The Perception Of God's Servant
"Answering His Enemies"
Book of Mark Chapter 12
As we have been seeing the actions of Jesus cause quite a stir among the religious leaders of Jerusalem and Jesus still causes quite a stir not only to the religious world but also the the so-called non-believers or Atheist.
Jesus said:
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Sin is a fixed and an unyielding power on this earth but there is another overpowering force that can conquer sin, it is called Christianity.
It is obvious that there must then be a conflict, a war between these two, and that conflict can have only one ending. The most powerful will prevail!
It is the greatness of Jesus Christ that has set the world on fire!
In the time of Jesus, no one doubted the miracles that He had done. It is only since His death and His resurrection that people have disputed His miracles being real.
Shame on those, who will be judged by the same Word of God, that they themselves have rejected as the truth!
If those chief priests, scribes, and elders of Jerusalem wanted to know more about the "authority" of Jesus then they had to listen to His teaching!
Let's begin:
*****Mar 12:1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
Mar 12:2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
Mar 12:3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
Mar 12:4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
Mar 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Mar 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
Mar 12:7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
Mar 12:8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
Mar 12:9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
Mar 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
Mar 12:11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
We must not forget that a parable is a comparison of earthly things with heavenly things, or an earthly story that has a heavenly meaning.
In this parable, that certain householder would be Our Creator, The Living God, Our Father who is in Heaven.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
That house would be His entire creation, but especially the Earth.
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
That vineyard would be the land given to Israel or Canaan Land.
Psa 80:8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
That hedge was the protecting hand of God.
Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
That wine-press was the children of Israel.
Isa 5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
That tower was the Word of God.
Deu 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Those husbandmen would be the Jew, the religious leaders along with the elders of all of Israel.
Isa 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
That far country is Heaven.
Eze 11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
That vineyard was to be cared for and cultivated for God's use, not for the world but to teach the world about Jehovah God!
There are 3 plants in the Bible that symbolize Israel.
1) It is the "vine" that represents Israel in the Old Testament times through to the time they rejected Jesus Christ.
2) It is the "olive tree" that represents Israel in the future, after the Great Tribulation period, when the veil has been removed and they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
3) And as we have just seen that it is the "fig tree" that represents Israel in between these two times.
The fig tree is then associated with sin and failure!
God had grown His vine into a nation, while it was in Egypt.
God had carried His vine into the "promised" land of Canaan.
God had protected Israel from her enemies as long as they were obedient to Him.
We should not be fooled here, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were looking for a place far greater than the promised land of Canaan:
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
But God had provided everything in the promised land, so that Israel could prosper and become a mighty nation and they did reach a partial peak in the time of David and Solomon.
Israel had been a stubborn nation from the beginning and had rejected God's ownership.
Israel had rejected all the prophets that God had sent, even Moses, who they had claimed to adore and to follow.
They had also rejected the truth of Abraham!
Israel had sunk into apostasy!
So, God sent His Own Son.
The Son already knew the outcome but God had sent Him because of His Mercy and His Grace.
Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
The Jews had already made their intentions perfectly clear.
Mar 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: "for they feared him", because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Israel had not realized that it was the "new land" promised to them, that city of God, that Abraham was seeking from God that was so valuable.
And only the believer can know that it is the New Heaven and the New Earth that has real value, not this world we live on now!
It was God's Son, Jesus Christ, who was actually the True Vine!
It is God Himself who is True Husbandman!
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
By destroying the Son, these Jewish leaders had sealed their doom!
*****We miss the point of this parable if we cannot see that this was Israel's final warning before The Lord would begin what we now call the Church Age!
But, at this time, there was still time for Israel to repent!
God will always offer a time to repent!
In fact we are in that time right now, the Church Age of God's "Mercy" and "Grace"!
Israel had been the apple of God's eye:
Zec 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
And they still are His elect nation!
But, the, "whosoever will come", Church is now God's peculiar treasure!
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
The Jewish nation had been appointed to spread the Word of God but the Jewish nation was unfaithful to that appointment.
The Jewish nation had rejected the moral government of Jehovah God. Most all nations are still rejecting the moral government of Jehovah God and His Son Jesus!
They rejected Theocracy in favor of a Monarchy and they had already had many kings.
We have seen with our own eyes, and history has proved, that God has punished this nation of Israel severely.
Why?
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children".
Israel had cursed their on selves!
The Word of God is now in the hands of the Church!
Jesus then sings to these rulers of Israel, this part of a song they should have memorized and known:
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
These Jews clearly understood what Jesus had said but it had only made them an even a greater enemy!
Most people refuse to look on their own selves and can only see sin in others than themselves!
