New Testament Studies: Mark (14): Chapter 12 v13 to 44 -- David Pawson

Summary

This video script presents a religious discourse on Mark chapter 12, drawing analogies to a boxing match where Jesus metaphorically spars with his adversaries through a series of verbal confrontations. The script highlights Jesus's adept responses to politically and philosophically charged questions posed by different groups, such as the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees. Each exchange is meant to challenge Jesus's authority, yet he skillfully navigates the discussions, emphasizing deeper spiritual insights and the essence of God's commandments. The narrative captures Jesus's teachings on love, duty, and the true spirit of giving, culminating in a powerful message on religious sincerity versus hypocrisy.

Takeaways

• 😊 The speaker starts with the context of omitting a scripture reading for a more informal discussion, reflecting the style of Jesus' teachings in the synagogue.
• 🙌 Jesus' challenges to his adversaries in Mark chapter 12 are likened to a boxing match, emphasizing a strategic engagement in verbal and intellectual battles.
• 👍 Jesus' responses in the gospel cleverly deflect and undermine the trick questions posed by his opponents, demonstrating his superior wisdom and insight.
• 💡 The chapter highlights various groups (Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes) attempting to discredit Jesus, each using different tactics reflecting their political or theological agendas.
• 👊 Jesus' mastery in handling controversial issues like taxes and allegiance (render unto Caesar), showcases his ability to navigate complex social and political questions adeptly.
• 🙏 Jesus refutes the Sadducees' denial of the resurrection using scripture itself, illustrating the continuity of life beyond death and correcting their doctrinal errors.
• 📚 The discourse also includes a profound exposition on the greatest commandments, emphasizing love for God and neighbor as the essence of the law.
• 💎 The narrative contrasts the ostentatious religious leaders with a poor widow who contributes two mites, symbolizing genuine faith and devotion.
• 🚨 Jesus warns against religious hypocrisy, criticizing those who seek prestige and wealth under the guise of piety, urging a sincere and humble faith.
• 😂 The discourse culminates in a poignant example of true generosity and spirituality through the widow's offering, which, despite its modesty, surpasses all others in value.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Mark chapter 12 as discussed in the transcript?

The main topic of Mark chapter 12 in the transcript revolves around a series of confrontations between Jesus and various groups like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes. These confrontations involve tricky questions about authority, taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment, demonstrating how Jesus adeptly addresses and refutes their challenges.

Why does the speaker relate the events of Mark chapter 12 to a boxing match?

The speaker relates the events of Mark chapter 12 to a boxing match to illustrate the confrontational and strategic nature of the interactions between Jesus and his adversaries. This analogy helps underline the back-and-forth nature of the debates, where both sides are 'sparring' with words in an attempt to outmaneuver the other.

How does Jesus respond to the question about paying taxes to Caesar?

Jesus responds to the question about paying taxes to Caesar by asking for a coin and pointing out whose image and inscription are on it. He concludes that because the coin bears Caesar's image, they should 'render unto Caesar what is Caesar's' but also 'render unto God what is God's,' cleverly avoiding a political trap while emphasizing a broader spiritual obligation.

What is significant about Jesus' statement 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's'?

This statement is significant because it addresses the dual obligations of a person living under a governmental authority while also adhering to spiritual responsibilities. It highlights the balance between civic duties and religious commitments, suggesting that one can fulfill governmental requirements without compromising divine allegiances.

Why do the Sadducees challenge Jesus with a question about the resurrection?

The Sadducees challenge Jesus with a question about the resurrection because they do not believe in an afterlife and aim to discredit Jesus by making him appear foolish in front of the public. They pose a hypothetical scenario involving marriage in the resurrection to trap him into giving an answer that seems illogical.

How does Jesus counter the Sadducees' denial of the resurrection?

Jesus counters the Sadducees' denial of the resurrection by quoting Scripture from the Pentateuch, which they respect, to demonstrate that God is the God of the living, not the dead. He references God's statement about being the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, implying their continued existence and thus affirming the concept of resurrection.

What does Jesus imply about relationships in heaven in response to the Sadducees' question?

In response to the Sadducees' question, Jesus implies that earthly relationships, like marriage, do not continue in the same way in heaven. He explains that in heaven, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage but will be like the angels. This suggests a transformation of social relationships in the afterlife, focusing more on spiritual kinship.

How does the scribe's question about the greatest commandment lead to a deeper discussion about love?

The scribe's question about the greatest commandment leads Jesus to summarize the law into two fundamental commandments: loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving one's neighbor as oneself. This discussion elevates the concept of love as the core of religious practice, transcending ritual compliance.

What lesson does Jesus convey through the story of the widow's offering?

Through the story of the widow's offering, Jesus conveys the lesson that true generosity is measured not by the amount given, but by the sacrifice involved. The widow, who gives only two small coins—her entire livelihood—demonstrates greater devotion and sacrifice than those who give large amounts out of their surplus.

What does Jesus warn against in his critique of the scribes and religious leaders?

Jesus warns against the hypocrisy of the scribes and religious leaders who seek prestige, power, and financial gain under the guise of piety. He criticizes their showy behavior, long prayers, and exploitation of vulnerable individuals, emphasizing that genuine faith should not be used to mask greed or ambition.

Outlines

00:00

🥊 Round One: Jesus vs. His Adversaries

This segment discusses the confrontational setting of Mark chapter 12, likening it to the initial round of a boxing match where Jesus challenges His opponents to a verbal duel. The adversaries, including the Pharisees and Sadducees, attempt to discredit Jesus and win over the public and authorities. They pose cunning questions, trying to force Jesus into a dilemma that would either alienate Him from the public or entangle Him with the authorities. However, Jesus, adept at navigating these verbal traps, uses precise and thoughtful responses to deflect their attacks and maintain His stance.

05:01

📜 The Political and Intricate Trickery Against Jesus

This section delves into the political manipulation by the Pharisees and the Herodians, who collaborate despite their differences to trap Jesus with a politically charged question about paying taxes to Caesar. This coalition aims to expose Jesus either as a Roman sympathizer or a rebel, thereby diminishing His influence or leading to His arrest. However, Jesus perceives their hypocrisy and counters with wisdom, asking for a coin and pointing out their implicit acceptance of Roman rule, thus neutralizing the trap set for Him.

