Mark 12

Mark 12:1-12

CHAPTER 51 “This was The Lord’s Doing, and It Is Marvelous in our Eyes.” “And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.” (Mark 12:1-12) This is clearly an historical parable. We are told in verse twelve that the chief priests, scribes and elders of the Jews “knew that the Lord Jesus had spoken the parable against them”. The history of the Jewish nation, from the time that the Lord brought them out of Egypt until the time of their destruction in 70 AD, is set before us in these twelve verses. Under the emblem of a vineyard and husbandmen (vinedressers), our Master tells us the story of God’s dealings with that nation, both in great mercy and in great judgment. This parable is recorded here in the Book of God to stand as a beacon to warn us lest we, who have received and experienced far greater mercies than the Jews ever did, should also at last be dashed in pieces upon the rocks of God’s righteous retribution and judgment. A National Warning The things I am about to write may appear to many to be out of place in a commentary; but it is my purpose ever to apply the Scriptures as personally as possible to those who hear my voice or read what I write. Therefore, I make no apology for writing as I do. Rather, I urge you to read the following with great care. Without question, there is a warning for us as a nation in this parable. The United States of America is a nation which has been blessed of God, perhaps unlike any other, with great providential mercies. We have enjoyed prosperity as no other nation in the world. We have lived in the lap of luxury, freedom and safety. There has never been a nation more blessed than ours has been historically with the gospel. God has sent prophet after prophet, generation after generation, through the length and breadth of this land. Israel had peculiar privileges indeed; but their providential blessings were nothing compared to ours. But, like Israel of old, throughout our history we have provoked the Lord to jealousy. It seems to me, both as I read history and from the experience of my own brief lifetime, that the more greatly and signally the Lord has showered his mercies upon us, the more blatantly we have turned from him. Truly, we must acknowledge as did the psalmist, “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Like the Jews of old, we have mocked the messengers of God, despised his words and misused his prophets (2 Chronicles 36:16). I am astonished that God has not destroyed our nation. Our streets run red with blood, blood shed by unrestrained, undisciplined children. This generation of children and young people has educated barbarians for parents. Parents these days are more like brute beasts and crawling reptiles that lay their eggs, bury them in the sands of the world and forget them. Parents who refuse to train and discipline their children, who refuse to mold their characters for good, are nothing more than breeding beasts. My apologies to the beasts! Indeed, it is customary these days for men and women, boys and girls simply to breed like dogs, first with one and then another. Common adultery has brought about an utter disregard for marriage, law and order. Fornication is smiled at as a light thing. It is as common for girls to have babies out of wedlock as it is for dogs to scratch fleas. Homosexuality is not only tolerated, it is accepted, promoted and taught in the classrooms of our schools! As it has been throughout history when nations have abandoned God for their lusts, abandoned his way for pleasure, abandoned law and order in the name of freedom, human life has become so cheap in our society that abortion is more common than getting your teeth cleaned. Unborn infants are regarded as unwanted fat to be sucked away as desired. A man may easily get a longer prison sentence for killing your dog than for raping your wife or killing you. It is astounding to me that God has not swept us away into oblivion. Yet, the fact that he has not yet destroyed us gives me hope. Maybe our great, gracious and glorious God will once more in wrath remember mercy! Maybe he yet has in store for our land such a great spiritual deliverance out of Babylon as he granted to the Jewish nation from their physical Babylonian captivity! Maybe! A Greater Evil Having said all that, as horrible as things are on the streets of our cities, in the classrooms of our schools, and among our political leaders, bad as the social fabric of our land is, there is a worse problem. Indeed, this worse problem is the root cause of the other problems we have to deal with everyday. The problem I speak of is this: — The churches, preachers, teachers and spiritual leaders of our land, those who profess to be God’s servants, those who are responsible to teach us God’s Word and God’s ways, have long since abandoned the Word and truth of God. If you will read the first chapter of Romans, you will see that the moral decline of any people begins with spiritual decline, idolatry and apostasy from the Revelation of God in Holy Scripture. This parable of the vineyard certainly speaks historically of the nation of Israel. It is, without question, a warning to us as a nation and a warning to other nations like ours in this apostate age, who are reaping the consequences of forsaking God and his Word.

But it is primarily a warning to local churches, a warning to those who are now so greatly blessed in these dark, dark days with the privilege of sitting in the house of God, under the ministry of faithful gospel preaching. This is what God the Holy Spirit intends for us to learn from this parable: — “Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee” (Romans 11:20-21). There are seven important lessons in this parable. God’s church in this world is his vineyard. — “And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country” (Mark 12:1). There certainly are applications of this parable to be made to the church universal; but it speaks principally of the church local, local assemblies of men and women who profess to be followers of Christ and his gospel. Every true gospel church is a vineyard of God’s planting. The local church is God’s vineyard. It belongs to the Lord.

He separated a piece of ground (a place) for it. He planted it. He has hedged it about. And the local church, the place where you gather with God’s elect, worship the Lord Jesus Christ, hear the gospel of his grace, and have Christ revealed to you through his Word, is the greatest blessing you have in this world. The Lord God has let out this vineyard to us as his husbandmen (Mark 12:1). There is no greater privilege in this world and no greater responsibility under heaven than this: — The Lord God has given us the treasure of the gospel, trusting to our hands the message of his grace, that we might be in this age “the pillar and ground of the truth,” holding forth the light of the gospel in a world of darkness (1 Timothy 3:15-16). At the appointed season, the Lord God looks for and rightfully expects to find fruit from the husbandmen of his vineyard. — “And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard”(Mark 12:2). The rent he requires of us is very reasonable. All he demands from us is that we reverence his Son (Mark 12:6). God simply requires that we worship his Son. That worship is more than attending worship services two or three times a week. The worship of Christ involves faith in him and faithfulness to him as stewards in his house (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:1-7). In Mark 12:2-8 our Savior teaches us that as men and women deal with and treat Gods faithful servants, so they deal with and treat God’s Son.“And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.” Lost religious men and women love religion, religious duties, religious activity, religious ceremonies, religious history and religious tradition, but utterly despise God, his Son, and his gospel, and would (if they could) cast God’s Son off his throne, out of his Kingdom, and kill him. — “But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours…And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way”(Mark 12:7; Mark 12:12). The reason preachers, teachers, churches and religious leaders despise and cast Christ and his Word out is obvious. — They want the vineyard for themselves. The Pharisees did what they did during our Lord’s earthly ministry, and at last crucified the Son of God for only one reason. — They wanted to preserve their position of power and influence over the people (John 11:47-54). That is the reason, the only reason, preachers and religious leaders like Diotrephes despise Christ, his gospel and his servants in every age (3 John 1:9; Psalms 2:1-12). If we despise the privileges and opportunities God has given us, he will both take away those great privileges and make those things which might have been the means of our everlasting salvation and make them the very basis of our everlasting ruin. — “What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner”(Mark 12:9-10. Present privileges are no guarantee of future privileges. The Lord Jesus warns us that he will remove the candlestick that is despised (Revelation 2:5). If the preaching of the gospel is not a savor of life unto you, it will be to you a savor of death (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). God’s purpose is not hindered. — “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:10-11).Though many do despise God’s grace and thus heap destruction upon themselves, when he takes the gospel from one people, he gives it to another and the purpose of God is not thwarted or even hindered. Christ is still exalted and his people shall be saved (Romans 3:3; Romans 11:26; Romans 11:33-36). “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.

Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?

The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” (Psalms 80:1-19)

Mark 12:13-17

CHAPTER 52 “Knowing Their Hypocrisy” “And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.” (Mark 12:13-17) Our Savior declared, in Psalms 35:16, “With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.” Here we see those prophetic words fulfilled. The Scriptures declare that we who follow Christ are and must be crucified unto the world. That man or woman who believes on the Son of God is and must be dead to the world. “‘How is the believer dead to the world when he lives in the world, works a regular job, raises a family, and owns property in the world?’ A young student asked his Bible teacher. The teacher sent him out to the gravesite of a friend with instructions to criticize the dead friend, harass him, and find fault, and then praise him with glowing terms and brag on him to excess. Upon his return, the teacher asked, ‘What did your friend say when you criticized him?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘How did he react when you praised him?’ ‘It made no difference to him; he is dead!’ ‘That is what it means to be dead to this world,’ said the teacher. Its applause means nothing and its hatred means nothing. We neither admire the people of this world nor do we fear them. The riches of this world are but the fancy of fools, and the honors of this world mean little or nothing; for to be a child of God is the highest calling.

The religious traditions and ceremonies of the world have no attraction nor meaning when Christ is all! That which was once important to us we now consider loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, our Lord. This spiritual life in Christ cannot be explained; it must be experienced.” (Henry Mahan) No one so thoroughly and constantly exemplified this deadness to as he who came to do the will of God and always did the Father’s will perfectly. Our Lord Jesus Christ was dead to both the flatteries and the abuses of the world; and if we would follow him and do his will we must be as well. We see a clear example of the Savior’s deadness to the world in his dealings with the Pharisees and the Herodians in this passage. Truth from Lying Lips The very first thing that strikes me, as I read this passage is the fact the God often causes the truth to be spoken from lying lips. In his great sovereignty, our God often causes the enemies of the gospel to proclaim the truth, though they despise it. These hypocritical religious leaders came to our Redeemer for the purpose of laying a snare before him, to catch him in his words. When they did, they declared as clearly as any prophet or apostle three great truths about his character, both as God and as the God-man, our Mediator. In Mark 12:14 they said… “Thou art true.” “Thou carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men.” “Thou teachest the way of God in truth.” In John 11, God the Holy Spirit forced a false prophet, Caiaphas the high priest, to declare the gospel of our Redeemer’s substitutionary death in the room of his elect as clearly as the Apostle Paul declared it in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Speaking by the Spirit of God, Caiaphas said, “It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, that the whole nation perish not” (John 11:50-51). In fact, in the case of the dying thief (Luke 23:39-43), it appears that the Lord God used the truth spoken by unbelieving men as the means by which he gave faith to the chosen object of his grace. My reason for stating this is to show that the means of grace is not always obvious. We know that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). We know that sinners are “born-again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever… And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1:23-25). But many point to the dying thief and say, “That man was saved without hearing the gospel.” Was he? No.

Let me remind you of the things he heard, as he hung upon the cross. I do not know what he heard, or did not hear beforehand. But as he hung by his dying Savior, he heard and saw the gospel as clearly as anyone ever could. He heard the crucified Christ hailed as “the King of Israel” (Matthew 27:42). He heard that the man hanging beside him had claimed to be the Son of God. — “He said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:43). He heard the chief priests and scribes say, “He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Mark 15:31).

He read Pilate’s testimony, “THIS IS JESUS OF , THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Luke 23:38; John 19:19). And he saw the Lamb of God dying as a Substitute in the place of a guilty man (Barabbas), who was released from death because he died in his place. Mutual Enemies Unite The next thing we see in these verses is the fact that lost men and women who are mutual enemies, people who utterly despise one another, will unite in opposition to Christ and his gospel. The Pharisees were religious fundamentalists, superstitious ceremonialists and self-righteous moralists. Religion was their life. They lived to go to church and do religious stuff. The Herodians were mere worldlings. They had absolutely no use for religion. They cared no more for the honor of God (his name, his will, his glory) than for the life of a maggot. Yet, when the Lord Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel, the Pharisees and the Herodians were united like blood kin in the common cause of opposing him. Both the religious crowd and the worldly crowd despised the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ, as Christ himself preached it and personified it. That is the way it has always been. That is the way it is now. And that is the way it will always be, as long as the world stands, until Christ makes all things new. The cross of Christ is an offense to unregenerate men, both religious and irreligious (Galatians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 1:17-24). All lost men hate God and the gospel of Christ. All despise those things revealed in the gospel. There are no exceptions. God’s sovereignty offends man’s pride and sense of self-determination. Fallen man desperately wants some credit for the salvation of his soul. Man is repulsed by the Bible doctrine of election because he thinks it is unfair for God to be gracious to whom he will be gracious.