*****Mar 12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
These chief priests, and Scribes and elders of Israel only knew they had to silence the Lord Jesus Christ and only their fear of the people stopped from trying to do it this day.
Because at this point the people stood with Jesus but those same people would soon have change of heart.
Even good people can be incited to riot!
They had clearly understood that this parable was about them.
They knew that all these things had really happened and they were not shamed, but incited to do evil.
They again began to formulate their plan to kill, God's Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.
Even enemies became friends in order to unite all people against the Lord Jesus Christ!
They first sent certain Pharisees and Herodians who they knew also wanted to kill Jesus.
*****Mar 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
Mar 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
Mar 12:16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
Mar 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
These Pharisees were zealots of the Laws of Moses, but even more so to their own verbal interpretation and additions of those laws.
These Herodians showed themselves to be righteous men but were only spies for the government.
I believe we still have many Herodians that have been elected to office in our own nation.
That word "catch" gives us a picture of a hunting party, who came to set traps for some animal!
Jesus is truly the Master but these enemies had not come to be taught!
We all know, that you cannot teach a "know it all" anything new!
Instead of challenging the Lord, they pretended to consult with the Lord Jesus and they began by trying to flatter Him!
Where have we heard this before?
Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
These are the same tactics that Satan employs but the Lord Jesus could not be fooled by such trickery!
**If Jesus yields to the foreign government of Rome the Pharisees will incite the Jews against Him.
**If Jesus teaches the refusal to pay taxes, the Herodians will incite the ruling Roman government against Him.
This was a trap that surely would work in favor of these false men and against the Lord Jesus, but they would be wrong again.
This question of paying taxes required a direct answer or at least so they thought.
At this time, Israel was not allowed to have a national coinage.
They were only allowed to produce a half-shekel and this was only allowed so the Temple tax could be paid to Rome.
Jesus did not ask for the half-shekel but asked only for a penny, knowing that it would be a Roman currency.
These leaders of Israel had already submitted to the rule of Rome.
So Jesus asked them a simple question?
One side of this coin had the image of Caesar and the other side had an inscription of the Roman government.
So, Jesus replied:
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"
When we accept the protection of our earthly governments then we are also to help maintain that government and this is a commandment!
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men":
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
But we should also clearly understand, that the things of God are Spiritual, and we cannot neglect these things!
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Clearly these men, that had come to trap the Lord Jesus, did not understand the truth of the Word of God and they again marvelled at Our Lord!
Another song out of their song book had these words:
Psa 33:10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
It is every nation that understands all these things that will be a prosperous nation!
These men knew they had failed and withdrew but there are always some others that think they can out do God!
*****Mar 12:18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
Mar 12:19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Mar 12:20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
Mar 12:21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
Mar 12:22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
Mar 12:23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
The Sadducees were another sect of Jewish religion who thought they were the aristocrats of Jewish society.
They looked down on everybody!
They rejected the principles of Abraham but were rigid in things of the Law of Moses.
But, they denied any future state of of punishment or reward was biblical. They denied Heaven and Hell existed.
They rejected the existence of angels and spirits.
They taught that to please God, He asked no more than to be good in this life. We know that we cannot work our way into Heaven!
They totally rejected any teaching of a future resurrection.
Jesus knew all these things!
So what had Moses written?
Deu 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.
Deu 25:6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, "that his name be not put out of Israel".
We can see that the intent of this law was to preserve the ownership of the land that was divided to each family by Joshua.
These things had already been written before the Jews had entered Egypt so Moses intended this law to be an obligation when Israel entered in Canaan Land.
This is also where the law of the "kinsman redeemer" came from.
We must remember the promise given to Abraham which was ignored by the Sadducees:
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed"; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
The thought behind these things is that Israel could not become a great nation if the families produced no children and they would loose their land to a stranger.
This same thought drives Israel even today as they try to hold on to the land given to them by God and we should stand with them!
The Sadducees only recognized the first five books or what is known as the Pentateuch.
The word Pentateuch is not found in scripture but when we see the phrase "Book of Moses", or "The Law", or "Torah", this is what is intended.
When Jesus said "Do ye not therefore err", What Jesus was saying was that "you only accept the first 5 books of the Bible, but you cannot even get those right"!
And as we have just studied, "marriage was ordained" of God to perpetuate the "human" family!
In the future state of man after death, "there is no such ordinance as human life will end", but spiritual life can never end!
In this fashion, the glorified body of redeemed men are like the angels because the angels cannot die a physical death like the human!
Jesus adds, even in those same 5 books you should have read that "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob".
And Jesus adds:
"He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living"
Since God quickens each of the dead, the dead then have no God! Neither the soul of the saved nor the soul of the unsaved can die!
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
God is the Creator, He gave life when there was no life!
