Lesson 17- “Mt Olivet Discourse”-Mark 13:1-37
ID:
Inductive Questions (Asking the text questions like who, what, where, when,
why, & how?”)
CR: Cross
References (Comparing Scripture to Scripture, understanding the vague by the
clear.)
WS: Word
Study (Understanding definition, theological meaning, and usages in other
passages.)
The WORD: What does the Bible say?
Context: Read Mark 12:41-14:2 to help
understand the context of this passage.
Read Mark 13:1-37 in a more literal or more dynamic
translation than you usually use.
As you read note the first (5b) and last
(37) word, notice how many imperative verbs (commands) there are, and watch for
allusions to the Old Testament. Review Micah
7:6 (v. 12), Daniel
8:13; Daniel
11:31; Daniel
12:11; Daniel
9:27 (v. 14), Isaiah
13:9-10; Joel 3:15;
Zephaniah
1:15 (v. 24), Isaiah
13:9-10 (v. 25), Daniel
7:13-14 (v. 26), and Isaiah
40:8 (v.31) for your study.
This passage has
been a challenge to interpret. Let’s maintain
a gracious spirit and not get tangled up in those interpretive details so deeply that we miss or run out of
time for some of the clearer applications for us today.
1. ID: (13:1-4) What
was the setting for this discourse (who, where, when, etc.)? What startling
statement did Jesus make about the Temple buildings? What questions did the
disciples ask about that statement (cf. Matt.
24:1–3; Luke 21:5–7)? (Understanding
what Jesus talking about and what questions he is answering is important.)
2. ID: (2:5-13) What
deception should be expected? What
should Christ’s followers expect? How
should they respond? What might them to be worried? What do you think is the main point of this
section?
3. CR: (13:14-18) To
what does the “abomination of
desolation” spoken of by Daniel refer? (Daniel
8:13; Daniel
11:31; Daniel
12:11; Daniel
9:27) What did Jesus say people should
do when they see it?
4. CR/ID: (13:24-27) Verses 24-25 have several allusions to the Old
Testament. How do they help your
understanding of this section? (Isaiah
13:9-10; Joel
3:15; Zephaniah
1:15 (v. 24), Isaiah
13:9-10 (v. 25), Daniel
7:13-14 (v. 26)) Can you
think of other passages that might add some clarity to these verses? (Refer to a study Bible or other cross reference tool.) What is the main point of this section?
5. ID: (13:28-31) What are we to learn from the parable of the
fig tree? What are the “these things” of
verses 29 & 30? What remains even in
tumultuous times
6. ID/WS: (13:32-37) Watch out / take heed / be on Guard (v. 33
“and pray”) is a call to vigilance repeated throughout the discourse (cf. vv.
9, 23, 33; v. 35 has a different verb).
What were they (are we) to watch out for? Why were they (we) to watch? Is this exhortation specific only to the
Disciples?
The WALK: What should I do?
1. Do wars and rumors of wars, etc. trouble you? Why should they not trouble us? (What reasons does this chapter give?) What specific statements of comfort and
encouragement did you find in this chapter?
2. In what areas of your life do you need to be on guard?
In what practical ways can we be alert for Jesus’ return? (1
Corinthians 16:13-14; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:8)?
3. Why is prayer associated with being vigilant? What do we pray about when we are “watching
out?”
4. Where in this passage do we see Gospel truths about God, Man, Christ, and our response? Have your sins been forgiven?
Going Beyond: What
areas of theology are touched on in this passage? q The Bible q God
q God the Father
q Jesus Christ q The Holy Spirit q Man
q Salvation
q The Church
q Angels & Satan q Future Things
Henry Virkler and Karelynne
Ayayo have written an excellent book on hermeneutics, Hermeneutics:
Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation. If you want to sharpen your Bible
interpretation skills, it would be a great resource. In it they highlight four areas of
consideration when we look at apocalyptic material in the Bible
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Principles for Interpreting Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature
Historical-cultural analysis. The wide variety of theories concerning the
end times arise not so much from a disagreement concerning principles of
prophetic interpretation as from differences in applying those principles. Almost all commentators agree that a careful
historical and contextual analysis is a prerequisite for accurate understating
of prophecy. Determination of the identity
of all proper names, events, geographical references, and so on remains a
crucial first step. Even when such
references are used symbolically, such as the city of
Babylon often is, a knowledge of the historical city of Babylon provides important clues about its
symbolic meaning. Careful historical
also remains the only way of determining whether a prophecy has already been
fulfilled. An analysis of relevant cultural
customs is no less important.
