Verse For Today

[airIam2worship]

Mr 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Mr 3:7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

Mr 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

Mr 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

Mr 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues

Mr 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

Mr 3:12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

WBN

Observe here, 1. What dismal effects this famous miracle of Christ had upon the Pharisees and Herodians. Instead of being convinced by it, they conspire against him for it. These Herodians and Pharisees were of different opinions, enemies to one another, yet they join together in seeking the death of Christ.
 
The Pharisees were against paying tribute to Caesar, looking upon themselves as a free people, accounting the Roman emperor an usurper. The Herodians were for it. Herod being made by the Roman emperor king of the Jews, was zealous for having the Jews pay tribute to Caesar; and such of the Jews as sided with him, particularly his courtiers and favourites, were styled Herodians; but both Pharisees and Herodians take counsel against Christ.
 
Learn thence, That unity and consent is of itself alone far from being a mark and note of the true church. Unity in the faith and doctrine of Christ, and in the profession and practice of the true religion, is a note indeed of the true church: but unity in opposing Christ, his person, his doctrine, his people, is so far from being a mark of the true church, that it is the badge of the antichristian synagogue.
 
Observe, 2. The prudent means which our Saviour uses to preserve himself from the rage of the Pharisees,  he withdrew himself from them. Christ's example teaches his ministers their duty in a time of danger to fly from persecution, and to endeavour to preserve their lives, unless when their sufferings are like to do more good than their lives.
 
Observe, 3. The great zeal and forwardness of the people in flocking after our Saviour's ministry; people come now at first from all places and countries, from Judea, from Idumea, from beyond Jordan, from Tyre and Sidon, to hear his doctrine, and see his miracles. The people came from all parts when our Saviour first began to preach. His ministers find it thus: at their first coming amongst a people their labours are most acceptable, and they do most good; our people's affections are then warmest, and perhaps our own too.
 
Observe, 4. What sort of people they were which attended thus zealously upon our Saviour's ministry, they were the common and ordinary people; the poor received the gospel, whilst the Pharisees, and other men of most account, the mighty, the noble, and the wise men after the flesh, despised our Saviour's person, slighted his ministry, and sought his life. The ordinary and meanest sort of people ever have  been more zealous and forward in embracing the gospel, than ever the great, and the rich, and the honourable part of the world have been.
 
It is a sad but certain truth, heaven is the place where few, comparatively, of the great men of the world, are like to come; their temptations are many, their lusts are strong, and their great estates, through their own abuse, become fuel to their lusts.
 
Observe, 5. The behaviour of these unclean spirits (the devils) towards our Saviour, and our Saviour's carriage towards them; they fall down at the very sight of him, they cry out, and confess him to be the Son of God; but he sharply rebukes them, and charges them that they should not make him known. Not that our Saviour would have the knowledge of his person suppressed, but because the devils were not fit persons to preach Jesus Christ. A truth out of the mouth of the father of lies, is enough to render truth itself suspected. Besides, the time appointed for the full and clear manifestation of the Godhead of Christ was not yet come. This was not to be done till after his resurrection; the divine nature was to be hid under the veil of Christ's flesh, during his state of humiliation and abasement.

[airIam2worship]

Mr 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

Mr 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

Mr 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Mr 3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;

Mr 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

Mr 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

Mr 3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

WBN

As the Jewish church arose from twelve patriarchs, so the christian church became planted by twelve apostles. The person commissioning them was Christ; none may undertake the work and calling of the ministry, but those whom Christ appoints and calls. The persons commissioned were disciples before they were apostles; to teach us, that Christ will have such as preach the gospel to be disciples before they are ministers; trained up in the faith and doctrine of the gospel, before they undertake a public charge.
 
Observe farther, The holy preparative which our Saviour uses in order to this election of his apostles; he goeth up into a mountain to pray upon that great occasion.  He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the night in prayer to God. Lu 6:12
 
And when it was day, he called his disciples, and of them he chose twelve. In this prayer no doubt he pleaded with his Father to furnish all those that were to be sent forth by him with all ministerial gifts and graces.
 
Learn thence, That as prayer is a necessary preparative to all duties, so more especially befoe the public election and ordination of the ministers of the church: solemn prayer is to be used by such as are to ordain and choose them: our Lord's practice is to be a standing rule herein to all church-officers.
 
Observe again, Though Christ called his apostles now, yet he did not send them forth now, yet he did not send them forth now: He ordained twelve that they should be with him. That is, that they might converse with him, and be eye-witnesses and ear-witnesses of his life, doctrine, and miracles. And having been thus with Christ, and fitted and prepared for him for their work, afterwards they went forth.
 