God can then assure the existence of of those that trust Him, "which are not yet glorified", as if they already are eternal, and God can never fail to accomplish the things He has promised!
And again Jesus added, all these things are in the first 5 books of the Bible, "therefore you do greatly err".
These Sadducees were put in their place but there was another group that was looking on to see if they failed.
*****Mar 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
It was the scribes that held the important offices of public affairs and were somewhat like Secretaries of State of many nations in our times.
It was the scribes, in the times of Jesus, who also made the copies of the Bible because there was no means of printing at this time.
A scribe and a lawyer was the same person in most cases, at the time of Jesus.
It was the scribes who were considered the authority of what the Bible actually contained.
They may have made many copies but they had never taken the time to study the Word of God.
Memorizing the scripture is great and should be encouraged but if we cannot relate those scriptures to our lives we have missed the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!
We must study the Word of God as He commands!
We must then rightly divide the Word of God! God wrote certain things to certain people and at certain times!
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But these scribes had asked a great question and Jesus did not hesitate to respond:
*****Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
This phrase "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord" was recited twice a day by every professing Jew at this time and it is still done today!
Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
This scripture was intended as a national protest against all false religions that had come into Israel and Jerusalem by all the invading armies and cultures, especially in the 400 years of what we call the silent period between the Old and the New Testament.
This was the voice of Israel against the polytheisms, the pantheisms and the atheisms of the heathen world.
There truly exist only One "Living" God and One "Personal" God, and His name is Jehovah!
Who is Jehovah?
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of [the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost]:
Jehovah is then the Tri-Une God!
God is three in respect to "Persons" but in Essence, these three are One!
1) The Father is God:
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
2) The Son is God:
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
3) The Holy Spirit is God:
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Jesus said, this is the God we must love and this is a command, and not a request!
It is "love" that fulfills all commandments and it is the "Love for this God" where redemption begins!
Christianity must take it's stand on the fact that we must love our Tri-Une God and then our fellow man and in that order!
How much are we to love Him?
A) With "all" our heart.
According to the Bible, the heart is the center of spiritual activity but also for all the operations of human life. The heart is also the seat of our conscience!
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
B) With "all" our soul.
According to the Bible, the soul is our living being. The soul contains our person, our desires, our appetite for life, our emotions and our passion for life!
It is the soul that separates the human from the animal world!
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life"; and man became a living soul.
C) With "all" our mind.
The mind is the organ of spiritual perception. It is in the mind where we store our understanding of the things of God!
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed "by the renewing of your mind", that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
D) With "all" our strength.
Our strength is our ability to control our body of flesh. Our strength is our means of movement toward God. Our strength is made stronger by "Faith"!
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and [with the mouth] confession is made unto salvation.
It is our Christian strength that is our force against the evil in this world!
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
It is only our love for God that should come before our love for our fellow man!
And Jesus said "There is none other commandment greater than these"!
And that scribe responded:
*****Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
That scribe only repeated what the Lord had said in agreement with Him, but he added a little something.
"is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices"
Samuel had confronted King Saul on his return from war with Amelek with these words:
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
In other words, there is nothing in this world greater in this life that we can do for the Lord beyond obeying His every Word!
These words got the attention of the Lord Jesus Christ.
*****Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
No doubt this scribe had witnessed every response of Jesus as He had answered all His enemies.
This scribe was no longer critical of Jesus but was under conviction because Jesus had answered every question according to the Word of God!
This man was realizing that the true "Gospel" was actually standing before him.
What is the kingdom?
The Kingdom, is the rule of God in the human heart.
It exists now but we will not fully realize the Kingdom until we get to Heaven!
We have to seek the Kingdom of God it to gain it!
We have to do the work the Lord has given us to do to retain the Kingdom of God!
Retaining the Kingdom of God is then winning it!
The Kingdom of God is then the "Truth of God"!
The Kingdom of God is not visible, so the Kingdom of God is not the Church even though the Church could be called the Kingdom of Christ!
This scribe understood the "Gospel" at this time even better than the disciples of Christ except for one thing.
He would not openly confess Christ Jesus!
Joh 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
No one else had questions for Jesus, so Jesus then asked a question.
*****Mar 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
Mar 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Mar 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
Jesus asked the multitude, "How do these that confess they know the Word of God so well, say as truth, that the Messiah is to be the son of David?"
Jesus answers that question this way. "David said by the Holy Ghost"
1) Jesus said, that what David had said was given to him by the Holy Ghost!
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2) Jesus said, David wrote, under the influence of the Holy Ghost[Holy Spirit] that the Messiah was his LORD.
Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psa 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
These Jews clearly understood that David was writing of the coming Messiah!
