Marcos 12
Kenneth Wuest · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 12
Wuest adds that parable "is an illustration thrown in alongside of a truth to make the latter easier to understand… The Greek word means “that which is thrown alongside of something else” to explain it. Thus, the tabernacle was an object lesson used to explain spiritual truth. As long as it remained an object lesson, thus a recognized institution, it was clear that the actual tabernacle to which it pointed was not yet in use. The tabernacle in Israel, and later, the temple, remained that object lesson during the history of Israel, until the veil of the temple was rent." (Hebrews Commentary) As alluded to above, while some of Jesus' parables are difficult to understand, this one is not. This parable is about the Jews' rejection of their Messiah, the Lord Jesus. All who heard this parable understood, even the hard-hearted religious leaders (Mk 12:12). Jesus was accusing the religious leaders of Israel of being the murderers of the Messiah, and He made this parabolic accusation in the presence of the crowd. This parable would bring His conflict with the religious leaders to a "proverbial head"! Ancient Winepress Grassmick gives us some background to help set the parable in context, explaining that the Jews knew about this system of someone supervising the vineyard of a rich person - This parable reflects the social situation of first-century Palestine, especially Galilee. Wealthy foreign landlords owned large land estates which they leased to tenant farmers. The tenants agreed to cultivate the land and care for the vineyards when the landlords were away. A contract between them designated that a portion of the crop was to be paid as rent. At harvest time the owners sent agents to collect the rent. Inevitably tension arose between the absentee owners and the tenants. (See The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Related Resource: Discussion of Vineyards in the Holy Land with several nice black and white pictures "A man PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT, AND DUG A VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT (oikodomeo) A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers (tenants or tenant farmers) and went on a journey - Luke's version adds "he went on a journey for a long time" (Luke 20:9+). Jesus is quoting from the Septuagint (Lxx) version of Isaiah 5:1-2 (see above). The first word in the Greek text is "vineyard" which places great emphasis on this aspect of the parable, for the rest of the parable turns on the idea of a vineyard. Jeremiah 2:21 “Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine? Psalm 80:8-16+ You removed a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground before it, And it took deep root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shadow, And the cedars of God with its boughs. 11 It was sending out its branches to the sea And its shoots to the River. 12 Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit? 13 A boar from the forest eats it away And whatever moves in the field feeds on it. 14 O God of hosts, turn again now, we beseech You; Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine, 15 Even the shoot which Your right hand has planted, And on the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself. 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. James McGowan - The Parable of the Defiant Tenants reflects the social background of Jewish Galilee in the first century, with its great landed estates and the inevitable tension between the absentee-owners and the dispossessed, land-hungry peasantry who cultivated the land as tenant-farmers. Recent study of the Zenon papyri and of the rabbinic parables has shown that situations very closely analogous to that of the parable actually existed in Palestine both around 280 years prior to Jesus' ministry and for some time afterward (from William Lane, The Gospel According to Mark). (Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary- Mark) Barton - The comparison of Israel to a vineyard is common in the Old Testament (Psalm 80:8–13; Isaiah 5:1–7; Jeremiah 12:10; Hosea 10:1). It pictures God’s work (someone has to plant a vineyard) and patient care in tending and caring for his people. (Ibid) Lenski on wine press - a winepress is hewn out of the rock floor and shaped like a figure eight (see depiction above), the upper half being a shallow basin for treading out the grapes, the lower half (or lower part of this half) a deeper basin into which the juice flows and from which it is dipped out. (Borrow The interpretation of St. john's gospel)
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Wuest comments that "The simple verb (dokimazo) means “to put to the test for the purpose of approving.” The prefixed preposition (apo-) means “off, away from.” This tells us the story of Messiah’s rejection by Israel. Israel was looking for its Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be Messiah. The leaders of Israel investigated His claims, found them to be true, substantiated by the miracles He performed (John 3:2), yet with all this evidence, rejected Him as Messiah because He did not meet their specifications. They were looking for a Messiah who would deliver Israel from the despotism of Rome, not from the dominion of sin. But this Messiah will some day become the King of kings and Lord of lords over the earth as the Head of the Millennial empire, the Headstone of the Corner. Chief (2776)(kephale; English - cephalic) refers to a literal head ( Mt 5:36; 8:20, etc), but in the present context refers to a figurative head as noting as denoting the head as chief part, specifically the cornerstone (Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pt 2:7). It is notable that the first use of kephale in the Septuagint.is in the so-called proto-evangelium, the first Gospel where God prophetically declares "I will put enmity between you (SATAN) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He (MESSIAH) shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel (EXACTLY WHAT CRUCIFIXION DID TO ONE'S HEEL!).” (Ge 3:15+). Corner (1137)(gonia from gonu = the knee) means literally corner (of street Mt 6:5); figuratively of the "corners" or extremities of the earth (Rev 7:1); of a building, also known as the chief corner stone, again used figuratively in the present passage of Christ (compare Mt 21:42, Mk 12:10; Acts 4:11; 1 Pt 2:7) CAPSTONE Cornerstones and capstones were valued architectural pieces. Stone masons demonstrated their ability by choosing just the right rock. Cornerstones anchored and shaped the foundation of a large building. They had to be square and solid. Capstones required a special shape. They were the final piece in an arch. Jesus is both cornerstone and capstone. Jesus' role gives shape to all of history. His presence defines the church. Though rejected by those who should have known better, Jesus was placed in the honored position by his heavenly Father. Make Jesus the cornerstone of your life. (LAC) STUNNING REVERSAL The very people who should most welcome the coming of God's kingdom will be denied its privileges, and the very people most unlikely to succeed spiritually will find it. So all spiritually satisfied, religiously proud, and biblically astute and learned people should take note. Christ is the center, and no amount of paraphernalia can take his place. You may know Greek and Hebrew, you may hold church office, and you may be a respected Christian philanthropist, but if any of this nudges Christ from the center of your faith and life, beware of some stunning reversals ahead. Others will receive God's blessing. (LAC) Question: What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone? Answer: Since ancient times, builders have used cornerstones in their construction projects. A cornerstone was the principal stone, usually placed at the corner of an edifice, to guide the workers in their course. The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice. The Bible describes Jesus as the cornerstone that His church would be built upon. He is foundational. Once the cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned to it. As the cornerstone of the building of the church, Jesus is our standard of measure and alignment. The book of Isaiah has many references to the Messiah to come. In several places the Messiah is referred to as “the cornerstone,” such as in this prophecy: “So this is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line’” (Isaiah 28:16–17). In context, God speaks to the scoffers and boasters of Judah, and He promises to send the cornerstone—His precious Son—who will provide the firm foundation for their lives, if they would but trust in Him. In the New Testament, the cornerstone metaphor is continued. The apostle Paul desires for the Ephesian Christians to know Christ better: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19– 21). Furthermore, in 1 Peter 2:6, what Isaiah said centuries before is affirmed in exactly the same words. Peter says that Jesus, as our cornerstone, is “chosen by God and precious to him” (1 Peter 2:4). The Cornerstone is also reliable, and “the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (verse 6). Unfortunately, not everyone aligns with the cornerstone. Some accept Christ; some reject Him. Jesus is the “stone the builders rejected” (Mark 12:10; cf. Psalm 118:22). When news of the Messiah’s arrival came to the magi in the East, they determined to bring Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But when that same news came to King Herod in Jerusalem, his response was to attempt to kill Him. From the very beginning, Jesus was “a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall” (1 Peter 2:8). How can people reject God’s chosen, precious