Thursday, November 25, 2010

Mark 12:28-37 "What is the Greatest Commandment?"

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 “And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.

Devotional
The passage continues with the Sadducee's departing and a scribe upon hearing the Sadducee's reasoning together and perceiving Jesus had answered them well thought to ask Jesus a question of his own. Now like the Sadducee's the scribes question was not something he was seeking an answer to. But rather a question by which he could test Jesus’ orthodoxy. Now Jesus’ response to the scribes question is to quote from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which is known in Jewish circles as the shema, which means hear!, and is still to this today recited as orthodoxy amongst both Jews and Christians. Therefore in no way does Jesus depart from this foundational teaching of the Word of God, that contains within it, the Oneness of the Godhead or Trinity; which the Old Testament Scriptures clearly reveals as three distinct Persons within One Godhead (Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 2:7; 110:1; Isaiah 48:16 etc.) just as surely as the New Testament does.
Now this precursor statement by God before giving Israel His commandments stands juxtaposed to the polytheism practices and beliefs of the pagan cultures that seemingly surround God’s people everywhere and in every generation. Thus Israel from its inception as the covenant bearing people of the One true God were to worship the Lord God and Him alone. Thus Jesus in so citing this passage to the scribe is not only affirming God’s Word, but specifically the Oneness of God’s Person. Now the second half of the first command is: ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Vs. 30 That is mankind’s highest duty, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength. Thus with our entire person, that is fundamentally what we are created for, to love God. Yet in loving God one must first get to know God on the deepest and most personal level and this one can only do by believing in His Son. That is how one enters into a personal relationship with God which then makes loving Him something that becomes a desirable reality in our lives. The first and greatest commandment then directs us into a right focus, pointing us exclusively to the magnificence of God Himself; that there is no greater Person for loving adoration and obedience then He Himself (1 John 5:3). Thus all that is within us is to be directed towards loving Him. Loving God then and all that entails must always override every other relationship and duty that one has in their life. Which is what Jesus made abundantly clear of being His disciple; that earthly relationships and duties must never supplant our loving relationship and duty to Himself and the gospel, and thus God the Father; whose Son we are to love and serve, that is paramount (Matt. 10:34-39; Luke 14:25-35). Therefore God's Person is the One whom we must render our highest love and loyalty to. And this we do by holding to the exclusivity of His Person in faith and obedience as both the Law (Deut. 13) and the Lord Jesus Christ declares of God having given Him Authority over all flesh so that He might grant eternal life to as many as God grants Him:  "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3 Therefore God’s Person is the One whom we must always love the most. Now Jesus having reiterated the first and greatest commanded follows that by saying “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Vs. 31

Jesus’ giving us as the second greatest command to love ones neighbor as oneself is from Leviticus 19:18. Jesus quoting from there the last half of the verse as a follow up command to His affirming Loving God as mankind’s highest duty; our second highest duty then is loving those who bear His image to us, that is our neighbors as ourselves (1 John 4:20-21). For all the Law, including the Ten Commandments "....and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom. 13:9-10

