Mark 12:13-34

Introduction

Our passage will be looking at three different groups coming to Jesus. Two of them to “catch” Jesus: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and one (a scribe) impressed by the answers of Jesus. Collectively this is the Sanhedrin. The ruling counsel of Israel

paint the same picture from last week:

Temple Courts: The Temple in Jerusalem was a grand and sacred place, bustling with activity. The courts would have been spacious, with towering stone columns and pavements

There would have been a crowd of people, including disciples, followers of Jesus, merchants, and pilgrims. The atmosphere would be lively, with the sounds of people talking, animals being sacrificed, and merchants selling goods.

Give to Caesar

Mark 12:13–17 KJV

13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Mark 12:13 “13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.”

they = Sanhedrin

the Pharisees and Herodians despised each other, but they were able to unite in their wicked desire to destroy Jesus

catch =

Mark 12:14 “14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

“carest for no man”: They are saying “you don’t worry about what people think but only what’s true.”

they said it as hypocrites since all they cared about was what others thought and not God, but they spoke the truth without knowing

give tribute: the Jews despised paying taxes to Caesar since he was the leader of the conquering Romans. The Pharisees tried to avoid paying taxes as much as they could.

They thought if Jesus said they had to pay taxes to Caesar the people would rise up against him and if he said not to the Romans would convict him of breaking the law

Mark 12:15 “15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.”

penny: denarii was a small silver coin worth about an average days wage

Mark 12:16 “16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.”

image and superscription: with Caesars picture and name on it, it was Caesars coin. it belonged to him

front of the coin “Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus, Augustus” was the inscription on coins from Tiberius who was Caesar during the ministry and death of Jesus. The back of the coin usually depicted an image of Livia Drusilla, Tiberius' mother, seated and holding a scepter and a branch, representing peace and prosperity. The inscription on the reverse generally read "PONTIF MAXIM" (Pontifex Maximus, or High Priest).

“Son of the Divine Augustus”, “Pontifex Maximus” These inscriptions highlight Tiberius' connection to Augustus and his religious role as the high priest of the Roman state religion.

Caesar worship had already began at this point.

A citizen of Rome would have been required to give a pinch of incense and declare “Caesar is Lord”.

Christians were martyred the next 250 years for refusing to say that and instead saying Jesus is Lord.

Mark 12:17 “17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”

Jesus is saying it is a Christian’s duty to pay the taxes they owe. The Christians were under the rule of Rome. A wicked, onerous, and harsh government that violated God’s plan for government.

He’s also saying a Christian has a responsibility higher than that to God

God created the institutions of Church and State. There is no separation under God of the institutions. I mean by that both the Church and State are subject to the sovereign rule and reign of God almighty

Church and State are separate in duties and responsibility:

State wields the sword by waging war and in punishment of evil and rewarding of good. Power of the sword is never given to the Church.

The state violates it’s duty to God when it punishes good and rewards evil

The Church administers the Word and sacraments (preaching, Lord’s supper, and communion). The Word and sacraments were never to be administered by the state.

The church violates it’s duty to God when it fails to be the God called “conscience” of the State. It’s the duty of the church to loudly proclaim to every politician and for all to hear right is right and wrong is wrong when the Bible is our standard. To stand and speak to the entire nation the way Nathan did: 2 Samuel 12:7 “7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;”

Paul will point all of this out in Romans 13.

Another gift by God through Covid.

Highlighted the churches ignorance of it’s roles and responsibilities to both God and people. And how much the church has been corrupted by fear of men and the desire to be liked by the world

Also highlights how far the church and it’s members have allowed the nation to fall into Statism and given far too much authority and power to an institution that has been corrupted by power and money

The Resurrection

Mark 12:18–27 KJV

18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

Mark 12:18 “18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,”

It’s the Sadducees turn now

The only things that the Sadducees agreed with the Pharisees on were power and the desire they shared with the Pharisees and Herodians to destroy Jesus

No supernatural (angels and demons), what was contained in the Canon of Scripture (Pharisees said Law and Prophets while Sadducees said only Torah), and since they said only Torah and there was no literal resurrection taught in the Torah, they believed in no resurrection

Mark 12:19–23 “19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.”

Levirate law or kinsman redeemer command in Deut 25:5-10 mentioned specifically in Deuteronomy 25:5–6 “5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.”

A man marries a woman. The man dies before the woman has children, and according to the law of Moses, called the levirate law or the kinsman redeemer commandment, the surviving brother of the man who perished was obligated to take his brother’s widow as wife so that his brother may have offspring.

The Sadducees “trick” story has this happening 6 more times.

