Today’s passage: Mark 12:13-34
Helpful thoughts:
- Different leaders over the Jewish people (The Pharisees and Herodians) had a common enemy, Jesus. They united to ramp up the pressure against Him. But, no human authority can intimidate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- Jesus gave a striking rebuke of the Sadducees. Their errant question was a result of ignorance of the Scriptures and the power of God, certainly things they would have prided themselves on. The Chief Priests were from the sect of the Sadducees.
- Jesus affirmed the commands from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18 as the greatest commandments in Scripture.
Questions to consider:
- What is the heart motive of all these questions? How did the Pharisees and Herodians think they had Jesus duped? Why did the Sadducees think they had Him cornered?
- What is the difference between the scribe in verses 28-34 and those who had already questioned Jesus?
- Why didn’t the people “dare” to ask Jesus more questions? What kinds of questions would Jesus have gladly invited? What else did the scribe need to know to find the kingdom of God?