The teaching of Holy Scripture that man is totally depraved offends man’s sense of self-worth and his love of his own imaginary righteousness. The Bible’s teaching about Christ’s limited, the effectual redemption of God’s elect by the death of Christ, enrages men who think God owes sinners salvation, that he owes men a “chance” to be saved. The fact that salvation comes by the revelation of God the Holy Spirit in irresistible grace offends man’s love of wisdom. When faced with the plain declaration of the gospel, men who despise one another, always unite in opposition to it. Bold Hypocrisy These Pharisees and Herodians stand before us as glaring examples of the brazen boldness of hypocrisy. No one is more confident, bold, or arrogant than the hypocrite. He never openly shows his true colors. In order to cover his hypocrisy he has a bold, brazen, outward pretense of sincerity. Do you see that in Mark 12:13-14? “And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” When they could not find anything in his own doctrine or conduct for which to kill him, these proud hypocrites thought they could out smart the Son of God and trick him into saying something with which to accuse him. They began by flattering him as a man who was true, sincere, faithful and honest, unmoved, unimpressed and uninfluenced by men, and beyond the reach of bribery and intimidation. None are more subtle and deceiving than religious people who hate God. But the Lord Jesus was much more than a mere man. He was and is the omniscient God, before whom all things are naked and open. He knew their hypocrisy and caught them in their own trap. “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Mark 12:15-17). Political Controversies There is no greater, more effective snare, by which both God’s people and his servants are apt to be ensnared than overmuch concern about the cares and controversies of civil government. As I write this, the United States is in the middle of a presidential election. How sad it is to see so many who are citizens of another world embroiled in heated political controversy. “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” (Psalms 37:1-5) Our Lord would not allow himself to be drawn into the trap of political wrangling and worldly strife. We cannot be too careful about these things. We must not allow ourselves to be overly concerned about the things of this world. I do not say that we are to have no concern about civil matters, or that we should not vote in political elections. Not at all. Believers should be the best of citizens; and good citizens act responsibly for the welfare of their nation. But the politics of this world, its pleasures, its treasures and its opinions should be of little concern to those who are crucified to the world. Yet, faith in Christ and obedience to him is never a justification for any of us neglecting our God given responsibilities in this world. Our Lord Jesus commands us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s. That simply means that it is the responsibility of all men to both worship God and to be responsible, productive citizens in this world. The fact is, those who truly do worship God are the very best, most responsible, dependable, productive citizens in every generation. Marveling not Believing Learn this too, marveling at Christ’s doctrine is not believing on the Son of God. Many marvel at Christ and his doctrine who never believe. The last sentence of Mar 12:17 reads, “And they marveled at him.” The same thing often happens today. Frequently, men and women are impressed with a system of doctrine, the abilities of a preacher, a church, or a group of people. They attach themselves to preachers, churches, doctrines and causes, but not to Christ. They marvel for a while, but never come to trust the Son of God. Salvation is something more than being impressed with and marveling at Christ. Salvation is knowing him and trusting him. I am not interested in impressing you. I want you to know Christ. Without him, you are without life, without forgiveness, without righteousness, without God, without hope. Why will you perish? Why will you die? Come to Christ and live forever. God help you now to come to him. The Lord Jesus Christ himself bids you come and promises to receive you, save you, and keep you, if you come to him.

Mark 12:18-27

CHAPTER 53 “The God of the Living” “Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.” (Mark 12:18-27) In this portion of Scripture we have the Sadducees’ attempt to entrap our Lord Jesus. Earlier in the day the Pharisees and Herodians tried to catch him in his words. Here the Sadducees try to do the same thing. The Sadducees were the smallest, but by far the most wealthy and influential of the Jewish sects. They were the aristocrats of Judaism, and for the most part controlled the priesthood and the temple. Though that was the case, the Sadducees were not commonly respected by the people. They, supposing themselves to be smarter than God, denied the resurrection. They were the most liberal sect of the Jews. They were religious; but their religion was the religion of infidelity. It was their infidelity regarding the resurrection of the dead which made the Sadducees and Pharisees bitter enemies, much like the liberals and the conservatives of any religious denomination today. But when the Lord Jesus came to Jerusalem, exerting his rightful claims and sovereign power as the Son of God, the Messiah, drove the money changers from the temple, and began to disrupt their religious order, demanding that God be worshipped as God in his house, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, along with all the other religious groups, joined forces against him. “How could this happen?” you might ask. How could religious people with such strong doctrinal and ceremonial differences at once unite in opposition to the Son of God? The answer is obvious. They really believed the same thing essentially. The Pharisees, the Herodians, the Sadducees, the Essenes, the Zealots, and the Scribes all held to the idolatrous, pagan notion that salvation was in some way dependent upon and determined by man’s will, works, and worth. Whereas, the Lord Jesus plainly declared that salvation is the work of God’s free and sovereign grace alone. God’s church and God’s servants today must not expect things to be any different. Those who despise the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ, though they may be bitter enemies, will unite like beloved brethren to oppose the gospel of Christ. We must always expect and be prepared for the assaults and deceitful slanders of infidels, Arminians and workmongers who wear the badge of Christianity. As the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes in this chapter united in their opposition to Christ, the whole religious world unites and speaks as one voice in its opposition to the gospel of Christ today. As we consider the ludicrous question of the Sadducees and the answer our Master gave them, four things stand out as matters of great importance. Religious Infidelity First, these Sadducees stand before us as glaring examples of religious infidelity. The vast majority of people in this world who profess the name of Christianity, including the most powerful and most influential religious leaders of it, are real infidels. Their religion is a matter of convenience, not conviction. It is, for the most part, a religion which holds the Word of God, the truth of God, the gospel of God, the will of God and the glory of God in utter contempt, just like these Sadducees. These Sadducees laughed at the doctrine of the resurrection. They were the “freethinkers” of their day. They thought themselves too smart, too educated, too enlightened to believe such religious sentiments. The question they posed to the Lord Jesus illustrates their arrogance. “Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife”(Mark 12:18-23). The Sadducees’ pretended to reverence the Lord Jesus, calling him, “Master.” They pretended to reverence the Word of God, referring to that which “Moses wrote.” And they pretended to have a genuine concern for the teaching of Holy Scripture, asking the Lord Jesus, if seven brothers were married to the same woman, “In the resurrection whose wife shall she be?” They presented their question as though it were a factual thing, as though they were really interested in knowing the answer. Any statistician will tell you that you would have a far greater chance of winning the lottery than of this actually happening. The only thing these men were interested in was raising a question, which they were confident the Master could not answer. We will be wise to mark the things recorded here and learn from them not to allow modern