cornerstone? Simply put, they want to build something different from what God is building. Just as the people building the tower of Babel rebelled against God and pursued their own project, those who reject Christ disregard God’s plan in favor of their own. Judgment is promised to all those who reject Christ: “Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed” (Matthew 21:44). (Source: GotQuestions.org) Have you not even read this Scripture? - Mark 12:10 Books! Books! Books! Hardcovers and paperbacks. Reference works and jokebooks. Romantic novels and mysteries. Self-help books and religious publications. They just keep appearing -- and we keep buying them. We also keep writing them. No wonder Solomon said, "Of making many books there is no end" (Ec 12:12). But one book supersedes all the others -- The Bible. It it the Word of God, written by authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and kept from error (2Ti 3:16). It is God's truth, telling us what to believe and how to live. This Book should be required reading for everyone! Our history is marked by the filling of books With what we have thought, said, and done; But one Book, the Bible, reveals the true way -- It tells of the Savior, God's Son. -- JDB A well-read Bible is a sign of a well-fed soul. Related Resources: Christ the Stone and the Rock Christ Our Rock Christ Our Rock of Refuge Christ Our Rock of Refuge-2 Rock of Our Salvation Mark 12:11 THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?" Nu 23:23 Hab 1:5 Ac 2:12,32-36 3:12-16 13:40,41 Eph 3:8-11 Col 1:27 1Ti 3:16 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’? Psalm 118:23 This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. MARVELOUS PROVIDENTIAL FULFILLMENT THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD - What is this? In context it refers to the events of the rejection of the Cornerstone. The point of this passage is that the rejection of the Stone, God's Son, by the "Jewish builders" was foreknown! Barton - It seemed that Jesus had been rejected and defeated by his own people, the Jews, but God would raise him from the dead and seat him at his own right hand. Jesus would be vindicated, and it is marvelous in our eyes. (LAC) Akin - The rejection of the Son results in a glorious reversal that is marvelous. Jesus’ rejection, humiliation and crucifixion is an apparent tragedy, but God will use it all for a greater purpose that can only be described as 1) “the Lord’s doing” (HCSB, “This came from the Lord”) and 2) something “marvelous [wonderful] in our eyes.”...This parable is so clear: God will win even when, for a fleeting moment, it seems He has lost. An empty tomb proves it is so. Redemptive history reaches a glorious climatic victory in this beloved Son, this rejected stone. (Mark 12:1-12 God Sent His Son and We Killed Him) Barton writes that "Among all the Gospel writers, only Mark quoted the words, This was the LORD's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Mark stressed divine intervention and its meaning for God's people." (LAC) David
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Wuest - And having come, one of the scribes having heard them questioning together, knowing that He had answered them well, asked Him, Of what sort is the first commandment of all? one: Mt 22:34-40 what: Mt 5:19 19:18 23:23 Lu 11:42 Mark 12:28-34 - Scribes Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” LUKE DOES NOT HAVE A DIRECT PARALLEL BUT DOES DISCUSS THIS COMMANDMENT IN Lk 10:25-28+ (WHICH MOST FEEL IS NOT A PARALLEL TO MARK AND MATTHEW'S VERSIONS). WHAT IS THE FOREMOST COMMANDMENT? One of the scribes came and heard them arguing - Presumably this arguing refers to the "Resurrection Question" the Sadducees had posed to Jesus to trap Him (and he may have heard the dispute with the Sanhedrin in Mk 11:27ff and with the Pharisees and Herodians in Mk 12:13ff). Notice in Mt 22:34 it speaks of the group of Pharisees and then one which Matthew singles out and calls a lawyer (nomikos) who asks Jesus the question. "It may be inferred that “scribes” is a generic name, and the nomikoí, lawyers, are the specialized ones skilled in law and jurisprudence of the Law of Moses." (Zodhiates) This interaction with a religious leader seems different from the previous 3 if we read only Mark's version. However Mt 22:34 makes it clear that that the scribe (lawyer) "asked Him a questions, testing (peirazo cf Mk 12:15+) Him." Broadus adds the lawyer was "Putting him to the test, with the hope that he would say something unpopular, or perhaps that he might be drawn into a bitter and wrangling discussion."
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Wuest notes that lawful is "The word is exestin. The English word “lawful” at once suggests government, a system of civil or criminal law. The Greek word does not necessarily refer to that. The word means “it is permissible, it is allowed, permitted.” The context indicates whether the restrictions are religious or civil. Here the Jews were not discussing the legality of paying poll tax to Caesar, but whether a Jew should do so in view of his theocratic relationship to God. They pressed for an answer, yes or no, as if there were no other possible answer. They hoped, in view of His Jewish background and teaching, that He would say no. That would involve Him at once with the Roman authorities. Such a reply, considering the present mood of the crowd, might put Him at the head of a rebellion (Acts 5:37) or at least would have made Him liable to a charge of treason (Luke 23:2). Had He given an affirmative answer, He would have incurred the displeasure of the Jewish crowds. Lawful (1832)(exesti from ek = out + eimi = to be) means it is lawful, it is permitted, it is possible (referring to moral possibility or propriety meaning). The lawful is that which is permissible or permitted by law. Specifically in most uses exesti refers to things permitted or not permitted by the Torah (the Law), which had to do with standards of conduct which the Word either required or prohibited. Exesti implies and acknowledges the authority of the Word of God or an authority prescribed by what is proper and permitted. And so the Word of God, especially the Torah was the standard that guided the conversation and actions of Jesus and the disciples and was part of many of His disagreements with the religious leaders. So we see that exesti had to do with what the Word said about eating (Mt 12:4), Sabbath (Mt 12:2,10), marriage (Mt 19:3-5), taxes (Mt 22:17). Often exesti took the form of a question, “Is it lawful?” (Mt 12:10, 12, Mt 19:3, 20:15, 22:17,Mk 2:24, 3:4, 10:2, 12:14, Lk 6:9, 14:3, 20:22, Acts 21:37). Paul used it in the phrase "all things are lawful for me" in the sense of "permitted." (1 Cor 6:12, 10:23). Poll-tax (2778)(kensos - Latin loanword - cf "census") literally meant census and in this context refers to the enumeration of people and property for the purpose of extracting taxes from them. 4x in NT - Matt. 17:25; Matt. 22:17; Matt. 22:19; Mk. 12:14 Geddert - If Jesus says yes, he loses popularity with the crowds (whose enthusiasm for Jesus prevents the religious leaders from acting against him). If Jesus says no, they can lay charges against Jesus before the Romans. Either way, their plot against Jesus moves forward. (Mark Believers Church Bible Commentary) Steven
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Wuest - Mark has “knowing their hypocrisy,” Matthew, “perceived their malice” (Mt 22:18), Luke, “perceived their trickery” (Mt 20:23). Thus, the three evangelists give us a rounded picture of the impressions these men made upon our Lord. Why tempt Me? The word is peirazo “to put to the test.” The secondary and late meaning of the word is “to tempt in the sense of soliciting to do evil.” Here, the Jewish leaders were putting our Lord to the test. (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Steven Cole on knowing their hypocrisy - Jesus saw right through their trickery (the word is used of Satan’s craftiness in deceiving Eve, 2 Cor. 11:3). Jesus always sees through hypocrisy! As Hebrews 4:13 says, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Paul said that he lived, “not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts” (1 Thess. 2:4). Let us learn from the pretense of these religious men that we sometimes can fool others, but we can never fool God. Be on guard against the sin of religious hypocrisy. (Guile, Government, and God) Hypocrisy (5272)(hupokrisis from hupo = under + krino =to judge; See also word study on Hypocrite = hupokrites) refers literally to delivery of a speech, along with interpretive gestures and imitation. In the Greek theater it referred to the practice of putting on a mask and playing a part on stage and in a positive sense described the actor's ability. The NT only gives hupokrisis a negative connotation referring to hypocrisy, duplicity (the quality of being double - belying of one’s true intentions by deceptive words or action), insincerity, dissimulation (hiding under a false appearance; hiding or disguising one's thoughts or feelings - don't we all do this from time to time?!). The idea is to pretend, to act as something one is not and so to act deceitfully, pretending to manifest traits like piety and love. It means to create a public impression that is at odds with one’s real purposes or motivations, and thus is characterized by play-acting, pretense or outward show. It means to give an impression of having certain purposes or motivations, while in reality having quite different ones. Comment on Mark 12:15+ from Ralph Earle (Word Meanings in the NT) - This verse and its two parallels (Mt. 22:18; Luke 20:23+) furnish an interesting example of how the three Synoptic accounts supplement each other. Three different verbs and three different nouns are