7
MARK 12b
The Great Commandment
Jesus has just a point using a Roman coin. As this chapter ends He will make an important point using a Greek coin. Why? Is Jesus as interested in coins as some modern-day preachers? NOPE.
His interest in coins is because He has OUR interests at heart. You see, what we do with the coins He blesses us with tells a lot about our values and convictions.
I heard a preacher once say, “Show me your check book and I’ll show you your heart.”
It might do us all some good to look back at our charitable giving last year and decide IF you are happy with that number?
Jesus is being tested again…
The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
Mark 12:18 Then some Sadducees, (The Humanists of their time- They followed Moses only) who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. (Optional)
· This law existed long before Moses… The law was for legal reasons to keep boundaries and property in the family.
· BUT… It was always optional, which is why there was a procedure (Det 25) as an alternate in case the brother didn’t want the Sister in Law.
· The Sadducee’s insistence on believing only what Moses wrote was only the beginning of their errors here.
THE SEVEN UNLUCKIEST BROTHERS EVER!
Here they are:
20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife."
· They are mocking resurrection with this ridiculous story…
· They have tried to create an impossible situation for the Creator of the World to handle.
o They have forgotten two important things…
o Jesus will remind them…
24 Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they (Notice Jesus doesn’t say YOU?) rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But concerning the dead, (Their real issue) that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB' ? (Exodus 3:6) 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."
· We believe in the resurrection…. BUT, are some of us struggling with the fact that NOTHING is impossible with God?
· Well, “I didn’t get what I wanted!”
o Then perhaps what YOU wanted and what God wanted were two different things.
o Are you praying for what YOU want or are you praying for God’s will?
o Would you rather be wealthy, or right with God?
§ Can I be both? Yes, but it is very hard to be….
o The Sadducees were willing to reject God’s Son in order to follow their mistaken convictions.
The Great Commandment
28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"
· Notice that Jesus does not criticize the man for asking a sincere question.
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE. (Det 6) 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' (Det 11) This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' (Lev 19) There is no other commandment greater than these."
· #1 – Love God with everything you have and everything you are!
· #2 – Love others like you love your own flesh!
o #1 will take care of all of the requirements to God in the law
o #2 – Will fulfill all the law regarding how to treat others!
· Simple really, be right with God… Be right with others…
32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
· The man was starting to get it!
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that no one dared question Him.
· So… Jesus continues…
Whose Son Is the Christ?
35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: (Another shot at the cultists Sadducees) 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL." ' (Psalm 110) 37 Therefore David himself calls Him 'LORD'; how is He then his Son?" And the common people heard Him gladly.
· Courson - Quoting Psalm 110, which the Jews knew to be a prophecy concerning Messiah, Jesus asked how David could call his son his lord. The only way a son could be greater than his father was if he was more than simply the son of the father. In other words, the Messiah for whom the Jews waited was more than a political leader or religious instructor, more than mere man. He was God.
· GUZIK - Since Jesus is the Christ, here He speaks of Himself. With the questions of the scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees to Jesus, they tried to make Him look bad or trap Him. Jesus did not do the same in His questions to them; instead He got to the heart of the matter: “do you really know who I am?”
Beware of the Scribes
38 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, (I actually receive catalogs with 4-500$ Minister’s robes) love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense (For show, fake) make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
· IE, beware of preachers who are self-honoring and money hungry!
· In fact, Jesus will demonstrate to them what REAL sacrifice is…
· In Italy the young priests love to walk around town in their long flowing robes… They are quite pompous and proud. It is sad.
· On the contrary… The Widow and her offering…
The Widow's Offering
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. (One fourth of the smallest Greek coin of that day)
43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
She sacrificed more than all of the rest… Do you wonder what I WANT from you in the way of giving? Let me tell you.
I wish for you that you are, or that you get to the point where you give as though it was worship for you. Some of us can give a bit more than others because of our abundance, but it should still be worship.
I hope your giving gives you joy.
I hope your giving is adoration for your Lord and Savior.
THE WIDOW'S MITE
By Linda Stevenson
The widow reached into her jar,
For her last two coins to take,
For today she’d visit the temple,
And an offering she would make.
Though it was all the widow had
To supply her daily bread,
She trusted in her Father’s love;
By His hand she would be fed.
She’d gladly give her last two coins
And would sacrifice her all,
Though in contrast to what some would give,
Her offering seemed so small.
At the temple she caught the eye
Of Jesus as He smiled
When she offered God her two small coins
With faith of a little child.
Then Jesus drew His disciples near
And to them was heard to say,
“This widow gave more than the rest,
For she gave her all today.”
So when we give our very best,
Though small like the widow’s mite,
The Lord will bless us in return,
For it’s precious in His sight.
God has proven that He will bless
And supply our ev’ry need
When we give Him the best we have
With faith of a mustard seed.