Tag Archives: Mark 12

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2024 Bible Study — How to Answer Those Who Ask Questions About Our Faith

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Mark 12-13.

I am going to try linking the accounts of the three questions asked of Jesus in today’s passage.  These stories come in the context of the Jewish teachers of the law and other leaders seeking a way to arrest Jesus without inflaming the crowds.  So, the first question was intended to either get Jesus to say something which would allow them to get the Romans to arrest Him, or alienate the crowds.  If He declared that Jewish Law, the Law of Moses, forbade paying tax to Caesar, they could accuse Him of insurrection to the Romans.  On the other hand, if He said that the tax to Caesar was legitimate under Jewish Law, they would have been able to present Him to the crowds as a stooge for the Romans.  Jesus avoided both of these while pointing out to the crowd that the hypocrisy of those who had tried to trap Him.  Then the Sadducees tried a different trap.  They thought they had found a contradiction between the Law of Moses and belief in the resurrection of the dead.  Jesus pointed out the “easy out” on this and that they did not believe in resurrection because they did not believe that even God could bring the dead back to life.  The final questioner was honestly interested in Jesus’ answer.  And because the questioner was honest in seeking to understand what Jesus taught, Jesus gave him a sincere, honest answer.  Not that Jesus’ other answers were not honest and sincere, it’s just that this last answer did not include any condemnation of the questioner.  Each of the answers teach us important lessons about our God and our faith.  However, taken together these three answers from Jesus teach us how to answer those who question our beliefs.  If they are looking to understand then we should answer them honestly and with respect.  On the other hand, if they are asking in order to trap or  trick us we should answer with shrewdness and wit.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2023 Bible Study — Do Not Be Found Sleeping When Christ Returns

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Mark 12-13.

Today’s passage contains Jesus’ prophecy regarding the end times and His return.  Today I want to focus on two aspects of Jesus’ prophecy.  First, He warns us not to be deceived by those who falsely come in His name.  Jesus tells that many false prophets and false messiahs will come, performing signs and marvels to deceive.  We need to be on guard and compare the messages of those who claim to speak on behalf of God to that which He has already told us.  In this prophecy Jesus tells us of many signs which will tell us that the day of His return is near.  However, He also tells us that no one knows the day and hour of His return aside from the Father.  Therefore, we must remain on alert and on guard, making sure to be carrying out the tasks which God has given us.  We must not let His return find us sleeping and allowing our tasks to remain undone.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2022 Bible Study — That Which Bears God’s Image Belongs To God

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Mark 12-13.

This morning it struck me that Mark placed the Parable of the Tenants just before the conversation about paying taxes to Caesar for a reason.  We often read the Parable of the Tenants as being about  the fact that throughout history religious leaders have killed the prophets whom God has sent, culminating in killing His Son, Jesus.  In doing so, we often think that this ended with Jesus’ death and resurrection, but if you look at the martyrs killed for their faith during the Reformation you quickly realize that religious leaders still persecute those whom God has sent.  However, we often fail to think about the purpose for which God sent those whom the religious leaders persecute.  The discussion about taxes which immediately follows the Parable of the Tenants here makes clear that purpose.  God sends prophets, and others, to call on us to give to Him what is His.  And reading Jesus’ answer about taxes makes clear what is God’s.  The coins which were used to pay the tax to Caesar bore Caesar’s image.  So, Jesus said, we should give them to Caesar because they were his.  What made them Caesar’s?  The fact that they bore his image.  So, if we are to give to Caesar the coins which bear his image, does that not mean that we should give to God that which bears His image?  The answer is a clear and resounding “Yes”.  In Genesis we were told that God created man in His image.  So, when Jesus says that we should give to God what is God’s, He is telling us to give ourselves to God.  And the Parable of the Tenants was about how far we are often wiling to go to avoid being reminded that we belong to God.

As I was composing the title for today’s blog, I was reminded of one other point that we should take from these two episodes:  Every human being bears the image of God, which means they are His prized possessions.  Let us treat them with at least the respect and honor we would wish others to treat our prized possessions.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2021 Bible Study — Give To God What Is God’s

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Mark 12-13.

