![\"Ms\"](\"http:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Ms2.jpg\" "\\"Ms\\"")
Given the quantity of material in these chapters, rather than try to cover everything, I will focus my questions on the verses from Mark and selections from the verses in Luke.<\/p>\nGiven the quantity of material in these chapters, rather than try to cover everything, I will focus my questions on the verses from Mark and selections from the verses in Luke.<\/p>\n
As you read this material, be sure to ask how it applies to us who live in the latter-days. What do these verses teach us about taking up our cross (cf. Jacob 1:8<\/a>, 3 Nephi 12:30<\/a>, and perhaps<\/em> Alma 39:9<\/a>)? What do they teach about riches (not what do we recall others saying that they teach, but what do they really<\/em> teach)? What does the parable and explanation in Luke 16:1-12<\/a> teach us about our relation to the world?<\/p>\n Mark 10:17-30<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n How is the story of verses 13-16<\/a> connected to that in verses 17-30<\/a>? Why does the fact that the man is running suggest? Why does he kneel? That is an unusual thing to do before a teacher, which is a\u00a0 more accurate translation of the word that the King James version translates \u201cMaster.\u201d<\/p>\n Why do you think the man uses the unusual title \u201cgood teacher\u201d? Why does Jesus reject being called \u201cgood\u201d (verse 18<\/a>)? What does this person want?<\/p>\n Compare this story to that in Matthew 12:28-34<\/a>. How is the scribe in that story like the person in this one?<\/p>\n Jesus says that the man in this story knows the commandments (verse 19<\/a>). What does that tell us about that person?<\/p>\n Why might Jesus have reworded the commandment \u201cDo not covet\u201d as \u201cDefraud not\u201d? Which of the Ten Commandments does Jesus not <\/em>mention in his initial response (verse 19<\/a>)? Is that relevant? Are the first four of the Ten Commandments implied in his second response (verse 21<\/a>)? If so, how so?<\/p>\n What do we learn from the first part of verse 21<\/a>, \u201cthen Jesus beholding him loved him\u201d? What does it mean to say that Jesus beheld him? Clearly he was already looking at him. Doesn\u2019t Jesus love everyone?<\/p>\n Jesus tells the man that, in terms of observing the Torah, he lacks only one thing (verse 21<\/a>). What is that one thing? What is the most important part of the commandment in the second part of verse 21<\/a>? What does \u201ctake up your cross\u201d mean? (Compare Matthew 16:24<\/a>, Mark 8:34<\/a>, and Luke 9:23<\/a>; see also Jacob 1:8<\/a>, 3 Nephi 13:20<\/a> and D&C 23:6<\/a> and 112:14<\/a>). How does this story compare to Matthew 8:18-22<\/a> (Luke 9:57-62<\/a>)?<\/p>\n Jesus says little about property, but what he does say consistently has a negative slant. Why? What does that mean for us?<\/p>\n The King James version translates the first part of verse 22<\/a> merely as \u201cand he was sad at that saying,\u201d but a more literal and, I think, better translation is \u201cbut he, becoming gloomy at the word.\u201d What makes this man gloomy? Why did the prospect of giving away his possessions grieve (literally \u201cpain\u201d) him?<\/p>\n What does it mean to be rich? Is that an absolute description or a comparative one? If it is comparative, to whom ought we to compare ourselves in deciding whether we are rich?<\/p>\n When Jesus exclaims, \u201cHow hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God\u201d (verse 23<\/a>), why are the disciples astonished (verse 24<\/a>)? What does their astonishment show about their belief? If we go behind what we say about riches (both publically and to ourselves) to our behaviors and attitudes, are we ever astonished that it is difficult for the rich to be saved? How does this story relate to Jesus\u2019 admonition in Matthew 6:24<\/a> (Luke 16:13<\/a>)?<\/p>\n Why does Jesus call the disciples children (verse 24<\/a>)?<\/p>\n At verse 24<\/a>, many New Testament manuscripts differ from the manuscripts used by the KJV. They omit \u201cfor them that trust in riches,\u201d so that instead the last part of the verse says merely \u201cHow hard is it to enter into the kingdom of God!