religious infidels to entrap us. When carping religious infidels want to argue with you, just ignore them. Give them plain statements of Scripture, and leave them alone. If you get into a hissing contest with a snake, you are going to lose. Such people always try to press difficult and abstruse points of doctrine. They always act in dishonesty. And they always deserve contempt. Yet, it is delightful to see that our blessed Savior causes even the wrath of men to serve his glory and his people (Psalms 76:10). With that as his purpose, he graciously seized the opportunity to the comfort of his elect, both by establishing the doctrine of the resurrection and by declaring that in the resurrection all earthly relationships will be dissolved. In the resurrection body, in immortality, we will have no need of those things that are necessary to sustain our mortal bodies on earth, or to gratify the needs of mortality. And there will be nothing to divide the affections of one from another. We shall be perfectly one in Christ (John 17:22-23). Spiritual Ignorance. Second, our Savior shows us that people may be very religious and very highly educated, as the Sadducees were, and still be completely engulfed in spiritual darkness and ignorance. — “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” (Mark 12:24). Those men did not believe in the resurrection of the dead because they did not know the teaching of Holy Scripture and did not know the power of God. I do not doubt for a moment that they knew the letter of the Scriptures. No doubt, they could quote huge passages of the Bible from memory. I do not doubt that they were very keenly aware of the historic events and chronological order of things recorded in the Scriptures. They knew the history of Israel, and even knew what the prophecies of the Old Testament said. But they had absolutely no knowledge of the meaning and message of Holy Scripture. Their understanding was nothing but the understanding of carnal reason and religious tradition. Do you understand the message of Scripture? The Book of God is all about Christ. The message of the Bible is the gospel of Christ (Luke 24:27; Luke 24:32; Luke 24:44-45; John 5:39; 1 Peter 1:23-25). Spiritual knowledge is not merely doctrinal knowledge, creedal knowledge, logical knowledge, and factual knowledge. Spiritual knowledge is the revealed knowledge of a Person, and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The resurrection is more than a doctrine. It is a person (John 11:25). You cannot know the Person without knowing the doctrine; but you certainly may know the doctrine without knowing the Person. Christ is our resurrection and our life. He is our Resurrection and Life representatively in redemption (Ephesians 2:4-6). He is our Resurrection and our Life experimentally in regeneration (John 5:25; Revelation 20:6; Colossians 3:1-3). And the Lord Jesus Christ is our Resurrection and our Life prospectively in the last day (Colossians 3:4). The truth of God, the gospel of his grace, is much more than doctrinal, historical facts. Christ himself is the gospel. The gospel is a Person (John 14:6). Without question, this Person is revealed and made known to us and in us in the context of revealed, doctrinal truth. But life and salvation comes by knowing God himself in the person of our all glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God (John 17:3). Salvation is not merely knowing about Christ. Salvation is knowing Christ as my God, my Surety, my Substitute, my King, my Priest, my Prophet and my Savior! The Power Of God Spiritual ignorance, doctrinal error, and heresy of every kind, according to this statement by our Savior, must be traced to ignorance of the power of God. I take that to mean three things. These three things you will find throughout the Scriptures are what is meant by the power of God. Spiritual ignorance arises from and must be traced to an utter ignorance of God’s sovereignty, his absolute authority as God. Spiritual ignorance arises from and must be traced to an utter ignorance of God’s omnipotence, his absolute, almighty ability to do all his pleasure. Spiritual ignorance arises from and must be traced to an utter ignorance of God’s gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, because they were totally ignorant of God’s sovereignty, his omnipotence and his gospel. All heresy, all spiritual ignorance must be attributed to these things. All false religion, all free will, works religion denies the sovereignty of God’s will and purpose in election and predestination, the omnipotence of his power and grace in redemption, regeneration and effectual calling, and the gospel’s good news of redemption accomplished by the blood of his dear Son. Those who have never felt the power of God in the experience of grace cannot know the power of God, and are therefore utterly ignorant of all the works of God. The Resurrection Life. “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels, which are in heaven” (Mark 12:25). — There will be a resurrection of the dead. When our Lord Jesus comes again, there will be a resurrection of the just and of the unjust. The Scriptures universally declare it (Exodus 3:6; Job 19:25-26; Psalms 16:9-10; Psalms 49:15; Psalms 73:24; Hosea 6:1-2; Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). And the fact of the resurrection is inscribed upon every man’s heart and conscience by the finger of God in creation. Anyone who denies the resurrection is a liar. He lies against his own conscience. In the resurrection God’s saints shall be as the angels of God. The Lord Jesus declares, “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels, which are in heaven.” In the resurrection we will be completely free of all carnal distinctions, weaknesses, cares, needs, and passions. There will be no need for marriage and procreation, because there will be no more sickness, sorrow, bereavement or death! And there will be no imperfection of love and unity among God’s saints. We will, like the angels of God, possess the constant, full knowledge and assurance of God’s approval. We will enjoy uninterrupted assurance of complete security with Christ. We will have perfect, uninterrupted communion with our Redeemer. Like the heavenly angels, we will always be engaged in the suitable, gratifying service of our great God — Worshipping him! — Singing his praise! — Celebrating his wondrous works! — Doing his will! We will have unbroken, everlasting rest! Like those celestial spirits above, we will gaze upon our God and Savior. As “they do always behold the face of God,” we “shall see his face!” Then our Savior tells us the meaning of his words to Moses in Exodus 3, when he spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. “And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err” (Mark 12:26-27). It was Christ himself who appeared to Moses in the bush (Acts 7:30), declaring himself to be the eternal, self-existent “I AM” (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58). When he said to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” he was saying, “I am the God of the living.” He who is our God is the God of the living. Remember, it was Christ our Mediator who spoke those words to Moses. Our Savior is telling us here that he is himself the God of the living (Romans 14:9). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob represent all God’s elect. They were chosen of God. They were heirs of a covenant God made on their behalf. They believed God. They lived in communion with God. They did not fully enjoy the fulfillment of God’s promises until they left this vale of tears; but their bodies are in the grave; they live still, possessing that which the Lord God promised to give them (Hebrews 11:13-16). So it is with all God’s saints who have left this world. They are not dead, but living. That which the Lord said to Moses in the bush, he here tells us had reference to the resurrection. His covenant promises and engagements for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and for all his elect, involve the complete recovery of his people, body and soul, from the ruins of the fall of our father Adam. The ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant promises depends upon the resurrection of our bodies, and, therefore, assures us of it. All who were redeemed by his blood were raised from the dead with Christ representatively, and are made partakers of the first resurrection in the new birth (Revelation 20:6); and they shall be made partakers of “the resurrection of life,” when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again to be glorified in his saints (Romans 8:21-23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), because he is “the God of the living!”

