Welcome to Week 12 in our series from the gospel of Mark and to Mark chapter 12 where we continue to see the mission of Jesus unfold before us.
There is a common thread running through all the stories from this week’s chapter. In each case, they have lost sight of something, either the claim God has to them or the infinite value of God. Look for those as we go through each day.
Once again, the primary reading is long so we are skipping related verses.
Study notes by Mark Lautenschlager, prayer guides by Tracy Lautenschlager.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
Parable of the Tenants
Observe
Jesus begins by teaching a parable, directed this time at a very specific audience, one that was present to hear it.
{Mark 12:1-12 ESV} {1} And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. {2} When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. {3} And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. {4} Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. {5} And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. {6} He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ {7} But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ {8} And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. {9} What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. {10} Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; {11} this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” {12} And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.
Jesus delivers a damning indictment in parable form, calling out the Jewish religious leaders (tenants) over how they had treated God’s prophets (servants). As with most forms of evil, it increased over time. At first the prophets were beaten and driven away. Then they were killed. When finally the owner of the vineyard in the parable sent his only begotten son, with the expectation that this was SURELY a line they could not cross, the tenants made another assumption: the owner had died. If they killed the only heir, the property would then be available to the first claimant, which would be one of those who knew the son was dead. The wickedness of these tenants had no end. What then would the owner do? He would come and destroy the tenants, giving the vineyard to someone else. Now ask yourself this question: what do you have in common with the tenants? Just as the owner made an agreement that the tenants could use the vineyard in exchange for a percentage of the crops, God has extended to us everything we have in this world with the expectation that we will use it for his glory. The tenants completely (and willfully) lost sight of that. For us, the jury is still out.
- What is something you are uniquely or perhaps especially skilled in doing? How do you, or how could you, use that for the glory of God and to further his kingdom?
- The Lord approached Israel through his prophets. In what way would you say the Lord comes to his people today? (There are many potential correct answers.)
Dear Jesus, although I have called on you as my Lord and Savior, I often live as though my life is my own. I know that all I have is from your hand, but I grasp it so tightly. Help me to open my hands and use it all, the gifts and resources and experience, both blessings and trials, for your kingdom, and I will give you the glory. Build up my life like a strong house, resting upon you, the cornerstone. Amen.
Day 2
Paying Taxes to Caesar
Observe
Another attempt to trap Jesus into saying something that would get him in trouble with the authorities. It ends like all such attempts.
{Mark 12:13-17 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.
Once again the Jewish religious leaders want to trap Jesus into saying something that would make it sound like he was stirring up trouble against the Romans. In Israel at that time opinions varied widely about Roman taxation. The Pharisees grumbled about it, but then went along with it, and the Herodians weren’t bothered by it at all. They wanted Jesus to give them a yes or no answer but, being Jesus, that’s not what they got. Instead, Jesus showed them that Caesar had a legitimate claim on their money because it carried his image, while God had a legitimate claim on them because people bear the image of God. Once again, the brilliance of the answer and the quick sidestep that avoided conflict left them marveling at Jesus’ words.
- What is the image of God in man? What sets us apart from other creatures in God’s creation?
- From this exchange, can you infer anything of how Jesus regarded the government?
Dear Lord, it can be difficult to see your image in our history, or in the people of the world today, or in the people of this city. It can be difficult to see your image in me. But I am yours. I confess that I often make choices and live in ways that ignore your lordship. I lay down today, again, all other claims to my life but yours. I pray that, in this way, your image will be visible in me. Amen.
Day 3
The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
Observe
The religious leaders create a somewhat ridiculous hypothetical situation in an attempt to provoke Jesus into an answer they could use to condemn him. They never learn, do they?
{Mark 12:18-27 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.” {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.”
The Sadducees approach Jesus with a trick question about the resurrection (with Mark noting that Sadducees say there is no resurrection). They create a hypothetical situation in which one woman ends up marrying seven different men (the men were brothers and this would all be according to Jewish law). So, they ask, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? Jesus scolds them, saying they know nothing of either the scriptures or the power of God. Life in the resurrection will not be as life is now. There will be no need for children, which means no need for procreation in marriage. But more than that, the focus of life will change. We will no longer divide our attention between God and our families, which is of necessity, but like the angels we will be focused on serving and fellowshiping with the Lord himself. Then he gives them an answer for free. Knowing they didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, he quoted what God had said to Moses, “I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Not WAS their God, for they had long since died, but AM their God because life continued for them elsewhere. God is not a God of death, but of the living.