Therefore consider Jesus Christ’s Words and actions for He always exemplified this while commanding that as a priority of the Kingdom of God, whether this other believers, or even one's enemies (Matt. 5:44). Loving one's neighbor is a reality of having been born again by His Spirit (John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:10, 14). Loving people then is in the eyes of the Lord priority one, next to, or maybe prove of loving God. Now in order to love ones neighbor as oneself one must see all people as equal to oneself. Since Jesus makes no distinction between people, as one more deserving of God's love then another, since He bore the cross for us all. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23 Think then about the implications if Jesus’ command was obeyed it would end every social plight and injustice that has plagued mankind since Adam Eve left the Garden to try to find their own way apart from the presence of God. Yet the sinful desires and selfish heart of mankind keeps on insisting on it's own ways; on putting oneself first before God and obeying Him as well as before one's fellow person, and thus you have the current state of affairs in the world; which always leads us to the necessity of the gospel. Since the heart of the problem is the human heart, sinful and unregenerate it neither loves God as Jesus commands, nor others as oneself. Therefore it must first be transformed by love of God through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ before the love of God can be manifested through the life which seeks to obey Him. Since love for God and ones fellow person cannot take lasting root in a person’s heart and life unless one is brought into a reconciled peace and union with the Source of all Love and Peace and that is God Himself. Which begins with our reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ’s atonement for our sins on the cross where He bore the judgment of them, since it is both our sins and our sin nature which alienated us from God and inevitably makes us hostile towards God. Then by His resurrection life, where He paved the way for us to likewise receive new and everlasting life by His Holy Spirit who transforms our soul and spirit and thus brings us into a loving and peaceful relationship with God.
Therefore we must first receive the reconciliation that God worked for us through His Son, then having been giving a new heart we can begin to live out the Lord Jesus Christ’s commands in the power of the Holy Spirit and manifest His fruits in our lives which not only transform our persons (Gal. 5:22-23) but also will have a major impact on those around us. Now in loving people, both the Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles give us some tangible commands on just how we can do that. In the gospels the Lord Jesus' 'parable of the Good Samaritan clearly tells us just what loving ones neighbor or fellow person must look like. And it’s not “religious piety” which in the interest of “purity” turns ones back on ones fellow person in their time of need. Rather it is getting ones hands dirty by getting involved when someone has been brought down by life’s circumstances (See Luke 10:27-37 also consider Matt. 25:31-46). The Apostle John said of Christian brotherly love: “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18 The Apostle James likewise thought little of religion that showed partiality to the rich and influential, but neglected to show compassion on and respect towards the poor (James 2). Or Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son which clearly reveals to us the heart of God towards any sinner when they, or better we likewise return to Him, then there is jubilation in heaven. For the angels of God rejoice over just one sinner who repents, rather than ninety nine "just" persons who think they have no need of repentance (Luke 15:7, 11-32). How about you? Does your heart swell up with love and joy and rejoice at the mercy and grace of God as the angels in heaven do when just one sinner repents and returns home? Or does it swell up with something reflecting more of mans anger as the older brother did in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son? For how we respond to the pardoning grace of God when it is extended to others (whom we feel don't deserve it) can be a reflection of our love (or lack thereof) for our neighbor as ourselves. In regards to this Jesus did'nt mince words about those who receive God’s pardoning grace for their sins, yet refuse to pardon another’s transgressions, saying, they shouldn't expect to be released from their own indebtedness to God when they sin, until all is repaid (See Matt. 18:21-35).

Therefore loving ones neighbor as oneself always entails forgiveness, as Jesus said in giving us the Lord’s Prayer: "And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us." Matt. 6:4 Which if we are obedient stands justaxposed to seeking vengeance or judgment on them, by whatever means a person would to do that, as the Law also says: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” Lev. 19:18 For the ministry of reconciliation, that is the gospel of God’s grace through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf demands nothing less of us. For when we receive the grace of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether as people who grew up in the church and kept all the rules outwardly. But inwardly we became rather adept at masking our own inner evil tendencies. Or as sinners who never knew anything else. Everything that the gospel entails must be born out of a heart with a desire for reconciliation with God and others. For peace cannot happen without it, nor can community, and certainly not Christian community. Therefore we are first commanded to be ministers of reconciliation as Jesus exemplified by His life and through His death on behalf of not righteous people in the sight of God, but sinners. So then we must be people of reconciliation extending the grace and love of God to all. Now in saying that, not all will want to be reconciled as Jesus said in Matt. 18:15-20 of an irreconcilable brother. As well there are people who want the grace of God, but sadly just to carry on in their sinful lives. But that is not the grace of God that the gospel, nor we are to offer. God's grace entails repentance and faith as Jesus commands (Mark 1:15) by which He by His Spirit and through His shed blood transforms and justifies the poor in the spirit (Matt. 5:3, Rom. 5:9; Col. 1:14, 19-20). Therefore let us as the Apostle Paul said, also say: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:16-17

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Mark 12:18-27 Jesus Teaches On the Ressurection

18 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 “Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 “And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 “So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 “Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.” 24 Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 “But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.”

