Mark 12:29 This is the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4. The Jews knew it well, and it is a foundation of the Jewish way of life and thinking. Jesus, being Jewish himself, did not leave this off of the commandment for several reasons.  For one, the Jews would have found it quite offensive I am sure.…

Mark 12:28 This man was quite interested in Jesus. He was used to hearing answers, and questions, that were not so well thought out as Jesus’s. He was inspired. He was challenged. He was encouraged. His question is one of the few that Jesus faced that was actually meant to be legitimate. It doesn’t seem…

Mark 12:27   For those who live in the kingdom of darkness there is but one option, death. There is nothing else. The adversary can bring no other blessing, and of course it is not a blessing. Life belongs to almighty God. No one else may impart it. He is the God of the living. Any…

Mark 12:27   Jesus is very clear here. The Sadducees were totally incorrect, and he told them so. He was not afraid to tell them how wrong they were.   This is really quite an interesting interchange because this question was not as dangerous as many of the others which Jesus was asked. The Pharisees would agree…

Mark 12:26   Jesus, unsurprisingly, offers a unique, and irrefutable, explanation for the reality of the resurrection. This answer not only settles the question once and for all, but also gives great hope to his people. Life is God’s intention. Ultimate final death will only be the fate of those who resist God. Heavenly Father, the…

Mark 12:25   There is nothing in the Old Testament that specifically says that their will be no marriage in heaven. However, there are plenty of passages that would lead one to assume that. Thus, Jesus is teaching these men to let their assumptions come from Scripture, not form thier own judgments.   Many have used this…

Mark 12:24   They couldn’t know the Scriptures because they wouldn’t admit to the power of God. They needed to have asked God to show them the truth, but instead they relied on their own understanding. Heavenly Father, may we never forget that your Word belongs to you. It is not our book, but your book.…

Mark 12:23   Though it seemed a strong argument it was little more than an argument from error. When you set up your own specifics disregarding the truth, you create an error. The point they are making is that the resurrection did not make sense in light of life circumstances. However, they fell into the error…

Mark 12:22   Here is where the story seems the most far-fetched though it is still theoretically possible. It is likely just one of those what-if stories made up to prove a point. However, there was no point here to prove, as Jesus would shortly show.   We tend to do this a lot, by the way.…

Mark 12:21   If the story does have a basis in fact, it would seem to be the most unbelievable coincidence in history. So, more likely, the story is embellished at least a bit. For the sake of the argument, such a thing could theoretically happen. Heavenly Father, though life throws us some curve balls, thank…