- Honest answer time, so don’t answer too quickly. When you think about how different life will be in the resurrection, where our existence will be more like the angels, focused on service to God and worshiping him, how does that make you feel? Excited, or a little uncomfortable? Why?
- Do you imagine a pastoral, agrarian lifestyle in the resurrection? Is that good, or are you going to miss your Internet?
Dear Jesus, I confess to having a secret desire at times that your return would be delayed until I experience the next milestone in life. Every one of those milestones so far has been both a blessing and a disappointment. I am always left with a desire for more. Why do I never learn that you, only you, will ever satisfy? To be forever with you will be complete joy and fulfillment. Remind me, Lord, when I feel the longing for more that it is really a desire for you. Amen.
Day 4
The Great Commandment
Observe
The next exchange is a serious and reflective one. A scribe asks Jesus a serious question, to which Jesus gives a forthright answer.
{Mark 12:28-34 ESV} {28} And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” {29} Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. {30} And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ {31} The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” {32} And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. {33} And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” {34} And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
A lone scribe came up and upon seeing how well Jesus answered all these trying to trap him, asked his own question to Jesus. The scribe wanted to know which was the greatest of the commandments. Jesus responded with two Old Testament quotes: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18. If you love God with all your heart, mind, and strength, you do not need to worry about the specific ways the commandments said you would show this. You will do all those things simply because you love him. In the same way, if you love your neighbor as you do yourself, you don’t need a giant list of things you’re not allowed to do to your neighbor. You would never do any of those to someone you loved, so love your neighbor and let that guide your actions. The scribe reacted favorably to the words of Jesus, and his reply shows that he understood what Jesus was saying. In response to this wisdom, Jesus approvingly noted “you are not far from the kingdom of God.” This was warm encouragement for the scribe to continue his study and thoughtful reflection.
- If all of God’s law and commandments could truly be summed up in just these two, why didn’t he just give these two in the first place and stop there?
- Do you believe that you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Why or why not? If not, what can you do to change that?
Heavenly Father, I have learned from your Word these two commandments, to love you with all my heart and to love my neighbor as myself, but I see also from this passage that you did not always speak in riddles. When a person comes to you humbly with their need and a true desire to know you, you answer. And the truth of your word is a welcome, like a warm house after a long, cold journey. Thank you. Help me to love others as you did. Teach me to introduce them to you. Amen.
Day 5
Wrap Up: Sons Who Are Lords, Scribes, and Poor Widows
Observe
The chapter concludes with three quick teachings, two while inside the temple, and one while observing the people bringing offerings. In each, Jesus wants us to see past deception and see the truth.
{Mark 12:35-44 ESV} {35} And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? {36} David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”‘ {37} David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly. {38} And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces {39} and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, {40} who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” {41} And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. {42} And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. {43} And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. {44} For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
There are three quick teachings here by Jesus. In the first, Jesus quotes from the Psalms to ask the thought provoking question of how a descendant of David could also be David’s Lord? Next, Jesus warns against the behavior of the scribes, who love the trappings of religion and use their positions of power to enrich themselves. The scribes lived on the donations from others and were known for their fondness of wealthy widows. They would take advantage of them, which Jesus labels devouring widows’ houses. Finally we have teaching on the subject of giving. Jesus points out two different types of givers: wealthy people who gave out of their abundance (that is, they could easily afford their gift and it wouldn’t inconvenience them at all), and a poor widow who had only two copper coins, but that was all the money she had in the world. Jesus extols the virtue of the widow, but he is not teaching that we should literally give God all the money we have to live on (although I’m sure some scribe would be glad if we did). Jesus is noting that making an offering to God should be something meaningful. It should be enough so we feel it. We give up something of value to the God of infinite value.
- Would you agree that Jesus may be found in the pages of the Old Testament? Why do you think this is important?
- Of the two examples given in this story, the rich people and the poor widow, which is closest to your experience in offerings to God?
Dear Jesus, I think I have big blind spots about my own heart and my own motives. I can read this passage and feel judgmental of the scribes, superior to them, but I may be just as guilty. I pray that your spirit will reveal to me all the ways in which I live like the scribes here, with self-importance and only the appearance of goodness, rather than like the generous widow. I pray, then, that you will conform my heart and life to your word. Amen