10:02

🏛️ Historical Context and Jesus' Profound Response

The discussion expands on the historical context of Roman governance in Jerusalem, noting the people's initial request for a Roman governor. Jesus uses this context to justify the payment of Roman taxes, highlighting the principle of benefiting from government services and thus owing dues. He extends this principle to spiritual obligations, suggesting that just as they owe the Roman emperor for temporal benefits, they owe God for spiritual benefits. This narrative not only addresses the immediate issue of taxes but also underscores a broader moral and spiritual responsibility.

15:02

🤔 Philosophical Challenges and Sadducean Skepticism

Addressing a philosophical and theological challenge from the Sadducees regarding the resurrection, Jesus counters their skepticism with scriptural insights and a deep understanding of God's power. The Sadducees, known for denying an afterlife, pose a hypothetical scenario intended to ridicule the concept of resurrection. Jesus responds by emphasizing the transformative power of God and the nature of heavenly existence, which transcends earthly relationships and concerns.

20:04

🌌 Theological Misconceptions and Heavenly Realities

Continuing from the previous discussion, Jesus corrects the Sadducees' limited understanding of the afterlife by pointing out their ignorance of both Scripture and God's omnipotence. He clarifies that heavenly life will be fundamentally different from earthly life, involving no marital bonds but a brotherly/sisterly relationship among all. This teaching not only addresses the specific query but also offers a broader perspective on the nature of eternal life and relationships in heaven.

25:05

💖 The Essence of the Law: Love and Obedience

This part focuses on Jesus' response to a scribe's question about the greatest commandment. Jesus summarizes the entire law with two principles: loving God with all one's being and loving one's neighbor as oneself. This summary not only encapsulates the essence of Jewish law but also extends the definition of 'neighbor' beyond just fellow Jews to a universal scope. Furthermore, Jesus emphasizes that love is an active choice involving the mind, strength, and heart, not just an emotional feeling.

30:06

📚 Beyond Legalism to the Heart of Faith

This concluding segment captures Jesus' critique of religious hypocrisy, contrasting the behavior of the scribes and Pharisees with the true spirit of faith demonstrated by a poor widow. While the religious leaders seek prestige and exploit their positions, the widow, by contributing her last two coins to the temple treasury, exemplifies genuine devotion and complete trust in God. Jesus highlights this contrast to illustrate the profound difference between outward religious observance and heartfelt commitment to God.

Keywords

💡Mark chapter 12

Mark chapter 12 is a significant part of the Christian New Testament, where various teachings and parables of Jesus are recorded. In the script, it serves as the foundational text for the sermon, being used to discuss themes like authority, loyalty, and spirituality. The chapter is referenced as a scene of 'round one' in a metaphorical boxing match, portraying Jesus's confrontations with religious leaders.

💡Pharisees and Herodians

In the script, the Pharisees and Herodians represent Jewish religious and political factions respectively, who unusually collaborate to challenge Jesus. This coalition highlights the theme of political and religious tension. The Pharisees are depicted as strict religious leaders, while Herodians are portrayed as supporters of Herod's dynasty, aligning with Roman rule. Their interaction with Jesus in questioning about taxes serves to test his loyalty and wisdom.

💡Taxes

The discussion of taxes in the script addresses a trap laid for Jesus by his enemies who ask whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. This situation illustrates the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals under oppressive political regimes. Jesus' response, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,' is a pivotal moment in the narrative, reflecting on civic duty and spiritual obligations.

💡Defense and attack

These terms are used within a metaphorical comparison of a boxing match to describe Jesus' interactions with his challengers in Mark chapter 12. Initially, Jesus is on 'defense,' responding to challenges posed by his opponents. Later, he transitions to 'attack,' posing his own questions and making profound statements that challenge the existing religious norms and perceptions.

💡Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is a central theme discussed in the video, particularly in the context of Jesus' critics who use clever questions to trap him. The script highlights Jesus' ability to see through the pretense and dishonesty of his opponents, illustrating his criticisms of those who outwardly appear righteous but are inwardly deceitful. This is particularly evident in his response to the question about taxes, where he exposes the insincerity of the Pharisees and Herodians.

💡Love

The concept of love is explored deeply in the script as Jesus summarizes the law into two commands: love God and love your neighbor. This simplification challenges the religious leaders' focus on strict adherence to ritual, promoting a more profound, holistic approach to spirituality and ethics. Love, as discussed, is not merely emotional but involves the entire being, reshaping the listener's understanding of religious obligation.

💡Resurrection

Resurrection is debated in the script when Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, pose a hypothetical question to discredit Jesus' teachings. Jesus refutes their misunderstanding by emphasizing God's power and the nature of life after death, which contrasts with earthly experiences and relationships. This part of the discussion highlights different theological positions within Judaism at the time.

💡Kingdom of God

The 'Kingdom of God' is a critical theological and eschatological concept discussed in the script. It represents the realm of God's spiritual reign contrasted with earthly kingdoms. In the dialogue, Jesus uses the idea of the Kingdom to critique shallow religious practices and to call for a deeper, more authentic commitment to God's commandments and values.

💡Pride

Pride is mentioned as a negative trait among the religious leaders who seek to maintain their social status and authority by displaying outward signs of piety and reverence. The script criticizes such attitudes, linking them to hypocrisy and moral corruption. This is particularly seen in the discussion of long robes and special greetings, which are used to gain respect but mask true spiritual emptiness.

💡Giving

The concept of giving is illustrated in the script through the story of the widow who gives two mites, which Jesus declares to be more valuable than larger contributions made by the wealthy. This narrative emphasizes the spiritual value of sacrifice and intention behind giving, challenging conventional measures of generosity and prompting a reevaluation of what it means to give 'all' to God.

Highlights

Jesus begins his confrontation in Mark 12 by challenging his adversaries to come forward and fight with words, setting a verbal battle scene.

The Pharisees and Herodians team up against Jesus with political questions intended to trap him, showcasing an unlikely alliance driven by mutual opposition.

Jesus's strategic response to the coin and tax question cleverly exposes the hypocrisy of his questioners and reaffirms his insight.

The discussion transitions to a philosophical battle with the Sadducees, who challenge Jesus with a hypothetical scenario meant to discredit the concept of resurrection.