It should be obvious to us, that the way the scribes taught this scripture gave the intent that the Messiah was inferior to King David, which is apostasy and false.
Jesus in the flesh may have been inferior to King David in his flesh and King of Israel, but David had written that the Messiah was his LORD!
That title "LORD" always means Jehovah, the "I AM" of all scripture, the Tri-Une God!
To sit at "the right hand" denotes that the Messiah would have all the power and majesty of God!
But it also means that a part of the work of the Messiah was done to the satisfaction of the Father in Heaven.
The Messiah would sit at the right hand as the great High Priest forever but also a King.
The Messiah is then to be King and Priest!
But the Messiah would only sit at the right hand of the Father for "a period of time" designated as "until I make thy foes thy footstool"
Peter explained it this way:
Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Act 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Lord means, "having all authority"!
Christ means "the Messiah"!
There is only One and that is Our God!
It was not David that was ascended into Heaven, for his body was still in his grave!
In fact until the Cross, David's soul may not have even ascended to Heaven under the Old Testament, but actually to place called Paradise:
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
This is the place that Jesus promised to meet that thief on the cross beside Jesus.
This is probably same place as Abraham's Bosom, where the soul of David would have been along with Lazarus:
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
It is only after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus where the believer can join the Lord Jesus in Heaven.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
The Messiah would ascend to the right hand of God:
a) This would end the earthly ministry of the Messiah, as Savior.
b) This would end the place of humiliation of the God-man on Earth as He returned to the "Glory World".
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
c) This would mark the beginning of a new work in Heaven, the Great High Priest.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
d) This would make the descent of the Holy Spirit possible!
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And this would bring Holy Ghost Power to this earth:
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
e) But this same Messiah will truly return as King!
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Where this same Messiah will reign with His "rod of power", His "rod of iron".
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The Lord has very little tolerance for those that claim to know the Word of God and do not teach the truth, when it is obvious the common people could understand what God has to say!
This why it is important to try to get a copy of the Bible into the hands of every individual on this Earth so they can read it themselves!
These common people gladly accepted the Word of God, so Jesus cautioned them.
*****Mar 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
Mar 12:39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
Mar 12:40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
Jesus said, "Be On Guard" when being taught by these men.
The scribes were mostly Pharisees and their principles and practices were very bad. Their teaching was to be avoided!
If we do not take the time to study the Word of God ourselves, we will never know if those that teach God's Word are teaching the truth!
It is the "doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ" where we begin to know the truth!
1) To be a believer is to be in the army of God, and one of the hardest things for most of us to do is to take a back seat and yield to the preeminence of others but that is exactly where God wants each of us.
We need to serve as the "private" because we only have One Captain, King Jesus!
These scribes dressed as if they were the General of the army !
2) These scribes would appear in places where people were gathered but not for the right reasons!
Jesus said:
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This is "NOT" what these scribes were doing!
They came seeking their own glory!
3) These scribes, as a class, had a wholly false sense of values.
Their pride caused them to seek out all seats of preeminence!
Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
4) One of the duties of the scribes was to prepare wills and other deeds.
Most of them were not content with the usual fee and they would particularly prey upon the fears and the lack of spiritual knowledge of those that were recently widowed.
In many cases they would persuade widows to deed over their entire property to the Temple, while these scribes would receive a great proportion of the proceeds for that transaction.
It is easy to see why the Lord despised all these religious leaders!
Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
5) God will reward those that diligently seek Him, but these scribes sought only their own recognition!
The word "pretence" meant this prayer was only an outward showing, "in these very public prayers".
A "Pretender" will make a show of things that are not real and will claim the fulfillment of anything that they are involved with.
Jesus Christ knew all these things.
Psa 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
Psa 78:37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
And after these things Jesus entered the Temple for the last time.
*****Mar 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mar 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Mar 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
When Jesus sat to watch those who gave to the treasury of the Temple it was the last act of His ministry!
The Lord Jesus commended this record of this woman's two mites, which equaled a farthing.
A farthing is only 1/4 of a penny. This was a very small gift "in actual size" for the work of God!
But because she gave something that she truly needed herself, her rewards will be very great.
God does not measure gifts by the amount "but by its motive", and "by the amount left that is ungiven"!
This woman had nothing else to give but herself.
No matter what is taught about giving or even tithing, God really just has one rule!
Lev 5:7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
We must give what we can of the things we need for our selves to build rewards in Heaven, at least a tenth!
Our Great High Priest has already made atonement for all our sin!
SO, 100 percent of what we have belongs to the Lord!
That 10 percent represents that part of our need!
"All of our abundance", more than we need, must be available to God at His request!