Devotional
The chief priests having failed in their attempt to trap Jesus in His Words by employing the Pharisees along with the Herodians (that is those followers of Herod) with their trick question on the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar or not; that is the lawfulness under the law of Rome and lawfulness under the law of Moses. Jesus having undone their scheme by replying to them: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mark 12:17 And having marveled at His response they go their own ways (Matt. 22:22). And with their departure the Sadducees now approach Jesus with a question of their own. Based on the Law of Moses but ultimately meant to undermine Jesus. Again these series of inquires that come in a sort of rapid fire succession at Jesus in this section of the gospel are not honest inquires as Jesus welcomes all faith inquiries; these are craftily worded theological snares meant to entrap Jesus with His responses, and thus discredit Him before the people.
Now the Sadducees (the religious leaders from the upper classes in Israel), were particularly skilled at this sort of thing. Well educated and having a Greek or Hellenistic world view, they lived very privileged lives, even while under Roman rule. And in contrast to the Pharisees, the Sadducees strictly held to the Law of Moses as the only canonical Scriptures. They did not accept the oral tradition as the Pharisees did; and as modern Rabbinic Judaism does. While the Lord Jesus only taught from the Law and prophets and Psalms; in other words the entire Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament as we now know it (Luke 24:44-49); which were as Jesus said until John the Baptist, (Luke 16:16) upon which the Lord Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of them preached the Kingdom of God, (Mark 1:14-15), which He commands we proclaim as well (Matt. 28:18-20). Though He commanded His followers who were primarily, pre-Pentecost Jews, to obey those who sat in Moses seat (Matt. 23), until that age was ushered into their lives with the Holy Spirit’s outpouring and the church age began (Acts 15; Rom. 6:14). “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 Not that the Old Testament Scriptures don’t speak to us who believe in Jesus, for they clearly do since they are given by Holy Spirit Inspiration as well, and both reveal to us Christ’s Person as well as God’s moral will for us all. And even future prophecies for Israel yet to be fulfilled, as well as the inherent wisdom, knowledge and discernment both of God and from God through them. But they must now always be interpreted in light of the New Testament Scriptures and God’s Word and Will given directly to us all through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and His Biblical Apostles. Therefore: 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Returning then back to the Sadducess, for they present a strange irony to us, in that they said they believed the Scriptures, yet they did not believe in the resurrection from the dead, nor of the immortality of the soul.
And as such they did not believe in heaven and hell and the judgment to come, as the Scriptures declare and Jesus clearly taught and warns about (Mat. 5:22, 27-30; 10:27-28; 18:6-9). For both rewards and punishments will be rendered to each person according to their works at the resurrection for both believers and non-believers, for there will be a new heaven and earth in which righteousness dwells (Isaiah 65:1-25; 66:22-24; Matt. 25: 31-46; Luke 14:12-14; John 5:24-30; Rom. 2; 1 Peter 3:11-13; Rev. 11:16-18; 22:12-13 etc.). You wonder why people live godless and immoral lives, it is because they either do not believe in the resurrection of the just and the unjust as Jesus clearly says there will be, or they have never heard about. So when you preach a salvation message don’t forget the resurrection, not just of Christ; which is of course is foundational to our redemption from sin and death, but the resurrection of life for those who believe in Jesus and the resurrection to eternal condemnation to those who do not.

As well the Sadducees did not believe in angels or spirit’s (Acts 23:8), nor Divine Predestination (as Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon says of them), which again just reveals their unbelief. Since you cannot pick and choose what you will believe about God’s Word and believe in Him, for to reject segments of God’s Word is ultimately to reject God Himself (Consider Isaiah 66:2; Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 8:8-9; 23:29; 2 John 2:9-11). Apparently “They believed in free will—that people are responsible for their own prosperity or misfortune. They interpreted the law literally and tended to support strict justice as opposed to mercy toward the offender.”*** In regards to this they clearly follow the error revealed through the tragedy and suffering of Job. Whose “friends” extensive and at times arrogant theological discourses on why Job was suffering during his time of misery, only caused them to go on to condemn an innocent man (Job 42:7-8).
Now the Law clearly declares the Angel of the Lord guiding Israel out of Egypt with Moses (Num. 20:16); as well as in their future conquests of Canaan under Joshua (Ex. 23:20-33; Joshua 5:13-15). Not to mention His appearances found in the Law to Abraham, Sara, Hagar, even Balaam. But more relevant to our study, Moses in the burning bush passage which will be the passage from the Law that Jesus will cite to the Sadducees in refuting them (See Ex. 3:2-6). But that’s getting ahead of ourselves, so let us return to the passage to refresh our memories, which began by saying that some Sadducees, “…who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 “Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 “And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 “So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 “Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.” Vs. 19-23

Now under the Law of Moses to maintain inheritances as God gave them. A brother was in the event of his married brother’s dying without an heir, to take his brother’s wife to himself, as his wife, and raise up an offspring for his brother’s name, so that his brother’s name would not be cut from Israel (Deut. 25:5-10). However the Sadducees in presenting this scenario to Jesus about the brothers and whose wife the woman would be in the resurrection since all seven had her. Are not declaring that they believe there will be a resurrection. Rather there hypothetical scenario is meant to make a spectacle of Christ, by catching Him in an impossible moral dilemma. For if all plays out as they have outlined it. Then as they have so craftily pre-reasoned, all seven brothers having had her, all would be married to her in resurrection. Not a very likely scenario. Now Jesus in refuting them initially says two things to them that first exposes their unbelief; but more importantly gives us some rather tangible insights into the resurrection and what eternity will be like. Now notice first that Jesus in refuting them will say that they do not know the Scriptures, nor the power of God (vs. 24). Though again they were highly trained and educated. And they held the majority in the Sanhedrin counsel; the religious counsel that ruled over Israel’s religious affairs. As well being the exclusive segment of Judaism from which the high priests were drawn; themselves claiming ascendency through Zadok the high priest, from King David and Solomon’s reigns.** Yet the Lord says rather frankly to them that they know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. An astonishing statement given that they held the highest places in religious Judaism. Therefore don’t ever think that by simply having a title and or a few letters of educational accreditation beside ones name indicates that such a person is either saved, or God fearing, or even qualified to lead in Jesus Christ’s church. For though God may call someone to seminary or a Bible college, such institutions in of themselves have no God given priority in directing His church. For it is the Holy Spirit who alone equips, empowers and calls, (not seminaries) and in this He often chooses those deemed least capable by this worlds (or maybe even their own) standards (see 1 Cor. 1:26-31).
For in God's eyes it's ones heart and faith that is far more important than all the religious accreditation's one attains too. Far more important than ones intellect, strength, social standing, achievements or whatever else would make draw people to them. As the Old Testament judge and prophet Samuel quickly learned when seeking God's King and Ruler for Israel. 6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7-8