used. Let us look first at the nouns. Matthew has poneria, Luke has panourgia, while Mark has hupokrisis. In his excellent commentary on the Greek text of Mark, Swete writes: "Malice (poneria) lay at the root of their conduct, unscrupulous cunning (panourgia) supplied them with the means of seeking their end, whilst they sought to screen themselves under the pretence (hupokrisis) of a desire for guidance and an admiration of fearless truthfulness" (p. 259). Now to the verbs. Mark uses eidos, a form of the verb oida (eido)(know intuitively). Matthew has gnous, the aorist of ginosko (know by experience or experimentation). Luke has katanoesas. The verb is katanoeo, which means "notice" or "observe" (AG). Swete comments: "The Lord detected their true character intuitively (eidos), He knew it by experience (gnous), and He perceived it by tokens which did not escape His observation (katanoesas)." He adds: "Thus each Evangelist contributes to the completeness of the picture." Said to them, "Why are you testing Me? - In typical rabbinical style, Jesus responds to the pretenders with a question of His own. Jesus was the Master at use of the "counter question!" Testing is in the present tense (continually testing). Testing (3985)(peirazo from the noun peira = test from peíro = perforate, pierce through to test durability of things) is a morally neutral word simply meaning “to test”. Whether the test is for a good (as it proved to be in Heb 11:17) or evil (Mt 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil") depends on the intent of the one giving the test and also on the response of the one tested. (See study of similar word dokimazo) See also word study on related word - peirasmos Bring (present imperative) Me a denarius to look at - Jesus' command was a Master stroke (pun intended!) The Jews were revolted by Caesar's head on the denarius for it smacked of idolatry! But Jesus knew that at least one Jew in the throng was carrying an "idol" in his pocket. Imagine the hush that came over this group and the trepidation that began to enter the wicked hearts of the religious leaders who must have thought "He's up to something again!" I am intrigued that none of the Gospel accounts state that Jesus actually touched the denarius or took it in His hand (cf Mt 22:19; Lk 20:24). Denarius (1220)(denarion from Latin origin) denoted a Roman silver coin equivalent to a laborer's average daily wage. Here the specific name of the coin was retained in the translation, because not all coins in circulation in Palestine at the time carried the image of Caesar. (Dictionary article). See ROMAN COINAGE It was the practice of all new emperors to issue new coins with their own likeness stamped on the face. There is a sense in which the coin was considered to be the personal property of the king. It bore testimony to the rule of the king whose likeness it carried. The first thing that a conqueror would do would be to issue new coins with a new face.
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Wuest adds that "The Pharisees were the ritualists, the Herodians, the political party among the Jews allied with the ruling Roman class, the Sadducees, the rationalists. The latter professed a disbelief in angels or spirits, and in a resurrection. They were closely identified with the priestly aristocracy (Acts 5:7), were relatively few in numbers, and were not held in as much esteem by the people as the Pharisees. These approached Jesus with the question which divided them from the Pharisees." (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Alan Carr: The Sadducees controlled all the buying and selling that went on at the Temple. Thus, they were angry with Jesus because He had interrupted their business enterprises when He cleansed the Temple, Mark 11:12-19. When the Temple was destroyed in AD 70 so the Sadducees disappeared from history. The Sadducees did not accept the OT passages that teach a future resurrection and a quick scan of the passages reveals the most likely reason they did not accept the following passages. Why not? Because none are taken from the Torah which was their primary authoritative source. Jesus would soon crush their absurd argument with Scripture from the Torah! Job 19:25-27 (probably the oldest book in the Bible indicating belief in resurrection from ancient times) “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me! Comment - A site I respect feels this is not a resurrection passage, but I disagree. Daniel Akin agrees that "The doctrine of resurrection finds Old Testament support in places like Job 19:25-27; Psalm 16:9-11; and Daniel 12:2." Psalm 16:9-11+ (A Messianic Psalm) Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Comment: Psalm 16:10 is quoted by Peter in Acts 2:27+ in his first sermon to the Jews after Pentecost as a prophecy that was fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Peter states clearly that David did not fulfill the promise of this psalm (Acts 2:29+). (Read the full context - Acts 2:22-27+ and compare Acts 13:33-35+) Gotquestions - The resurrection of the Messiah is strongly implied in another Davidic psalm. Again, this is Psalm 22. In verses 19–21, the suffering Savior prays for deliverance “from the lion’s mouth” (a metaphor for Satan). This desperate prayer is then followed immediately in verses 22–24 by a hymn of praise in which the Messiah thanks God for hearing His prayer and delivering Him. The resurrection of the Messiah is clearly implied between the ending of the prayer in verse 21 and the beginning of the praise song in verse 22. Psalm 49:15+ But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. Isaiah 53:10-11+ But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring (CLEARLY IMPLIES HE WOULD LIVE AFTER BEING RENDERED AS A GUILT OFFERING), He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Comment: And back again to Isaiah 53: after prophesying that the Suffering Servant of God would suffer for the sins of His people, the prophet says He would then be “cut off out of the land of the living.” But Isaiah then states that He (Messiah) “will see His offspring” and that God the Father will “prolong His days” (Isaiah 53:5, 8, 10). Isaiah proceeds to reaffirm the promise of the resurrection in different words: “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see light and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11). (Scriptures prophesy resurrection of Messiah) Isaiah 26:19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits. Daniel 12:2+ “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:13+ “But as for you (DANIEL), go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion (REWARD SURELY ALLUDED TO IN Da 12:3+) at the end of the age.” Comment: When will Daniel be resurrected (and the other OT saints)? This passage says at the end of the age (see timing of resurrections). We are still in that same age now and it will be brought to an abrupt end when Messiah returns at His Second Coming, defeats all opposition (Gentile and Jew) and sets up His Millennial Kingdom. And began questioning Him, saying - In Luke's version (Luke 20:27+) they also address Jesus as "Teacher," (didaskalos) which was generally a respectful greeting, but from the lips of these hypocritical vipers it was undoubtedly tinged with duplicity (deliberate deceptiveness in behavior and speech). They certainly did not really consider Jesus to be THEIR Teacher! As they allude to in their quote, their "Teacher" is Moses (the Torah). I agree with Wuest on "Teacher" writing that "Their purpose was hostile. They address our Lord as Teacher, but the use of the title is purely formal. They did not come to learn." No, they came to trap Jesus in a "Resurrection Riddle!" Related Resources: Why is the truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? | GotQuestions.org Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? | GotQuestions.org When will the Resurrection take place? | GotQuestions.org Why should I believe in Christ’s resurrection? | GotQuestions.org What is the first resurrection? What is the second resurrection? | GotQuestions.org What is more important, the death of Christ or His resurrection? | GotQuestions.org Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ true? | GotQuestions.org Can the various resurrection accounts from the four Gospels be harmonized? | GotQuestions.org What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)? | GotQuestions.org Where do the Hebrew Scriptures prophesy the death and resurrection of the Messiah? | GotQuestions.org Where was Jesus for the three days between His death and resurrection? | GotQuestions.org How will our resurrection body be different from our current body? | GotQuestions.org EXAMPLE OF BELIEF IN THE AFTERLIFE - Benjamin Franklin penned the words on his own epitaph, doing so at the young age of 22 and living to age 84. The Body of B. Franklin, Printer Like the Cover of an old Book Its contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Guilding, Lies here, Food for Worms, But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ’d, Appear once more In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended by the Author. This last line is so sad as the 22 yo Franklin assumed that after he died, he would wake up in the presence of the Author (as he calls God). Franklin epitomizes the tragedy that even the wisest of the wise can be spiritually deceived. Six weeks before his death he penned the following words as to his religious beliefs... "Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable Service we render to him, is doing Good to his other Children. That the Soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its Conduct in this ... As for Jesus of Nazareth ... I think the system of Morals and Religion as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw ... but I have ... some Doubts to his Divinity; though' it is a Question I do not dogmatism upon, having never studied it, and think it is needless to busy myself with it now, where I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble." (Reference) The narrative is classic Franklin, witty and to the point, but sadly mistaken on the truth about Jesus, unless of course he had a change of heart and mind in the intervening 6 weeks before he died (and that is always a possibility!). So in light of his questioning the divinity of Jesus, despite his hope penned in the last line of his epitaph that he would receive a "new and more perfect Edition (referring to his body) corrected and amended by the Author (His reference to God), he seems to have not believed the critical truth "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12+)! Related Resource: What is deism? What do deists believe? | GotQuestions.org Mark 12:19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. If: Ge 38:8 De 25:5-10 Ru 4:5 dies: Ru 1:11-13 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:24+ asking, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.’ Luke 20:28+ and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, having a wife, AND HE IS CHILDLESS, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. THE SADDUCEES' ABSURD EXAMPLE Absurd is defined in English dictionaries as contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly. Inconsistent with reason, inviting ridicule; manifestly false, ludicrous. In short as discussed in Lk 20:33 (see note) the Sadducees were using the argument of Reductio ad absurdum, to show belief in the resurrection was absurd! Their intent was to make the idea of a resurrection a joke! Stevenson - The question is meant as a trick. It is not a sincere question. It is one of those "can God make a rock so big that He cannot move it" questions. It is a question designed to disprove the doctrine of the resurrection. The question revolves around the laws of the levirate marriage as set forth in the book of Deuteronomy. Remember, the Sadducees only believed in the books of Moses. Teacher (didaskalos - see note above), Moses wrote for us that - Since the Scriptural authority of the Sadducees is the Torah, they immediately reference Moses to provide the foundation for their question which is geared to stump and entrap Jesus and make Him look like anything but a respected "Teacher" to the Jewish crowd. Remember that it is Tuesday (some think Wednesday) and Jesus is still popular with the crowd as they are still hoping He will be their conquering Messiah and King Who brings in His political kingdom and crushes the Gentile opposition (Rome). They were correct in there supposition, but were off on their timing, for His crushing would indeed occur when the Stone returns the Second Time and strikes Nebuchadnezzar's "statue on its feet of iron and clay (THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE) and (CRUSHES) them." (Da 2:34+) Hiebert - their quotation is a free rendering of Deuteronomy 25:5–6, the law concerning levirate marriage. (The Gospel of Mark: An Expositional Commentary) Geddert - Their question is designed to make belief in a resurrection look foolish by proposing a dilemma that it might entail. They refer to the ancient law of levirate marriage, whereby the brother of a man who dies without an heir would marry his widow (Gen. 38:8; Deut. 24:5–6). The purpose of the law is to produce an heir to the property of the deceased man. What if a woman is widowed seven times in an unsuccessful attempt to produce heirs for any of the brothers? If there really were such a thing as a resurrection, whose wife would she become in the next life? (Mark Believers Church Bible Commentary) IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER (Mk 12:19) - Remember that all caps in the NASB indicates a direct quotation from the Old Testament. As an aside, these men knew the Torah and undoubtedly spoke this passage from memory (cf importance of believers Memorizing His Word; see also Memory Verses by Topic). Some contend the Sadducees' story (i.e., a woman with 7 husbands!) was not hypothetical but was an actual occurrence. Whether it was hypothetical or true does not really matter. And lest you think 7 husbands is unheard of note that several Hollywood stars have been married eight times - Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, and Lana Turner! Spurgeon feels that "Probably, this was one of the stock stories they were in the habit of telling in order to cast ridicule upon the resurrection." In this case the Sadducees are quoting from Deuteronomy “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) This passage is referring to what is known as the law of levirate marriage which says if a man died without an heir, any unmarried brother was obliged to marry the man's widow. The purpose of the law is (1) to provide for the widow in a society where a childless widow would be reduced to begging and (2) to preserved the name of the deceased brother, who would be regarded as the legal father of the first son produced from that marriage, and would allow for the deceased brother's property to be kept in his line. COMMENT - Levirate is from the Latin "levir" which means a "husband’s brother" (or "brother in law") and thus "levirate marriage" refers to the Jewish custom which dictated that when a husband died without leaving a surviving son, the dead man's brother (or nearest male relative) was allowed to receive (or purchase [cf Ru 4:5-note]) his deceased brother’s (or relative's) property and manage it for the widow, thereby keeping the family property and possessions intact (cp Matt. 22:25; Mark 12:20; Luke 20:29). If the deceased brother left no male children, then the surviving brother was expected to take the deceased’s widow in order to provide a male heir (something Judah refused until Tamar tricked him - see Ge 38:1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8 , 9, 10). The firstborn male would be considered the heir of the dead brother's estate and was expected to continue the dead brother's name (Dt 25:5, 25:6-notes, Ru 4:10-note). If the brother (or the nearest relative) choose not to marry the widow, she subjected him to gross insult (Dt 25:7, 8, 9, 10). The purpose was the perpetuation of the dead brother's name, because ff an Israelite died and left his widow without a son, there was the danger that his name might perish and his property pass out of the family. See also Josephus (bottom half of the page) - Josephus, Ant. 4.8.23 Daniel Akin has a related note on the background of the Sadducee's question - It was grounded in the issue of “levirate (Latin for “brother-in-law”) marriage” mentioned in Genesis 38:8-10 and Ruth, and explained in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 which says, “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. And if the man does not wish to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’ Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, ‘I do not wish to take her,’ then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal pulled off.’” The gist of the issue is therefore this: God made a provision for a family to be raised up in name and property rights for a husband who dies with no male heir. You have to love the way the Bible describes this! The Sadducees took this teaching and created what we call a reductio ad absurdum argument, an argument that reduces things to the absurd or the ridiculous. A man marries a woman and he dies. Fortunately (or “unfortunately”) he has 7 brothers who can step in and fulfill the levirate obligation. Tragically, she married each one and each one, all 7, died without bearing a child. Now, since the Pharisees and most rabbis believe the world to come is basically an improved and better one like this world, which therefore would include things like marriage, to whom then will she be married? Assuming monogamy which is a given, which one will have her in marriage with its privileges “in the resurrection” (v. 23), in the world to come? Such a scenario is clearly unthinkable and it shows the foolishness of believing in a future resurrection. Look at all the problems it could potentially cause. No, God is too smart for that and the books of Moses which are the undisputed Word of God make no mention of a future resurrection. Interestingly Jesus has already spoken of his own resurrection 3 times (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). The Sadducees think they have him, but they are headed toward a big disappointment. Mark 12:20 "There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. Mt 22:25-28 Lu 20:29-33 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:25+ “Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; Luke 20:29+ “Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children - This was apparently the "trump card" for the Sadducees against the Pharisees who believed in resurrection and it was one no Pharisee had ever been able to adequately answer. So they knew that now they could throw this curve ball at Jesus and He would be stumped. You can just imagine their sense of "Gotcha Now Jesus" mentality that stirred their prideful hearts as they began this question which takes up six verses (including the Scripture they quoted above) of the inspired Word of God! We know Jesus was filled with the Spirit for He was very patient to let them finish their lengthy question. Hiebert on leaving no children - All seven brothers successively fulfilled their duty to marry their brother’s wife, but the seven left no seed. This childlessness left none of them with a superior claim to be her husband in the resurrection. (The Gospel of Mark: An Expositional Commentary) Stevenson - The question presupposes a situation in which there are seven brothers. The oldest is married, but before his marriage can produce any children, he dies. According to Jewish Law, it is now the responsibility of the second brother to have a child by that wife and to raise the child as the heir of the first brother (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). And so, he marries her, but dies before there are any children. And so it goes with the third and the fourth and the fifth and the sixth and the seventh. By this time, I think that I would be a bit suspicious of the woman. But she eventually dies, too. Mark 12:21 "The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:26 so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. Luke 20:30+ and the second The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise - Matthew lumps all the husbands into one verse "so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh." (Mt 22:26) One would have thought that after the third had died, all would have viewed her as a the consummate "widow maker" and avoided her like the plague! But this adds to the absurdity of their story! Mark 12:22 and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:36+ so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. 