING the CART before the HORSE
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - PUTTING the CART before the HORSE
by BRF - Dick France
PUTTING the CART before the HORSE MARK 7: 9-13 ‘Making void the word of God’ The unexpected accusation which Jesus has launched against the scribes in verse 8 is repeated in different words twice more, in verses 9 and 13…
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Short Stay in Decapolis
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - A Short Stay in Decapolis
by BRF - Dick France
A SHORT STAY in DECAPOLIS MARK 5: 14-20 Decapolis, the area to which Jesus and his disciples had come on the eastern side of the lake, was a semi-independent confederation of Greek towns, owing allegiance to Rome, but with little contact with Jewish culture and religion…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - MORE PREGNANT SAYINGS
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - MORE PREGNANT SAYINGS
by BRF - Dick France
MORE PREGNANT SAYINGS MARK 4: 21-25 Before we come to the two other ‘story-parables’ of chapter 4, Mark offers us a collection of short sayings which together explore further the nature of revelation and how we must respond to the truth revealed…
MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - SPELLING IT OUT