He is God of the Living
Mk 12:18–27
We make a mistake when we apply our experience in this world to the way God’s Kingdom operates. Marriage and procreation are earthly activities.
These Sadduccees didn’t believe in the resurrection so why are they asking this? It is just their, “foolish controversies” as it says in Titus 3:9–11 (LEB) But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and contentions and quarrels about the law, for they are useless and fruitless. 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. Jesus responded twice to the Sadduccees saying in Mark 12:24 (LEB) … “Are you not deceived because of this, because you* do not know the scriptures or the power of God?” and then in Mark 12:27 (LEB) He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are very much mistaken!” These questioners were deceived and mistaken.
There is one important question, and this one needs an answer, “Are you ready now, to meet your maker?” Are you ready now, to stand before the God of heaven and earth and give account for your life? As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:10 (LEB) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the things through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. And, there is but one response, did we accept the blood of Christ given for us?
You Are Not Far From the Kingdom of God
Mk 12:28–34
Mark 12:33 (LEB) And to love him from your whole heart and from your whole understanding and from your whole strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
There were some that understood the things of Gods kingdom. Those who respond to the message of Christ on the cross after His resurrection will not be the only ones in heaven. He led captivity captive when he was raised, so there were many that believed before the promise was fulfilled.
As it was with Abraham, so it is with many, as it says in Romans 4:3–5 (LEB) For what does the scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited according to grace, but according to his due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but who believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness,
The LORD Said to My Lord
Mk 12:35–37
Mark 12:35 says, “Continuing”, Messiah is an important part of completing the message about the kingdom of God.
Jesus quotes Psalm 110 and these people understood the reference to the Lord as God – Yahweh and my Lord as Messiah so “if David, who was believed to be the author of the Psalm, said, “ ‘The LORD [= God] said to my Lord [= Messiah]: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet,’ ” then the Messiah is obviously superior to David, and not merely a descendant, as Judaism popularly held” 1
David understood the Lord would come and take His rightful place. In Mark 12:37 “David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ and how is he his son?”
For the Sake of Appearance
Mk 12:38–40
Mark 12:38 says “and in his teaching” so Jesus continues his message with “Beware”. There are those that seek position, public honor for approval by men, to be seen and greeted. And he said, these “devour the houses of widows”.
There are many places we can quote, here are a few:
Exodus 22:22 (LEB) “ ‘You will not afflict any widow or orphan.
Isaiah 1:17 (LEB) Learn to do good! Seek justice! Rescue the oppressed! Defend the orphan! Plead for the widow!
This is why Jesus gave a strong caution to his disciples and had strong words for the scribes in Matthew 23:13 (LEB) “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you shut the kingdom of heaven before people! For you do not enter, nor permit those wanting to go in* to enter.
Out of Her Poverty
Mk 12:41–44
Jesus seems to be finished with his teaching for the day and calls his disciples together when he sees this widow woman’s offering. He says, Mark 12:44 (LEB) For they all ⌊contributed⌋ out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in everything she had, her whole means of subsistence.”
Did she have food for the day? Did anyone else even notice her need? This was in Jerusalem, in the temple, in the Holy place where the High Priest was. If there was any place in Israel where the widow was to be cared for, it was right there. But who noticed? Who intervened to meet her need?
Look! What Wonderful Buildings!
Mk 13:1–2
We sometimes admire the splendor of the things people have built and we expect they will stand forever. We think that our way of life and culture will continue unchanged, but history tells a different story. And here, is a foretelling of things to come in Mark 13:2 (LEB) And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another stone that will not be thrown down!” No one imagined that a short forty years later, “its destruction by the Romans in AD 70”. 2
There are those that are about living this life to the full. Some even have their “bucket list” of things they want to do before they die. But this is unfruitful thinking because none of these things have lasting value for God’s Kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19–21 (LEB) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming insect destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Watch Out
Mk 13:3–8
The disciples had a very natural reaction to Jesus comments about the temple being thrown down and it was “when will these things happen”.
Jesus doesn’t answer directly because there is an age of grace between His death and resurrection and the end spoken of in Revelation 14:19 (LEB) And the angel swung his sickle into the earth and harvested the vine of the earth, and threw the grapes* into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
And, I am purposely trying to avoid the Pre-, Mid-, Post- tribulation arguments to focus on the important instruction Jesus was giving his disciples. In Mark 13:5 (LEB) So Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you! There are those that make great claims, there will be wars and peril, there will be physical dangers from what the world calls natural disasters, Mark 13:8 (LEB) and “There will be famines”.
This term, “age of Grace” sounds nice, but is a time of real challenge for the Church and us as individual Christians. This is a time for us to be witnesses, a time for Stephens, and Paul’s and Timothy’s to take a stand for righteousness.
Study Verses
- Mark 12:35–37
- Mark 12:38–40
- Mark 12:41–44
Daily Reading
- Mark 12:18-40
- Mark 13:1-8
References
- 1. Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 377). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.
- 2. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Second Temple, Period of The. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1922). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.