Now the word Jesus uses of the Sadducees not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God; is a word that indicates an utter lack of discernment on their part. In other words they have neither seen or perceived just what the Scriptures declare to them, and just how greatly they unleash the power of God in those lives who believe. And so Jesus goes on to say to them, 25 “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” That is the first tangible insight that Jesus gives us all, and we take to heart, since the One who has always been there and knows exactly what goes on there, is revealing to us that in heaven’s realm, the redeemed, that is those who believe and are saved by Lord will in some way be like angels of God. Marriage then between a man and woman is something that is confined to the earthly sphere, not heavens. Thus the Sadducees premise that all seven of the brothers would be married to the woman in the resurrection is fundamentally flawed. For as Jesus says, none will be, because marriages do not occur there; they serve God’s purposes here on earth, giving both relational intimacy as God said in the beginning: … “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Gen. 2:18
As well as providing us with a forum for healthy, passionate, and committed relationships which again lay a foundation for procreation and thus the basis for the family and loving, nurturing, maturing, responsible, relationships within it; which then spill over into communities, and of course greater society. All born out of committed heterosexual marriages, which again provide stability for all. That is a part of the basic moral fabric that God has sown into life itself, for mankind’s well being. Cast it aside for self gratification and the consequences are broken hearts, lives, relationships and eventually societies.
Jesus then having undone the Sadducees plans to trap Him in a moral dilemma about marriages in the resurrection; by revealing to them and us that there simply aren’t any. Now goes on to say of the dead, that they do indeed rise, which the Sadducees denied since there is no direct reference to this in the Law. Nonetheless the Lord Jesus cites to them a very familiar passage, from the Law to prove that this is so. Saying: 26 But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.” vs. 26-27

Notice first Jesus says “have you not read in the Book of Moses…” that is have you not understood, what you have read. For when Jesus says God spoke to Moses, Jesus uses a verb in the original language that is used only in the definite past tense (Strong’s). Indicating that God’s speaking with Moses was in the past. However Jesus immediately contrasts that by using a verb in the original language that puts God’s speaking of being the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, in the present tense. Indicating that when God spoke to Moses of being their God. He was referring to this in real time. Not in some distant past experience. In other words they are currently with Him and He is the God of them. For Jesus concludes His Words to them and their lack of understanding of the resurrection by saying: “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.” Vs. 27 Simply stated then a Living God doesn’t have dead subjects. Thus both the resurrection of the dead and the immortality of the soul are clearly seen in the Law and Jesus’ Words.

Now Jesus having said that God is the God of the living, the question then needs to asked, are you alive? Not physically that is something we all experience as Jesus said in John’s gospel chapter three of being born of water and blood, but spiritually? Which is what Jesus was referring to when He said to Nicodemus there that unless you are born again, that is born from on High by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ’s Person you cannot see the Kingdom of God. And that is what God through the Lord Jesus Christ compels everyone to do, “Be born again!” that is believe in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and raised from the dead for our justification. For when you do God will send His Spirit into you, and He will bring you to life, for your sins having been washed away by the blood of Christ’s Person, your person will now be fit for God’s Person dwelling within you, by His Holy Spirit who alone brings us to life. As Jesus said of Him who brings us to new and everlasting life and union with Christ the moment we believe: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63

Therefore by faith in Jesus Christ’s Person; to the exclusion of all others; we receive by the grace of God the Person of God within us. Have you then come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? “For there is no other Name given under heaven amongst men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

If you have, why not confirm your faith in Christ before God and man and confess the Lord Jesus Christ before both. As the Scriptures declare: 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Rom. 10:9-10; 13

