MARK 12

4 Outlines

 

Mark 12:1-12

A POINTED PARABLE

 

It was shortly before the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders had come to Jesus (Mark 11:27) questioning Him. Jesus told this parable that actually condemned the Jewish Leadership.

 

THE RESPONSIBILITY WAS GIVEN - Vs. 1

Israel was the vineyard.

The leaders were the husbandmen.

 

THE REMUNERATION WAS SOUGHT - Vss. 2-6

The prophets were the messengers who came looking for fruit.

Finally, the beloved Son, the Lord Jesus was sent.

 

THE REJECTION WAS OBVIOUS - Vss. 6-8

Jesus would be rejected by the religious leaders and killed.

 

THE RETRIBUTION WAS PROMISED - Vss. 9-11

Judgment would come upon Israel. Jerusalem was destroyed and the blessing of salvation was given to the church.

 

THE REACTION WAS NEGATIVE - Vs. 12

Instead of repenting, the religious leaders chose to continue to reject Jesus.

 

 

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Mark 12:1-12 

THE PLAN OF GOD

 

ISRAEL PLANTED AS GOD'S VINE - Vs. 1

THE PROPHETS PREACHED AS GOD'S REPRESENTATIVES - Vss. 2-5

THE SON PERSECUTED AS GOD'S HEIR - Vss. 6-8

THE CHURCH PROVIDED AS GOD'S ALTERNATIVE - Vss. 9-12

 

 

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Mark 12:13-17

BALANCE!

 

God has always been in favor of Government. Romans 13:1-4

In this passage the Lord Jesus shows us the balance between government and religion.

 

PRETENDERS Vss. 13-15A

  There will always be those who fake seeking righteousness in order to

  carry out alternative motives. In this case they were trying to catch Jesus 

  in His words.

 

PERCEPTION Vs. 15B

  There is no fooling God. Jesus immediately perceives hypocrisy.

 

PERSPECTIVE Vss. 16-17

  Give the government what belongs to it,. and give to God the things that

   belong to Him.

 

 

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Mark 12:13-34

ON THE FIRING LINE

 

During World War II just about everyone in the United States was involved in the war effort. Food and other materials, necessary for the war effort, were rationed. There were air raids. War bonds were sold to finance the military effort. Many civilians worked at jobs which helped feed, clothe, and equip the fighting men.

 

In the military itself there were many support personnel. Those who cooked, repaired equipment, drove trucks and flew planes in order to keep our troops supplied.  Many were involved in planning and supervision so that our fighting men would be successful.  My father strung phone wire so that communication could be restored to areas that had been conquered by the allied forces.

 

All of the support was necessary, but there still had to be soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors on the firing line. They were directly involved in the battles which won the war.

 

Today, as Christians, there are times when we are support personnel.

We pray for missionaries and pastors. We contribute to the Lord's work, including missions, and we help out around the church.  But, there are times when we are on the firing line.  We either face opposition, persecution, or direct confrontation with the enemy, Satan.

Sometimes, because we witness, preach, teach, or pray, we find ourselves in the middle of a Spiritual battle.

 

One of the times that Jesus was on the firing line was just before his death.  The Sanhedran, the counsel of 70 religious leaders in Israel, was opposed to the Lord Jesus, and sought to destroy Him. They sent representatives to try and discredit him.  In this passage we see:

 

RESPONSIBILITIES - Vss. 13-17

The Pharisees and Herodians, who would usually oppose each other, joined together to trip Jesus up in his words.  After using what they thought was flattery (But was actually the truth.), they asked Him about paying tribute, a poll tax to Caesar.  They figured that however Jesus answered the question, they could accuse Him.  Jesus' answer was very simple, yet profound.  We are to be responsible to government for the things that belong to government, such as taxes. We are to responsible to God for the things that are God's, such as our love, faith, and service. When the two principles clash, we are to honor God above government (Acts 5:29).

 

RESURRECTION - Vss. 18-27

The Saducees did not believe in the resurrection. "So, they were sad, you see."  :-)

In Israel, if a man died without being a father, his brother was to go in to the widow and father children in the name of his brother.  The Saducees' story gives the example of a woman who ended up having no children in spite of the fact that she married all seven brothers. The question was, whose wife would she be in the resurrection?

 

Jesus pointed out that the Saducees' error was a result of not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God (Vs. 24). Many still make the same mistakes today. Jesus gives answer to their questions in Verses 25-27.

 

REQUIREMENTS - Vss. 28-34

A scribe sincerely asks Jesus about the most important law of all.  Jesus answers with a summary of the law which gives two requirements. We are to love God totally, and our neighbors as ourselves. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Leviticus 19:18)

The Scribe agrees with Jesus, and He states that the scribe was not far from the kingdom of God. Of course, all the scribe needed to do was place his faith in Christ.

 

 

 

 

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