Thence learn, That such as are to take upon them the office of the ministry, ought first to be fitted and prepared for it, then solemnly called to it, befoe they enterprize and undertake the execution of it: if the apostles here, who were called and qualified extraordinarily, were to spend some time with Christ to receive direction and instruction from him before they went forth to preach; how much more needful is it for such as are ordinarily called, to be well fitted and furnished for the ministerial service, before they undertake it!
 
Observe next, How the several names of the apostles are here registered and recorded: God will honour those that honour him, and are the special instruments of his glory. Of these apostles Peter is named first, and Judas last.
 
Peter is named first, because probably elder than the rest, or because for order sake he might speak before the rest.
 
From whence may be inferred a primacy, but no supremacy; a priority of order, not a superiority of degree. As the foreman of a grand juty has a precedency but no pre-eminency; he is first in order before the rest, but has no authority or power over the rest. Judas is named last, with a brand of infamy upon him; that he was a traitor, the person that betrayed his Lord and Master.
 
Whence learn, That though the truth of grace be absolutely necessary to a minister's salvation, yet the want of it doth not disannul his office, nor hinder the lawfulnes of his ministry. Judas, though a traitor, was yet a lawful minister. The mission of a person may be valid, though he be not sanctified.
 
Observe lastly, That our Saviour surnamed James and John, Boanerges, the Sons of thunder. St. Jerome thinks this name was given them, because being with Christ in the mount at his transfiguration, they heard the Father's voice out of the cloud like thunder: others think them so called, because they were more vehement and earnest than the rest in preaching, and did with greater zeal and power sound forth the doctrine of the gospel like thunder. It is very probable, that Christ gave them this name from a foresight of the heat and zeal of their temper, of which they soon gave an instance, in desiring fire to come down from heaven to consume the Samaritans.

[airIam2worship]

Mr 3:20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. (KJV)

Mr 3:21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself

Mr 3:22 ¶ And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

Mr 3:23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

Mr 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Mr 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Mr 3:26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

Mr 3:27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Mr 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

Mr 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Mr 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

WBN

Mark 3:20 Mr 3:20

 
Observe here, 1. How truly our Lord's words were verified,  My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, Joh 4:1 for he and his apostles going into an house to refresh themselves in their hunger, the people pressed upon him so fast to hear the word that he regards not the satisfying of his hunger, but applies himself to instruct the people.
 
Lord! how exemplary was thy zeal and diligence in preaching the everlasting gospel to a lost world! As it is instructive to, may it be imitated and followed by, all thy ambassadors.
 
Observe, 2. The rash censure of our Saviour's friends, that is, his kinsmen, concerning this action, in neglecting to eat bread, and suffering the multitude thus unseasonably to press upon him.
 
They conclude, he is beside himself, out of his right mind; and accordingly went out to lay hold upon him.
 
Learn hence, (1.) That the  forward zeal and diligence of Christ and his ministers in preaching the gospel, is accounted madness and frenzy by a blind world. But they may say with the apostle, If we be beside ourselves it is to God, 2Co 5:1 But who were persons that thus looked upon our Saviour as beside himself? Verily his own kindred and relations according to the flesh.
 
Learn hence, (2.) That oft-times the servants of God meet with the strongest temptations from, and are most discouraged and molested by, such as are their nearest relations by blood or alliance. This is a great trial, to find our relations setting us back, instead of helping us forward, in the ways of religion; but we must bear it patiently, knowing, that not only others of God's children, but Jesus Christ, his own and only son, did experience this trial.
 
Observe, 3. The malicious and wicked slander which the scribes endeavoured to fix on our blessed Saviour; namely, that he was possessed by the devil, and by a familiarity with him, and help from him, cast forth devils out of others.
 
Good God! how was thine own and only Son, the holy and innocent Jesus, censured, slandered, and falsely accused of the worst of crimes: of gluttony, of blasphemy, of sorcery! Can any of thy children expect freedom from the persecution of the tongue, when innocency itself could not protect thy holy Son from slander and false accusation?
 
Observe, 4. Our Saviour's answer, and just apology for himself, in which are contained, (1.) A confutation of their calumny and slander.
 
(2.) A reprehension of the scribes for the same. To confute this slander, our Saviour, by several arguments, shows how absurd and unlikely it is that the devil should cast out himself, and any way seek to oppose and destroy his own kingdom. As if our Saviour had said, "Is it likely that satan would lend me his power to use it against himself? Surely satan will do nothing to weaken his own interest, or shake the pillars of his own kingdom. Now if I have received any power from satan, for destroying him and kingdom, then is satan like a family divided within itself, and like a kingdom divided against itself, which can never stand, but be brought to desolation."
 
