Mark 12:20   The facts of this story make it sound suspect. However, it is not altogether impossible that there were seven brothers. The Jews would have been fairly prolific. So we cannot rule out the possibility. Besides this, if the story were deniable, it would likely not have been presented as it was. That said…

Mark 12:19Their statement is accurate. This was indeed in the law. In this way a family line could be perpetuated. However, what ensues after this is a perfect illustration of the fact that the law cannot save. It only instructs. Heavenly Father, thank you for instructions, but thank you also for life. Without life in…

Mark 12:18   The Sadducees didn’t believe in a resurrection, meaning that the afterlife was something they felt one could not be certain about. This is actually not as strange as we might think. The fact is that they read the Old Testament with a human eye alone. They didn’t see enough there about resurrection to…

Mark 12:17   What he is saying here is that since the money bears the image of the emperor, it belongs to him. But that is all he may lay claim to. Since human beings bear the image of God, we belong to him. So his ownership is greater. The physical government may expect a tax,…

Mark 12:16   The money, of course, had markings on it from the Roman government. Just as in every country today, the economic system was intertwined in the governmental system. There is no separating the two, and money is directly issued by the government. It is a service provided by each nation to its people. Business…

Mark 12:15  They use a follow-up question much like Jesus had done on occasion. In their case, however, it was just in keeping with a Jewish way of asking questions, and does not seem to add to the thought. The essence was, do we pay tax or not?  Though on the surface this seemed like…

Mark 12:14   This is one of the most dastardly set-ups in history. Yet, it was easy for Jesus to deal with. And, why? Because he didn’t give in to temptation. He didn’t let the wiles of the devil get him caught. He knew these men would try to catch him, and he was always ready. …

Mark 12:13Though we are uncertain of the identity of the Herodians, it seems likely that they were a Jewish sect much like the Pharisees or Sadducees. Normally, these groups would probably not get along well. But Jesus was a mutual enemy. It was probably hoped that the Herodians would be able to catch him when…

Mark 12:12   Fear is the name of the game. Without a consideration of God, and the things of God, fear is all there is for those who want power in this world. Power must be attained and kept somehow. A whole host of semi-legal politicking and out of sight shenanigans take place all the time…

Mark 12:11   Jesus is still quoting here. This ends his parable because this is the punchline, so to speak. It is his way to drive home his identity to these religious but ignorant men.   The idea of it being ‘marvelous’ has a dual meaning. It describes the wonder that we feel as we ponder God’s…