Jesus counters the Sadducees by emphasizing the difference between earthly and heavenly existence, clarifying misconceptions about relationships in the afterlife.

The scribe approaches Jesus with a sincere scriptural question, leading to a profound summary of the law: to love God and neighbor as foundational to faith.

Jesus highlights that real love involves the whole personality, not just emotions, challenging contemporary and simplistic notions of love.

A sharp critique of religious hypocrisy is delivered by Jesus, targeting those who use religion for personal gain, prestige, and greed.

The narrative peaks with the Widow’s Mite story, illustrating true religious devotion as the widow gives all she has to God, contrasting sharply with the hypocrisy around her.

Jesus warns against the dangers of religious leaders who seek honor and wealth, pointing out the spiritual risks of hypocrisy and greed.

In a reversal of societal values, Jesus indicates that in the kingdom of God, many who are first will be last, and the last first, highlighting the value of humility and sincerity.

The transcript illustrates Jesus’s ability to navigate complex theological discussions and outmaneuver his opponents with wisdom and authority.

Jesus's teachings challenge listeners to reflect deeply on their own spiritual practices and the authenticity of their faith.

The discussions reveal a contrast between earthly concerns and heavenly values, urging a reevaluation of priorities and commitments.

The detailed analysis of scriptural interpretations and responses to theological challenges presents a model of engaged and thoughtful religious discourse.