27“Last of all, the woman died. Luke 20:31-32+ and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32 “Finally the woman died also. and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also - And everyone takes a deep breath, thanking God that the "widow maker" has passed! Mark 12:23 "In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her." Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:28+ “In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” Luke 20:33+ “In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.” WHOSE WIFE WILL SHE BE? D A Carson makes a good point that the Sadducees question was based on their presupposition "that resurrection life is an exact counterpart to earthly life; and if so, the resurrected woman must be guilty of incestuous marriages or arbitrarily designated the wife of one of the brothers. And if so, which one? Or—and this is the answer the Sadducees pressed for—the whole notion of resurrection is absurd." (Borrow The Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1994 edition - Abridged - New Testament) Stevenson - Do you see what the Sadducees are doing? They are not asking this question because they are actually worried about this situation. They are asking it because they think that the question shows a flaw in the whole teaching about the resurrection. They expect Jesus to stutter and stammer and get red in the face so that they can laugh at Him. But he does nothing of the sort. Of course, in the next section, Jesus will immediately proceed to correct their erroneous presupposition by pointing out that there is a marked distinction between life in this age and life in that age which is to come (resurrection life). In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her - The argument that the Sadducees are employing is what is commonly known as Reductio ad absurdum, which is "Latin for "reduction to absurdity" "a form of argument which attempts either to disprove a statement by showing it inevitably leads to a ridiculous, absurd, or impractical conclusion, or to prove one by showing that if it were not true, the result would be absurd or impossible." In the present context the goal of the Sadducees is the former, that is, to disprove the resurrection by showing that this belief inevitably would lead one to come to an absurd, even impossible conclusion. In other words they are attempting to show that the resurrection cannot be true because the implications of that belief are absurd or ridiculous in the case of the woman with seven former husbands! Imagine the scene in heaven! Whose wife is she going to be? And remember also that since none of them would die (it's heaven), the scene would be utter chaos (a state of extreme confusion and disorder in a place that was supposed to be just the opposite! Just imagine all these people wandering around heaven trying to discover who their wife is or who their husband is!). This would be absolutely absurd! It simply could not occur they reason. And then the logical conclusion is that there is not such a thing as the resurrection because there was no way the Law of Levirate marriage in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 could be fulfilled! And so the Sadducees thought they had Jesus this time, for this argument had never failed when they had used it to stump their rivals the Pharisees who believed in the resurrection. As an aside, although the story of the Sadducees seems a bit ridiculous, their question is not merely theoretical for there will be many in heaven who have had more than one spouse, for any number of reasons. But as Jesus will go on to explain, multiple spouses, bitter divorces, jealousies, etc will (thank God), not be relevant in the life to come! That's good news! Mark 12:24 Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? Do: Isa 8:20 Jer 8:7-9 Ho 6:6 8:12 Mt 22:29 Joh 5:39 20:9 Ac 17:11 Ro 15:4 2Ti 3:15-17 because: Job 19:25-27 Isa 25:8 26:19 Eze 37:1-14 Da 12:2 Ho 6:2 13:14 neither: Mk 10:27 Ge 18:14 Jer 32:17 Lu 1:37 Eph 1:19 Php 3:21 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:29+ But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. Luke 20:34+ Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, JESUS EXPOSES THE SERIOUS ERRORS OF THE SADDUCEES Jesus said to them - "Theological error must be confronted quickly and clearly. That is exactly what Jesus does with the skeptical and cynical Sadducees." (Akin) Is this not the reason - Here the reason will be explained in a two part answer. You are mistaken - He is saying they are deceived and as I always tell my children "When a person is deceived, by definition, they don't even know they are deceived!" Are mistaken (4105)(planao from plane which describes "a wandering" and gives us our English word "planet") means literally made to wander and so to go (active sense) or be led (passive sense as of sheep in Mt 18:12-13) astray. In spiritual terms, planao means to be made to err from the right way, the highway of truth and holiness. Straying in the spiritual sense occurs when one does not adhere to the truth (James 5:19+) and/or forsakes the right way (see 2 Peter 2:15+) In this passage planao is in the passive voice which indicates an outside force or influence causes the deception. In this case it is their unregenerate heart that causes the deception that leads one down the wrong path. The present tense indicates the sad truth that these religious men are unsaved and are continually being led astray from God and ultimately being led into eternal separation from His presence.
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Wuest - Angels were originally created. There are the same number of angels in existence today as when they were created. They do not propagate their kind. They will be like angels in this respect, that they will not propagate their kind. Thus, the hypothetical case of the Sadducees has no relation to the future life. (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Believer's Study Bible - Angels are not part of the physical order, and they do not engage in physical functions. Men will be like the angels, deathless and above the physical level. Alan Carr: While the relationship of marriage is a wonderful and divinely ordained institution, it is an absolutely earthly institution. Marriage was designed for companionship, Gen. 2:18, continuation of the species, Gen. 1:22, and for the fulfillment of legitimate sexual needs, 1 Cor. 7:2. When we get to Heaven, we will be like the angels, only in the sense that we will be spiritual beings that will have no need for the physical necessities of this earthly life. In heaven, like the angels, we will be deathless, sinless, sexless, glorified and eternal. But, unlike the angels, we will be like Jesus, 1 John 3:2. Life will be different when we get there. There will be no need for reproduction and childbirth because there will be no death. There will be no exclusive physical relationships like there are here, because in Heaven everyone will be perfectly and intimately related to everyone else, including God. (A Marriage Made In Paradise) Darrell Bock adds that "Since marriage is no longer necessary in the resurrection, the dilemma posed by multiple husbands disappears. The question is an absurdity, not because resurrection is a problem, but because the Sadducean understanding of resurrection is grounded too much in life as it is now. The afterlife is a different and much greater kind of existence. In the next life God the Father is the “parent,” so other parental relationships are unnecessary." (Luke: 9:51-24:53 - Page 1624) Grant Osborne - In another sense, we will not need to marry because we will know our current spouses (and everyone else) infinitely better than we know them now. (See Mark Teach the Text Commentary Series) David
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Wuest adds that this passage "was recited daily by every Jew, and written on the miniature roll which every scribe carried in his phylactery. This was a small case, made of parchment bound to the forehead or arm, in which was placed small pieces of parchment inscribed with scripture portions. Thus, the words were already considered of prime importance by the Jews. The words are found at the very beginning of this fundamental confession of faith and duty, thus testifying by their very position to their importance." (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Matthew
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Wuest - "The word for “love” is agapaō which speaks of that Holy Spirit generated love in the heart of the yielded saint, a divine love, which is due God from His creatures, not phileō, which speaks merely of a non-ethical fondness." (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader)