This treasury in the Temple was open for all to see who was giving the most and none gave more than this poor widow. We know this because God was watching and He said so!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
"Answering His Enemies"
Book of Mark Chapter 12
As we have been seeing the actions of Jesus cause quite a stir among the religious leaders of Jerusalem and Jesus still causes quite a stir not only to the religious world but also the the so-called non-believers or Atheist.
Jesus said:
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Sin is a fixed and an unyielding power on this earth but there is another overpowering force that can conquer sin, it is called Christianity.
It is obvious that there must then be a conflict, a war between these two, and that conflict can have only one ending. The most powerful will prevail!
It is the greatness of Jesus Christ that has set the world on fire!
In the time of Jesus, no one doubted the miracles that He had done. It is only since His death and His resurrection that people have disputed His miracles being real.
Shame on those, who will be judged by the same Word of God, that they themselves have rejected as the truth!
If those chief priests, scribes, and elders of Jerusalem wanted to know more about the "authority" of Jesus then they had to listen to His teaching!
Let's begin:
*****Mar 12:1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
Mar 12:2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
Mar 12:3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
Mar 12:4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
Mar 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Mar 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
Mar 12:7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
Mar 12:8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
Mar 12:9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
Mar 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
Mar 12:11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
We must not forget that a parable is a comparison of earthly things with heavenly things, or an earthly story that has a heavenly meaning.
In this parable, that certain householder would be Our Creator, The Living God, Our Father who is in Heaven.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
That house would be His entire creation, but especially the Earth.
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
That vineyard would be the land given to Israel or Canaan Land.
Psa 80:8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
That hedge was the protecting hand of God.
Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
That wine-press was the children of Israel.
Isa 5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
That tower was the Word of God.
Deu 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Those husbandmen would be the Jew, the religious leaders along with the elders of all of Israel.
Isa 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
That far country is Heaven.
Eze 11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
That vineyard was to be cared for and cultivated for God's use, not for the world but to teach the world about Jehovah God!
There are 3 plants in the Bible that symbolize Israel.
1) It is the "vine" that represents Israel in the Old Testament times through to the time they rejected Jesus Christ.
2) It is the "olive tree" that represents Israel in the future, after the Great Tribulation period, when the veil has been removed and they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
3) And as we have just seen that it is the "fig tree" that represents Israel in between these two times.
The fig tree is then associated with sin and failure!
God had grown His vine into a nation, while it was in Egypt.
God had carried His vine into the "promised" land of Canaan.
God had protected Israel from her enemies as long as they were obedient to Him.
We should not be fooled here, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were looking for a place far greater than the promised land of Canaan:
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
But God had provided everything in the promised land, so that Israel could prosper and become a mighty nation and they did reach a partial peak in the time of David and Solomon.
Israel had been a stubborn nation from the beginning and had rejected God's ownership.
Israel had rejected all the prophets that God had sent, even Moses, who they had claimed to adore and to follow.
They had also rejected the truth of Abraham!
Israel had sunk into apostasy!
So, God sent His Own Son.
The Son already knew the outcome but God had sent Him because of His Mercy and His Grace.
Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
The Jews had already made their intentions perfectly clear.
Mar 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: "for they feared him", because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Israel had not realized that it was the "new land" promised to them, that city of God, that Abraham was seeking from God that was so valuable.
And only the believer can know that it is the New Heaven and the New Earth that has real value, not this world we live on now!
It was God's Son, Jesus Christ, who was actually the True Vine!
It is God Himself who is True Husbandman!
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
By destroying the Son, these Jewish leaders had sealed their doom!
*****We miss the point of this parable if we cannot see that this was Israel's final warning before The Lord would begin what we now call the Church Age!
But, at this time, there was still time for Israel to repent!
God will always offer a time to repent!
In fact we are in that time right now, the Church Age of God's "Mercy" and "Grace"!
Israel had been the apple of God's eye:
Zec 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
And they still are His elect nation!
But, the, "whosoever will come", Church is now God's peculiar treasure!
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
The Jewish nation had been appointed to spread the Word of God but the Jewish nation was unfaithful to that appointment.
The Jewish nation had rejected the moral government of Jehovah God. Most all nations are still rejecting the moral government of Jehovah God and His Son Jesus!
They rejected Theocracy in favor of a Monarchy and they had already had many kings.
We have seen with our own eyes, and history has proved, that God has punished this nation of Israel severely.
Why?
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children".
Israel had cursed their on selves!
The Word of God is now in the hands of the Church!
Jesus then sings to these rulers of Israel, this part of a song they should have memorized and known:
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
These Jews clearly understood what Jesus had said but it had only made them an even a greater enemy!
Most people refuse to look on their own selves and can only see sin in others than themselves!
