SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:13-27
OBSERVATION:
An interesting alliance, since the Pharisees were not fans of Herod, while the Herodians were his political supporters. Shows how desperate (and despicable) they were.
The tax question was a trick, trying to entice Jesus to say something worthy of the death penalty. Jesus answers in a way that avoids the trap.
The Sadducees use a theological conundrum to try to trip up Jesus in His words, and undermine His credibility.
The old covenant allowed for widows to marry their spouses’ siblings to keep them in the family inheritance, to provide them an heir and secure their well-being (Deuteronomy 25:5-6).
Jesus suggests that marriage will not continue after the resurrection, and makes the interesting claim that we will be like the angels (ie remain unmarried).
The Sadducee’s did not believe in angels or in the resurrection, but Jesus clearly affirms it, quoting Exodus 3:6.
APPLICATION:
Jesus was under a lot of pressure, its amazing how He keeps His cool and a clear head through this assault.
What does Jesus’ answer re. taxes actually mean, is it a truth we need to discern, or just a trick answer to a trick question?
Since in heaven there will be no more death, the need for marriage and the propagation of the human race will not exist.
Will we recognize one another after the resurrection, or remember our lives here? Some suggest ‘no’, since it would be painful to remember; it would also be awkward for those who were remarried!
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to know the Scriptures and the power of God, and to trust You, whether or not You answer all of my questions. I have many questions, but help me not to allow them to turn me against You. Amen.
To me, relationships are the most important thing.. relationships between us and God and with each other with God in the middle….. Not just marriage relationships but frendships….You could say the Bible is a book about relationships…between people…between nations…..What happens when we care or don’t care about people….To think that those relationships would be nothing when we got to heaven doesn’t make sense…. it would be as if the best things on earth were a waste…. of course I don’t know what Heaven is like, I just think about it…I like how Randy Alcorn writes about Heaven….
The enemies of Christ tried to entangle Him by the politics of the day. How often does that not happen among God’s people today?
How often do we not picture heaven with our wordly ideas? With our limited earthly vision, lack of biblical knowledge we try to paint pictures of how it will all be in heaven.
Once again, I need the eyes that see Life in Christ and ears that hear His voice which tells me – Do this and Live.
As I serve a Risen Saviour, I need to live each day in the hope I have of eternal life and in the power of my new life in Christ Jesus – to live forever with Him.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and He talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He live, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.