Pastor Shaun Marksbury

We read today about yet another group approaching to accost Jesus: the Sadducees.   They’re sent from the chief priests for a third wave of questioning, hoping to trap Him in a statement (cf. 11:27; 12:13).   This wealthy group of men included the chief priests and much of Jerusalem’s ruling council. Even wielding great influence in Jewish religious life, the beliefs of the Sadducees would be akin to theological liberalism today.   They only held the books of Moses as authoritative, and not even that.   They also didn’t believe in the resurrection (v. 18) nor in the existence of angels, a future judgment, or the immortality of the soul (cf. Acts 23:6–8).   As such, this hypothetical scenario of a woman marrying seven husbands is, of course, a challenge to Jesus.   If He’s stymied, they believe they would prove themselves more intelligent than Jesus while also demonstrating how absurd it is to believe in the resurrection. However, such challe...

The chief priests and the rest may have physically departed (v. 12), but they aren’t done with Jesus.   We read in v. 13 “they sent” Pharisees and Herodians “to trap Him in a statement.”   The compliments of verse fourteen were mere flatteries attempting to snare Him.   They ask Him about taxes.   Some zealots advocated withholding all taxes, knowing that it would invite the wrath of the Romans.   If Jesus sided with them, He would be branded a dissident.   If, however, He flatly affirmed taxes, then He risked alienating His followers—a lose/lose scenario.   Far from falling for their trap, His answer chastens both groups. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.   The very coins that they use to engage in commerce bear the image and inscription of Caesar.   Rome did more than mint this currency: it provided the benefits of pax romana (Roman peace) through good roads and soldiers who would stop those bent on evil.   Tax...

The chief priests and the rest may have physically departed (v. 12), but they aren’t done with Jesus.   We read in v. 13 “they sent” Pharisees and Herodians “to trap Him in a statement.”   They plan to ensnare Jesus with His own words (just like many of the skeptics of Scripture today). The Pharisees and the Herodians disdained one another, but their hatred for Christ has united them since Mark 3:6.   This unlikely duo flatter Jesus, intending to lay a net for His feet (cf. Pv 29:5).   Even so, for the flattery to be effective, their compliments must be true.   What do they say of our Lord? First, our Lord is true.   They say, “we know that You are truthful.”   He deals with people honesty , reflecting the character of God; they reflect the father of lies (Jn 8:44). Second, our Lord doesn’t defer to anyone.   No effort can be God-honoring if it seeks the favor of men (cf. Gal 1:10).   The fear of man ensnares, contrasting plac...

The chief priests, scribes, and elders have challenged Jesus regarding His authority.   He turns the challenge back on them with this parable, the parable of the two sons (cf. Mt 21:28–32), and the prophecy chief cornerstone.   Here, He depicts their stunning wickedness and contrasts it with the intentions of God. First, consider the patience of the landowner.   Unlike some landowners, he provided them everything they needed for the work and left them alone until harvest time.   When they violently refused to pay, he tried again and again.   His patience might even be considered foolish , but he gives the farmers every opportunity to make it right. Second, consider the impenitence of the farmers.   They escalate their violence, beating the first slave, mortally wounding the second, and killing the third.   They then contrive a plan to kill the landowner’s son to take the vineyard.   As their commitment to sin grows, so does their rebel...

What we’ve seen until this point is fruitless faith, which Jesus demonstrates by cursing the fig tree and then cleansing the temple (vv. 12–18).   Now evening, He and His disciples leave the city (v. 19).   They apparently came back the way they came, because the next morning, they pass by the same fig tree.   Jesus uses its withered state an opportunity to teach on faith in prayer. The picture of faithless prayer (vv. 20–22).   Jesus cursed this fig tree because it was in full leaf that lacked fruit (vv. 12–14), and He cleansed the temple because it was busy with everything but prayer (vv. 15–17).   People can be “spiritual,” engaged with religious activities, but still not have the fruit of true faith.   Jesus’s disciples need their faith to be in God (v. 22), because faith isn’t dependent on the faithfulness and deeds of the one praying, but on God. The promise of faith-filled prayer (vv. 23–24).   Jesus uses an old-world image of the i...