Beginner's Bible Study - 002

Though Jesus thought it was important that people read the Old Testament the way he did. Many people did not.

Some people thought Jesus wasn't competent to teach

Some people would not hear him because he had not been trained to teach by any of the schools of the rabbis:

Mr 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him.

Some people would not hear him because he cared more for people than for pigs

There is much more to this story. This event took place in the land of the tribe of Gad of Israel. So though it had been overrun with Greeks, it was still within the territory God had given to Israel. He set the man free from demons, and cleansed the countryside of the 'abominable' swine, but the people did not want him there.

Mr 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Mr 5:16 And they that saw [it] told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and [also] concerning the swine.

Mr 5:17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

Some disliked his teaching so much they wanted to kill him

Mt 26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

Mt 27:1 ¶ Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Some today still don't want us to teach like Jesus and the apostles

The fact is plain: the Apostle Peter would get an “F” if he preached his Acts 2 sermon in Moody’s class, “Communication of Biblical Truth”. The professor, vigilant to eliminate any interpretation that went beyond the “original authorial intent,” would give the classic critique to the apostle: “this text used out of its context!” -- David Niblack