Transcripts

this is a long study so the scripture

reading of Mark chapter 12 verses 13 to

44 has been omitted

now I'm going to sit down to talk to you

tonight and tomorrow night it's more

informal but the Lord Jesus used to do

this and in fact in the synagogue the

rabbi always set to preach I think

that's a great idea which has not been

carried through into the Christian

church

maybe in our new church we can arrange

something

well now

having been to a boxing match recently

with one or two others in this room I

want to begin by saying that this

chapter 12 represents round one

our lord has laid down a challenge and

said come out and do your worst I'm

ready for you now

he is literally thrown down the glove

and they are going to come out and

they're going to fight him with

everything they've got

but just as at the beginning of a

physical fight there's a kind of

sparring goes on and maybe in round one

there aren't many severe blows uh

assessing one another weighing each

other up trying to get the measure of

the opponent

you'll get the same thing in the last

week in the life of our lord it's in the

last round when we come to chapter 15

that the great blow is struck

but this first round is largely a round

of words

they are fighting only with words at the

moment our Lord has challenged them

they've come out and they challenge him

Sticks and Stones head at your bones but

names don't hurt at all was a problem I

was brought up on but in fact words can

hurt much more than sticks and stones

they can cut very deep

and in fact words were the first weapons

used by our Lord's enemies

now once again to follow through the

picture of the boxing match the two

things that a man in the ring wants to

do before he gets much further are these

first he wants to get the crowd on his

side

there are a lot of people watching and

if he can get the sympathy of the crowd

and the cheers of the crowd then this

will help him it'll help his morale

it'll help him in the fight

but secondly

he wants also to get the attention of

the referee and the judges

he wants to get a verdict for himself

now you're in exactly the same way you

get the impression that the enemies of

Our Lord the Pharisees Sadducees scribes

priests Elders they all they all team up

against him even including the herodians

they're all one against him

the two things they're aiming at in this

verbal battle round one are first to

discredit him in the eyes of the public

and get the crowd on their side that's

the first thing and second to try and

get a charge

with which they can accuse him to the

proper authorities the judge

Pontius Pilate in this case

and everything they say to him has this

double object

to get the public against him

and to get the authorities the judges

against him

and they have some pretty cute questions

worked out which seem at first sight to

force our Lord either to lose the public

or to fall foul of the authorities and

that's what they're after

now there are six little conversations

in the passage I've read and they go

into two groups of Threes the first

three are all defense on the part of

Jesus

and just as in again an unboxing fight I

don't know why I keep going back to this

but it's a very good illustration

in round one one of them begins to take

the initiative and try and Landing a

good right and and one begins to uh

fight out

and then the fight swings and the other

person takes the initiative now in the

first three questions raised in chapter

12. Jesus is on the defense

he's on the defensive

they are attacking him and three

questions come which are blows

and very sharp ones

that not one of them gets home then in

the second half of the passage we have

three more conversations in which Jesus

now comes to the attack and delivers

three telling

sayings to them let's take the first the

first question is a political one

and the people involved are the

Pharisees in the herodians now they make

strange bedfellows

normally they wouldn't speak to each

other

the herodians were not Jews they were

political puppets in the hands of the

Romans they belonged to the hated line

of Esau they were and the

herodians were hated by the Jews because

the Romans had set the herodians over

them

the Pharisees were about the most

exclusive religious people in the whole

end and to see exclusive religious

people who normally say politics is a

terribly dirty business and had nothing

to do with it lining up with herodians

who are just up to their eyes in dirty

politics is an amazing coalition

and here they are together

and when we read the scripture carefully

we find that somebody else put them both

up to it it says they sent to him some

of the Pharisees and some of the

herodians it's an incredible intrigue

and it simply shows that when people

hate God they will make the most

incredible alliances with one another

so they the priests set up the Pharisees

in the herodians and said now here's a

trick question go and try it out on him

I remember at school two large school

boys got a little boy

um and uh said which one of us do you

like best and these two big bullies had

this poor little lead right in the

middle there was nothing you could say

if you said you the other one was going

to beat him up if he said you this one

would now it is precisely that kind of

question that they'd managed to think up

see the Pharisees represented the Jewish

side and the Jewish feelings their

herodians represented the Roman feelings

and the question was bound to offend one

or the other in its answer

and the question was a most offensive

one

I want you to imagine

that um

when John Blanchard gets to

Czechoslovakia

that somebody gets enough in the Public

Square in Prague in front of a large

crowd and says no what do you think

about the Russians

so now that's the kind of situation

should we do what the Russians tell us

now if John Blanchard said yes he would

lose the sympathy of all the

czechoslovakians if he said no he'll be

in a Russian jail Pronto you see the

kind of situation I use that because

Czechoslovakia is an occupied country so

was Israel at this time the Romans were

an enemy power

and it's just that situation and it

seems an appalling trap

you see either he'll say no we shouldn't

pay these taxes to Rome and let this

money go out of the country to Rome

until the Caesar in which case

they can accuse him to Pilot straight

away he's a traitor

or he says yes we should in which case

he'd be so unpopular with the people

that that would be the end of his public

Ministry it's a brilliant question

but my advice to anyone is never try and

get the better of Jesus

many people have tried and nobody's ever

done it

never try and be too clever for him

Jesus saw straight through that question

they weren't bothered about taxes at all

it says he saw their hypocrisy and that

means they didn't want an answer they

just wanted to trap him and so he saw

straight through it and he said why'd

you ask

why

and since presumably they didn't answer

he went on to give them an answer and

it's a brilliant answer

now he said can you give me a coin

somebody give me a coin

now I've heard it said that Jesus was so

poor he had to ask someone to give him a

coin I don't think that's the reason he

asked for one

because Judas had some money there was a

treasurer for the disciples and he could

have said give me one of our coins Judas

but he didn't

why did he say you give me one of your

coins because he wanted something out of

their pockets

something that they are already using

something to which they have already

committed themselves and he says give me

some money out of your pocket

you know the little boy who said you

know whose subscription is this that's

not what he said he said now here is the

money you're using

you will use this money and you accept

it at its face value

you buy your food with it and you're

close with it whose money is it

in other words you are already committed

you're already involved and it's a very

clever answer

but going a little further than this

and here is something that isn't in the

Bible but will help you to understand

in ad6

Jerusalem was under herod's son

archelius

who was a thoroughly bad lot

and they got so fed up with him that

they petitioned Rome Rome who had put

archelius on the throne and Herod his

father before him that's the Herod who

killed the babies at Bethlehem they

petitioned Roman said please can we have

a Roman Governor instead of arcelius

even a Roman Governor would be better

than this man

and they had actually asked the Romans

to come

they needn't have had a Roman Governor

at all and when the Roman Governor came