*****Mar 12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
These chief priests, and Scribes and elders of Israel only knew they had to silence the Lord Jesus Christ and only their fear of the people stopped from trying to do it this day.
Because at this point the people stood with Jesus but those same people would soon have change of heart.
Even good people can be incited to riot!
They had clearly understood that this parable was about them.
They knew that all these things had really happened and they were not shamed, but incited to do evil.
They again began to formulate their plan to kill, God's Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.
Even enemies became friends in order to unite all people against the Lord Jesus Christ!
They first sent certain Pharisees and Herodians who they knew also wanted to kill Jesus.
*****Mar 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
Mar 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
Mar 12:16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
Mar 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
These Pharisees were zealots of the Laws of Moses, but even more so to their own verbal interpretation and additions of those laws.
These Herodians showed themselves to be righteous men but were only spies for the government.
I believe we still have many Herodians that have been elected to office in our own nation.
That word "catch" gives us a picture of a hunting party, who came to set traps for some animal!
Jesus is truly the Master but these enemies had not come to be taught!
We all know, that you cannot teach a "know it all" anything new!
Instead of challenging the Lord, they pretended to consult with the Lord Jesus and they began by trying to flatter Him!
Where have we heard this before?
Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
These are the same tactics that Satan employs but the Lord Jesus could not be fooled by such trickery!
**If Jesus yields to the foreign government of Rome the Pharisees will incite the Jews against Him.
**If Jesus teaches the refusal to pay taxes, the Herodians will incite the ruling Roman government against Him.
This was a trap that surely would work in favor of these false men and against the Lord Jesus, but they would be wrong again.
This question of paying taxes required a direct answer or at least so they thought.
At this time, Israel was not allowed to have a national coinage.
They were only allowed to produce a half-shekel and this was only allowed so the Temple tax could be paid to Rome.
Jesus did not ask for the half-shekel but asked only for a penny, knowing that it would be a Roman currency.
These leaders of Israel had already submitted to the rule of Rome.
So Jesus asked them a simple question?
One side of this coin had the image of Caesar and the other side had an inscription of the Roman government.
So, Jesus replied:
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"
When we accept the protection of our earthly governments then we are also to help maintain that government and this is a commandment!
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men":
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
But we should also clearly understand, that the things of God are Spiritual, and we cannot neglect these things!
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Clearly these men, that had come to trap the Lord Jesus, did not understand the truth of the Word of God and they again marvelled at Our Lord!
Another song out of their song book had these words:
Psa 33:10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
It is every nation that understands all these things that will be a prosperous nation!
These men knew they had failed and withdrew but there are always some others that think they can out do God!
*****Mar 12:18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
Mar 12:19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Mar 12:20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
Mar 12:21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
Mar 12:22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
Mar 12:23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
The Sadducees were another sect of Jewish religion who thought they were the aristocrats of Jewish society.
They looked down on everybody!
They rejected the principles of Abraham but were rigid in things of the Law of Moses.
But, they denied any future state of of punishment or reward was biblical. They denied Heaven and Hell existed.
They rejected the existence of angels and spirits.
They taught that to please God, He asked no more than to be good in this life. We know that we cannot work our way into Heaven!
They totally rejected any teaching of a future resurrection.
Jesus knew all these things!
So what had Moses written?
Deu 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.
Deu 25:6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, "that his name be not put out of Israel".
We can see that the intent of this law was to preserve the ownership of the land that was divided to each family by Joshua.
These things had already been written before the Jews had entered Egypt so Moses intended this law to be an obligation when Israel entered in Canaan Land.
This is also where the law of the "kinsman redeemer" came from.
We must remember the promise given to Abraham which was ignored by the Sadducees:
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed"; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
The thought behind these things is that Israel could not become a great nation if the families produced no children and they would loose their land to a stranger.
This same thought drives Israel even today as they try to hold on to the land given to them by God and we should stand with them!
The Sadducees only recognized the first five books or what is known as the Pentateuch.
The word Pentateuch is not found in scripture but when we see the phrase "Book of Moses", or "The Law", or "Torah", this is what is intended.
When Jesus said "Do ye not therefore err", What Jesus was saying was that "you only accept the first 5 books of the Bible, but you cannot even get those right"!
And as we have just studied, "marriage was ordained" of God to perpetuate the "human" family!
In the future state of man after death, "there is no such ordinance as human life will end", but spiritual life can never end!
In this fashion, the glorified body of redeemed men are like the angels because the angels cannot die a physical death like the human!
Jesus adds, even in those same 5 books you should have read that "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob".
And Jesus adds:
"He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living"
Since God quickens each of the dead, the dead then have no God! Neither the soul of the saved nor the soul of the unsaved can die!
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
God is the Creator, He gave life when there was no life!
