June 17th, 2012

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Give to God What is God's (Mark12:13-17)
A. Two perspectives that can rule our hearts instead of God (13,14)
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (13,14)
1. The legalism of the Pharisees
2. The realism of the Herodians
3. Jesus was a common enemy for both groups
 
B. Walking with Jesus in reality (15-17)
Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him. (15-17)
1. Our attitude toward earthly authority
2. Our attitude toward God's authority
 
Summary Sin--a tendency to follow our own desires instead of God's--is something with which we are born. The society that we create is also characterized by sin. This is not only evident in those who ignore God's authority entirely and rely on human authority; it is also found in legalist perspectives that, on the surface, appear to value God's authority. Both of these approaches are counter to what Jesus desires for us: understanding that God's authority and earthly authority are not at odds, but are on different dimensions altogether.

For Discussion

1) What were the Herodians like?
2) What did Jesus want to teach using the coin?