Mark 12:28-34

CHAPTER 54 “So Near Home, Yet Lost!” “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.” (Mark 12:28-34) No doubt this scribe came to the Lord Jesus with the same malicious intent as the others. The Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees had come to the Master with the specific determination to “catch him in his words” (Mark 12:13). But as he listened to the Savior’s conversation with the Sadducees, he realized that everything the Lord Jesus said made perfectly good sense. He perceived “that he had answered them well,” that is with purpose and understanding. The Question This scribe asked the Lord Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all?” No doubt he had often debated that question with others. Religious people love to debate intricate points of doctrine, striving about words to no profit (2 Timothy 2:14). They imagine that they know much, though they know nothing. And their debate is but the outward display of their inward lust for recognition and praise (Romans 1:29). The religion of the self-righteous is all about themselves. They exercise their religion only “for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness” (Isaiah 58:4). Be warned. Nothing spiritual is ever gained by religious wrangling. We all love debate, because we all love to impress others with our knowledge; but it is always carnal and sinful. Debate is not witnessing. It is only debate, the display of carnal pride. It is never for the glory of God or the good of immortal souls. Therefore, we are admonished to “avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus 3:9). Witnessing is not showing people what you know, but telling them “how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19). The Master’s Answer Wicked as this man’s motives were, we have reason to give thanks to God that he asked it. Otherwise, we might never have been given the instruction of infinite wisdom given by the Lord Jesus in Mark 12:29-31. Here, again, we see our God overruling evil for good (Psalms 76:10). He makes even the most malicious designs of wicked men beneficial to his elect, and uses them for his own praise. — “Out of the eater came forth meat” Judges 14:14). This scribe asked the Master, “Which is the first commandment of all?” He probably expected to receive some instruction about the observance of some outward ceremony, or some very costly duty. Instead, the Lord Jesus seized the opportunity to declare the supremacy of the triune God and that which he both requires and deserves of his creatures. First, the Savior sets before this scribe the great supremacy of our God in the trinity of his sacred persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. — “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29). In Mark 12:29-30 our savior quotes a portion of Scripture with which the scribe had to have been very familiar (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), and asserts that this is the matter of utmost priority. — “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord!” That is the first thing God commands, that we recognize and worship him alone as God. He who is our God, the covenant God of his people, is alone God. This simple sentence is bursting with meaning. First, the Lord, Jehovah, the triune God, is one Jehovah (1 John 5:7). Second, he is the God of Israel in a special, distinct way. He is God over all; but he has made himself our God. — “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance” (Psalms 33:12). I am not sure why, but Mark never uses the word “law” in his gospel narrative. But in Mark 12:30, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, the Lord Jesus declares that the whole commandment of God, that is all the law of God, directs us to and requires faith in Christ, who is Jehovah the Son. We know that this is the meaning of our Savior’s words here because that is what the Holy Spirit declares in 1 John 3:23. — “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” The law of God has but one purpose. It is designed to shut us up to Christ alone as our God and Savior, and to faith in him as our God and Savior (Galatians 3:19-25). And that faith that is given to and wrought in sinners by the grace of God is “faith which worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6). The law of God demands that we love both God and our fellow man perfectly. Read the Master’s words just as they stand. “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” God does not simply command us to love him sincerely. He commands us to love him perfectly in all his character as God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. And he demands that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Though all hate God by nature (Romans 8:7), there is no question that every heaven born soul loves God in all his character as God; and every ransomed sinner loves his brother. But none would ever dare presume to assert that he loves God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, or that he loves his brother as he loves himself. Yet, by faith in Christ, we establish and fulfill the law (Romans 3:31; Romans 8:1-4). God gives what he requires; and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ we offer to God that which he requires, perfection (Leviticus 22:21). As our Representative, covenant Surety and Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ lived the full age of a man, loving God and his neighbor, perfecting, fulfilling all righteousness, a righteousness of infinite merit and efficacy, for God’s elect. Then he died under the penalty of our sins, being made sin for us, satisfying God’s offended justice for the redemption of our souls that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13). When he accomplished this great work, we were one with him and in him, so really and truly one with him and in him that when he obeyed we obeyed, and when he died we died. Therefore he is called “The Lord our Righteousness” and we are called “The Lord our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16). In the words of John Kent… ‘Twixt Jesus and the chosen race Subsists a bond of sovereign grace, That hell, with its infernal train, Shall ne’er dissolve nor rend in vain Hail! sacred union, firm and strong, How great the grace, how sweet the song, That worms of earth should ever be One with incarnate Deity! One in the tomb, one when He rose, One when He triumphed o’er His foes, One when in heaven He took His seat, While seraphs sang all hell’s defeat. This sacred tie forbids their fears, For all He is or has is theirs; With Him, their Head, they stand or fall, Their life, their surety, and their all.” Far Off, In or Near On October 26, 1859 a Welsh ship called, “The Royal Charter,” safely sailed around the world, navigating treacherous waters in every part of the globe. When the ship docked briefly at Queenstown, Ireland, one of the sailors telegraphed his wife, telling her that he would be home in a few hours. You can imagine her excitement. She had not seen or heard from her husband in months, and months, and months. With joy and anticipation, she hurriedly prepared supper, set the table, and got all spruced up. Excitedly, she sat in the parlor, waiting for her husband to walk through the door. Instead, a messenger appeared at the door who told her that as the ship approached its homeport, it was smashed to pieces in Moelfre Bay, on the coast of Wales, and her husband was drowned! As soon as her pastor, William Taylor, heard what had happened, he hurried over to minister to this shocked and grieving widow. He said later, “Never can I forget the grief, so stricken, and tearless, with which she wrung my hand.” As that lady held her pastor’s hands, these are the words with which she expressed her grief — “So near home, and yet lost! So near home, and yet lost! So near home, and yet lost!” That is precisely where our Savior said this scribe was, near the kingdom of God but not in it, near home but lost. He said, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” “And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question” (Mark 12:32-34). It is possible for a person to be very near the kingdom of God and not be in it. It is possible for a sinner to perish upon the doorsteps of mercy, “not far from the kingdom of God.” There are many to whom the Savior’s words to this scribe apply, — “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” This Scribe was a man of far greater knowledge than most. He saw things most of the scribes and Pharisees could not see. His knowledge was such that our Lord said to him, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” Yet, he was lost. He was near, but not in the kingdom. Be warned. You may have great knowledge of truths and never know him who is the Truth. Salvation is not knowing about Christ. Salvation is knowing Christ (John 17:3). The kingdom of God is that kingdom of grace in which all are voluntary, loyal subjects, under the rule of Christ. It is a spiritual kingdom, governed by Christ through the power of his Spirit and the Word of his grace. The kingdom of God is the church and family of God in this world. Some are in the kingdom of God. Some are far off from the kingdom of God. And some are near, but not in the kingdom of God. Those who are in the kingdom of God are sinners who have been quickened, regenerated and made alive by the Spirit of God (Mark 12:27; Ephesians 2:1; Revelation 20:6). They have been brought to the obedience of faith by the Spirit of God (Romans 16:25-26). They have been adopted into the family of God (Ephesians 1:4-6; 1 John 1:9). They are led, ruled, governed and directed in life by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9; Romans 8:14). If you are in the kingdom of God, you are in it because God, by a work of his almighty grace, has put you in it. He “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Most are far off from the kingdom of God. They have no interest in the things of God, no interest in their souls, no interest in Christ, and no interest in the gospel of his grace. Like a brute beast, they live only for time and only for the physical, sensual pleasures of life. But there are some of who, like this scribe, are “not far from the kingdom of God.” What did the Savior see in this man that he did not see in the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees who had come before him? Why did he say he was not far from the kingdom of God? Let me show you. The Lord Jesus saw standing before him a man of sincerity and truthfulness. This scribe was something more than a religionist. He was no hypocrite. He sincerely studied the law of God, saw something of the supremacy of God and tried to order his life by the law of God. Like the Jews Paul spoke of, he had a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:1-4). This man seems to have understood something of the spiritual nature of the law. He saw that the law had more to do with the glory of God and the inward principle of love for God and man than it did with mere outward deeds. He saw that the worship of God was inward, not outward, spiritual, not ceremonial. He saw more than the papist, who makes worship nothing but ceremonies. He saw more than the doctrinalist, who puts head knowledge above heart experience. And he saw more than the legalist, who puts outward morality above love and kindness. The Lord Jesus saw in this scribe a teachable spirit. What a rare thing that is! Here was a man who was willing to learn. He was willing to have his doctrine, his religion and his opinions examined and corrected by the Word of God. This man appeared to be in a very hopeful condition. He saw the unity, the breadth and the spirituality of the law. And he appears to have realized something of his own inability to keep the law. He knew that God required what he could not give. There is reason to have hope for a man who knows that much. Few do! Are you like this scribe? Do you, like the five foolish virgins, have the lamp of religion? If you do, do not be content. They perished with the lamp of religion. You must have the oil of grace. Like the rich young ruler, this scribe had much, but he lacked the one thing needful.