God can then assure the existence of of those that trust Him, "which are not yet glorified", as if they already are eternal, and God can never fail to accomplish the things He has promised!
And again Jesus added, all these things are in the first 5 books of the Bible, "therefore you do greatly err".
These Sadducees were put in their place but there was another group that was looking on to see if they failed.
*****Mar 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
It was the scribes that held the important offices of public affairs and were somewhat like Secretaries of State of many nations in our times.
It was the scribes, in the times of Jesus, who also made the copies of the Bible because there was no means of printing at this time.
A scribe and a lawyer was the same person in most cases, at the time of Jesus.
It was the scribes who were considered the authority of what the Bible actually contained.
They may have made many copies but they had never taken the time to study the Word of God.
Memorizing the scripture is great and should be encouraged but if we cannot relate those scriptures to our lives we have missed the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!
We must study the Word of God as He commands!
We must then rightly divide the Word of God! God wrote certain things to certain people and at certain times!
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But these scribes had asked a great question and Jesus did not hesitate to respond:
*****Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
This phrase "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord" was recited twice a day by every professing Jew at this time and it is still done today!
Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
This scripture was intended as a national protest against all false religions that had come into Israel and Jerusalem by all the invading armies and cultures, especially in the 400 years of what we call the silent period between the Old and the New Testament.
This was the voice of Israel against the polytheisms, the pantheisms and the atheisms of the heathen world.
There truly exist only One "Living" God and One "Personal" God, and His name is Jehovah!
Who is Jehovah?
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of [the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost]:
Jehovah is then the Tri-Une God!
God is three in respect to "Persons" but in Essence, these three are One!
1) The Father is God:
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
2) The Son is God:
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
3) The Holy Spirit is God:
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Jesus said, this is the God we must love and this is a command, and not a request!
It is "love" that fulfills all commandments and it is the "Love for this God" where redemption begins!
Christianity must take it's stand on the fact that we must love our Tri-Une God and then our fellow man and in that order!
How much are we to love Him?
A) With "all" our heart.
According to the Bible, the heart is the center of spiritual activity but also for all the operations of human life. The heart is also the seat of our conscience!
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
B) With "all" our soul.
According to the Bible, the soul is our living being. The soul contains our person, our desires, our appetite for life, our emotions and our passion for life!
It is the soul that separates the human from the animal world!
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life"; and man became a living soul.
C) With "all" our mind.
The mind is the organ of spiritual perception. It is in the mind where we store our understanding of the things of God!
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed "by the renewing of your mind", that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
D) With "all" our strength.
Our strength is our ability to control our body of flesh. Our strength is our means of movement toward God. Our strength is made stronger by "Faith"!
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and [with the mouth] confession is made unto salvation.
It is our Christian strength that is our force against the evil in this world!
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
It is only our love for God that should come before our love for our fellow man!
And Jesus said "There is none other commandment greater than these"!
And that scribe responded:
*****Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
That scribe only repeated what the Lord had said in agreement with Him, but he added a little something.
"is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices"
Samuel had confronted King Saul on his return from war with Amelek with these words:
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
In other words, there is nothing in this world greater in this life that we can do for the Lord beyond obeying His every Word!
These words got the attention of the Lord Jesus Christ.
*****Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
No doubt this scribe had witnessed every response of Jesus as He had answered all His enemies.
This scribe was no longer critical of Jesus but was under conviction because Jesus had answered every question according to the Word of God!
This man was realizing that the true "Gospel" was actually standing before him.
What is the kingdom?
The Kingdom, is the rule of God in the human heart.
It exists now but we will not fully realize the Kingdom until we get to Heaven!
We have to seek the Kingdom of God it to gain it!
We have to do the work the Lord has given us to do to retain the Kingdom of God!
Retaining the Kingdom of God is then winning it!
The Kingdom of God is then the "Truth of God"!
The Kingdom of God is not visible, so the Kingdom of God is not the Church even though the Church could be called the Kingdom of Christ!
This scribe understood the "Gospel" at this time even better than the disciples of Christ except for one thing.
He would not openly confess Christ Jesus!
Joh 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
No one else had questions for Jesus, so Jesus then asked a question.
*****Mar 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
Mar 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Mar 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
Jesus asked the multitude, "How do these that confess they know the Word of God so well, say as truth, that the Messiah is to be the son of David?"
Jesus answers that question this way. "David said by the Holy Ghost"
1) Jesus said, that what David had said was given to him by the Holy Ghost!
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2) Jesus said, David wrote, under the influence of the Holy Ghost[Holy Spirit] that the Messiah was his LORD.
Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psa 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
These Jews clearly understood that David was writing of the coming Messiah!