Now you can do this in prayer to God by saying to Him that yes you believe and want to receive the Lord Jesus Christ His Son into your heart and life. And you can also do this before man by declaring to your family; friends; co-workers your decision to put away your old sinful life and to take up the cross, as Jesus says, and follow Him into eternal life. Which one often does by getting baptized in a Christ believing church and making a public declaration of one’s faith in Jesus as Lord, then serving Him there or wherever He leads you to do so. For God will equip you and appoint you to your own service for Him as the Scriptures says: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10 Now this may unfold immediately, or this maybe a process, as God's plans and purposes unfold for your life. But rest assured if God has saved you then He has a plan and a purpose for your life. Your part is to simply avail yourself to Him and let His Spirit begin to prepare you and conform you into Christ-likeness for all the purposes God has already predestined you to serve the Lord Jesus in. Which is an exciting and at times will be a challenging way of living. Yet knowing that God is making you not only fit for His eternal Kingdom; that is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But He is going to make your life meaningful and have an eternal impact on the lives He will touch through you here and now. For when you come to a saving knowledge of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God makes an eternal commitment to you, to be not only your God but also your and Father, through all your successes and failures as the Scriptures declare: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?” Heb. 13:5-6

Have you then made your decision for the Lord Jesus Christ? If not why not do that? Instead of pursuing what does not satisfy the deepest longings of your soul turn to or return to the Lord Jesus Christ and call on His Name and begin life anew. For if you forsake your life for the Lord Jesus Christ you will find life anew, brand new, a Spirit filled life that cannot be equaled or compared to, which does not end in death, as the life lived for sin or in unbelief does. But in eternal love, life, and peace found only in the God of love, life, and peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted:
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
Nelson’s illustrated Bible dictionary, Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1995.
Ronald F. Youngblood, general editor; F.F. Bruce and R.K. Harrison, consulting editors.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Mark 12:13-17 Pharisees and Herodians seek to catch Jesus in His Words

13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.

Devotional
The chief priests and elders having been rebuked by Jesus and His Authority through God’s Word now rather dubiously seek to continue their hostility towards Jesus through the Pharisees and the Herodians. Not that they themselves didn’t want to hurt Jesus, they had every intention of killing Him, but because they feared the crowds they sought to destroy Him subtly. Therefore rather than submitting to the Lord and trusting in Him as sent from God as His son to His vineyard; that is the nation of Israel of which they were then rulers and leaders over. They again redouble their efforts to try to undermine Jesus’ Person and Authority; this time through the Pharisees and Herodians. Early on the scribes who came up from Jerusalem to Jesus’ native Galilee tried the same; to destroy His Name and reputation amongst His own people when they slandered Jesus to the crowds there by saying that He was casting out demons by Beelzebub. For which Jesus said: 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 “but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28-30 So now they employ the same tactic, destroy the Man’s reputation and credibility amongst the people, all because they wanted to take vengeance on Jesus for His Words again them, but also to preserve themselves and their own places under Roman rule. Now that the chief priests went to some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to execute their latest scheme has implications beyond it. Since it is by their own evil desires to destroy Jesus that God will fulfill His plans for His Son, and thus His purposes through Him, for both the Jews and Gentiles. That is in the immediate, the uniting of deeply held and diametrically opposed religious and secular views in ancient Judaism with one common goal; the destruction of Jesus. Jesus’ stirring the pot to a boiling since His arrival in Jerusalem with His Messianic entry in Jerusalem on a lowly donkey with multitudes praising Him; then His cleansing the Temple before declaring a parable against the leadership there, is doing just, uniting all the various factions in Israel with one common goal, to crucify the Christ. So that through their hatred of God and His Son, God might establish His plans for the entire world. Not that they themselves in anyway thought they were hostile to God; they thought they were God's in their seeking to destroy Jesus (John 8:42-47).
So while they are scheming new ways to catch Jesus in His Words they are actually just giving Him opportunity to declare God’s Word, and thus establish the gospel within their midst to those who will hear and heed His Words. For God’s plans are never thwarted by mans. Neither by powers on earth, or by powers of hell. Believers then should always take that to heart for whatever earthly or demonic powers would do to try to thwart God’s plans for you, rest assured God can undue or turn on its own head into fulfilling His will for you, and for all. As God promises in His Word.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the LORD. Isaiah 54:17