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Wuest - Before considering the implication of our Lord’s words here, we need to define certain terms. The word “Christ” is the transliteration of the Greek word christos, which means “the Anointed One,” and this Greek word is the translation of the Hebrew word transliterated into English in the word “Messiah.” The latter word has a definite connotation, namely, the future King of Israel who will someday reign on the throne of David. The word “son” as used here is a Hebraism speaking of a descendant. The word “Lord” is the translation of the Greek word kurios which in itself means “master, one who has power over another,” and is the translation in the LXX of the august title of God in the Hebrew Old Testament, Jehovah. It has implications of deity. (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Christ (5547) Christos from chrio = to rub or anoint, consecrate to an office) describes one who has been anointed with oil, one who has been consecrated. The majority of the NT uses refer to Jesus (exceptions = "false Christs" - Mt 24:24, Mk 13:22).Christos describes one who has been anointed, symbolizing appointment to a task. It is used here as the title "Anointed One" and is the Greek synonym for "Messiah." Christos is used in the Septuagint describing everyone anointed with the holy oil, especially the priesthood (Lev. 4:5+, Lev 4:16+) and it is also a name applied to those who were acting as redeemers like Cyrus. Gilbrant writes that "Hamilton suggests a fourfold significance to such anointing (“māshach,” Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 1:530): (1) separation unto God, (2) authorization by God, (3) divine enablement, and (4) the coming Deliverer. Christos in Mark - Mk. 1:1; Mk. 8:29; Mk. 9:41; Mk. 12:35; Mk. 13:21; Mk. 14:61; Mk. 15:32; Related Resources: See also Messiah - Anointed One Messianic Prophecy Mark 12:36 "David himself said in the Holy Spirit, 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET."' by: 2Sa 23:2 Ne 9:30 Mt 22:43-45 Ac 1:16 28:25 2Ti 3:16 Heb 3:7,8 Heb 4:7 1Pe 1:11 2Pe 1:21 The Lord: Ps 110:1 Ac 2:34-36 1Co 15:25 Heb 1:13 Heb 10:12,13 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Psalm 110:1+ A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” Matthew 22:44+ ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET”’? 45 “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” 46 No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question. Luke 20:42+ “For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 43 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’ DAVID'S PROPHECY OF OF HIS GREATER SON THE MESSIAH Jesus is as we might say in a law court, "leading the witnesses," extending s the question so that the inevitable answer one must arrive at from a logical look at Psalm 110. Akin notes that "Psalm 110 is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament. Verse 1, which Jesus cites here, is quoted or alluded to 33 times in the New Testament. Luther so loved the psalm he wrote 120 pages of commentary on it." (Mark 12:28-34 Two Great Commandments, Two Great Loves) David himself said in the Holy Spirit - David himself emphasizes these are David's own words received from the Spirit and transcribed by his hand. Note the title above in Ps 110:1 is "A Psalm of David." He wrote it. The Spirit inspired it. This passages attests to the Spirit's Authorship of the Scriptures. Peter wrote that "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men (LIKE DAVID) moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21+). As an aside, it is worth noting that the Holy (hagios) Spirit (pneuma) spoke in many passages in the New Testament Hebrews 9:8+ = "The Holy Spirit is signifying this" Hebrews 10:15+ = "the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying" Matthew 10:20+ = "but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you" Matthew 22:43+ = "Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord"; Mark 12:36+ = "David himself said in the Holy Spirit" Acts 1:16+ = "the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas"; Acts 28:25+ = "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers" 1 Timothy 4:1+ = "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times..." Revelation 2:7+ = "let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" Also in Rev 2:11 Rev 2:17 Rev 2:29 Rev 3:6 Rev 3:13 Rev 3:22 (IN THE OT) 2 Sa 23:2+ = "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me" 'THE LORD (kurios) SAID TO MY (David's) LORD (kurios) - The first "LORD" in the original Hebrew is Jehovah or Yahweh (Jehovah) and refers to God the Father and the second "LORD" in Hebrew is Adonai ('adonay) and refers to God the Son. And since David calls the Son "MY LORD" he is attesting to His deity. Hiebert - It is clear that both names refer to Persons of the Godhead. It is obvious that the scribes accepted the pictures as messianic; otherwise they would immediately have repudiated the argument of Jesus. While there is no evidence for this interpretation in rabbinic literature until two hundred years later, “the silence is due to anti-Christian polemic stimulated by the freedom with which the Psalm was quoted in the primitive Church.” Aside from this event, the Psalm is quoted directly five times in the New Testament (Acts 2:34–35; Heb. 1:13; 5:6; 7:17, 21), and numerous allusions to the thought contained in it reveal the profound influence it had upon the teaching of the Christian church (cf. 1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1:20–22; Phil. 2:9–11; Col. 3:1; Heb. 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet. 3:22). The Christian church accepted the exaltation and enthronement of the risen Christ as the fulfillment of this prophetic invitation to the Messiah by Jehovah: “Sit thou on my right hand,” assume the place of honor and authority. Till I make thine enemies thy footstool indicates that the enthronement in heaven would follow Messiah’s rejection by His enemies. The Jewish leaders had clearly shown themselves the enemies of Jesus through their efforts during the day. (The Gospel of Mark: An Expositional Commentary) SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET - The Father decrees that the Son first will sit at His right hand which clearly indicates His deity. The word "until" indicates that the Son will sit for a period unspecified, but after that period is fulfilled (the "until") the Son will conquer His enemies, which is the picture of "enemies beneath" His feet ("YOUR FEET" is the Son's feet). UNTIL - See discussion of this important expression of time. The preposition UNTIL can indicate the time before an event takes place (Ezek 33:22), the time until it takes place (Ps 104:23), or occasionally the time during which an event takes place (2 KI 9:22). It can also “mark a relative limit beyond which the activity of the main clause still continues” as it does in Psalm 112:8. in Psalm 110 UNTIL signifies the time until an event occurs. Stated another way, UNTIL indicates enemies will be active up to a point and then it will not happen. The point that it will not happen is when Jesus reigns over and subjugates all His enemies. Deffinbaugh elaborates on another aspect of UNTIL - "While the Messiah was to share in the power and prestige of Yahweh’s reign, there was a GAP OF TIME indicated between the time of His exaltation (“Sit …”) and His triumph (“UNTIL”). There is both a present and a future dimension to the prophetic oracle of Yahweh. The enemies of the Messiah will, at a later time, be subjected to Him, but not immediately. To make someone “the footstool for their feet” (v. 1c) was to completely subject him (cf. Ps. 8:6; 18:39), an expression probably based upon the practice of military conquerors who placed their feet on the necks of their defeated foes (cf. Josh. 10:24-25). Messiah was elevated to a position of equality with Yahweh, yet the outworking of His power was yet viewed as future." (Ref) (Bold font added) Jesus answered the high priest shortly before He went to the Cross - And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” (Mark 14:62+) We see an allusion to this prophecy in Psalm 2:7-9+ “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” Peter reiterates this truth in his great evangelistic sermon Acts 2:34-36+ “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (MESSIAH)–this Jesus whom you crucified.” Paul writes 1 Corinthians 15:24-27+ then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. The writer of Hebrews also affirms this truth Hebrews 10:12; 13+ but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. Wuest - Both the scribes and the people believed that the Jewish Messiah would come from the royal line of David. David was human, so would the Messiah be human. Thus, He would be David’s son. Our Lord reminds His hearers that David calls the Messiah his Lord (kurios)(Ps. 110:1). That is, David recognizes Him as Deity, the Jehovah of the Old Testament. (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) All glory, laud and honor, To Thee, Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son, Who in the Lord’s Name comest, The King and Blessèd One. Mark 12:37 "David himself calls Him 'Lord'; so in what sense is He his son?" And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him. and whence: Mt 1:23 Ro 1:3,4 9:5 1Ti 3:16 Rev 22:16 And the: Mt 11:5,25 21:46 Lu 19:48 21:38 Joh 7:46-49 Jas 2:5 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Matthew 22:45 “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” 46 No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question. Luke 20:44 “Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?” THE SIXTY-FOUR DOLLAR QUESTION Sixty Four Dollar Question - A question that is very important and difficult or complex to answer. Taken from the title of the 1940s radio program Take It or Leave It, in which the big prize was 64 silver dollars. James Edwards says He puts before them “the question of the day” while Akin calls it “the question of the ages" As Akin says "It is the question of the identity of the Messiah. What our Lord had raised privately with the disciples at Caesarea Philippi (8:27) He now takes public. He knows this raises the stakes. He also knows the cross is just 3 days away. Again, a moment of truth has arrived." One could also refer to this as a "radical riddle" It is radical because the answer is that the son of David is not just a Man but He is God, God in the flesh, the mystery of mysteries which is hidden in David's Spirit inspired words of Psalm 110:1. It is a riddle because it makes no sense to the human mind which tries to reason out how any person could be 100% Man and 100% God. It is a riddle for the natural mind, and its solution can only be provided by the Spirit of Christ opening the eyes of one's heart to see the truth of Messiah, Son of David, fully God and fully Man, and then to receive that incredible truth by grace through faith. Tragically it will remain a "radical riddle" to the natural, unbelieving mind for as Paul explains "a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." (1 Cor 2:14+) David himself calls Him 'Lord'; so in what sense is He his son? - Jesus makes a restatement of the unassailable fact which the scribes did not dare try to contradict. They knew that is what Psalm 110:1 clearly stated! This is the "Sixty Four Dollar Question!" Matthew says "No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question." (Mt 22:45). This is almost like a parabolic statement, a sacred riddle. 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Wuest - The difficulty our Lord puts before His listeners and at the same time tosses into the lap of the Pharisees, is as to how, since Messiah is Jehovah, deity, He can also be human. At once the incarnation is brought before them. One of the charges brought against the Lord Jesus was that He called God His (His private, unique) Father, making Himself equal with God, thus deity (John 5:18). Thus, the Jewish leaders rejected the teaching of the incarnation, and Jesus’ claim to deity. It is well to notice our Lord’s testimony to the divine inspiration of David, also the recognition by David of the two other Persons of the Trinity, the Father saying to the Son, “Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Thus, we have the Trinity mentioned in an Old Testament setting in verse 36. (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) Hiebert adds "The purpose of Jesus in raising this question was not merely to confound the scribes, but to show that to be accepted as reliable interpreters of their own Scriptures, they must have a higher view of the true nature of the Messiah. Their view that the Messiah was simply a human being, the descendant of David, though a conquering king, did not do justice to the teaching of Scripture. For the Messiah to be David’s Lord, He must be more than a man. “Jesus is more than Son of David; He is Son of Man, i.e., the representative of all humanity and not just the Jews, who had to suffer and then be exalted at God’s right hand. Still more important He is Son of God!” Christianity saw that the solution lay in the reality of the incarnation. While Jesus made no attempt to explain to them that the solution lay in the recognition of the divine-human nature of the Messiah, His question pointed His enemies in that direction. In rejecting His claims to be more than just a man, they were blinding themselves to the true solution to the problem. Their own Scripture condemned their rejection of the view. The question of Caiaphas in Mark 14:61 suggests that the Jewish leaders understood what Jesus intended to teach." (The Gospel of Mark: An Expositional Commentary) Brian Bell adds that "Jesus is both “the root and offspring of David” (Rev 22:16-note). As the “root of David,” He brought David into existence; but As the “offspring of David,” David brought Him into the world. He is David’s son, thus affirming his humanity. He is David’s Lord, thus affirming his deity. (Commentary) And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him - While the great multitude of "regular folks" enjoyed listening to Jesus, we doubt the religious leaders enjoyed listening to Him. D A Carson says “The teacher who never attended the right schools (John 7:15-18) confounds the greatest theologians in the land." (Borrow The Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1994 edition - Abridged - New Testament) Utley makes a good point that "The people of the land, who were often ridiculed and overlooked by the religious elite (cf. Mk 12:38–40), enjoyed seeing Jesus turn the tables on the arrogant religionists using their very method." Hiebert says enjoyed "indicates the keen relish and delight with which they received His teaching. They appreciated the intelligence and power of His answers and the freshness of His method in dealing with these problems. Heard is imperfect tense, indicating their continued pleasure in the teaching which He was giving. It was a sustained favorable response." (The Gospel of Mark: An Expositional Commentary) Listening (191)(akouo) means they were physical hearing Jesus words, but as discussed above, akouo has a number of nuances depending on the context. In this context it appears they were listening, enjoying what Jesus had been saying, but most of them were not necessarily listening with a desire to believe in Him or obey Him. Doubtless many who were listening now, would soon be crying out "Crucify! Crucify!" Applying this picture of their listening which was more like "in one ear and out the other," it recalls times when I read His Scripture and I am like those in the crowd, enjoying the words, but only superficially listening. It strikes me that when Jesus is speaking (when we are in His written Word), we need to be listening carefully with a heart ready to heed and obey what He says. Otherwise, we are really wasting our time and sadly we only have a finite amount of time we can spend with Him on earth because life is so short. Father, by Thy Spirit give us ears to hear and hearts to obey and have a desire to be pleasing to Thee, in Jesus' Name. Amen. WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS? IS HE SON OF DAVID AND DAVID'S LORD TO YOU? Mark 12:38 In His teaching He was saying: "Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, said: Mk 4:2 Beware: Mt 10:17 Mt 23:1-7 Lu 20:45-47 who: Mt 6:5 Lu 11:43 14:7-11 3 Jn 1:9 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 23:1-7 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. Luke 20:45-47+ And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, LAST WORDS A WARNING This is the third consecutive episode directly related to scribes (Mk 12:28-34, Mk 12:35-37) and in this third episode Jesus speaks condemnation against some of the scribes’ abuses. Mark gives us Jesus' final warning. Last words should always be carefully heeded especially if they are the words of Jesus! And these words are two-fold - words of warning and condemnation. Hiebert sets the context explaining that "All the synoptics report that Jesus, having exposed the inadequacy of the scribes as interpreters, solemnly pronounced His condemnation upon the scribes themselves. Matthew reported His words at length (23:1–39), but Mark and Luke (20:45–47) gave only representative fragments. Luke recorded similar words of condemnation on a previous occasion (11:37–52). Christ’s condemnation made clear His complete break with the religious leaders." (The Gospel of Mark: An Expositional Commentary) Luke 20:46-47 and the parallel account in Mark 12:38-40 are in a sense a summary of Jesus' in depth denunciation of these hypocritical religious leaders recorded by Matthew in Mt 23:1-36. Given the fact that Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture, the reader is strongly encouraged to read Jesus' blistering diatribe to give one a fuller sense of what Luke and Mark only summarize, keeping in mind that this is the end of His public ministry. Luke 20:45 says "And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples." The parallel section in Matthew 23:1 has "Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples." After Jesus' scathing rebuke of the Scribes and Pharisees (with 8 Woes!), Mt 24:1 says "Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him." The point is that these passages mark the end of Jesus' public ministry to the nation of Israel and the beginning of His pronouncement of judgment on the Jewish religious leaders, and the coming desolation of their entire religious system, including the destruction of the symbol of their apostate system, Herod's Temple and the city of Jerusalem some 40 years later. Matthew ends Jesus 8 woe warning to the religious leaders with His famous lament “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. “Behold, your house (THE TEMPLE, THE CITY) is being left to you desolate! “For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me UNTIL (NOTICE THIS WORD IS A SMALL RAY OF HOPE) you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” (Mt 23:37-39) Recall that this is a repeat of an almost identical lament earlier in His ministry Luke recording “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! “Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me UNTIL the time comes (THIS IS A PROPHECY THAT THIS "TIME" WILL COME - IT WILL BE AT MESSIAH'S SECOND COMING) when you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” (Lk 13:34-35-note) In His teaching He was saying -Was saying is in the imperfect tense "indicates that Mark is giving only specimens of what was said." (Hiebert) In fact Mark takes 3 verses to say what Matthew says in 39 verses! (see Mt 23:1-39)! Rod Mattoon - Jesus cautions or warns all the people to beware of the scribes. Guard yourself and watch out for these guys! They were like snakes in the grass or foxes in the chicken coop. He condemns them for their attitudes and actions. Beware of the scribes - Beware is present imperative calling for continual attention (see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey). The idea is be discerning and perceptive in order not to be fooled! In Mark 8:15+ Jesus warned against their false teaching ("leaven of the Pharisees") and now warns against the men themselves. Mark 12:38 introduces this warning with the phrase "In His teaching He was saying." Matthew's parallel adds "Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples." (Mt 23:1) Matthew adds that the warning is against “The scribes and the Pharisees." (Mt 23:2) Recall that not all Pharisees were Scribes, but the Scribes were primarily Pharisees, and were the interpreters and teachers of the law of Moses and the traditional rabbinic writings. Adam