he introduced Roman coins

and he introduced Roman taxes

and many another thing

and our Lord is virtually saying to them

you asked for them

you were quite happy to have them then

and you were quite happy to use their

coins when they came you are already

committed you are already getting the

benefits of the Roman rule

and therefore you have a duty to pay for

the benefits you're getting

now

I'm afraid that too many of us think of

taxes and rates and other things as

almost something that's uh extortion you

go but some criminals up in Whitehall

take from us you're part of my

mentioning this but um it's a good plug

for you but as if you know it's it's all

going into someone's pocket and as if

it's a gigantic criminal act

and therefore the only moral thing to do

is to evade as much as possible but in

fact that money goes to provide

education to provide defense to provide

security to provide the social services

our rates go to empty the Dustbin

it's not extortion

you are getting benefits

and in fact if the government said all

right from now on we won't do a thing

for anybody and if the council said we

won't do a thing for anybody you're on

your own from now on

you've been spending half your days

going around trying to find someone to

empty your Dustbin

and you'd be wandering around the

streets with a torch at night

in fact God is ordained that we should

live together in a community in a state

in a Nation Under a government and for

the benefits of that government we we

have to pay

and the Very coins we use bear on it on

them the image of an earthless Sovereign

who has rights Over Us in whom we

acknowledge

so Jesus was just saying you benefit

from this you ask them to come you've

benefited from their control

then you need to pay for that somebody's

got to pay for it and the ones who get

the benefit from it should do

and you notice they said should we pay

taxes or not but he said render

to Caesar and the word render means

repay

it means to give something that you owe

so they said should we pay taxes he said

you should repay

taxes that's a different matter

altogether

now this puts it all in a very different

light and of course they couldn't say

anything about this because they had

benefited from the Roman peace the Pax

Romana that brought security to the home

Mediterranean world and brought an

absence of War for many years and

brought a situation in which you could

travel all around the Mediterranean

without a passport

and protected by Rome

but then having defended that he now

goes on to something more and he says

also you have a duty to God for the

benefits you get from God

and God has a right to expect something

from you as well as Caesar

and therefore a Christian is in a double

kind of citizenship he's a citizen of

Earth and owes certain things to the

Earthly King to which he belongs and

he's a citizen of heaven and owes

certain things to the kingdom of heaven

to which he belongs

the problem only arises for a Christian

when Caesar begins to claim something

that only God can claim and then you've

got a real problem and then the

Christian has to say no I can't give it

to you there came a day when Caesar said

I am God you must now worship me as Lord

and the Christians said now that is

something that isn't yours and we can't

give it

and we'd rather go to the Lions and give

it but in this case it was a simple

issue give to Caesar what is Caesar's

you're using his money why shouldn't you

give him his money

if you really want to be logical you

shouldn't touch his money

and of course that was a real dig at the

priest because they were fairly wealthy

and they were rather fond of the Roman

shekels

and then give to Gods what is God's now

that I should use the money therefore

that I have with an Earthly Sovereign on

it the image I'm sorry I've forgotten to

bring my Roman Penny and indeed the

might but you see there there's the

image of Queen Elizabeth I'm using her

money

she has a claim on it

now then what has God's image on it

the answer is every man and woman on

Earth

and the thing that I must render to God

that he deserves is me

if that bears the image of an Earthly

King and therefore the Earthly King has

a right to it I'm made in the image of a

Heavenly King and he has a right to me

and this is what Jesus is saying

and he turns it very cleverly back on

them and says is God getting from you

what God should have from you that's the

biggest question

Pharisees and herodians retire the bell

rings and round one is over it's a very

wonderful Exchange

now the second round is concerned not

with the political question but a

philosophical one and now come the

Sadducees they are the wealthy

aristocratic

Priests of Jerusalem they run the temple

they get most of the money from it

they are somewhat anti-supernatural in

their views

they would be called the Liberals of

their day and in particular they said

the only real bit of the Bible that we

take notice of are the first five books

the law of Moses the pentateuch as it

was called Genesis Exodus Leviticus

Numbers Deuteronomy you had to prove a

thing from those five books before

they'd believe it

and one of their strange views was that

they didn't believe in a personal

afterlife

and just to help you to remember this

that is why they were sad you see

they just didn't believe in anything in

the future

the Pharisees did and so a Pharisee

could say far I see into the future and

this is just a very easy take to

remember the main difference between

them as far as their beliefs go the

Pharisees had a real belief in the

afterlife the Sadducees just didn't

believe it

they believed that you lived on in other

people's memory and in the good that

you've done which is what a lot of

British people seem to believe about the

future they didn't believe that you

lived on

and therefore one idea which the

Pharisees held which the Sadducees

didn't

was the resurrection of the body that in

fact a person comes back to life again

with a body

and they didn't believe this at all

now they came along to Jesus and this

was another verbal battle between them

and this time they were trying to get

him discredited in the eyes of the

public by making him look silly

some people love to do this we've had

some sessions up at the University in

the last few months and I could pick out

the students who just wanted to do this

they had their clever questions they

didn't want to know the answer they just

wanted to make the speaker look silly in

front of the others and if you can make

it a speaker look utterly silly then of

course he's not going to have any effect

on them

so the Sadducees came with a very funny

question

now in the book of Deuteronomy which

they did accept there was a law that if

a man died without children his brother

had to marry his widow

and produce a child for him and so on

down the line and the reason was twofold

the land was divided up and a parcel of

land was given to a family

forever

and therefore the family name must be

kept alive and there must be a

continuity to the family to keep that

land

and it was God's law that when the land

was so tied to families that this family

name be kept alive this way

now here was their question

it's not a living issue really it's one

of these

um logical puzzles

and they said this man died he had no

children his brother took his wife he

had none his brother took his wife he

had none seven times down the line now

they said there's going to be an awful

situation in heaven

because all these seven men are going to

fight over this woman and say she's my

wife she's my wife she's my wife

now if you think this is a silly

question let me put it to you in the

form in which it has been most often put

to me

the same basic question I have often had

it in my Ministry this is how it's been

put to me

people have said to me

how could I ever be happy in heaven

if any of my family were in hell

now that's how the question is put to me

and it's the same basic question

deep down it's the same principle and

the answer Jesus gave is the same answer

to both questions so before we dismiss

the Sadducees too lightly realize that

it is a problem

and the basic problem to people is this

they can't imagine how Heaven can be

different from Earth

that's the basic problem

and imagine that everything we know here

will be the same there

including our relationships and we're

told quite simply they will not be

that heaven is different in many ways

now Jesus tackled them head on and he

said now you've asked the wrong question

or if you had known the right answer you

wouldn't have asked that question he

says you are ignorant of two very