Our Saviour having sufficiently shown that he did not work his miracles by the power of the devil, he next informs them from whence he had that power, even from God himself; and accordingly he compares satan to a strong man well armed, with weapons to defend his house; and he compares himself, clothed with divine power, to one that is stronger than the strong man.
 
So that the argument runs thus: The devil is very strong and powerful, and there is no power but God's only that is stronger than his. If then, says Christ, I were not assisted with a divine power, I could never cast out this strong man, who reigns in the bodies and souls of men as in this house, for it must be a stronger than the strong man that shall bind satan; and who is he but the God of strength?--
 
Learn hence, That Christ's divine power only is superior to satan's strength. He only can vanquish and overrule him at his pleasure, and drive him out of that possession which he holds either in the bodies or in the souls of men.
 
Observe, 5. The charge which our Saviour brings against the scribes and Pharisees' blaspheming his divine power in working miracles. He charges them of sinning the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost. All sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven, but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, hath never forgiveness.
 
As if Christ had said, "All the reproaches which you cast upon me as man are pardonable; as when you check me with the poverty and meanness of my birth, when you censure me for a wine-bibber, a glutton, a friend and companion of sinners, and the like unjust crimes. But when you blaspheme that divine power by which all my miracles are wrought, and, contrary to the conviction of your own enlightened minds, maliciously ascribe all my miracles to the power of the Holy Ghost, this makes your condition not only dangerous but desperate, because you resist the last remedy, and oppose the best means for your conviction. For what can be done more to convince you that I am the true and promised Messiah, than to work so many miracles before your eyes to that purpose?
 
Now, if when you see these you will say, it is not the Spirit of God that works these, but the power of the devil: as if satan would conspire against himself, and seek the ruin of his own kingdom; there is no way or means lift to convince you, but you will continue in your obstinacy, and malicious opposition to truth, to your unutterable and inevitable condemnation.

[airIam2worship]

Brothers and Sisters, after a long absence, I am so happy to be back home. I see that this is a thread that is still being read a lot so I would like to continue it.

YOU READY??

Here goes!!!! 

[airIam2worship]

Mr 3:31 There came then His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him.

Mr 3:32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

Mr 3:33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

Mr 3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Mr 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

WBN

Mark 3:31 Mr 3:31

 
Observe here, 1. The truth and verity of Christ's human nature; he had affinity and consanguinity with men, persons near in blood to him by the mother's side, called here his brethren; that is, his kinsmen.
 
Observe, 2. That the mother of Christ, though she was a blessed and holy woman, yet she was not free from sin, but failures and infirmities are found with her. It was a fault to interrupt our Saviour unreasonably at this time, when he was preaching to the people. The like we see in her at other times, Lu 2:48, and Joh 2:3. No saint here on earth ever was in a state of sinless perfection.--Blessed be God, we are hastening to such a state.
 
Observe, 3. That Christ did not neglect his holy mother, or disregard his poor kindred and relations, but only showed that he preferred his Father's work and business before their company and acquaintance at this time.
 
Observe, 4. How exceedingly dear obedient Christians are to Jesus Christ; he prefers his spiritual kindred before his natural. Alliance by faith is more valued by our Saviour than alliance by blood. To bear Christ in the heart, is a greater honour than to bear him in the womb. Blessed be God, this great and gracious privilege is not denied us even now. Although we cannot see Christ, yet love him we may. His bodily presence cannot be enjoyed by us, but his spiritual presence is not denied us. Though Christ be not ours in house, in arms, in affinity, inconsanguinity; yet in heart, in faith, in love, in service, he is, or may be ours. Verily, spiritual regeneration bringeth men into a more honourable relation to Christ than natural generation ever did.

[airIam2worship]

Mr 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

Mr 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

WBN

Mark 4:1 Mr 4:1

 
The foregoing chapter acquainted us with the blasphemous slander which the scribes and Pharisees cast upon our blessed Saviour, accusing him of casting out devils by the help of the devil. This they did, no doubt, to discredit his person, and hinder his ministry; yet for all this the people follow him in great multitudes, more than ever, to hear him and be instructed by him.
 
Thence learn, 1. That all the power and malice of Satan and wicked men shall not be able to suppress the gospel, or hinder the free course of it; yea, the more it is opposed, the more it shall prevail: the more the scribes and Pharisees disgraced our Saviour, and vilified his doctrine, the more the people followed him in troops, to be partakers of his ministry.
 
