Thirdmill Study Bible

Notes on Mark 12:35-13:37

Jesus quoted Ps. 110:1 - Mark 12:35-37

Jesus seized the initiative and asked his own question. He quoted Ps. 110:1 and asked why the scribes called the Christ David's son when David himself calls the Christ, Lord? The title Christ is simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah. The large crowd in the temple courts gladly listened to Jesus stumping the teachers of Israel. Mark began this long section of Jewish challenges with the question about Jesus' authority back in 11:27. In 12:35-36 Mark began to draw the section to a close by giving Jesus' answer to that question. Jesus was the Christ. Jesus was David's Lord. Jesus spoke in his own authority.

Hypocritical religious leaders - Mark 12:38-40

Jesus warned the people about hypocritical religious leaders again. See 7:6; 8:15. Jesus condemned their proud displays of religious piety and their abuse of their privileges. This is the end of Jesus' public ministry in Mark's Gospel. Jesus and the Jewish leadership are completely at odds and this antimony had now become very public.

Offering box - Mark 12:41-42

The offering box was located in the Court of Women. That gave both men and women access to it. The two mites were two small copper coins of very little value.

The widow's coin - Mark 12:43-44

Jesus called his disciples because they had not yet fully learned this lesson. God looks at things differently than people do. The widow's small coins were more than the large amounts of the wealthy. Literally, Mark reported that Jesus said she gave all the money she had to live on. The fact that this was a widow emphasized her lack of status in the community. She was a woman in a patriarchal society. And more than that, she was a woman without a husband. She had no one to stand up for her and represent her. The fact that Mark said she gave her whole life is an echo of the first commandment of 12:30 where Mark used the same Greek word. Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind, and your whole strength. Jesus was still teaching his disciples that to follow him required total commitment. This paragraph is similar to 5:25-34 where Mark used another helpless woman as an example of faith and trust in Jesus. This is a complete reversal of the human perspective.

The Messiah Ministers on the Mount of Olives. - Mark 13:1-37

See note on 11:1. This section of the gospel is sometimes called The Olivet Discourse. This is the longest speech by Jesus that Mark reported in his gospel. In these verses Jesus prophesied many things that were to come, but his purpose was not to give detailed description of future events. His purpose was to continue preparing his disciples for kingdom life and ministry when he would no longer be with them. Jesus warned them of the difficulties of the coming days and encouraged them by assuring them of the final victory of the kingdom of God. In these 37 verses he gave them 19 commands encouraging them to trust him and remain faithful. Jesus' commandments grew out of the future circumstances he described.

The temple complex - Mark 13:1-4

The temple complex had been expanded and beautified by Herod until it took up 1/6 of the area of the city. Some of the stones were 45 feet long, 12 feet high and 15 feet wide.