Now we know what the Pharisees are; they are strict legalists that make weighty measure of little matters, and often little weight of what God says are the weightier matters (see Matt. 15:1-20; 23:1-39; Luke 16:14-18). The Herodians on the other hand were loyalists or supporters of the Herod's and their evil legacy. And thus they were driven by their lust for secular power and the perks thereof; not religious power. And in contrast to Pharisees, who were at least outwardly pious, the Herodians made no attempt to be so. Simply stated they were licentious in their lives and ruthless in their drive for power, and thus they emulated much of what drove Rome’s hierarchy, which they were subservient too under the Herod's. Now Jesus warns of both the leaven (i.e. doctrine) of the Pharisees and Herod. Herod’s leaven might be loosely surmised as “the ends justifies the means.” While the Pharisees leaven is "hypocrisy" that makes much use of the burdensome traditions and commandments of men while making little use of God's commandments when these conflict with their own, or their own agenda's. Therefore like the Pharisees the Herod's wanted their places maintained while they were under Roman rule. And that is what brings them together in an evil collaboration to try to stop what they perceive as a mutual threat to their mutual well being. Previously they collaborated once before in Galilee when Jesus healed a man with a withered hand in a synagogue; but there is was the Pharisees who sought out the Herodians (Mark 3:1-6). So the chief priests and elders in Israel in employing them play a shrewd hand. Combining strict religious authority, with loyalist secular, to find a fault with Jesus so as to bring an accusation against Him. For if Jesus acquiesces to the Pharisees generally held notions that submission to Rome is treason towards the God of Israel; then He loses all credibility amongst His own people that He is indeed the Messiah. While if He commands that His followers should not pay taxes to Caesar, then the Herodians have grounds for making a case against Him through Roman law. And thus the means by which the Pharisees and Herodians seek to entrap Jesus is very carefully thought out and worded. The basis for it coming in the form of a question of the legality of paying taxes to Caesar or not. Legality under the Law of Moses, and legality of not doing so under Roman law. And so they begin by asking Jesus: “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” vs. 14-15
Now their statement to Jesus that He was true, and that He cared about know one, that is He did not regard the person of men, is more then their acknowledging that Jesus did not show partiality too anyone. It is an attempt by them to trap Him by His own integrity in doing so (as the King James Bible Commentary states). For again if He acquiesces to either sides view then He loses all credibility; but if He remains resolute then they will have grounds to go before the Roman authorities to lay a charge against Him. And it’s all utterly hypocritical given that their “masters” having failed in their attempts in calling Jesus’ Authority into question; which they inwardly came to acknowledge as coming from God; are now seeking to assail His Sinless character through them. And this through men (the Herodians) whose lives were spent in courting the favor of the power brokers in ancient Israel by doing their ruthless deeds for them. Now the Scripture says of Jesus in repsonse to their question about paying taxes to Ceasar, "...But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” vs. 15 Now the verb translated knowing is a primary verb which means only “to know” unequivocally in the perfect tense. And being given in the perfect tense; which in Greek means it is a past tense verb with results continuing on into the present, Jesus already knew their hypocritical plot even before they hatched it. Yet Jesus requested that they bring Him a denarius which was the state coin of Rome, which must have delighted the Pharisees. Since Jesus did not request the regional currency issued by the Herod’s. An official coin that was devoid of a graven image in an attempt to keep the second commandment in the Law forbidding graven images; which was recognized by Rome and of course widely accepted amongst the Jews. No instead the Lord Jesus requested they bring Him the official state coinage of Rome. And having brought it to Him, Jesus simply asks them: “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him. Vs. 16-17

Now Jesus’ response is the basis of what we have in Romans 13 as the definitive chapter on believers submission to authority because all authority has its origins in God. That is the essence of Jesus’ Words here to both the Pharisees and the Herodians and ultimately to us. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” For ultimately all governance is given by God. Therefore if this is taxes then pay them their taxes. For that is why the Lord Jesus Christ requested the Roman coin with Caesars’ image on it. To show them and us; that though unjust men may rule in governance; all authority has its origins in God and thus we are to honor the office, if not the man or women in it, for in so doing we honor God. Now to the Jews who frequented notions of, or actively sought out means to rebel against the then ruling Roman authorities and their agents, this was a radical departure from the thought of the day. Nonetheless submission to and honoring of all authority; whether this is parents, grandparents, school teachers; employers, civil magistrates, police or whatever other forms of governance we may encounter in our lives is our duty as Christians and is not only found in the Law of Moses but is clearly a stable of New Testament theology. That is why this remembrance day we must honor our nation’s troops because in many ways they exemplify the highest obedience to the first half of Jesus’ command in that they are willing to give their lives for the state and the citizens within. Therefore this Nov. 11 we who are privileged to live in Canada please take a moment and remember the past and current veterans. And as Christians let us put aside our opinions on the validity or non- validity of military service and instead offer up a prayer for their and their families well being; for their healing and comfort from the physical wounds and emotional scars that many have incurred and are enduring in their latest service of this great country of ours.