\u201d What difference does that make to what Jesus is saying? Which version of the verse do you think is probably right? Why?<\/p>\n What is the point of verse 25<\/a>?<\/p>\n Note:<\/p>\n Many stories have been told to indicate that the \u201ceye of the needle\u201d is a small postern gate that was opened at night when the city gate had been shut, and that a camel could get through it provided it had been fully unloaded. It is a nice story but not true in biblical terms. The eye of a needle is a surgeon\u2019s needle. In both Matthew 19 and Matthew 23, the point was that the camel was the largest animal with which people of the day were familiar. Jesus was using the term much as we would use the word elephant<\/em> as the largest creature in our experience. Jesus may also have used the camel as an illustration because it was ritually unclean. (Gower, R., & F. Wright. The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times<\/em>. Chicago: Moody Press, 1997, c1987)<\/p>\n A century or two later in Judaism there was a similar rabbinic parable that spoke of an elephant rather than a camel.<\/p>\n In verse 26<\/a> the disciples are even more astonished and they seem to ask \u201cIf the rich can\u2019t be saved, then who can?\u201d If that isn\u2019t what they are asking, what is it? Is what Jesus teaches here related to his teaching about the narrow gate and how one enters that gate (Matthew 7:13-14<\/a>; Luke 13:23-24<\/a>)?<\/p>\n Verse 27<\/a> begins \u201cJesus looking upon them saith.\u201d Why is important that he looked at his disciples? Is that parallel to him beholding the man in verse 21<\/a>? What does Jesus see that caused him to say what he does in verse 27<\/a>? When does he look on us? What does he see when he does?<\/p>\n In verse 27<\/a>, Jesus seems to be referring to Genesis 18:14<\/a>. How might that reference be significant to what he teaches here?<\/p>\n Mark tells us (verse 28<\/a>) that Peter began to say something and was interrupted by Jesus (verse 29<\/a>). What was Peter trying to say? What does Jesus\u2019 interruption show?<\/p>\n In verses 29-30<\/a>, Jesus promises that those who deny themselves will receive a hundredfold \u201cin this time.\u201d What does that phrase mean? What does it mean to receive a hundredfold \u201cwith persecutions\u201d?<\/p>\n Mark 12:41-44<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Two mites were approximately 1\/100 of a day laborer\u2019s wages (Word Biblical Commentary<\/em> 34b:283), in today\u2019s wages no more than about $2.00\u00a0 or less. How does this story contrast with the rest of chapter 12? How might it have given the disciples hope? In verse 44<\/a> what do you make of the comparison between the abundance (which could also be translated \u201cexcess\u201d) of the wealthy and the want (or \u201clack\u201d) of the widow?<\/p>\n Luke 12:13-21<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n In verse 13<\/a>, what is the man asking Jesus to do? It seems that rabbis were often called to settle family disputes. Many recognized Jesus as a rabbi. Why, then, does he refuse to settle this (verse 14<\/a>)? Isn\u2019t he the ultimate Judge? (Compare John 3:17-18<\/a>, remembering that the word \u201ccondemn\u201d could also be translated \u201cjudge.\u201d)<\/p>\n Why does the man\u2019s demand cause Jesus to speak to his disciples about covetousness? What is covetousness? The Greek word translated \u201ccovetousness\u201d means \u201cwanting more.\u201d Does that tell us anything about what Jesus is criticizing? What does it mean to say \u201ca man\u2019s life consisteth not in the abundance [excess] of the things which he possesseth\u201d (verse 15<\/a>)?<\/p>\n Does the story of the man in Mark 10:17-22<\/a> offer an alternative for giving life meaning? What is it? (See also Luke 9:23-25<\/a>). Why is that the only thing that can truly give life meaning?<\/p>\n How is what the wealthy farmer does in Jesus\u2019 story (verse 16-20<\/a>) different than what Joseph did in Egypt? What does God\u2019s reproof in verse 20<\/a> mean? Does this story teach that we ought not to retire or to prepare for retirement? If it doesn\u2019t teach that, why doesn\u2019t it? What does<\/em> it teach?