important things you're ignorant first

of the Bible

and so many of our trick questions show

an ignorance of this book because this

book I'm more and more impressed with

the fact that the more I read it the

more every question is answered

and ignorance of the Bible is one show

away of getting tied up in knots like

these

the second thing he says you don't know

is you don't know the power of God

meaning the power of God to change

things

to make things different

now he goes on to say do you think that

heaven will be just Earth

add infinitum

do you think that it'll just be

continuing what you've got down here the

answer is it most certainly won't quite

frankly that wouldn't be heaven for most

others

now that's not a reflection on my

married life please don't jump to

conclusions

but um for my wife to have to live with

me as I am forever wouldn't be heaven

um and for all of us to have to live

with each other forever as we are now

wouldn't we haven't but we believe in

the power of God to change

and sometimes at a funeral when we've

been burying someone who is known for

being a bit awkward and uh

you know not everybody is ready for

heaven when they die

in the sense of being perfect and most

of us are not I've said quite openly at

the funeral one of our hopes for the

future is not just a glorified body

but a glorified character

the next time we meet so and so they'll

be perfect

and that's brightened up the relatives

no end and made something to look

forward to but you see the relatives

will be perfect too if they die in

Christ

in other words life in heaven will be so

different from life on Earth

and the power of God to change things we

need to remember

now the answer to the Sadducees question

was this you will not be a husband and

wife in heaven

when my wife and I got married we didn't

get married in a Mormon temple quite

deliberately we got married in a

Christian church and we said Till Death

us do part

and we recognize that the particular

relationship into which we entered on

our marriage day was a relationship for

this world only

that is not to say that we don't expect

to be in heaven together but when we get

there it will be a different

relationship between us

if I can put it as I imagine it it will

be a relationship of brother and sister

in Christ

we shall all be as closely related to

each other

that will be an even more wonderful

relationship than we could have known

here

now Jesus said that's how the Angels

Live the Angels don't get married nor do

they reproduce and have children they

are created each one

incidentally that's the answer to those

who feel that all life must come from

Evolution You couldn't possibly believe

in angels if you believe this the Angels

were created distinctly separately they

don't die they don't grow they don't

marry they don't have children

and that is precisely what life will be

like for us in heaven difficult though

it is to imagine

and therefore the answer to those who've

said to me I won't be happy in heaven if

all my relatives are not there the

answer is all your relatives will be

there

but the people you will count relatives

there will not be the people you count

relatives here

our relationships will have changed

all your brothers and sisters in Christ

will be there

and it's one of the things that God has

the power to change our relationships

now unless that seem a callous thing to

say or a hard thing to say let me add

straight away that as long as I am in

this life my physical relatives are my

concern

and my burden and my prayer

but in the next life the relationships

are in Christ

and those are the important

relationships and so they'd gone wrong

because they didn't know their Bible

well enough and they didn't know the

power of God enough to change things

on the positive side he said now you

were Sadducees you say you've got to

prove a thing from the first five books

of the Bible and where does it mention

Resurrection in the first five books of

the Bible it says very simple at the

burning bush

when God appeared to Moses he said this

I am the god of Abraham and Isaac and

Jacob he did not say I was the god of

Abraham and Isaac and Jacob that's a

very important difference

and perhaps you could read that story

and never notice it

now think of your father or your

grandfather or your great-grandfather

someone who knew the Lord do you realize

that God if he spoke to you at this

moment would not say I was the god of

your great-grandfather he would say to

you I am the god of your

great-grandfather which implies

absolutely certainly your

great-grandfather still alive

I am the god of these people

in other words they're still alive and

I'm still their God and you're just

joining this wonderful company and it's

a tremendous thought this I remember

going to Hebron and looking at the tomb

the cave of mcpilar and the tombs of

Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their three

wives and the centuries seemed to roll

away to look at their graves

and yet as I stood there I remember

saying to myself aloud I couldn't help

it

they are not dead because God is still

their God

of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob

whatever's happened to their bodies they

are alive because he's alive could I put

it this way

if you believe in a living God then you

must also believe that he is the god of

the living

that's what Jesus says here and so you

said you sees you're sad and you

shouldn't be

now round three they're still on the

attack

and now we come to a scriptural question

but this time the question is utterly

sincere

it's wonderful in the discussion when

somebody asks a question about a meaning

of something in the Bible and really

want to know

and really are concerned about the truth

and there's been a scribe listening to

all this

and in his mind he says you know that

man knows the answers

that man knows what it's all about I

want to ask a question

now scribes in those days had long

theological discussions they greatly

enjoyed it did the sort of thing you've

been used to doing David recently and

they used to discuss two things

first of all they used to add a lot of

laws to the law of God

all the detailed application of it what

you could do and what you couldn't do on

the Sabbath that was one of their

favorite discussions what new laws they

could make that would help people to

fulfill the Ten Commandments you know

but the other sort of discussion they

enjoyed having was this

they used to enjoy setting each other

the question can you summarize the law

in one sentence in fact one Rabbi said

to his students stand on one leg and

summarize the whole law of God

while you stand on one leg to try and

make them condense it abbreviate it get

it summed up in one little sentence

so now

this scribe comes to Jesus and asks him

this question

if somebody asked you he's saying to

Jesus what is the whole duty of man what

is the whole law of God what is the

summary of all that he wants from us

what would you say

and our Lord quoted two texts one from

Deuteronomy one from Leviticus and he

put them together

and he said here it is

love God with all your heart and mind

and strength love your neighbors

yourself

that's the whole lot

and he summed it all up in those two

now some people have said well Jesus was

saying nothing new there it is in the

Old Testament but there are at least two

things that he was doing that was quite

new the first is nobody had ever put

those two texts together before nobody

nobody had ever thought of saying that

love is the key to the law of God

loving God loving your neighbor the two

relationships a cross will help you to

think of them

and the other thing is that he didn't

qualify the word neighbor if you read

Leviticus your neighbor was your fellow

Jew

but here it's as wide as the world

furthermore I'm going to say some other

things now

um

Roger Ramos gave you a study of these

two Commandments I think didn't you uh

in February well let me say some things

that probably you said but just to

underline them first of all if you read

this summary you get the idea first that

love is not feeling

the trouble is that nowadays say the

word love and everybody thinks of bang

bang bang down here and think of emotion

and if you listen to the pop songs all

about love it's always about Emotional

Love

but Christ makes it quite clear that

real love is a response of the whole

personality

you can love people with all your heart

but you can also love them with all your

mind

that's a notion you'll not find in a pop

song

but your thoughts can last

and he summed it all up in those two

now some people have said well Jesus was

