Mark 12 - Jesus Teaches in Parables to Show the Many Religious Leaders Their Error. Jesus Teaches on Sacrificial Giving!

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The Parable of the Tenants

As Jesus neared the cross, he continued to teach the people in parables. In this case, he had a specific purpose to show the chief priests, Pharisees, and elders how they were going to treat the Son, whom the Father loved. In the parable a man buys a Vineyard and rents it out to some tenants. In the Old Testament, Israel is referred to as the Vine of God. (See Isaiah 5:1-7) They were supposed to bear fruit for the nations to show them Yahweh was the one true God. But they didn't and so God sent his servants, the prophets, to warn them of the judgment of God. But they beat some of them up and killed others. Finally, God sent Jesus to warn them and they killed him. This was prophesed in Psalm 118, when it says the stone the builders rejected was the cornerstone, meaning Jesus was the key piece that held the kingdom together. When they rejected him, the building collapsesd around them. The people of Israel would receive this judgment in A.D. 70 when the temple was destroyed by the Romans. 

They were cut to the heart and convicted by the Holy Spirit. They reacted to the conviction of the Holy Spirit by rejecting, not by receiving. They plotted to murder Jesus instead of repenting before Him. - Guzik

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

Once again the Pharisees and some of King Herod's men to put Jesus tried to put Jesus in a double bind. They asked him if it was right to pay the tax to Caesar, the Roman emperor and leader of the world. Jesus once again foiled their trap and took a coin and told them to look at the image on the coin. And he said the famous line, "Pay to Caesar what is Caesar's, and pay to God what is God's".  This teaching has relevance for today.  We need to pay taxes to the ruling government. In Romans 13, Paul affirms this by telling the Roman Christians, "Submit to the governing authorities". 

 Just as it is important to render to Caesar, we must also render to God the things that are God’s. The coin belonged to Caesar because his image was stamped on it. We should give our self to God because His image is stamped on us. Give the coin to Caesar but give your life to God. It may be fitting for you to die for your country, but only God is worth living for. - Guzik

When you pay taxes do you see it in this light? 

Marriage at the Resurrection

This time the Sadducees, who taught a different theology, entered into the conversation. They were the more intellectual types, who like today only taught what they could see and deduce from reason. They did not believe in the supernatural. Which means they thought all the stories in the Old Testament, like God providing manna in the wilderness, were just that stories.  

The Sadducees were well educated, sophisticated, influential and wealthy. They did not believe in immortality, spirits, or angels. The purpose of their question was to make the idea of resurrection seem absurd.The Sadducees believed that when the body died, the soul died. The Bible not only tells us that the soul lives when the body dies, but also that the soul will have a new body, a body fit for eternity – a resurrection body. - Guzik

The main thing is they are mistaken about heaven. They are looking at it from a human standpoint, which is not possible. The bible gives some examples of what heaven will look like, but generally speaking as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "No eye has seen, nor ear has heard what God has prepared for them who love him." 

We can’t take our present relationships and just figure they will be the same in heaven. On earth, human relationships are largely a matter of time and place – a man can be a son, then an adult, then a husband, then a father, and so on. In heaven, all of that changes. - Guzik

But there is also nothing that teaches we won't be with our loved ones in heaven. Whatever the case, we won't be disappointed! 

What do you tihnk heaven will be like? 

The Greatest Commandment

Next, the teachers of the Law, who were suppossed to experts in it, came to debate with Jesus. Notice every group of leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priest, Elders) came to try and undermine Jesus' authority. Yet, Jesus' reply to them made them so mad they wanted to kill him. 

When Jesus answered the teachers of the law's question about the greatest commandment, he quoted the most important teaching in the Old Testament Law from from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. The teachers saw he answered wisely ,and they commended him. In return Jesus told them they were not far from the kingdom. 

The scribe’s response to Jesus was right on the mark. It is easy to think that religious ceremony and devotion are more important than love for God and our neighbor, but this isn’t the case. A thousand empty burnt offerings do not mean more to God than a single act of love done in His name. - Guzik

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

In this case Jesus was teaching in the temple, and he asked him a question about King David's relationship to the Messiah. Ultimately he was trying to help them see he was the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1 to show that David called himself the Messiah's son. 

Jesus is not only the Son of David but also the Lord of David. As Revelation 22:16 says, He is both the root and offspring of David. With this question Jesus challenged the religious leaders, asking them “do you understand this truth about the Messiah?”

This is yet another fulfillment of prophecy, which gives actual proof Jesus is who he says he is. The crowd listened to him with delight showing they were open to the truth. 

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

While Jesus is teaching the people, he warns them about false teachers. They love to make a show about their position of authority. They wore the showy robes, and took the place of honor at banquets. Worst of all, they cheated widows out of money. Jesus has a severe rebuke for them saying they will be punished severely. They will be accountable for their teaching. It reminds us that those who teach have a higher accountability, because they speak for God. 

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. - James 3:1

The Widow’s Offering

Jesus had already taught how the widows were taken advantage of by the religious leaders, which gives even more credence to the generosity of the widow in the story. Importantly Jesus is describing what we might call today, "Sacrificial giving". The rich people threw in a few dollars to look good, but the widow gave everything she had. 

Though they may have given the same amount, the widow showed what true generosity looked like, as she gave relative to the amount she had. This also showed her gratitude to God despite her situation. 

Is your giving sacrificial, or do you just throw in a few buck to make you feel or look good?