Next up is Mark 12:13-17. After being questioned by the delegation over his authority, jesus tells the parable of the talents (12:1-12). Following this the authorities send another delegation to him.
13Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14They 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? 15Should 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." 16They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied. 17Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.
So then... what do you think, what questions do you have, what may this passage be about, tax evasion or something else? What jumps out, come to mind as you read the passage. I'll be back with my thoughts later!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
A Question of Authority - Mark 11:27-33
27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"
29Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"
31They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
Hot on the heels of Jesus' entry to Jerusalem and his clearing of the temple comes this account of a confrontation in the Temple.
Those who think they are in charge ask Jesus who has given him the right to do what he has done and to say what he says.
Jesus' responds by asking them about what they thought of John the Baptist, when they cannot give an answer, he states that he will not answer them.
Nice
But what does it mean, what was going on etc.
What are your thoughts as you read this? What questions do you have? What do you not understand?
Post comments.
I'll be back later!
29Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"
31They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
Hot on the heels of Jesus' entry to Jerusalem and his clearing of the temple comes this account of a confrontation in the Temple.
Those who think they are in charge ask Jesus who has given him the right to do what he has done and to say what he says.
Jesus' responds by asking them about what they thought of John the Baptist, when they cannot give an answer, he states that he will not answer them.
Nice
But what does it mean, what was going on etc.
What are your thoughts as you read this? What questions do you have? What do you not understand?
Post comments.
I'll be back later!
Sunday, September 24, 2006
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