saying nothing new there it is in the

Old Testament but there are at least two

things that he was doing that was quite

new the first is nobody had ever put

those two texts together before nobody

nobody had ever thought of saying that

love is the key to the law of God

loving God loving a neighbor the two

relationships a cross will help you to

think of them and the other thing is

that he didn't qualify the word neighbor

if you read Leviticus your neighbor was

your fellow Jew

but here it's as wide as the world

furthermore I'm going to say some other

things now um

Roger Amos gave you a study of these two

uh Commandments I think didn't you uh in

February well let me say some things

that probably you said but just to

underline them first of all if you read

this summary you get the idea first that

love is not feeling

the trouble is that nowadays say the

word love and everybody thinks of bang

bang bang down here and think of emotion

and if you listen to the pop songs all

about love it's always about Emotional

Love

but Christ makes it quite clear that

real love is a response of the whole

personality

you can love people with all your heart

but you can also love them with all your

mind

that's a notion you'll not find in a pop

song

that your thoughts can love someone you

can love them with all your physical

strength that's a thought you'll not

find

you can love them with all your soul

that's a thought you won't find

and what he's done is is he's Define the

word love as something that your whole

personality is involved in all your

thinking all your strength all your

heart and feeling and all your soul it's

it's saying all of you

furthermore he's saying this that before

ever you love your Navy the first duty

of a man is to love God

now this is what gives I think the lie

to the idea that you'll find many more

better Christians outside the church

than in

you see when anybody says to me

so-and-so is a good Christian and they

don't go to church

I will say to them now tell me why you

think they're a good Christian

and the answer is invariably in terms of

the second commandment here because they

love their neighbor

and one may then go on to say

do you think that person loves God

because that comes first

loving your neighbor is fine it's good

it's part of the whole law but it's the

second thing not the first

and I remember in one of our recent

house squashes a lady whilst a lady who

said um

well how can you love God

the only thing you can do is to love

your neighbor

but Jesus said loving God comes first

and in fact I don't think you can really

love your neighbor until you love God

not in the fullest sense

mind you I think that to love God

without loving your neighbors just as

one-sided and just as much a caricature

so Jesus said love is more than feelings

it's your whole personality love of God

comes first the next thing I want you to

notice is this if there is only one God

then he demands all you love

did you notice the word one and the word

all hear o Israel there is only one God

therefore he has a right to all of you

now if you believed in a dozen Gods then

you'd have to give each a twelfth of

yourself

and that may sound a bit funny but you

know this is what missionaries find they

go to a country where people believe in

a whole lot of gods and there they are a

whole row of idols and they give a

little bit to this and a little bit to

that and a little bit to the other and

they have to dish out among all their

gods what little resources they have but

you see the Commandment is hear o Israel

the Lord our God is one there is no

other

therefore he has the right to all your

heart all your strength all your

thoughts all your feelings all of you

and that was something wonderful

I want you to notice too that it's all

right to love yourself

that may sound a bit heretical but let

me say what I mean he didn't say love

your neighbor instead of yourself or in

spite of yourself he said as yourself

meaning it is perfectly valid to have a

care of yourself

we are to care for our own bodies they

are temples of the Holy Ghost

to look after them properly

but he's saying you should take as much

care of other people as you do of

yourself

that's the standard anything that you

would do for yourself

you should do for them

and that makes life very simple

and yet very demanding now the Scribe

listened to all this and he said you

know Jesus you're right

you're absolutely right this is the

important thing I can see this love is

more important than all this religious

ritual all these sacrifices the

important thing is that we love God love

our neighbors I can see this

and Jesus said to him you know you're

very near

you're so near the kingdom of God you're

not far from it at all

now I wonder what would have brought

that man right in

he wasn't right there in saying I can

see that it's love what would have

brought him right through the answers

very simple two things

first the acknowledgment that he had not

done either of those two things

that's the first step

once you realize what God has a right to

expect of your life

the first step towards the kingdom is

the step of repentance Lord I have not

loved you with all my heart and soul and

strength Lord I have not loved my

neighbor

in other words the first step is to

realize we haven't done what God wanted

us

step number two into the kingdom is to

say Lord even if you forgive me not

doing this I will never be able to do

them in the future without your help

that's faith

that would have brought him right into

the kingdom

he could see what was needed

but so far as we know he didn't admit

that he did need this and he didn't

admit that he couldn't do it by himself

but he was very near to the kingdom and

a man as sincere as that is very near

and from then on nobody asked Jesus any

questions well who would after that

he could tie you in knots for one thing

he could judge you for another you think

you're trying to get him in knots and he

ties you in knots by facing you with the

truth

well having defended himself three times

he now goes around to the attack

the first attack he makes is on a

spiritual basis and it's a bit

complicated and it's a bit difficult for

us to understand today so uh don't mind

if you don't get much from this one but

let me explain what he means

he attacks their idea of the Christ or

the Messiah or the Savior they're

expecting

they are expecting a purely human figure

from the line of David

a descendant of David and they keep

calling him the son of David they called

him that on the day up Palm Sunday

and Jesus says I challenge you on this

idea you have

you are looking for a purely human

descendant of David to come

and Reign Over You

I challenge you to look at what David

himself said about this Christ who is

coming

do you notice Jesus is saying that David

applied the same word to this Christ

coming as you apply to God

the word Lord

in other words David knew that the

Christ who would come would be far more

than a human being would be a Divine

being

and so our Lord attacks their idea of

the Christ

all they want is a political Messiah

a leader an agitator a resistance leader

an insurrectionist and Palm Sunday

showed that so clearly but Jesus says I

challenge you to think again

you ought to be looking as David did for

a Divine person someone you could call

Lord

someone who is in fact far higher than

David

now it was always considered in those

days that a descendant of someone was

lower

that in a sense a grandfather was

Superior to both father and son

Jesus is saying in fact the one who's

going to come is far above David

far above and David said he will put all

his enemies under his feet

that it's Lord Lord not just a son of

David now that was a technical point

but it was an important point in the

light of Palm Sunday and Jesus was

attacking them and their understanding

of scripture one little point before I

leave that little section do you notice

in verse 36 our Lord's view of the

Psalms

David wrote them but the Holy Spirit

inspired them and therefore they could

be appealed to as truth and as proof of

Truth

now Jesus

knows that the common people are

enjoying all this

there's nothing a crowd likes more than

seeing hecklers put in their place

that's why a double sofa has such a

following in Hyde Park corner it's the

cheapest entertainment in London as

someone said to me it's fascinating to

watch him tying

um a Heckler up into knots and these

hecklers come up brashley and try and

catch him out and he seems just to be

able to tie them up there's only been

one occasion when he was stuck for an

answer and

[Music]

