The Gospel of Mark: A Serving Savior
Lesson 16 “Jesus Takes on the Jewish Leaders” Mark 12:1-44
ID: Inductive Questions (Asking the text questions like who, what, where, when, why, & how?”)
CR: Cross References (Comparing Scripture to Scripture, understanding the vague by the clear.)
WS: Word Study (Understanding definition, theological meaning, and usages in other passages.)
The WORD: What does the Bible say?
Context: Read Mark 11:27-44 to help understand the context of this passage. Read Mark 12:1-40 in a more literal or more dynamic translation than you usually use. This section has six allusions to the Old Testament. Review Psalm 118:22-23 (vv. 10-11), Deuteronomy 25:5 (v. 19), Exodus 3:6 (v. 26), Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (vv. 29-30) Leviticus 19:18 (v. 31), Psalm 110:1 (v. 36) to give background for your study.
1. ID/CR: (12:1-12) Who was this parable directed toward? In what way is it directed toward them? How does it relate to Psalm 118:22-23? (cf. Matt. 21:33–46; Luke 20:9–19)
2. ID: (12:13-17) Why was this question one that the Herodians have a special interest in? What do you think they expected Jesus to say? What was their response to His answer?
3. ID: (12:18-27) What were the Sadducees trying to demonstrate with their story? On what points were they mistaken? (Exodus 3:6)
4. ID: (12:28-34) Is verse 29 (and 32) part of the first command? What would some problems be with ignoring one (or part of one) of these commands? Why did Jesus say the teacher was “not far from the kingdom?” (1 Samuel 15:23-24; Hosea 6:6)
5. ID: (12:35-37) What do we learn about Christ in verses 35-37 (cf. Psalm 110:1)? How do these truths relate to the surrounding events?
6. ID/CR: (12:38-44) .What were the sins of the teachers of the law? Can you think of any Old Testament passages that condemn similar sins? Why is it hard for rich people (like us) to give a spiritually impressive amount?
The WALK: What should I do?
1. Do you think about the coming resurrection often? Does a belief in and awareness of the resurrection change your perspective on life? How? Why?
2. (WS) In what practical ways do you love God with your heart (G-kardia; H-lebab), with your soul/understanding (G-synesis; H-nephesh), and with your strength (G-ēskhü's; H-mehōde'),?
3. What similar sins would Jesus condemn in your profession?
4. Are you rich in any sense of the word? Is it fair to compare portion of your income you give to someone lives on a $2-5 a day? Do verses 41-44 make you want to reevaluate how much you give?
5. Where in this passage do we see Gospel truths about God, Man, Christ, and our response?
Going Beyond: 1. Memorize Mark 12:29-31 or Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18.
2. What areas of theology are touched on in this passage? q The Bible q God q God the Father q Jesus Christ q The Holy Spirit q Man q Salvation q The Church q Angels & Satan q Future Things
Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees...Oh My!
Posted on Fri, September 10, 2010 by David Hinkl
These leadership groups were the political/religious leaders of the Jews in the days of Jesus. They are often referred to and the articles below will help you get a sense for each of the three groups as well as the Sanhedrin, the ruling council that was made up of each of these groups. All of them were threatened by Jesus and conspired together to have Him crucified.
Herodians [N] [S]
a Jewish political party who sympathized with ( Mark 3:6 ; 12:13 ; Matt, 22:16 ; Luke 20:20 ) the Herodian rulers in their general policy of government, and in the social customs which they introduced from Rome. They were at one with the Sadducees in holding the duty of submission to Rome, and of supporting the Herods on the throne. (Compare Mark 8:15 ; Matthew 16:6 .)
Sadducees [N] [B] [H] [S]
The origin of this Jewish sect cannot definitely be traced. It was probably the outcome of the influence of Grecian customs and philosophy during the period of Greek domination. The first time they are met with is in connection with John the Baptist's ministry. They came out to him when on the banks of the Jordan, and he said to them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" ( Matthew 3:7 .) The next time they are spoken of they are represented as coming to our Lord tempting him. He calls them "hypocrites" and "a wicked and adulterous generation" ( Matthew 16:1-4 ; 22:23 ). The only reference to them in the Gospels of ( Mark 12:18-27 ) and ( Luke 20:27-38 ) is their attempting to ridicule the doctrine of the resurrection, which they denied, as they also denied the existence of angels. They are never mentioned in John's Gospel.