Mark 12:24 “24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?”

the churches problem today

I mention all the time how people argue all the time about points of doctrine. It’s not that the answer isn’t in the Bible. the problem is that we don’t know the Bible well enough to understand the answers. Or worse, we want the people we listen to or ourselves to be “right” so much we only see what we want to see in the Bible and skim over the rest without seeing.

even if we see it in the Bible, we are all plagued from the fall with what the writer of Hebrews calls in Hebrews 3:12 “12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

we either don’t trust God can or don’t believe God will or wants to

Mark 12:25–27 “25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”

WHEN they shall rise from the dead

neither marry nor are given in marriage. Marriage is the third institution given by God and a Godly marriage is so close I understand why it could bring some sadness to those whose ultimate happiness on earth is bound up with the help mete God has given them, to think they won’t be married any more.

First in the presence of our Lord and savior and the Father in heaven all the joy the most wonderful marriage on earth has brought will pale in comparison

Second we’ll have fellowship with God and with each other so close and fulfilling it will make the best friend we have in our spouse seem like somebody we’re passing in Walmart

Last, doctrinally, the institution of marriage was given by God for us on earth because we live in a fallen world here.

We are to take dominion of the world by multiplying and being fruitful and subduing the earth. This is to be done (Only CAN be done) in the context of one man and one woman and God intended it to be for life

I can tell you there have been more times than I can count I may have quit if not for the help I was given by my wife. Living life in a fallen world is hard. Too hard to try to do it alone and even secular statistics point out married peo

are as the ANGELS in heaven

But speaking of the dead and that they DO rise

Jesus knows they say the Torah doesn’t speak of resurrection

So he takes them to the Torah to show them how they are wrong

Exodus chapter 3 Moses sees the burning bush when God calls to him from it while in Midian herding his father-in-law’s flock

God tells him to take off his shoes because it’s holy ground then Exodus 3:6 “6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”

By the time Moses heard this Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were no longer on earth and had been buried

Jesus points out that God tells Moses I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. not WAS the God of. They are alive because God can and did resurrect them. He is not the God the dead, but God of the living

Which is the First Commandment

Mark 12:28–34 KJV

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Mark 12:28 “28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?”

Scribes turn now

experts in judging in Jewish law

No reason to doubt the scribe that came alone was sincere and after hearing how Jesus had answered the challenges was at least impressed

Mark 12:29–30 “29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Shema: to hear. The Shema prayer was recited morning and evening by every pious Jews. It was and is as important to Judaism as is the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostles’ Creed to Christianity.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 “4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Part of the whole Shema prayer in Deuteronomy 6:4–10 “4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. 10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,”

Jesus acknowledged the Lord God as most important and that complete devotion to Him is the most important of the commandments.

With all the heart: With not from; not just passing affection but with all we have inside us to be able to love

and soul: We are to love God with everything that is in us; from our spirit which is the center of who we are

With all our strength: With all our will, everything in us that we can muster to do anything with

Jesus adds mind. We are to seek out God in the scriptures using all our mind looking for as full an understanding as God would grant us. Are we doing that, or are we listening to somebody teach Sunday school

Mark 12:31 “31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

He asked for one Jesus gives him two

Leviticus 19:18 “18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

neighbor to the Jews meant only Jews. The early church knew Jesus was expanding this to everyone. Think of Luke 10 with the parable of the good Samaritan. Even love the despised Samaritans as much as we love ourselves

Mark 12:32–33 “32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

1 Samuel 15:22 “22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

the lawyer understands to love God more than anything and your neighbor is better than keeping all 613 points of the Jewish law

Mark 12:34 “34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”

discreetly is thoughtfully

Jesus is telling him he’s close; “You’re almost there” “You almost get it”

Conclusion

After these exchanges nobody else asked any more questions trying to trip up Jesus.

As they were “judging” the answers Jesus gave Jesus was “judging” them. Hebrews 4:12 “12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Jesus is the mirror we are to see ourselves in. When we think we have it perfect and others are failures, Hold up the mirror and see Jesus in the Bible and know how short we come!

Jesus summed up the heart of true religion in two commands:

Love God with everything you are, have, and can do

Love your neighbor as yourself

Galatians 5:1 “1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Mark: An Introduction and Commentary (vi. The Greatest Commandment (12:28–34))

This is what St Augustine means by saying ‘Love and do as you like’, for such love towards God and others will in itself keep us from licence. If we love others, we will do nothing to work them hurt and, if we love God, what we like and choose will be to do God’s will and pleasure (Ps. 40:8). That is why Paul can say ‘love is the fulfilling of the law’ (Rom. 13:10).