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Is the Gospel Passage in Mark 8:36 in any way related to Matthew's description of Satan tempting Jesus with 'rule over the whole world'?
Basically, are the two Gospel passages Mark 8:36 and Matthew 4:8-10 directly connected or related to each other? For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? - Mark 8:36 Again, the devil took Him (Rabbi Jesus) to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to Him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the LORD your God, and serve only him.’” - Matthew 4:8-10 For some reason, I think there is a direct connection between these Biblical verses but I COULD BE WRONG, one never knows.
Mark 8:36
NASB - 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
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Asked October 02 2013
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Jason Corning
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Kelli Trujillo
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I suppose in some ways one could say that these verses are related, but I wouldn't say that they are directly related in the sense that Jesus meant to reference His temptation experience with the devil when He spoke the verse that you quoted from Mark. In order to understand the full scope and meaning of Mark 8:36, it helps to read the verse in its original context, especially verses 34-38. In this passage, Jesus was encouraging His followers and the listening crowd to be willing to give up all for the sake of Christ, including their very own lives. He was trying to make the point that often the very things that we cling to for "life" don't actually bring life to us at all, and can actually interfere with our relationship with God or bring spiritual death. He was also warning us that we should not shrink back in the face of persecution or opposition. Mark 8:34-38: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Reading verse 36 in this context gives it a very different emphasis, especially when we compare this entire passage to Matthew 4:8-10: Again, the devil took Him (Rabbi Jesus) to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to Him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the LORD your God, and serve only him.’” Jesus was setting an example for us in this passage in Mark so that when we're tempted to worship someone other than God (modern day idols) or tempted to pursue self interests that conflict with our relationship with God, we can look to His example and draw strength from it. There are definitely similarities in concept and in the core message between these two passages, but these were two different conversations between Jesus and two very different audiences, and I don't believe that Jesus spoke one in order to be directly tied to the other. We see continuity and connectedness in countless passages all throughout the Bible because it has one continuous thread: It's God's love letter to us and expresses His desire to draw His people closer to Him, and also provides advice and encouragement pertaining to our pursuit of Him.
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