He lacked faith in Christ. He was near, but not in the kingdom. Do not be content to live and die in such a position. If you die near, but not in the kingdom of God, eternal damnation will be your portion forever. The borderland is a place of danger. If you are satisfied with being “not far from the kingdom of God,” you will in the end be shut out forever (Luke 13:23-30).

If you do not enter in by Christ into the kingdom of God, either you will go back into hopeless apostasy (Hebrews 10:25-31; 2 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 2:20-22; 1 John 2:19), or you will become content without Christ, indifferent, and gospel hardened. The borderland of religion without Christ is the most dangerous place in all the world! If you die without Christ, you will be forever lost. “So near home, and yet lost!” God has opened the way by which sinners may enter into the kingdom (Hebrews 10:19-23) — “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). The only Door by which sinners enter into the kingdom of God is Christ (John 10:9). We must enter in by his blood and his righteousness. Will you enter into the kingdom of God; or will you die “not far from the kingdom of God”? God help you now to enter in, for Christ’s sake.

Mark 12:35-44

CHAPTER 55 Temple Teachings “And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:35-44) Our Master is sitting in the temple, in the house of God at Jerusalem, teaching the people and preaching the gospel. He told his disciples and his enemies in no uncertain terms of God’s certain, impending judgment upon the Jews, and displayed that it would be a matter of righteousness and justice (Mark 12:1-12). Perceiving that he was talking about them, the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees got so mad that they wanted to kill him on the spot; but they feared the people. As the Lord Jesus continued to teach, these men put their heads together and decided that they would try to trick him into saying something erroneous. So they came to him, first the Pharisees and Herodians, then the Sadducees, then a Scribe, with leading questions, trick questions, questions which were designed for strife and division, not for edification (Mark 12:13-34). One of these men, the Scribe (Mark 12:28-34), was obviously moved and impressed by our Lord’s doctrine. By the time he came with his appointed question, he appeared to be genuinely concerned to hear and understand the things of God. The Son of God said to him, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” In this last section of the chapter our Savior draws from the scenes before him in the temple and teaches us about the message of Holy Scripture, the wickedness and utter repugnancy of hypocrisy and self-righteousness, and the simplicity, devotion and blessedness of true faith. A Question about Scripture“And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:35-37). Here is a question very different from those that had been raised by the Savior’s religious critics in the previous verses. The questions of religionists gender strife. Here is a question that unites the souls of men. The questions of religious smart-alecs are always about trivial, insignificant matters. Here is a question of vital importance. The question which our Lord here propounds is about the Christ of God and the meaning and message of Holy Scripture. What a blessed thing it would be if all discussions among those who wear the name of Christianity, if all religious and theological conversations, if all preaching and religious instruction were less about trifles and more about these weighty matters. These are the things that concern our souls, the glory of God and the salvation he bestows. Let’s look at this question and learn the Master’s doctrine. The message of the Old Testament Scriptures as well as the New is the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The passage here quoted by our Savior is Psalms 110:1. This is a messianic psalm. It was and still is regarded as such by almost all who expound the Word of God. It is a psalm full of instruction about the Christ of God, the Messiah. Look at the first four verses of that psalm. “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Mark 12:1). — That is a promise and prophecy of Christ’s exaltation, which is the result of the sure and certain victory he would accomplish at Calvary (Hebrews 1:1-3; Hebrews 10:10-14). “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” (Mark 12:2). — Here the Psalmist declares that the risen Christ must and shall have all power over all flesh, that he might give eternal life to all his covenant people (John 17:2). “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth” (Mark 12:3). — With those words, David asserts the glorious efficacy of God’s saving grace in Christ and the strict justice and holiness of his operations of grace. “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Mark 12:4). — Blessed be His name, our great and glorious Redeemer is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. He is the only Priest there is and the only Priest we need! Our Lord’s obvious intention here was to show us that the one subject about which David and all the writers of Old Testament Scriptures were inspired to write was Christ. He is the singular message of God’s Book (John 5:39; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44-47; Acts 10:43). We should always remember this when we read and study the Word of God, especially the Old Testament. All the types, prophecies, promises and laws of the Old Testament were intended to teach us about Christ. We must never undervalue the Old Testament. I hear people talk about the “Old Bible” and the “New.” That is wrong. We do not have two words from God, but one. We do not have two revelations from the Lord, just one. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Let us treasure, study, believe and seek to understand all the Word of God. The key to understanding the Word of God is Christ. Jesus Christ is the Foundation, the Center, and the Mainspring of all Divine Truth. This is what the Master himself said: — “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” If we would avoid error in interpreting and applying the scriptures, we must understand that everything in the Bible speaks of and relates to Christ. Divorce any doctrine from Christ and that doctrine becomes heresy. Divorce any precept from Christ and that precept becomes self-righteous legality. Look at Mark 12:35-36 again. Here are five profound facts, stated with the utmost simplicity. That which is written in the Book of God is written by divine inspiration. — “David himself said by the Holy Ghost” (Mark 12:36). God’s promised Messiah, the King, our Redeemer and Savior is and must be the Son of David. He is not “a” son of David, but “the” Son of David, the Son promised when God said his Son would sit upon his throne forever, the Son of whom Solomon was only a type. All the Scribes, Pharisee, and even the Sadducees understood this (Mark 12:35). This Messiah, the Son of David, though he is a man, is himself God Almighty, the sovereign Lord of the universe! - This Man who is David’s Son is also David’s Lord! The Messiah, God in human flesh, having finished the work he was sent here to do, now sits upon David’s throne, the throne of grace, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, exercising total dominion over all flesh, to give eternal life to his chosen, redeemed people. He must reign until all his enemies are made his footstool! We read in Mark 12:37, “And the common people heard him gladly!” They still do! How happy they must have been to hear the Word of God opened, read and explained in language they could understand by someone who knew what he was talking about. How refreshing it is to hear about the Person of whom the Book speaks, rather than hearing men fuss about things nobody understands! A Warning about Self-Righteousness Read Mark 12:38-40, and learn this. Nothing in all the world is more obnoxious, odious, and repugnant to God than self-righteousness, hypocrisy and the outward show of religion. “And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.” If you read the four gospels carefully, you cannot avoid observing that this wickedness of self-righteousness, hypocrisy and the outward show of religion was and is manifest in men in every walk of religion: conservative and liberal, orthodox and heterodox, Bible thumpers and Bible mockers. It was the common sin of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, Herod and the Scribes, the Herodians and the Zealots. The same is true today. The word “Beware” was a word seldom used by our Lord. When he did use it, he used it only to give warnings of utmost importance. Here are five passages in which the Son of God warns us to beware. In all five passages the warning is about religious people, specifically religious leaders. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues” (Matthew 10:16-17). “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6-12). “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1). “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). In Mark 12:38-40 our Savior specifically warns us to beware of those people who teach, by word or by practice, to make an outward show of godliness, seeking the praise (approval) of men. The things he mentions are things designed to impress men. Over the years I have often heard people excuse doing these things in the name of being a testimony to others. But they are really designed to draw attention and applause to ourselves. They are here strictly forbidden by the Son of God. He tells us that we are not to dress in a way that calls attention to ourselves as religious people. We are not to use or encourage others to use religious titles of distinction. We are not to make any outward display of religion. Specifically, he tells us not to pray in restaurants (market places) before we eat a meal. We are not to seek honor from or among men, desiring the place of prominence. When we do pray before others, in the house of God, or in private gatherings with our families, or with other believers, we are not to pray in a manner that calls attention to ourselves. In a word, we are not to be pretentious hypocrites, calling attention to ourselves, making an outward show of religion (Matthew 6:1-18). Our Savior warns us to beware of those religious leaders who practice such things and teach you to practice them, because they devour widows’ houses in the name of God. You can mark it down: everything they do is in some way or another motivated and governed by the love of honor and the love of money. Beware of the tendencies of your flesh to pretense, hypocrisy, self-righteousness and a carnal show of religion, because these things are natural to, approved of and promoted by all men. Beware of following such men, because if you do, you shall with them “receive greater condemnation”. Let us ever pray for grace to avoid hypocrisy, pretense, and a religious show. May God give us grace to be honest, thorough and sincere before him and before men. An Example of True Godliness Read Mark 12:41-44 together and learn something about true Christianity, true godliness. There are few events in the earthly life of Christ more commonly overlooked than this, and few of his teachings which are less discussed than the one before us in these verses. Our Lord saw “many that were rich cast in much”. Without question, those who have more should give more. That is seldom the case; but it should be. Usually, the wealthiest people really give the least. And when they do give a little something somewhere, they have lots of strings attached and a bag of instructions! As he observed those who put money into the box, our Master spotted “a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” This poor woman’s gift in itself was small, insignificant, even contemptible in the eyes of men; but it was highly valued and esteemed by the Son of God! All that was given by the wealthy was given out of their abundance. It was just the overflow, the excess, what they had left over after buying all they wanted, throwing away all they wanted, and saving all they wanted. — They gave a portion, but only a portion of what they had. She gave all. — They gave out of their wealth. She gave out of her poverty. — They gave and had much remaining. She gave everything she had, all her daily sustenance. — They gave out of a sense of duty.

