Mark 12:13-40 | Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him. Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight. As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Day 2 of 18 Days in the New Testament with Chuck Swindoll
IN MARK 12, we run across several types of Jewish religious leaders, all taking their turns at trying to trap Jesus into saying something that they can use against Him: Pharisees in Mark 12:13-17, Sadducees in Mark 12:18-27, and one of the teachers of religious law in Mark 12:28-34. Of course, they all fail. Each of these types of religious leaders had its own specific types of rules, regulations, and ways of living. The problem is, these religious types didn’t vanish. Many of these people are sitting in the pews of churches today.
Are you a modern-day Pharisee—religious, legalistic, judgmental, opinionated, and harsh with those who don’t keep your rules? I have a good friend who is an elder in his church. He says, “My problem is that I’m a recovering Pharisee.” There’s an honest man. But maybe you’re not even “recovering.” Maybe you don’t even realize your pharisaic tendencies at all. The fact is that you may still be lost. You’ve got all these things you’re keeping, all this stuff you’re proud of, all these people you’re judging. You don’t miss a meeting, and you don’t miss a chance to refer to your righteousness (or at least hint about it), talk about how often you pray, explain why you pray, and on and on and on. You can be full of religion but still lost. When we come to Jesus, we drop all that garbage, and we realize that there’s nothing in our hands we can bring—there’s only a cross we can cling to.
Maybe you’re a modern-day Sadducee. See if this description fits: You look like you’re interested in religion, but you’re really interested in politics. You’re impressed with the teachings of Jesus, but you’re humanistic. You’re somewhat religious, but you’re more sophisticated. You may be wealthy. Maybe you’ve grown up in a church, but you’re not really all that sure about the devil and the demons and all that life-after-death stuff. You’re far more concerned about your position, your wealth, your possessions. If you’re a Sadducee, you’re also lost.
Of all these types, the people I’m most concerned about are the modern-day “teachers of religious law,” the modern-day scribes. You may have studied theology. You may have heard about grace or even taught about grace. Folks might think you’re a faithful follower. You’re sensible. You’re intelligent. You’re not far from the Kingdom, but you’re not there yet either. Make sure that you don’t let your study of the details of theology replace your need to submit to the Lord Jesus by faith. Those who fall into this category, like modern-day Pharisees and Sadducees, are lost.
I fear for you if you are anywhere on this list, because none of us know what a day will bring forth (see Prov. 27:1). Today is the day, my friends, to find Jesus. Quit fighting Him. Quit thinking you’ve got plenty of time. Quit thinking you’re bulletproof.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28-29). Find your peace in your relationship with Him. He’s the only One who can forgive you—and He will. He’s the only One who can provide goodness and mercy all the rest of the days of your life—and He will. But you must come to Him. Come.