Laws in the Gospel of Mark

The "Gospel According to Mark is the second of the four New Testament Gospels and, with Matthew and Luke, one of the three Synoptic Gospels (i.e., those presenting a common view). It is attributed to St. Mark the Evangelist (Acts 12:12; 15:37), an associate of St. Paul and a disciple of St. Peter, whose teachings the Gospel may reflect. It is the shortest and the earliest of the four Gospels, presumably written during the decade preceding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Most scholars agree that it was used by St. Matthew and St. Luke in composing their accounts; more than 90 percent of the content of Mark's Gospel appears in Matthew's and more than 50 percent in the Gospel of Luke. Although the text lacks literary polish, it is simple and direct, and, as the earliest Gospel, it is the primary source of information about the ministry of Jesus.

"Mark's explanations of Jewish customs and his translations of Aramaic expressions suggest that he was writing for Gentile converts, probably especially for those converts living in Rome. After an introduction (1:1–13), the Gospel describes Jesus' ministry in and around Galilee (1:14–8:26), his journey to Jerusalem (11–13), the Passion (14–15), and the Resurrection (16). The final passage in Mark (16:9–20) is omitted in some manuscripts, including the two oldest, and a shorter passage is substituted in others. Many scholars believe that these last verses were not written by Mark, at least not at the same time as the balance of the Gospel, but were added later to account for the Resurrection. Mark's Gospel stresses the deeds, strength, and determination of Jesus in overcoming evil forces and defying the power of imperial Rome. Mark also emphasizes the Passion, predicting it as early as chapter 8 and devoting the final third of his Gospel (11–16) to the last week of Jesus' life.

"One of the most striking elements in the Gospel is Mark's characterization of Jesus as reluctant to reveal himself as the Messiah. Jesus refers to himself only as the Son of Man, and, while tacitly acknowledging St. Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ (8:27–30), he nevertheless cautions his followers not to tell anyone about him." – Encyclopaedia Britannica

The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent [change your mind], and believe in the gospel. – Mark 1:15

Christ did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. – Mark 2:17

Law of Contraction: No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. – Mark 2:21

Law of Expansion: No one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins. – Mark 2:22

The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. – Mark 2:27

A group, divided in opinion, will collapse; a personality divided within itself destroys its consciousness. "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end." – Mark 3:24‑27

All sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation. – Mark 3:28‑29

Whoever does the will of God is my brother and my sister and mother. – Mark 3:35

There is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. – Mark 4:22

Take heed [Listen to] what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. – Mark 4:24

Whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. – Mark 4:25

Do not be afraid; only believe. – Mark 6:4

A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house. "Familiarity breeds contempt." – Mark 5:36

You can do no mighty work of faith in the presence of unbelief. "He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief." – Mark 6:5‑6

Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. – Mark 6:11

You [may not] reject the commandment of God, [so] that you may keep your [worldly] tradition. – Mark 7:9

Nothing that enters you from outside can defile you; but the things which come out of you, those are the things that defile you. – Mark 7:15

Whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods. – Mark 7:19

What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications; murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man. – Mark 7:20‑23

Whoever desires to come after Christ, let him deny himself [his self], and take up his cross, and follow the Christ. – Mark 8:34

Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ's sake and the gospel's will save it. – Mark 8:35

All things are possible to him who believes. – Mark 9:23

If you desire to be first, you must be last and serve all. "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." – Mark 9:35

If you desire to become great, you must serve; if you desire to be first, you must serve all. "Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all." – Mark 10:43‑44

Whoever receives one of these little children in Christ's name receives Christ; and whoever receives Christ, receives the Father who sent him. – Mark 9:37

No one who works a miracle in Christ's name can soon afterward speak evil of him. – Mark 9:39

He who is not against Christ is on Christ's side. – Mark 9:40

Whoever gives … in Christ's name … will by no means lose his reward. – Mark 9:41

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Christ to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. – Mark 9:42

If your hand [foot or eye] causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than … to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched. – Mark 9:43, 45, 47

Everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. [Salt is incorruption.] – Mark 9:49

Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt [integrity] in yourselves, and have peace with one another. [Salt is incorruption.] – Mark 9:49

Divorce is permitted only to those hard in heart. – Mark 10:2‑8

What God has joined together, let not man separate. – Mark 10:9

Whoever divorces … and marries another commits adultery. – Mark 10:11‑12

Let the little children come to Christ, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. – Mark 10:14

Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. – Mark 10:15

How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 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. – Mark 10:24‑25

With God all things are possible. – Mark 10:27

There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for Christ's sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time‑‑houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions‑and in the age to come, eternal life. – Mark 10:29‑30

Many who are first will be last, and the last first. – Mark 10:31

Never agree to a promise unless you first know the terms: "James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, `Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.'And he said to them, `What do you want me to do for you?'" – Mark 10:35‑36

God decides each soul's reward: "To sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." – Mark 10:40

The Christos candidate comes to serve, not to be served. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." – Mark 10:45

Your faith will make you whole. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, `Son, your sins are forgiven you.'" – Mark 10:52 ("Daughter, your faith has made you well." – Mark 5:34 "Your faith has made you well." – Mark 2:5)

Have faith in God … whoever says to the mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart; but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. – Mark 11:22‑23

Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. – Mark 11:24

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. – Mark 11:25

If you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses. – Mark 11:26

Do not conflate the world's requirements of you with your responsibility to God: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. – Mark 12:17

Do not conflate the world's nature with heaven's: When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. [God] is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. – Mark 12:25

The first of all the commandments is: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these. – Mark 12:29‑31

There is One God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. – Mark 12:32‑33

David himself said by the Holy Spirit: "Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool." – Mark12:36

Take heed that no one deceives you. – Mark 13:5 (For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. – Mark 15:22)

Do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. – Mark 13:11<

He who endures to the end shall be saved. – Mark 13:13

Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Christ message will by no means pass away. – Mark 13:31

Of that [Judgment] Day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. – Mark 13:32

Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time [of Judgment] is. – Mark 13:33

Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. – Mark 14:36

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. – Mark 14:38

You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. – Mark 14:62

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. – Mark 16:15‑16

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