Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 1:6 "To self-control perseverance..."
Day 154 – Mark 7
“To self-control perseverance…” 2 Peter 1:6
PROBLEMS WITH THE PHARISEES
Jesus had many run-ins with the Pharisees. Let’s do a quick recapitulation of those incidents recorded in the Gospel of Mark.
1. They found fault with Jesus declaring forgiveness of sins Mark 2:6-7
2. They found fault with Jesus eating with sinful people Mark 2:16
3. They found fault with Jesus on the issue of fasting Mark 2:18
4. They found fault with Jesus on the issue of the Sabbath Mark 2:24; 3:1-5
5. They found fault with Jesus concerning the source of his power Mark 3:22
ROOT PROBLEMS BENEATH THE PHARISAICAL ATTITUDE
Why did the Pharisees clash again and again with Jesus, despite the fact that they saw so much Divine power displayed? The following reasons may be given:-
1. Faulty reasoning Mark 2:1-12
2. Self-righteousness Mark 2:15-17
3. Prideful judgmental spirit Mark 2:18
4. Hardness of heart Mark 3:5
5. A blasphemous spirit Mark 3:22-30
OTHER SECTARIAN GROUPS
Clashes between Jesus and the Pharisees were not infrequent. Soon others were also involved. The following groups began to get together to figure out how they could oppose Jesus.
1. Scribes Mark 2:6, 16; 3:22
2. Herodians Mark 3:6
DEEP UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS
The scribes, Pharisees and Herodians never looked deeply into their hearts, to see if they had erred somehow. Their problem of unbelief, hardness of heart, and wickedness of spirit were deep and dark problems that were never dealt with. They chose instead to find fault with Jesus at every turn!