Week 27 The Sun Scorches the Stony Word
“Boldness enables Christians to forsake all rather than Christ, and to prefer to offend all rather than to offend Him.”
Jonathan Edwards
Passage
18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?
19 As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with gold, And a silversmith fashions chains of silver.
20 He who is too impoverished for such an offering Selects a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To prepare an idol that will not totter.
21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the vault of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
24 Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble.
25 “To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?” says the Holy One.
(Isaiah 40:18–25, NASB)
"Golden Sand - white Desert" by www.alfieianni.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Background
Quote-Who Jonathan Edwards (October 5, 1703 – March 22, 1758) was an American revivalist preacher, philosopher, and Congregationalist theologian. Edwards is widely regarded as one of America's most important and original philosophical theologians. Edwards' theological work is broad in scope but rooted in the pedobaptist (baptism of infants) Puritan heritage as exemplified in the Westminster and Savoy Confessions of Faith. Recent studies have emphasized how thoroughly Edwards grounded his life's work on conceptions of beauty, harmony, and ethical fittingness, and how central The Enlightenment was to his mindset. Edwards played a critical role in shaping the First Great Awakening, and oversaw some of the first revivals in 1733–35 at his church in Northampton, Massachusetts. His theological work gave rise to the school of theology known as New England theology.
Passage-Who The book of Isaiah is Narrative History, Prophetic Oracle, and even a Parable (chapter 5). The prophet Isaiah wrote it at approximately 700 B.C. (Chapters 40-66, written later in his life approx. 681 B.C.). Isaiah contains some of the most incredible prophecies of any book. It contains foreknowledge, in incredible details about the Messiah, and the future reign of Jesus Christ. Isaiah’s purpose is to call God’s nation back to faithfulness and to declare the coming Messiah “Immanuel”. God calls Isaiah to declare to Judah and Israel condemnation, conviction, and ultimately great hope.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
The world of the modern day is vastly different from the time of Jesus. The apostles could not have conceived of the world of today. Some use this as an excuse to decide which parts of the Bible they can follow saying there’s no way the writers of two-thousand years ago could have meant those words, that way, for today. The problem is those men and women aren’t who authored those words. They were just the instrument that put them down.
Ask: What does it mean to be offended?
Point: Read the Definition of Offend
Ask: In light of the biblical use of the word offend, what offends you?
Point: First Reading Mark 4:2–6 (NASB) & Mark 4:16–17 (KJV 1900)
Review the Greek definition for the word used as “offend.”
Second Reading Mark 4:17 (NASB95)
Ask: In light of the biblical definition of offend and the Greek word behind the word used in scripture, what does the NASB and KJV mean when they say “fall away” or “offend?”
Point: It means the listener is enticed into doing something God does not approve of either by sinning directly or by failing to stop something from happening that is sin.
Read the definition of wither
Read the Greek definition for the word used as “wither.”
Third Reading Mark 4:6 (NASB95)
Ask: What has “scorched” us that causes us to shrivel up, move away from God’s ways and sin?
Point: The conflict between what the World says is good and what God says is good.
Fourth Reading Revelation 16:1 (NASB95) & Revelation 16:7–9 (NASB95)
Ask: Who’s judgment is right?
Point: God’s.
Ask: How do we know when what we think is right is in conflict with what God thinks is right?
Point: The easiest way is when scripture says something different from what we believe.
Ask: What are some other ways we can discover when our beliefs are in conflict with what God thinks is right?
Point: This is a discussion point but some of the answers might be that we encounter hardship we cannot overcome on our own, someone we trust as a solid Christian tells us so, or Christian content keeps popping up in our lives that counters something we believe.
Ask: What should we do when we discover something we believe is in conflict with what God says is right?
Point: Fifth Reading 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB95)
Ask: What one word embodies the whole of the Fifth Reading?
Point: Repent.
Sixth Reading Ezekiel 14:6–8 (NASB95)
Ask: What happens if we keep the idols we’ve set up, keep the sin of the differences between what we think is good and what God thinks is good?