She gave because she wanted to give. — They gave to be seen of men. She gave because she loved the Lord. — They gave to get glory to themselves. She gave to the glory of God. — They gave what they did not need. She gave what she very much needed. — They gave their spare change. She gave everything! John Gill wrote… “She did cast in all that she had, even all her living; her whole substance, all that she had in the world; what was to have bought her food, for that day. She left herself nothing, but gave away all, and trusted to providence for immediate supply.” I have heard men and women speak with a pretended modesty of giving their “two mites.” We have given our “two mites” when, like this blessed woman, we have given our all! “What have we to cast into the Lord’s treasury? Indeed, and in truth, nothing but what we have first received. We have two mites; soul and body: and these are both the Lord’s. Oh! for grace to give both these; And Jesus looking on; Jesus disposing to the act, and Jesus accepting all to his glory…And like the poor widow, the Lord’s treasury will have my whole living; since all I have, and all I am, are the Lord’s, and of His own only do I give him.” (Robert Hawker) May God graciously teach us to give to the cause of Christ, as he taught this woman, so rich in grace, to give. First, let us give ourselves to Christ. Then, let us give purposefully, in proportion as the Lord has prospered us, and give generously for the glory of God. Oh, may our Savior teach us to know, “It is more blessed to give than to receive!”

Mark 12:41-44

CHAPTER 56 Lessons from a Certain Poor Widow “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:41-44) Why do you go to work every day? What is your purpose in working? It does not matter what kind of work you do. We live in a society that honors and praises professionals, whose jobs require a college education. Doctors, lawyers, politicians and executives are usually the people who have influence in society, before whom others bow and scrape like groveling dogs. What a pity! It is altogether proper that we give honor to whom honor is due; but we ought never to look upon one person with contempt and another with adulation, simply because of their different social status. It does not matter in the least where you work, or what kind of work you do. All honest labor is honorable labor. I do not care whether you work for minimum wages by the hour or whether you make a million dollars a week. If your labor is honest labor, it is honorable labor. Motives for Work My question has nothing to do with the kind of work you do. I want you to consider only one thing: — Why do you do it? What is your reason for working? In the Word of God, I find three things, and only three things, which should motivate believers in their labor. These three motives are very clear. There is nothing profound or mysterious about them. I hope you will be surprised by the fact that among these three motives for working, and working hard, there is not a word written about gaining riches, getting more stuff, or increasing our social rank. Are you interested in Bible motives for work? Here they are. The Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 6:5-6; Colossians 3:22-24) — When we go about our daily employment, whatever it is, let us seek to honor our God in the work we do. The Needs of our Families (1 Timothy 5:8) — It is the responsibility of every man to provide for his family. That provision reaches beyond physical things. We are also responsible to provide for our families spiritually. Every man is responsible to serve God as a prophet, priest and king in his own house. The Privilege of Giving (Ephesians 4:28). — We ought to be motivated every day, as we do the work the Lord has given us to do, to do that work (whatever it is) to the best of our ability for the glory of God and the good of our families. But there is a third reason for working, a third noble, biblical principle which ought to be a high priority and motive to every child of God in his daily employment. We ought to work that we might enjoy the high honor and privilege of giving. If we belong to Christ, if we are his servants, we ought to make the business of giving, open handed, open hearted, generous giving, a high priority in our lives. There are many, many great examples of this kind of giving in the Word of God (2 Samuel 24:24; Mark 14:3-9; 2 Corinthians 8, 9; Philippians 4:15-19). I urge you to read those passages carefully before proceeding. There are few events in the earthly life of Christ more commonly overlooked than the giving of this poor widow, described in Mark 12:41-44, and our Redeemer’s commendation of it. Few of the words of the Son of God are more commonly unnoticed than these. Our Lord Jesus saw “many that were rich cast in much.” Without question, those who have more should give more. That is seldom the case; but it should be. Usually, the wealthiest people really give the least. And when they do give a little something somewhere, they have lots of strings attached and a bag of instructions! Then, our Master spotted “a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” I call your attention to four things in this story. May God the Holy Spirit graciously and effectually teach us the things here revealed in his Word.The Observer “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.” — The first thing evident in this passage is the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no indication that our Master was informed by anyone about the wealth of the rich or the poverty of this woman. Yet, he who is the omniscient God knew everything about everyone before him. He knew how much each possessed, how much each gave, why they gave it and what the circumstances of their lives were. I stress this fact because I want us ever to remember that he who gave his all to redeem and save us is himself the almighty, omniscient God. He who is God gave himself for us![7] [7] The fact of Christ’s divinity assures us of the certain efficacy of his work. If he is God, he cannot fail. If he can fail, for any reason, to accomplish what he desires or tries to accomplish, then he is not God! “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8). That Man who loved us and gave himself for us is himself our God. — “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!” “He beheld how the people cast money into the treasury.” He did not merely observe the fact that they gave, he observed “how” they gave. He observed what they gave and why they gave it. We should ever be aware of this fact. Our God observes all things. He looks beyond what we do and observes why we do it. All things are naked and open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do. He weighs not what we give, but how we give. The Givers “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mark 12:41-42). There are many in this world who are rich, very rich in material things, even rich in religious tradition, ceremony and activity, who are poor, utterly destitute before God. And there are many very poor people in this world who are rich, indescribably and eternally rich toward God, rich in Christ. Learn what that means. Riches, luxury, ease of life and earthly exaltation are no indication of God’s