um

well I'll tell you about that afterwards

if you want to know but on other

occasions he's always known the right

answer and it's very interesting to see

a Heckler really sort of

put in his place by a brilliant speaker

in dialectic in um argument well now the

crowd at the end of verse 37 they're

enjoying this tremendously the great

Throne ahead and gladly Jesus is only

too aware of this

and so he now warns them in verse 38 and

he moves now to an ecclesiastical

question

and he says beware

beware of what

of being in religion for what you get

out of it

of covering up greed pride and hypocrisy

with religion and he now says some very

severe Words which I find terribly

disturbing and challenging

those of us who've been called to

full-time Christian service need to read

this again and again

examine our own hearts but I think all

Christians need to first of all they

were getting Prestige out of it

and that's a most subtle thing

they liked wearing long robes well that

of course made them distinctive anyway

and different from others but long robes

you can't do any manual work in them and

you can't hurry in them and it gave the

impression of a leisured scholar

they loved special greetings

greetings like father

and Jesus said don't let anybody call

you father

incidentally him I found out too late

after three years in the services that

Padre of course is precisely there

it's uh it came from the Italian Army

originally and it was the simply the

father put into Italian for the priest

pepper Pope it's the same word Jesus

said don't let anybody call you father

don't let anybody call you master

these are terms that imply you are above

them and this is something you are not

they love titles they also love the

chief seats

and if there was a feast they liked the

best room in the house where they were

staying now they were in it for Prestige

the second thing that they were in it

for was greed

now widows formed easy prey

because they had no man to defend them

and no man to argue for them and I have

noticed again and again how often Cults

and sects

get hold of women

and persuade them to accept their

strange teachings especially if there is

no men to argue with the man who's come

to the door

and the scribes did this and they not

only got these

women uh

with them they also took their money

from them and I'm afraid there's only

too much evidence that many widows lost

their money to such people it was going

on all the time

and Jesus said and the trouble is they

cover it all up all this greed all this

Pride all this desire for Prestige and

wealth they cover it up with long

prayers

find it very interesting that Jesus

didn't light long prayers he he mentions

this so often he says one thing kills a

prayer meeting its long prayers mind you

he could spend all night in prayer

privately but he was thinking of public

prayer

it's very interesting that the book of

common prayer which is a lovely book the

more I studied the more I feel it's a

wonderful book of devotion

the collect was quite deliberately made

a prayer of two or three sentences

because it was meant to be common prayer

prayer that people could follow

and I suppose if we were all honest if a

prayer is too long in a prayer meeting

or in church we start thinking of other

things only too easily

and Jesus said these people covered it

up with long prayers they were

professional prayers and he said because

of their privilege because of their

responsibility because of their position

they would receive a greater

condemnation I think that's an awful

attack on professional religious people

and those of us who are called as I've

said to full-time service

need to examine our hearts all the time

lest we ever begin to be greedy for

Prestige or to be thought highly of by

others

but it's a warning that our Lord gives

to all the people

and so it's relevant to all Christians

now like a breath of fresh air we come

to the loveliest little story it really

is time for the collection

and our Lord sat down and watched The

Collection now they had a trumpet

big Trump that's set up on end of the

gate into the treasury and as he went in

you threw in your money usually made a

nice ding as it went in I was in the

Albert Hall recently and for a Christian

meeting and the American chairman of it

said that well now frenzy said we're

going to have a silent collection

tonight

I thought now what is that and then he

pulled out a dollar bill out of his

pocket and he said paper only so a

silent collection but they didn't have

silent collections in the treasury

and the bigger the coin of course the

bigger the ding it made as it went into

this trumpet

and so of course you threw in the the

big coins you made a nice ding

um there may be some connection here

with uh blowing your own trumpers

you know when you give arms blowing a

trumpet before you but in fact they

probably did in fact blow trumpets as

well but certainly these big trumpet

receptacles you can see the kind of

thing can't you and you tossed your

money in as ostentatiously as possible

if you wanted to that's why Jesus said

when you give don't let your right hand

know what you're left and does

I've often how wondered how Jesus knew

there were two minds

but you know they would only make a tiny

little ping you realize that

and he sat over against these trumpets

this poor little woman came along

looking as if she couldn't rub too

farlings together she could in fact but

that was all

and she just put two little pings in

it's a most dramatic scene

and you know it comes like a breath of

fresh air after all this fight because

for the first time you catch a glimpse

of real religion

for the first time you catch a glimpse

of someone who loves God with all

they've got

that's why it's put in here

sure that's why

the Holy Spirit wanted it in Mark's

gospel do you know that this is the last

incident in the public Life of Christ

his public life finishes on this note

of a poor woman giving everything she's

got to God

that's a lovely finish to the public

Ministry of Jesus it's real religion it

tells us this that when Christ looks

into the collection

he doesn't ask what will that give by

but what did it cost

that's a very different way of

adding up the collection

of course we can't announce in the

weekly bulletin what last week's

offering costs

cost we can announce what it will buy we

can say how much was given and we know

roughly from that what that will buy

what it will get

we just can't write down in the bulletin

what last week's offering cost

may have cost some very little it may

have crossed some a great deal

but in God's weekly bulletin what goes

down is what the offering cost

not what it amounted to

or can I put it this way he looks not at

what was

put in but what was kept back

how much was still left in the wallet

this is how he counts it and you notice

that Jesus called his disciples together

and he said now look I'm going to tell

you something now did you see that

little woman come up now

did you see her go through into the

temple

tell you something about her she has

given more to God this day than anybody

else in the temple I have no doubt they

must have looked at him and thought

she's one of those you know has a

mattress stacked with thousands of

pounds for the Lord to talk like that

and she's just one who doesn't spend it

on herself

but no he went on

and he said she kept absolutely nothing

back nothing

that's an amazing gift

especially when you have so little

and he then said this

he said you see all the other people

that I've watched today who came to

church

and through their collection in

gave from what was left over that's the

literal meaning of the word they gave

him what was left over

she has given all that was left

I think I've told you about the

uh lady who came up to Dr Joseph Parker

in the City Temple and gave him a pound

note and said the Widow's marked Dr

Parker and he said but Madam the Widow

gave two minds and she looked a bit

shaken but gave him another pound note

and then he said but Madam the Widow

gave all that she had

at which she turned around and stalked

out of the church

he was just reminding her

not to put herself on a level with this

woman unless it was right to do so now

we are not saying that it is therefore

right for every Widow to go away and

give away all that they've got

what he is saying is this here is a real

religion

here's a woman who loves the Lord so

much

she doesn't count because she just says

Lord you can have all that I've got

and the way to apply this to ourselves

is not necessarily to go away and draw

out all our bank balance and get rid of

it

I'll put it in the collection next

Sunday

it is to go home and say Lord do you

have all that I've got

there are different ways of giving all

that you've got that was her way there

are other ways of doing this and other

Lovelier ways lovely ways as well so she

put in everything

well now what's my conclusion from the

bible study tonight

I'm sure you know all this

like the back of your hand you've known

these stories you've been through them

before maybe something fresh has come to

you tonight but this was the first round

in the battle that was to finish with

what they thought was a knockout blow

when they crucified Christ it was

largely a kind of sparring round in

which they were getting the measure of

each other

but the two things that I'm left with

are these they're really one

but if we think we are testing Jesus and

testing Christianity with all our

questions and with all our puzzles and

so on we shall very quickly find that

sooner or later it's Jesus who is

testing us

and the thing is reversed

I've known this happens so often people

who were argumentative and tried to

argue about the Miracles of the Bible

and you don't still believe this and

this that and the other and they were

trying to discredit the word of God

if they go on doing that there will come

a point where the word of God will begin

to discredit them

it kind of rebounds on us

we can criticize the Bible and then

sometimes we find the Bible criticizing

us

we can say things about Christ that we

don't like

sooner or later Christ will tell us

something in our lives that he doesn't

like

and the thing that strikes me about this

chapter is this

Christ had a way of stripping off what

hit real people from others

and he could do it both ways he could

look at those public figures who were

pretending to be religious and he could

strip it all away and say look at them

greedy proud people hypocrites

and he could say that about us

and he could look at a simple unnoticed

little woman

say isn't She Wonderful

and he could immortalize such a person

by the way we haven't even got her name

and yet she's still talked about by

millions of people two thousand years

later

isn't that amazing

and you know perhaps she never knew

perhaps she never knew

there is coming a day when God will

judge the World by a man Christ Jesus

and Jesus will say about everybody in

the world what he said about people here

about some people he will say depart

from me I never knew you

oh you use my name but I never knew you

it was all pretense it was all long

Prince it was all outward religion but

it wasn't love for me

and then of some simple people whom the

world will have forgotten if the world

ever thought of them

and Jesus will say now look at this

person this person loved me so much

they're so important to me

there will be such a reversal many that

are first will be last many that are

last will be first

but of course you realize

that people who don't like being shown

up

will not like Jesus and that's why this

argument led to the cross

that's why within three days they were

planning his death crucifying him

because a man who comes to me and says

your life is hypocrisy it's religious on

the outside that it's dirty on the

inside that man I will not like

that man I will want to get rid of that

meant I will want to put out of my life

that's precisely what happened

and the cross the shadow of the Cross

already and then fall across the sea

tomorrow night will continue and look up

to 13 together