<\/p>\n What would it mean to be \u201crich toward God\u201d (verse 21<\/a>)? The Greek word translated \u201cto be rich\u201d means also \u201cto have abundance.\u201d How do we have abundance toward<\/em> God?<\/p>\n Jesus gives a brief sermon explaining this parable in verses 22-40<\/a>. Compare the two and ask yourself what the parable means for your own life. Is it significant that this parable is addressed to \u201chis disciples\u201d (verse 22<\/a>)? If so, how? Some have said that it was intended only for his disciples, but if that is true, why has it been recorded and given to us all?<\/p>\n Luke 14:15-33<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n In response to what incident did Jesus tell the parable in verses 16-24<\/a>? How is the man\u2019s response in verse 15<\/a> a response to what Jesus said in verse 14? Does it tell us anything about the man?<\/p>\n How are the excuses that the invitees offer like that of the young man in Mark 10:17-22<\/a>?<\/p>\n How is the parable of verses 16-24<\/a> related to the teachings of verses 26-35<\/a>?<\/p>\n The word \u201chate\u201d in verse 26<\/a> is accurate, but it is surely hyperbolic. (Compare Proverbs 13:24<\/a> and 2 Samuel 19:6<\/a>.) The Greek word can also be translated \u201cdisregard.\u201d (Also see the JST translation.)<\/p>\n How would those listening to Jesus probably have responded to what he says in verses 26-27<\/a>? ? Is he intentionally alienating them? If so, why? If not, how so?<\/p>\n Read the JST for verse 27<\/a>. Does it change the meaning of these verses or does it augment that meaning?<\/p>\n The comparisons that Jesus makes in verses 28-32<\/a> are to people who carefully take into account what their actions will cost them before they proceed: a builder and a king going to war. Why does Jesus tell two parables that make the same point? What do these parables tell us about forsaking all and following Christ? Verse 33<\/a> says that if we do not forsake all, we cannot be disciples of Christ or, conversely, if we are his disciples, then we have forsaken all. In our context, what does it mean to forsake all? How do we do so\u2014and have we done so? Look at the verses inserted in the JST. (They are in the JST material in the back of your LDS Bible.) What do they mean in the context of forsaking all and counting the cost of discipleship?<\/p>\n Luke 16:1-12<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n A steward was usually a slave entrusted with the management of a household. What that entailed would depend on the type and size of the household he was to manage. Some speculate that the master in question is one who did not reside at the household managed by the steward, an absentee landlord as it were. That isn\u2019t necessarily the case.<\/p>\n A steward entrusted with money was expected to make a profit for his master, but stewards often also made money for themselves by manipulating the master\u2019s loans and by charging extra interest. Within limits, it seems that such practices were either tolerated or even expected.<\/p>\n We might substitute the word \u201csquandered\u201d for \u201cwasted\u201d in verse 1<\/a> and understand the meaning more accurately.<\/p>\n In verse 4<\/a> the phrase \u201cI am resolved\u201d means \u201cI\u2019ve known all along.\u201d What do we see the steward doing?<\/p>\n Why does his master commend the steward rather than condemn him (verse 8)?<\/p>\n In the same verse Jesus says \u201cfor the children of this world are in their generation [i.e., in their time] wiser than the children of light.\u201d What does that mean?<\/p>\n The word mammon (verse 9<\/a>) seems to mean \u201cthat in which one trusts.\u201d What is Jesus recommending in verse 9<\/a>? Is it related to any of the teachings of Ecclesiastes (for example, Ecclesiastes 2:24-26<\/a>; 3:11-12<\/a>)?<\/p>\n How does verse 10<\/a> explain verse 9<\/a>?<\/p>\n Are verse 11<\/a> and verse 12<\/a> parallel? Can you see different ways of reading \u201cif ye have not been faithful in that which is another man\u2019s, who shall give you that which is your own?\u201d (verse 12<\/a>). Who might the \u201cother man\u201d be in this life? In the eternities?<\/p>\n