Lexical-syntactical analysis. A careful study of the context sometimes
reveals whether an author intended his words to be understood literally,
symbolically, or analogically. For
instance, when John speaks of the seven lampstands in his vision and then
declares, “The seven lampstands are the seven churches” (Rev. 1:20), it is
clear both that his words are symbolic and that they are symbolic of the seven
churches. In many cases, however; the
task of interpreting may still be difficult, as Robert
Girdlestone observes:
“[What] makes the language
of prophecy so vivid and yet so difficult is that it is always more or less
figurative. It is poetry rather than
prose. It abounds in peculiar words and
expressions which are not usually to be found in prose writings of the same
date. It is rich with allusions to
contemporary life and to past history, some of which are decidedly
obscure. The actions recorded in it are
sometimes symbolical, sometimes typical.
The present, the past, and the future, the declaratory and the
predictive, are all combined and fused into one. The course of individuals, the rise and fall
of nations, the prospects of the world at large, are rapidly portrayed in
realistic language.”
Theological analysis. For the student examining any given prophecy,
there are usually several parallel passages that should be consulted. Sometimes
such passages occur within the same book, as when prophecy is given in
cycles. Frequently other prophets have
spoken about the topic, filling in additional details not contained in the
passage under study. The index to Payne’s
Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy contains
an alphabetical listing of subjects in prophecy together with references to
relevant biblical passages and discussions of those passages.
Literary analysis. Once it has been determined that a passage is
prophetic or apocalyptic literature, the probability of symbolic and analogical
allusions increases. The concepts of
progressive prediction, developmental fulfillment, and prophetic telescoping
can be incorporated into the understanding of the text as appropriate.
In interpretation of prophecy, as in other types of biblical
literature, comparison of one’s work with that of others is important. The complexity of the topics, the wide range
of parallel passages, and the multitude of unusual allusions make it imperative
to draw from the wealth of knowledge of scholars who have studied this area in
depth.
Virkler,
Henry A., and Karelynne
Gerber Ayayo. Hermeneutics:
Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic, 2007.
Here are some perspectives on this passage.
Free Bible Commentary on
Mark 13 by Bob Utley
Notes on Mark
by Thomas Constable
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·
This
passage has been a challenge to interpret. Let’s maintain a gracious
spirit and not get tangled up in those interpretive details so deeply that we
miss or run out of time for some of the clearer applications for us today.
·
I
encourage you to include the “Parallel Harmony from Matthew, Mark, and Luke” in
an e-mail to your men. If you are not sending one each week, I would
suggest that you do. The men will probably find this lesson will take a
little more time than usual.
WORD
1. While what
Mark chooses to include in his account is important, the cross references
should be helpful in establishing what questions Jesus is answering in chapter
13.
3. There
are two perspectives to approach the “abomination of Desolation” from.
One is more of a dictionary definition and the other is a historical event.
6. This
question is, in my mind, the one that we really want to give attention
to. Mark emphesizes the importance of watching. The last words, “I
say to all, ‘ in verse 35 drives the point home to us today. This isnot
just abstract concepts about the distant future and the past for the twelve.
WALK
1. Amid
all the uncertianty of election year politics and world affairs, what should
keep us comforted and encouraged? Talk about what our hope is and who it
is in.
2-3.
These questions are designed to help flesh out what it means to have a watchful
and prayerful attitude through our daily routines.
EXTRA:
I have included
an excerpt about the apocalyptic genre from the excellent book, Hermeneutics:
Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation and a links to a study
guide and commentary that could be helpful.
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