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Wuest - They were fond of the chief seats in the synagogues. These were benches up in front facing the congregation, and were reserved for officials and persons of distinction. The scribes claimed the places of honor also at social gatherings. They were fond of the uppermost places at feasts. The word here is prōtoklisia, “the first reclining place.” This is the place of the most honored guest at a feast. The orientals reclined on couches around the table instead of sitting on chairs as we do. (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) 🙏 THOUGHT - Let's stop for a second. Do you find yourself entertaining the same attitudes and desires? Do you insist on titles, positioning, and symbols of authority? Are you more motivated by service or by receiving attention and adulation? Do you dress in a sloppy fashion or immodestly to cause men or women to notice you? Do you crave attention at any cost? (Mattoon ) and places of honor at banquets - To sit next to the host was an honor the scribes loved. The typical dinner table of Jesus' day was usually not a classic rectangular table as in most modern kitchens and dining rooms. Instead the ancient tables were often 3 tables (each table a couch for 3 or so-called triclinium) in somewhat of a U-shape with guests reclining on their left elbows. One can almost picture these hypocrites jostling one another as they seek the "hottest spots" of honor! Do we ever seek man's approval more than God's like these men? Jesus addressed this same problem in Luke 14:7–14+ at the house of a Pharisee. Geddert comments that "They think they deserve great respect, special seats of honor. We remember that not long before, the disciples have been thinking similar thoughts (Mk 9:33–34+; Mk 10:35–37+)." The places of honor ("first seats")(4411)(protoklisia from protos = first, preeminent + klisia =place for reclining from klino = to cause to bend) means the first place, the chief seats, the first position or space of preeminent honor for reclining at a dining table or banquet (usually the places besides the host). Protoklisia is used 5x in the NT - Matt. 23:6; Mk. 12:39; Lk. 14:7; Lk. 14:8; Lk. 20:46 with no uses in the Septuagint. In a group of three cushions or couches used for reclining, the one in the center was the place of honor (see "lectus medius" below) Precedence in seating was usually based on rank, reputation, or age. The typical dinner table of Jesus' day was usually not a classic rectangular table as in most modern kitchens and dining rooms. Instead the ancient tables were often 3 tables (each table a couch for 3 or so-called triclinium) in somewhat of a U-shape (which may have resembled the Roman counterpart below) with guests reclining on their left elbows. One can almost picture these hypocrites jostling one another as they race to the "hottest spots" of honor! Do we ever seek man's approval more than God's like these men? In ancient Rome the classic dining arrangement in wealthy homes was the triclinium (see picture) Click picture to enlarge Click here for further explanation The scribes and Pharisees sought acclaim from men, not from God, an example of their inveterate arrogance, which Jesus repeatedly chastised as exemplified by the following quotes. Notice the repetition of the verb "love" Matthew 23:6-7 “They love (phileo in present tense = their lifestyle) the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men Luke 20:46-47 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love (phileo in present tense = their lifestyle) respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” Luke 11:43+ “Woe (ouai) to you Pharisees! For you love (agapao in present tense = their lifestyle) the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places. In addition, these religious hypocrites "scratched each others' backs" (see description of this idiom) so to speak, as Jesus alluded to in John “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? (John 5:44) These men were masters of self-promotion! Edersheim's note on dining - In regard to the position of the guests, we know that the uppermost seats were occupied by the Rabbis. The Talmud formulates it in this manner: That the worthiest lies down first, on his left side, with his feet stretching back. If there are two ‘cushions’ (divans), the next worthiest reclines above him, at his left hand; if there are three cushions, the third worthiest lies below him who had lain down first (at his right), so that the chief person is in the middle (between the worthiest guest at his left and the less worthy one at his right hand). The water before eating is first handed to the worthiest, and so in regard to the washing after meat. But if a very large number are present, you begin after dinner with the least worthy, till you come to the last five, when the worthiest in the company washes his hands, and the other four after him. The guests being thus arranged, the head of the house, or the chief person at table, speaks the blessing, and then cuts the bread. By some it was not deemed etiquette to begin eating till after he who had said the prayer had done so, but this does not seem to have been the rule among the Palestinian Jews. Then, generally, the bread was dipped into salt, or something salted, etiquette demanding that where there were two they should wait one for the other, but not where there were three or more. Mattoon - When We Exalt Ourselves.... 1. A Problem with Pride is Demonstrated 2. A Passion for Prestige is Displayed 3. We are Pre-occupied and Neglect the Needs of Others We are focused on selfish needs. 4. We Puff Up the Estimation of Ourselves By comparing ourselves with others, we conclude we are better or more important. 5. We get Pigheaded and Principles of Wisdom are Rejected 6. We Put Off or Turn Off other People Our arrogance repulses people and makes them sick. If you are not careful, you make yourself a target to be destroyed. 7. We Produce Hindrances to Being Used of God God resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble.68 8. We Position Ourselves for Demotion or Embarrassment Our arrogance leads to a fall and shame. Solomon warned about this. Proverbs 25:6-7... Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: [7] For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. 9. Our Peace is Rare as we Struggle or Compete with Others We are in constant "struggle or competition" mode with other people, always trying to get our own way. 10. Proper Actions are Neglected In our quest to exalt ourselves, we tend to be rude, unreasonable, rebellious, and resistant toward the counsel of others. Mark 12:40 who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation." devour: Eze 22:25 Mic 2:2 3:1-4 Mt 23:14 Lu 20:47 2Ti 3:6 long: Mt 6:7 11:22-24 23:33 Lu 12:47,48 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Luke 20:47+ who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” GREATER CONDEMNATION FOR GREATER SIN IN GREATER LIGHT Who devour widows' houses - Devour (katesthio) is in the present tense indicating this was their continual evil practice! What does this mean? Clearly it alludes to their greed and their unscrupulous practices concerning widows. Wuest explains that "People often left their whole fortunes to the Temple, and a good part of the money went finally to the scribes and Pharisees. The scribes were employed to make out wills and conveyances of property. They inveigled widows to give their homes to the Temple, and then took the proceeds of the sale for themselves. In order to do this, they offered long prayers in the homes of these widows and for them. Thus, they bent the widows to their will. Our Lord calls these prayers, a pretence. They could not be true prayers when offered with such an ulterior purpose. Swete says: “Men who rob widows, and use prayer as a means of securing opportunities for committing a crime, shall receive a sentence in excess of that which falls to the lot of the dishonest man who makes no pretence to piety; to the sentence of the robber will be added in their case the sentence on the hypocrite.” (Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) McKenna elaborates, “As one of their functions, scribes serve as consultants in estate planning for widows. Their role gives them the opportunity to convince lonely and susceptible women that their money and property should either be given to the scribe for his holy work or to the Temple for its holy ministries. In either case the scribe gains personally.” (Ibid)