Mark 12:13-27

Intro

Read Mark 12:13-27

Mark 12:13–27 ESV

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. 18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

Jesus vs. The Establishment

This growing conflict has taking center stage

Mark brings us to the conflicts epicenter

The religious establishment vs. God in human form Jesus

The butter up and questions

Read Mark 12:13-14

Mark 12:13–14 ESV

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”

Teacher they say to him

Like they truely believe he has something to teach them

We were just taken to the rhetorical woodshed by you

obviously you know best

They know the people listen

but they come with sarcasm

They have come with a question that should catch him off like he did to them

The next step in this rhetorical battle

“ok here is a question for you”

They probably took time to make sure the question they cam with would cause the most damage

Is it lawful to pay taxes cesar

In God’s law should we pay taxes

This question is sure to get him on one side or the other

If he says yes then the Zealot jew’s will turn on him

If he says no then Rome will go after him

This question comes from such a place of worldly thought as we will see

it was short sighted and easily spurnned by Jesus

The answer

Read Mark 12:15-17

Mark 12:15–17 ESV

15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

Jesus again knowing their hearts

It must be very difficult to argue with one that knows your thoughts

These people say good things about me but they really lie because their hearts are opposed to me

“here we go again”

Bring me the coin in which you pay your taxes

Who is on this coin

ok its settled

Pay the tax

This surely made the pharisees happy because they figured they got him

Picture this the middle of this rhetorical battle and the ooooohhhhhhs come out

But But But

You must also give to God what is his

Worship

Honor

Reverence

Glory

These pharisees fail at this

They love the worship

Honor

Reverence

and glory

They get from the people because they think they represent God to these people and they are the most righteous among them

This is the moment Jesus drops the mic

Even the pharisees marveled at what he said

They were stunned

Surely they had the perfect question formed

yet it was turned on them

Round 2

Read Mark 12:18-22

Mark 12:18–23 ESV

18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

Now its the Sadducees turn

So you know how in the law it says this thing about what happens when a man dies and leaves his wife widowed

Well what if this crazy thing happens

What happens in heaven

The resurrection that we dont even believe in

If resurrection was a thing dont you see how complex this would be....

So what do you have to say to this

“ok one more time really”

You just dont get it

Read Mark 12:24-27

Mark 12:24–27 ESV

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

He starts with the rebuke of them

Right out of the gate is this not why you error

When you open your mouth you are wrong because you speak like you know but you know nothing

You dont know the scriptures

And you dont understand the power of God

When they rise they are not married

The only relationship that matters in heaven is the perfect relationship with have with God

The worshiping and focusing on him alone

no need for marriage no need for procreation

nor do you understand the power of god

god is a god of the living those that

These men are spoken of as living

he is currently their god

he has the power to sustain them eternily

god Is the god of all those living eternally

you are badly mistaken