favor; and poverty, afflictions and earthly sorrows are no indication of God’s disfavor (Psalms 73). Those who have Christ have all; and those who are without Christ have nothing. Without Christ, they are without God, without promise, without grace, without mercy, without hope! The Gifts In the temple worship of the Old Testament, in addition to the tithe required by the law, those who were so inclined brought their voluntary gifts (freewill offerings) and put them in an offering box, here called the treasury. These offerings were used in the maintenance of the temple and God’s appointed priests, and to supply the priests with those things necessary for the service of the temple and the worship of God. Though the worship of God had degenerated to nothing but religious ritualism, during the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry, it was customary for people, when they entered the temple, to put some money in the box. Many, we are told, who were rich cast in much. But our Savior calls our attention to a certain, poor widow. She had only two mites to her name. And those two mites is what she put into the collection box. “And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:43-44). Anyone who observed such an act as this, were this story not recorded upon the pages of Inspiration, would declare that it was an inexcusable act of misplaced zeal. It would be condemned by all as an unnecessary, useless act of presumption. It would appear that her gift was unnecessary, because God did not require it. It might be thought useless, because her two mites were materially insignificant. It might be considered presumptuous, because, when she had given all she had, she had not exercised any wisdom or prudence with regard to her future needs. But the Son of God not only approved of what she did, he called his disciples’ attention to her gift, and said, “Men, this is what the Bible calls giving!” Though she gave only two mites, our Savior commends her gift as something both great and good. It was a great act, because it involved great sacrifice. And it was a good gift, because she gave as unto the Lord, for the glory of God, to the utmost stretch of her ability. This poor woman’s gift in itself was small, insignificant, even contemptible in the eyes of men; but it was highly valued and esteemed by the Son of God! All that was given by the wealthy was given out of their abundance. It was just the overflow, the excess, what they had left over after buying all they wanted, throwing away all they wanted and saving all they wanted. They gave a portion, but only a portion of what they had. She gave all. They gave out of their wealth. She gave out of her poverty. They gave and had much remaining. She gave everything she had, all her daily sustenance. As John Gill observed… “She did cast in all that she had, even all her living; her whole substance, all that she had in the world; what was to have bought her food, for that day. She left herself nothing, but gave away all, and trusted to providence for immediate supply.” They gave out of a sense of duty. She gave because she wanted to give. They gave to be seen of men. She gave because she loved the Lord. They gave to get glory to themselves. She gave to the glory of God. They gave what they did not need. She gave what she very much needed. They gave their spare change. She gave everything. I have heard men and women speak with a pretended modesty of giving their “two mites;” but we have not given our “two mites” until, like this blessed woman, we have given our all. The Lesson We find the lesson of this story in 2 Corinthians 9:7. — “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” God loves a cheerful giver. Such giving as that which this poor widow exemplified arises from love, not law. Believers give, not by legal constraint, but by grace, not by force of law, but by the force of gratitude. Believers understand what the world can never understand. Why do believers give as they do? Because we recognize that Christ gave his all for us, and we understand that everything we have has been given to us (1 Corinthians 4:7). Believers love Christ, his gospel, and his people. Believers understand that it really is more blessed to give than to receive. There is an abundance of instruction in the New Testament about Christian giving. All of 1 Corinthians 9, 2 Corinthians 8, and 2 Corinthians 9 are taken up with this subject. But there are no commands to the people of God anywhere in the New Testament about how much we are to give, when we are to give, or where we are to give. Tithing and all systems like it are things altogether foreign to the New Testament. Like all other acts of worship, giving is an act of grace. It must be free and voluntary. But there are some plain, simple guidelines laid down in the New Testament for us to follow. Christian giving must be motivated by love and gratitude towards Christ (2 Corinthians 8:8-9). Love needs no law. It is a law unto itself. It is the most powerful and most generous of all motives. Our gifts must arise from willing hearts (2 Corinthians 8:12). If that which we give arises from a willing heart, if it is given freely and cheerfully, it is accepted of God. The Lord is not concerned with the amount of our gifts, be it great or small; he looks to the motive behind them. We should give to the work of the gospel in proportion to our blessings from the Lord (1 Corinthians 16:2). We are expected to give generously in accordance with our own ability. All of God’s people should give (“everyone,” 1 Corinthians 16:2; “every man,” 2 Corinthians 9:7). Men and women, rich and poor, old and young — all who are saved by the grace of God are expected to give for the support of God’s church and kingdom. We should be both liberal and sacrificial in our giving (2 Corinthians 9:5-6). We have not really given anything until we have taken that which we need, want and have use for and given it to the Lord. Our gifts must be voluntary (2 Corinthians 9:7). We are to give as unto the Lord (Matthew 6:1-5). We give, not to be seen of men, but for the honor of Christ, hoping for nothing in return. This kind of giving is well-pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16). This is the teaching of the New Testament about the matter of giving. First, give yourself to Christ. Give purposefully, in proportion as the Lord has prospered you. Give secretly, unto the Lord. Give cheerfully, with “a willing mind.” Give generously. Give regularly. And give for the glory of God, as unto the Lord. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.” As every ransomed sinner does so, every need of God’s church will be supplied by the free generosity of his people. “What have we to cast into the Lord’s treasury?” Robert Hawker asked. Then he wrote, “Indeed, and in truth, nothing but what we have first received. We have two mites: soul and body; and these are both the Lord’s: Oh, for grace to give both these; and Jesus looking on; Jesus disposing to the act, and Jesus accepting all to his glory (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).” “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). It really is! May God the Holy Spirit graciously teach us all to abound in this grace also, for Christ’s sake.