Now the second part of Jesus’ commandment render “…to God the things that are God’s.” Is tied with the first but is also independent of it; in that there are things that God requires of us that the state does not. And thus obedience to the state does not disavow these; just as obedience to God does not disavow our God required duties to the state; to pay our taxes, to obey and pray for all ruling authorities, and to live peaceably within our communities (1 Tim. 2:1-2; Titus 3:1-2). Therefore whatever things God requires of us as disciples of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ we should most gladly render. For the Christian duty is as Jesus said two-fold, rendering to the state and rendering to God therefore we are bound to obey God through both. Though I realize there remains the possibility that the state may command something of me that would put me into conflict with God. But living in Canada I have not yet encountered anything that the state requires of me that puts me into conflict with God. Though there are many things that the state sanctions as "lawful" that God's law does not and thus I will not such as homosexual "marriages", abortion, legalized gambling and pornography to name a few. For these things are clearly hostile to God's moral law and destroy and enslave the lives of men and women something that the state should not do, but does by it's sanction of these things. Which is why the church of Jesus Christ must always be a voice against such things; expecially where we have a voice because of democratic rule. Nonetheless the state does not require that I do these things. Therefore I'm not for church and state alignment, for the states agenda; and it's moral agenda will never align itself with the church of Jesus Christ and God's agenda which is to liberate men and women from sin and give them life through the gospel. Therefore I'm always for obedience towards God and the state, where the state does not require of me that which is hostile towards God as Jesus commands and the New Testament church clearly taught and exemplified (Rom. 13; 1 Peter 2:15-17; 2 Peter 2:9-10; Jude 5-10).

Now the most important thing that we can do in obeying God is to receive His Son the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives. For that is the beginning of becoming a disciple of Christ and experiencing the life changing power and presence of God within us. Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ invites us all to receive Him and eternal life through Him by repentance and faith, by turning from our sins and believing in Him as God’s Son who was willingly crucified for us so that we could be forgiven and freed from our sins through His death on a cross by which we die to sin with Him when we believe in Him having been baptized into Him (Rom. 6) and thus we have new and everlasting life imparted into us the moment we believe in Him (Eph. 1:13-14). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17

Now Jesus’ crucifixion death was only the beginning of His restoring us back to God. For three days after His burial in a rock cavern tomb Jesus rose from dead so that by His resurrection from the dead He could vanquish death forever from those who believe in Him, as Jesus says: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me though He may die, he shall live." John 11:25 Therefore Jesus Christ’s resurrection life, is the life that He not only imparts in us who believe in Him, but is the life that believers are now called to live out by His Indwelling Spirit within us which brings us to life and union with Christ. For the Christian life cannot be lived out in one's own strength or power. Nor can ones own righteousness make one good enough to be accepted by God. It requires both God's Righteousness imputed to us, and His Power imparted into us by faith in Jesus Christ's Person. Therefore please consider our Lord Jesus gracious invitation to receive everlasting life through Him and His Work alone. 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Other Resources Consulted
King James Bible Commentary on Mark 12:13-17
Nelsons Bible Dictionary: “Money in the Bible”

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Mark 12:1-12 Jesus' Parable of the Vineyard Owner

1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 2 “Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. 3 “And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 “Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 “And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. 6 “Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 “But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 “So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. 10 “Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

Devotional
Jesus’ parable here is His follow up Word to the chief priests and elders who seeing Him in the Temple demanded to know by what authority He was doing these things, that is driving out those who bought and sold in the Temple. The parable is given then to refute their rejection of His Person and Authority to do so. And through it Jesus reveals that He Himself is acting on God’s authority as His finial Messenger to Israel. Jesus then begins by using an analogy that was very familiar to them; employing a vineyard owner, his vineyard, his servants, his beloved son and the men to whom he leased the vineyard too. Now the man who planted the vineyard in Jesus’ parable is God and the beloved Son is Jesus Christ Himself. While the vineyard is the nation of Israel, the vinedressers to whom the man leased the vineyard are the leaders of the nation of Israel, i.e. the elders, chief priests, scribes, Pharisees etc. that Jesus was speaking too and about (vs. 12; Luke 20:19). Or more generally all the leadership in the nation of Israel; whether of the priestly or ruling classes who down through the ages have been hostile to the Word of God, and thus the will of God given to them through the ages through His servants the Biblical prophets (Jer. 7:25-26).

Now the vintage time refers to after the formation of the nation of Israel and the giving of the Law through Moses and the nation becoming established in the land of Canaan after Joshua. That would be a good starting point of reference. Yet because of the immediacy of Jesus’ crucifixion, and what He has already foretold about the imminent destruction of the Temple and uprooting of the nation, “vintage time” is anytime God comes seeking the fruits of God from His Word wherever it is sown. And so in verse two Jesus says at vintage-time the owner of the vineyard sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers (vs. 2). Their response though instead of yielding some of the fruits to the servant is to take him and beat him and send him away empty handed (vs. 3). Again the owner sends another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head and they sent him away shamefully treated (vs. 4). “And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.” Vs. 5 And so with that Jesus says of the owner of the vineyard, as a final move, having sent all of his servants, which again are all of God’s prophets and wise and righteous men throughout the nation’s long and tormented history that God has sent to them to bring them back to Himself, right up until John the Baptist. Having then sent all of His servants, the owner, that is God, now sends His one and only beloved Son to them (vs. 6), saying ‘They will respect my son.’ vs. 6
But instead of doing so Jesus says in His parable of them: “But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 “So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.” Vs. 7-8 And with that Jesus then says: 9 “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.
10 “Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” vs. 9-11