There were many Sadducees among the "elders" of the Sanhedrin. They seem, indeed, to have been as numerous as the Pharisees ( Acts 23:6 ). They showed their hatred of Jesus in taking part in his condemnation ( Matthew 16:21 ; Matthew 26:1-3 Matthew 26:59 ; Mark 8:31 ; 15:1 ; Luke 9:22 ; 22:66 ). They endeavoured to prohibit the apostles from preaching the resurrection of Christ ( Acts 2:24 Acts 2:31 Acts 2:32 ; Acts 4:1 Acts 4:2 ; Acts 5:17 Acts 5:24-28 ). They were the deists or sceptics of that age. They do not appear as a separate sect after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Pharisees [N] [B] [H] [S]
separatists (Heb. persahin, from parash, "to separate"). They were probably the successors of the Assideans (i.e., the "pious"), a party that originated in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes in revolt against his heathenizing policy. The first mention of them is in a description by Josephus of the three sects or schools into which the Jews were divided (B.C. 145). The other two sects were the Essenes and the Sadducees. In the time of our Lord they were the popular party ( John 7:48 ). They were extremely accurate and minute in all matters appertaining to the law of Moses ( Matthew 9:14 ; 23:15 ; Luke 11:39 ; 18:12 ). Paul, when brought before the council of Jerusalem, professed himself a Pharisee ( Acts 23:6-8 ; Acts 26:4 Acts 26:5 ).
There was much that was sound in their creed, yet their system of religion was a form and nothing more. Theirs was a very lax morality ( Matthew 5:20 ; Matthew 15:4 Matthew 15:8 ; Matthew 23:3 Matthew 23:14 Matthew 23:23 Matthew 23:25 ; John 8:7 ). On the first notice of them in the New Testament ( Matthew 3:7 ), they are ranked by our Lord with the Sadducees as a "generation of vipers." They were noted for their self-righteousness and their pride ( Matthew 9:11 ; Luke 7:39 ; Luke 18:11 Luke 18:12 ). They were frequently rebuked by our Lord ( Matthew 12:39 ; 16:1-4 ).
From the very beginning of his ministry the Pharisees showed themselves bitter and persistent enemies of our Lord. They could not bear his doctrines, and they sought by every means to destroy his influence among the people.
Sanhedrim
More correctly Sanhedrin (Gr. synedrion), meaning "a sitting together," or a "council." This word (rendered "council," A.V.) is frequently used in the New Testament ( Matthew 5:22 ; 26:59 ; Mark 15:1 , etc.) to denote the supreme judicial and administrative council of the Jews, which, it is said, was first instituted by Moses, and was composed of seventy men ( Numbers 11:16 Numbers 11:17 ). But that seems to have been only a temporary arrangement which Moses made. This council is with greater probability supposed to have originated among the Jews when they were under the domination of the Syrian kings in the time of the Maccabees. The name is first employed by the Jewish historian Josephus. This "council" is referred to simply as the "chief priests and elders of the people" ( Matthew 26:3 Matthew 26:47 Matthew 26:57 Matthew 26:59 ; Matthew 27:1 Matthew 27:3 Matthew 27:12 Matthew 27:20 , etc.), before whom Christ was tried on the charge of claiming to be the Messiah. Peter and John were also brought before it for promulgating heresy ( Acts 4:1-23 ; 5:17-41 ); as was also Stephen on a charge of blasphemy ( 6:12-15 ), and Paul for violating a temple by-law ( 22:30 ; 23:1-10 ).
The Sanhedrin is said to have consisted of seventy-one members, the high priest being president. They were of three classes (1) the chief priests, or heads of the twenty-four priestly courses ( 1 Chronicles 24 ), (2) the scribes, and (3) the elders. As the highest court of judicature, "in all causes and over all persons, ecclesiastical and civil, supreme," its decrees were binding, not only on the Jews in Palestine, but on all Jews wherever scattered abroad. Its jurisdiction was greatly curtailed by Herod, and afterwards by the Romans. Its usual place of meeting was within the precincts of the temple, in the hall "Gazith," but it sometimes met also in the house of the high priest ( Matthew 26:3 ), who was assisted by two vice-presidents.
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
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[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
[H] indicates this entry was also found in Hitchcock's Bible Names
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Bibliography Information
Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Herodians". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .
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