The document summarizes Jesus' responses to two additional "tests" mentioned in the Gospel of Mark. In the first test, Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus responds by saying "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." In the second test, Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection using the example of a woman married to seven brothers. Jesus responds that in heaven, people do not marry but are like angels, and the dead will be raised. The document analyzes Jesus' brilliant responses that rendered the traps ineffective.
4. His final eight days!
Sunday – Triumphal Entry
Monday – Cursing and Cleansing
Tuesday – Conversations, Confrontations,
Predictions and Conspiracies
Two Additional “Tests”
5. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 11:27
And they came again to Jerusalem. And
as he was walking in the temple, the
chief priests and the scribes and the
elders came to him.
6. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:13-14
And they sent to him some of the Pharisees
and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his
talk. And they came and said to him, talk.
“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
should we not?”
7. Two Additional “Tests”
The first mark of brilliance can be seen in
the ones they set to spring the trap:
1. Pharisees --- traditionalists, nationalists
(therefore anti-Rome), right wingers of
their day!
2. Herodians --- non-traditionalists, proHerod dynasty (puppet kings of Rome),
left-wingers of their day!
8. Two Additional “Tests”
“The enemy of my
enemy is my friend!”
Their mutual hatred of Jesus brought
the Pharisees and Herodians together
in this strange alliance!
9. Two Additional “Tests”
Pharisees vigorously
opposed paying tax to
the Roman oppressors!
Herodians, in support of
Herododian dynasty,
was the “pro-tax”
party!
10. Two Additional “Tests”
The first mark of brilliance can be seen in
the ones sent to spring the trap!
The second mark of brilliance can be seen in
the question these two groups were
instructed to ask!
11. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:14
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?”
12. Two Additional “Tests”
If he answers “YES” – The Pharisees and all
the devout Jews of the land would be totally
offended!
If he answers “NO” – then this would be a
rebellious and treasonous act toward the
Roman government!
13. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:15
But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to
them, “Why put me to the test? Bring
me a denarius and let me look at it.”
“Tiberius Caesar, the
Divine Augustus”
14. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:16-17
And they brought one. And he said to
them, “Whose likeness and inscription is
this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.”
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.
15. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:18
And Sadducees came to him, who say
that there is no resurrection.
Small in number; large in influence
Wealthy and powerful (controlled the
priesthood)
More religious than Herodians; less than
Pharisees
Accepted only Torah (resurrection/angels)
16. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:19
“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.
17. Law of Levirate Marriage
Deuteronomy 25:5-6
If brothers dwell together, and one of them
dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man
shall not be married outside the family to a
stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to
her and take her as his wife and perform the
duty of a husband's brother to her. And the
first son whom she bears shall succeed to
the name of his dead brother, that his name
may not be blotted out of Israel.
18. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:20-23
There were seven brothers; the first took a
wife, and when he died left no offspring.
And the second took her, and died, leaving
no offspring. And the third likewise. And
the seven left no offspring. Last of all the
woman also died. In the resurrection,
when they rise again, whose wife will she
be? For the seven had her as wife.”
19. Two Additional “Tests”
IF he says she remains the wife of
brother #1 – What about the other six?
Are they to be “wifeless” in heaven?
IF he says she will be all of their wives in
heaven – How can one woman be shared
by seven men? Are we going to have an
eternal case of sibling rivalry?
20. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:24-25
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason
you are wrong, because you know
neither the Scriptures nor the power of
God? For when they rise from the dead,
they neither marry nor are given in
marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
22. Two Additional “Tests”
R. C.
Sproul
“Our existence in in heaven
will be filled with joy far, far
exceeding that which the
marriage relationship provides
in this fallen world.”
Marriage at its best gives us a taste of
heaven while we are here on earth.
Once in heaven we will enjoy the full feast!
23. Two Additional “Tests”
Mark 12:26-27
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’? He is not God of the dead, but of
the living. You are quite wrong.”
24. Today’s Takeaways
Two traps, brilliantly set, rendered totally
ineffective by Jesus!
The hunted becomes the hunter (as Jesus
turns the tables upon his enemies)!
Jesus makes brilliant men look dull!
25. Today’s Takeaways
Takeaway #1 We must rediscover what it
means to “marvel at him (Jesus)!”
In the midst of all this marveling at what man
has been able to accomplish, we lose sight of
the most marvelous marvel of all --Jesus Christ!
Set aside some time this week ... to MARVEL
in the reMARKableness of our Savior!
26. Today’s Takeaways
Takeaway #2 Don’t follow in the footsteps
of the Sadducees. They were wrong
because they did not know God’s Word or
God’s power!
So push on with our CARPE
DIEM spiritual growth
initiative, which is all about
KNOWING and then LIVING
the Word of God!