Notice first that the vinedressers did indeed recognize the owners Son for who He is. Therefore it’s not that they didn't know who Jesus was, (or who His servants were and are) it was that they did! And realizing that Jesus was far more than just a Man who taught great things, but by His very Words and Works they at some level realized that Jesus Himself is a Man sent from God, as both John the Baptist and He Himself declared Himself to be, both God’s Christ and God’s Son, for which the Jews wanted to kill Him (John 10:22-42). And thus the Scriptures says Israel’s leaders also sought to kill Jesus because they wanted to keep their places of authority and privilege which Roman rule afforded them (John 11:45-48). Which is one of the grave pitfalls of leadership, whether religious or secular, self preservation at all cost, even if that means destroying a fellow brethren. Therefore Jesus in speaking this parable to them is not only answering their previous question on whose authority He was doing all those things which they heard and saw, yet opposed (See Mark 11:27-33). But He was through His parable, prophesying of His own death at their hands, and ultimately their and the nations judgment at the hand of God for doing so. And thus Jesus' warning in His parable about the vineyard being taken from them and given to others, is His foretelling of God giving the Kingdom and it's blessings and privileges to all who now have faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, of both Jews and Gentiles. Who enter it by Holy Spirit rebirth through faith in the Lord Jesus' Person, and thus are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ by His Presence and Spirit dwelling within them (Gal. 2:20). The nation of Israel as a whole being set aside until the fullness of the Gentiles is accomplished, and then Israel’s salvation will come (Rom. 11:25-27). So with their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ; who is the Rightful Heir of all of God's inheritance and Ruler of the nation of Israel; they fulfilled God's Word by their rejection of Him. Jesus then through their disobedience has taken His rightful place as the Chief Cornerstone of all of God's eternal redemption plans. Both for the nation of Israel and for the believing Gentiles of the world. Therefore Jesus concludes His parable to them by quoting from Psalm 118:22-23:
10 “Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” vs. 9-11

Thus Jesus concludes His parable to them with the Scriptures which already foretold what Israel's leaders reaction would be towards His Person. And so it is that Jesus was rejected by unbelieving man, so that He might established by God. For Jesus is the stone, the chief cornerstone, the foundation upon which all that God is building for His people which will be established forever. Therefore take heed upon what your building your life on. Build on another foundation and your building on proverbial sand, that will only be washed away and all that is built on it, when God brings it all under His scrutiny and final judgment, of both believers (1 Cor 3:11-15; 2 Cor 5:9-11) and unbelievers (Heb 10:26-31; Jude 5-19; Rev. 20:11-15).

Now verse twelve goes on to say that they clearly understood that Jesus had spoken the parable against them. Therefore they wanted to lay hands on Him, that is take Him by force, but they didn't at that time because they feared the multitude, "...So they left Him and went away." Which is what you may do as well if you prefer to have your own ways rather than believe God's Son and obey His ways. For just as they choose instead to lay their own crumbling foundations, you may do as well if your faith is not entirely on the Lord Jesus Christ's Person crucified and raised from dead for the remission of not only your sins, but all people's sins, with obedience to His Word (Consider Jer. 2:13; 19). For anything less is not the gospel (Acts 10:34-43).

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and “A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:7-10

Take heed then that you are diligent to receive God's Living Word into your heart and life. For the Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone of everything that God is building for all eternity. For the salvation of God, the righteousness of God, the life transforming Presence and Power of God, only comes into our lives and persons by faith in Jesus Christ’s Person. Apart from all works of man or woman (Rom. 3:19-28; Acts 13:38-38; Gal. 2:16, 19-21, 3; 4; 5:1; 4-5). For that is the Good News that God loves everyone and saves anyone who repents and believes in His Son. That is the simplicity of the gospel (2 Cor. 11:3-4) which shows no partiality whether to Jews or Gentiles, or makes a distinction between good and bad people, as if one is more deserving than another, for “…the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Gal. 3:22
Therefore I implore you all to open your hearts to God through His Son, (Rev. 3:20). Believing that God loves you and sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to be crucified for you, then on the third day Jesus rose from the dead. Finally He ascended back to heaven waiting until all His enemies are made His footstool. And so having vanquished death forever the Lord Jesus Christ now imparts new and everlasting life into everyone who believes in Him. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16


Scripture Quotations:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.