Some years back I read an article which gave some insight into the account of when Jesus was questioned on whether Moses’ Law allowed for paying tax to Caesar.  It made particular point about the fact that the coin used to pay the tax had Caesar’s image upon it (there was a lot more to the article than that, but that is the point which always brings me to my thoughts on this account).  So, when Jesus tells them to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s He makes a very profound statement.  Jesus was clearly pointing out that the coin was made by Caesar (or, at least, at Caesar’s command) in his image, making it his.  On the other hand, each and every one of us was made by God in His image.  Therefore we belong to God and should surrender ourselves to Him.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2020 Bible Study Give To God That Which Bears His Image

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Mark 12-13

I am not sure where I am going to go with this today. There are several things I want to write which do not currently have any connection to each other in my mind.  First, When asked about taxation, Jesus’ answer was not just about taxation.  The coin which His questioners showed Him had Caesar’s image upon it.  This led Jesus to tell them to give to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God what was God.  Jesus’ listeners would have realized that He was referencing Genesis 1:27 when He said this.  We are made in God’s image.  Money bears the image of the government which issued it, so that government has claim to that money.  But we bear the image of God, so God has claim to our very being.

And now I see a connection to the next thing on which I want to comment.  When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He answered, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”  Then followed that up by saying that the second most important commandment was equally important, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and that all other commandments derive from these two.  Really, the second commandment derives from the first, but we need that second commandment because without it it would be all too easy for us to pretend that we can love God without loving our neighbor.  Each of us has been made in God’s image.  Therefor, if we truly love God we will love those whom He made in His image.  In fact, loving our neighbor is part of giving to God what belongs to God.

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2019 Bible Study — Three Different Reasons Lead to Three Different Questions

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.  

Today, I am reading and commenting on Mark 12-13

Today’s passage contains accounts of three different approaches people take to those who proclaim the truth.  First the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus in the conflict between government authority and popular opinion.  Then the Sadducees tried to trap Jesus in what they thought was a logic conflict in His belief system.  Finally an unnamed teacher of the law asked a probing question aimed at discovering the core of Jesus’ teachings.

The Pharisees thought that Jesus’ appeal to the masses came from telling them what they wanted to hear.  The premise of their question was that if Jesus gave the crowds the answer they wanted to hear, they could have the Romans arrest Him for inciting rebellion.  On the other hand, they thought that if Jesus gave an answer on taxation which did not support it the crowds would turn on Him.  The Pharisees did not ask this question in order to learn Jesus’ answer.  They thought they had come up with a question where they could use whatever answer Jesus gave against Him.   There are many nuances to Jesus’ answer.  However, Jesus makes the central point that only those involved in trade with the Romans were significantly impacted by the Roman taxes.  

The Sadduccess thought that resurrection from the dead was illogical.  Their question was intended to highlight the logical inconsistencies of what Jesus taught.  Again, they were not seeking to understand what Jesus’ taught.  They sought an answer they could use against Him.  Jesus showed that their question only seems like it presents a quandary because they lacked faith in God’s power over the Universe.

Finally, the unnamed teacher of the law asked a question which actually explored what Jesus taught.  This last question truly got at whether or not Jesus was a teacher to whom we should listen.  This man asked Jesus a question to which he genuinely wanted to know the answer.  Unlike the Pharisees who thought they would be able to use Jesus’ answer against Him, no matter how He answered and unlike the Sadduccess who thought their question had no answer.  This unnamed teacher genuinely wanted to know what Jesus thought.  He wanted to see if Jesus’ answer added up.  When people question us about our faith, they will fall into one of these categories.  Some people will be seeking an answer that they can use against us or our faith.  Others will be seeking to show that only foolish people would actually believe what we say we believe.  But a few people will ask questions because they genuinely seek to learn the truth.

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2018 Bible Study — Getting Back to Basics

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Mark 12-13.

    The parable Jesus tells about the evil farmers does not directly apply to most of us. Most of us are not in a position to persecute those who call us out for our sins. Yet there is something there for us to think about. How do we react to those who do call us out for sin? Do we listen to what they have to say, examine our lives, and change our behaviors if their accusation has merit? Or, do we seek reason to find fault with our accusers?