Observe, 2. The place where our Lord now preached;  in a ship. Not that he declined the temple, or the synagogue, when he had the opportunity; but in the want of them Christ thought an house, a mountain, a ship, no unmeet place to preach in. It is not the place that sanctifies the ordinance, but the ordinance that sanctifies the place.
 
Observe, 3. Our Saviour's gestures in preaching; he sat, it being the custom of the Jewish church so to do, The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' chair, Mt 23:2
 
Learn thence, That in indifferent rites and orders, touching the outward worship of God, we are to conform ourselves to the laudable custom and practice of the church in which we live, and whereof we are members. This did our Saviour, and so ought we.
 
Observe, 4. The manner of our Lord's preaching, it was by parables and similitudes, which was an ancient way of instructing among the Jews, and a very convincing way; working upon men's minds, memories, and affections, all at once, making the mind attentive, the memory retentive, and the auditors inquisitive after the interpretation of the parable. Some are of opinion our Saviour's parables were suited to his hearers' employments: and accordingly many of his hearers being husbandmen, he resembles his doctrine to seed sown in the field. For thus he speaks:  See Mr 4:3

[airIam2worship]

Mr 4:3 Hearken, Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Mr 4:4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it.

Mr 4:5 And some fell on stoney ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

Mr 4:6 But when the sun was up it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Mr4: 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

Mr 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mr 4:9 And he said unto them Let him that have ears to hear, let him hear.

Mr 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

WBN

Mark 4:3 Mr 4:3

 
1. Several things are to be observable; as,
 
1. How Christ begins and ends the parable with an admonition to diligent and serious attention.   Hearken, says Christ, verse 3. and he that hath ears to hear, let him hear, verse 9. This shows us at once the people's backwardness and negligence in applying their minds to hear and receive the word of God, and also shows the minister's duty to excite and stir up their people's diligence and attention in hearing God's word.
 
Observe, 2. What is the general scope and design of this parable; namely, to show that there are four several sorts of hearers of God's word, and but one good one, but one sort only who hear to saving advantage.
 
Now as to the matter of the parable.
 
Note, 1. The sower is Christ and his apostles; he the principal sower, they the subordinate seedsmen. Christ sows his own field, his ministers sow his field. He sows his own seed, they his seed. Woe unto us if we sow our own seed, not Christ's.
 
Note, 2. The seed sown, the word of God: fabulous legends and unwritten traditions, which the seedsmen of the church of Rome sow, these are not seed, but chaff, or their own seed, and not Christ's. Our Lord's field must be all sown with his own seed, with no mixt grain.
 
Learn, 1. That the word preached is like seed sown in the furrows of the field. As seed has a fructifying virtue in it, by which it increases and brings forth more of its own kind, so has the word of God a quickening power to regenerate and make alive dead souls.
 
Learn, 2. From this parable, that the seed of the word, where it is most plentifully sown, is not alike fruitful. Seed doth not thrive in all ground alike, neither doth the word fructify alike in the souls of men. There is a difference both from the nature of the soil and from the influence of the Spirit. For though no ground be naturally good, yet some is worse than other.
 
Learn, 3. That the cause of the word's unfruitfulness is very different; not the same in all. In some it is an hard heart to unbelief, in others the distracting cares of the world choke the word: like thorns which hinder the corn's growth, by overshadowing it, by drawing away the moisture and heart of the earth from it, and by hindering the influence of the sun from cherishing it. Unto which may be added the policy of Satan, that bird of prey, which follows God's plough, and steals away the precious seed of the word out of the furrows of their souls.
 
Learn, 4. That the best ground doth not bring forth increase alike. Some good ground brings forth more, others less; some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred-fold. In like manner, a person may be a profitable hearer of the word, although he doth not bring forth so great a proportion of fruit as others, provided he brings forth as much as he can.

[Ariellamb]

Jeremiah 14

Drought

1 This is the word of the LORD to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

2 "Judah mourns,
her cities languish;
they wail for the land,
and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.

3 The nobles send their servants for water;
they go to the cisterns
but find no water.
They return with their jars unfilled;
dismayed and despairing,
they cover their heads.

4 The ground is cracked
because there is no rain in the land;
the farmers are dismayed
and cover their heads.

5 Even the doe in the field
deserts her newborn fawn
because there is no grass.

6 Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights
and pant like jackals;
their eyesight fails
for lack of pasture."

7 Although our sins testify against us,
O LORD, do something for the sake of your name.
For our backsliding is great;
we have sinned against you.

Also a Drought of His Word in our land
As you read on in the next two chapters you see the prophets are giving the ppl the words which tickle their bellies,instead of Gods given Words which would stab their hearts because of their Sins in the land.