Point: The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler (page 10)
Closing Statement
We have a hard time stepping out of our mess because it is comfortable and familiar. Change is uncomfortable and unfamiliar. How we get along day to day when we disrupt our routine with change brings questions to our mind for which we have no answers. God has the answers. His Son lived those answers. His prophets, apostles, and disciples wrote down those answers, just as He gave them to them. We have to sit down, understand our personal faith, what it is built upon and why we believe, and we have to resolve to take action no matter how difficult. Moving forward in this way is pleasing to God, and we will have an ever-present companion whose strength is boundless upon which we can rely.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 The World seems to want everyone offended all the time. Given that the World is not of God, why do you think Satan wants Christians continually offended?
Question 2 Consider Mark 4:16-17 that when the World attacks Christians or hardship descends upon us why is the goal to offend us?
Question 3 How does making a follower of Jesus offended cause us to sin?
Question 4 Why is being offended in the Parable of the Sower such an important concept to grasp and to work on avoiding?
Question 5 Consider Mark 4:10-12 as an answer to Question 4 then write in your journal what effect your understanding of the Parable of the Sower has in light of what Jesus said in verse 10-12 of Mark chapter 4.
Scripture
First Reading
2And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,
3“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4and it came about that as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.
5“And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
6“And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Mark 4:2–6 (NASB)
16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark 4:16–17 (KJV 1900)
16“In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;
17and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
Mark 4:16–17 (NASB95)
Second Reading
17and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
Mark 4:17 (NASB95)
Third Reading
6“And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Mark 4:6 (NASB95)
Fourth Reading
1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
Revelation 16:1 (NASB95)
7And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
8The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire.
9Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.
Revelation 16:7–9 (NASB95)
Fifth Reading
14and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB95)
Sixth Reading
6“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations.
7“For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I the Lord will be brought to answer him in My own person.
8“I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 14:6–8 (NASB95)
Definitions
offend
[ uh-fend ]
verb (used with object)
to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in:
to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).
to hurt or cause pain to.
(in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.
verb (used without object)
to cause resentful displeasure; irritate, annoy, or anger:a remark so thoughtless it can only offend.
to err in conduct; commit a sin, crime, or fault.
Greek Strong’s Number: 4624
Greek Word: σκανδαλίζω
Transliteration: skandalizō
Phonetic Pronunciation: skan-dal-id’-zo
Root: from <G4625>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 7:339,1036
Part of Speech: v
Vine’s Words: Offend
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
offend 28
make to offend 2
[Total Count: 30]
(“scandalize”); from <G4625> (skandalon); to entrap, i.e. trip up (figurative stumble [transitive] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):- (make to) offend.
James Strong, “Σκανδαλίζω,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
wither
[ with-er ]
verb (used without object)
to shrivel; fade; decay:The grapes had withered on the vine.
to lose the freshness of youth, as from age (often followed by away).
verb (used with object)
to make flaccid, shrunken, or dry, as from loss of moisture; cause to lose freshness, bloom, vigor, etc.:The drought withered the buds.
to affect harmfully:Reputations were withered by the scandal.
to abash, as by a scathing glance:a look that withered him.
Greek Strong’s Number: 3583
Greek Word: ξηραίνω
Transliteration: xērainō
Phonetic Pronunciation: xay-rah’ee-no
Root: from <G3584>
Cross Reference:
Part of Speech: v
Vine’s Words: Dry, Over-ripe, Pine away, Ripe, Wither
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
wither away 6
wither 5
dry up 3
pine away 1
be ripe 1
[Total Count: 16]
from <G3584> (xeros); to desiccate; by implication to shrivel, to mature:- dry up, pine away, be ripe, wither (away).
James Strong, “Ξηραίνω,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
repent
[ ri-pent ]
verb (used without object)
to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often followed by of): He repented after his thoughtless act.
to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the
better; be penitent.
verb (used with object)
to remember or regard with self-reproach or contrition: to repent one's injustice to another.
to feel sorry for; regret: to repent an imprudent act.
The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler
17As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
18And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19“You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”
20And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”
21Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
24The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”
27Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
28Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”
29Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
30but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
31“But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
Mark 10:17–31 (NASB95)