    Mark illustrates three reactions to Jesus. These are the reactions which all religious leaders who step out of the status quo inspire. The first reaction is on social/political issues. The Pharisees asked Jesus taxes in a way designed to trap Him between an answer which would anger those inclined to follow Him and an answer which would bring down the power of the government on Him. Jesus recognized that the question was not being asked honestly, but merely as a way to use His answer, whatever it was, against Him. Remember that this question and answer occurred in the context of the religious leaders challenging Jesus on what authority He had to drive the money changers out of the Temple. Jesus asks them to show Him one of the coins used to pay the tax. When they do, He draws attention to the fact that it has Caesar’s image stamped on it. This was the basis for why the money changers were even here. Because the common coins had Caesar’s image on them it was considered idolatrous to use them to use as offerings in the Temple. Jesus points out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees for on one hand saying that these coins were idolatrous, yet carrying them around in the Temple. But there is more to His answer. The problem with these coins was that they had Caesar’s image on them. Jesus had asked them whose image was on the coin, He then told them to give to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God what was God’s. Those who were truly paying attention would have realized that He was referring to the fact that the Bible teaches that we bear the image of God. Give your money to the government which created it to do with as it pleases, but give yourself to God, who created you, to do with as He pleases.

    The second response was an attempt to show that Jesus’ positions were logically inconsistent based on not understanding what He taught. The Sadducees believed that the idea of the resurrection of the dead was logically inconsistent and came of with a hypothetical which they thought illustrated this. Jesus showed that they had created a straw man argument. They assumed that since He taught that divorce was wrong that He also taught that marriage continued after the resurrection. Not satisfied with showing that they had misrepresented His teachings, Jesus pointed out the logical inconsistency of their position. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He presented Himself in the present tense as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

    The final reaction is the one which we should seek to emulate. One of those listening apparently did not have a preformed opinion on Jesus. Having heard Jesus give good answers to questions which he thought were on peripheral matters, he asked Jesus the question we should all ask of those who proclaim themselves religious teachers; what really matters? When Jesus answered that what really matters is that there is only one God, whom we must worship with all that we are and that we must love our neighbors as ourselves he knew that Jesus was a true teacher of God’s word. Everything else follows from that. If someone truly believes these two (or three, depending how you consider them) basic premises are the starting point we can debate all other beliefs and doctrines on the basis of how they fulfill them.

Daily Bible Study

October 19, 2017 Bible Study — The Widow’s Two Cents

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Mark 12-13.

    Today’s passage starts with some good messages, but I want to start by focusing on the widow’s offering. Mark tells us that Jesus and His disciples could see who gave a lot and who gave a little. There is nothing in this passage which suggests that those who gave a lot were being ostentatious about their giving. I want to point out that this was in the days before paper money or checks, so all the donations were with coins. I say all of that to make sure we focus on Jesus’ message here. Unlike many of the other passages in the Bible, this small short passage has but one lesson for us. It does not matter how much we give. Jesus did not belittle those who gave large amounts out of their excess. There is value in voluntarily giving to charity the used goods which you have replaced, or money which you have in excess of what it takes to satisfy your needs. However, it is those who sacrifice their needs further the Kingdom of God who truly make a difference.

    Later that day as Jesus and the disciples left the Temple area, one of the disciples took note of the impressive buildings and walls of the Temple. The contrast between those things and the widow’s donation never struck me before today. The beautiful and impressive buildings and walls of the Temple were the product of large donations. Yet, for all of their beauty and strength, the walls and buildings of the Temple they would one day be completely demolished. The results of the small things we can do may not be as impressive, or as noticeable, but they change lives in ways that last for eternity. I have just spent time with a message which is not fully supported by this passage, but I believe that Mark’s juxtaposition of the widow’s offering with the disciple commenting on the impressive architecture of the Temple was intended.
    Now, I want to get into the heart of the meaning of Jesus’ response to the disciple’s comment about the Temple architecture. The first ting of importance He tells them is that between now and the end there will be times of trouble: natural disasters, wars, persecution, etc. However, all of these things will represent opportunities for us to do God’s will and to spread the Good News. We do not need to spend time worrying about what we will do when these things happen, God’s Spirit will guide us. Note: this does not mean that we should not plan for these things, just that we do not need to worry and stress over them. In these times of troubles people will rise up and proclaim themselves, or be proclaimed by others, as our savior, the one who can save us from these troubled times. Jesus warns us not to be fooled. Or, as I read elsewhere, we are not to seek to save the world (or follow those who today claim they will do so), Someone has already taken care of that. Further, Jesus tells us to pay attention to these signs of His return so that we can be ready when He does return. However, we should not get to caught up in trying to read the signs to determine exactly when He will return, because no one will be able to do that. Only God knows when He has planned to bring about the end.