Highlights In Today's Reading:
Do you recognize the "players" in this parable (12:1-12)? God is the Man, Israel is the vineyard, the prophets are the servants, Jesus is the Son! Jesus' Divine wisdom is simply stated in His answer to the Herodians (12:13-17); the Sadducees (12:18-27); and the scribe (12:28-34). Jesus knows the past, the present and the future, which He reveals in Chapter 13. Don't miss the fact that Jesus points out that only God knows when all this will happen and we must be prepared (13:32-37)!
Jesus was questioned by a scribe, who asked: Which is the first (foremost) Commandment of all? (Mark 12:28). Jesus answered him by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5. The first of all the Commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is One Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength (Mark 12:29-30). Jesus then quoted Leviticus 19:18, saying: And the second is like (it), namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other Commandment greater than these (12:31).
The Hebrew word Elohenu is translated in English as our God. However, God chose to use the plural form, Elohim, meaning Gods, 2500 times in reference to Himself as the Self-Existent, One True God. This, then, is what the sacred proclamation to Israel literally says: "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our "Gods" is One Lord." Furthermore, the Hebrew word for One used here is also a solemn declaration that the Lord is a plurality in unity.. One ('echad) is a word which expresses one in the collective sense. It signifies a compound unity — not an absolute unity. For example, God said: Man . . . and . . . wife . . . shall be one flesh (Genesis 2:24). Even with numerous children, they are still called one family. The one Tabernacle (Exodus 36:13) included many individual parts. However, there is a Hebrew word for one in the sense of an absolute one. It is the word yacheed and this word is never used to express the Godhead, although it is used many other times in Scripture.
This truth exposes the ignorance of all who refuse to recognize Jesus as the One True God, the Creator of all things. Those who reject Jesus as God and the Holy Spirit as the One who will guide you into all truth (John 16:13) are, in fact, rejecting the revelation of God Himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus left no doubt as to who He was when He said: I and My Father are One (John 10:30; also 5:18; 12:45; 14:9-11,20).
The Holy Spirit guided the Apostle Paul to write of Jesus: By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible . . . all things were created by Him, and for Him (Colossians 1:16).
Thought for Today:
It pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) should all fulness dwell (Colossians 1:19). Do you know Him?
Word Studies:
12:1 let it out =b> rented it; 12:17 Render =b> Pay, Give; 12:34 durst =b> dared, ventured; 12:42 mites were coins that had the least value.
Cross References:
For Mark 12:1: See Isaiah 5:2. Mark 12:10-11: See Psalm 118:22-23. Mark 12:19: See Deuteronomy 25:5. Mark 12:26: See Exodus 3:3-6. Mark 12:29: See Deuteronomy 6:4. Mark 12:30: See Deuteronomy 6:5. Mark 12:31: See Leviticus 19:18. Mark 12:32: See Deuteronomy 4:35. Mark 12:33: See Deuteronomy 6:5; Hosea 6:6. Mark 12:36: See Psalm 110:1. Mark 13:14: See Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11. Mark 13:24: See Isaiah 13:10. Mark 13:26: See Daniel 7:13. Mark 13:27: See Deuteronomy 30:4; Zechariah 2:6.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Official: Rep. Christopher Shays (CT) • Country: Kirabati (86,000) 3 islands in southwestern Pacific • Major languages: English and Gilbutese • Religious freedom • 52% Roman Catholic; 44% Protestant; 2% Baha'i • Prayer Suggestion: Pray to be sensitive to give God the praise for everything you do (Psa. 40:16).
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 6:34