It should be obvious to us, that the way the scribes taught this scripture gave the intent that the Messiah was inferior to King David, which is apostasy and false.
Jesus in the flesh may have been inferior to King David in his flesh and King of Israel, but David had written that the Messiah was his LORD!
That title "LORD" always means Jehovah, the "I AM" of all scripture, the Tri-Une God!
To sit at "the right hand" denotes that the Messiah would have all the power and majesty of God!
But it also means that a part of the work of the Messiah was done to the satisfaction of the Father in Heaven.
The Messiah would sit at the right hand as the great High Priest forever but also a King.
The Messiah is then to be King and Priest!
But the Messiah would only sit at the right hand of the Father for "a period of time" designated as "until I make thy foes thy footstool"
Peter explained it this way:
Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Act 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Lord means, "having all authority"!
Christ means "the Messiah"!
There is only One and that is Our God!
It was not David that was ascended into Heaven, for his body was still in his grave!
In fact until the Cross, David's soul may not have even ascended to Heaven under the Old Testament, but actually to place called Paradise:
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
This is the place that Jesus promised to meet that thief on the cross beside Jesus.
This is probably same place as Abraham's Bosom, where the soul of David would have been along with Lazarus:
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
It is only after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus where the believer can join the Lord Jesus in Heaven.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
The Messiah would ascend to the right hand of God:
a) This would end the earthly ministry of the Messiah, as Savior.
b) This would end the place of humiliation of the God-man on Earth as He returned to the "Glory World".
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
c) This would mark the beginning of a new work in Heaven, the Great High Priest.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
d) This would make the descent of the Holy Spirit possible!
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And this would bring Holy Ghost Power to this earth:
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
e) But this same Messiah will truly return as King!
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Where this same Messiah will reign with His "rod of power", His "rod of iron".
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The Lord has very little tolerance for those that claim to know the Word of God and do not teach the truth, when it is obvious the common people could understand what God has to say!
This why it is important to try to get a copy of the Bible into the hands of every individual on this Earth so they can read it themselves!
These common people gladly accepted the Word of God, so Jesus cautioned them.
*****Mar 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
Mar 12:39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
Mar 12:40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
Jesus said, "Be On Guard" when being taught by these men.
The scribes were mostly Pharisees and their principles and practices were very bad. Their teaching was to be avoided!
If we do not take the time to study the Word of God ourselves, we will never know if those that teach God's Word are teaching the truth!
It is the "doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ" where we begin to know the truth!
1) To be a believer is to be in the army of God, and one of the hardest things for most of us to do is to take a back seat and yield to the preeminence of others but that is exactly where God wants each of us.
We need to serve as the "private" because we only have One Captain, King Jesus!
These scribes dressed as if they were the General of the army !
2) These scribes would appear in places where people were gathered but not for the right reasons!
Jesus said:
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This is "NOT" what these scribes were doing!
They came seeking their own glory!
3) These scribes, as a class, had a wholly false sense of values.
Their pride caused them to seek out all seats of preeminence!
Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
4) One of the duties of the scribes was to prepare wills and other deeds.
Most of them were not content with the usual fee and they would particularly prey upon the fears and the lack of spiritual knowledge of those that were recently widowed.
In many cases they would persuade widows to deed over their entire property to the Temple, while these scribes would receive a great proportion of the proceeds for that transaction.
It is easy to see why the Lord despised all these religious leaders!
Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
5) God will reward those that diligently seek Him, but these scribes sought only their own recognition!
The word "pretence" meant this prayer was only an outward showing, "in these very public prayers".
A "Pretender" will make a show of things that are not real and will claim the fulfillment of anything that they are involved with.
Jesus Christ knew all these things.
Psa 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
Psa 78:37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
And after these things Jesus entered the Temple for the last time.
*****Mar 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mar 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Mar 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
When Jesus sat to watch those who gave to the treasury of the Temple it was the last act of His ministry!
The Lord Jesus commended this record of this woman's two mites, which equaled a farthing.
A farthing is only 1/4 of a penny. This was a very small gift "in actual size" for the work of God!
But because she gave something that she truly needed herself, her rewards will be very great.
God does not measure gifts by the amount "but by its motive", and "by the amount left that is ungiven"!
This woman had nothing else to give but herself.
No matter what is taught about giving or even tithing, God really just has one rule!
Lev 5:7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
We must give what we can of the things we need for our selves to build rewards in Heaven, at least a tenth!
Our Great High Priest has already made atonement for all our sin!
SO, 100 percent of what we have belongs to the Lord!
That 10 percent represents that part of our need!
"All of our abundance", more than we need, must be available to God at His request!
This treasury in the Temple was open for all to see who was giving the most and none gave more than this poor widow. We know this because God was watching and He said so!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
