Mark - Lesson 17...Continued from page 1

DAY TWO: Questioned by the Herodians

Please carefully read Mark 12:13–17and answer the following questions.

1.  What was the next attempt to trip up Jesus in the view of all the people, and how do they try to set Jesus up for their trap? (vv. 13, 14)

NOTES: Their hope was to catch Him in His words (literally by means of a word, an unguarded statement they could use against Him). The Greek word for catch, also found only here in the New Testament, described catching wild animals with a trap, in a snare or hooking a fish. The very use of the word implies deceit and treachery on their part. The Herodians were a group of people though not necessarily a party. Because they occupied an influential position, they were called on to help trap Jesus. They could not have been merely formal officials or part of the household of Herod Antipas, for the Pharisees would not have collaborated with such.  Unlike the Sadducees who were found only in Jerusalem, the Herodians were spread over the whole country. They were a secular group among the people, loyal to the dynasty of Herod without claiming party status. For the Pharisees to team up with these people, who had long before sided with the Romans against the very things they believed, shows their desperation.[iii]   

2.  How did Jesus respond to this? (vv. 15, 16)

3.  Some Bible teachers feel that this incident shows what type of poverty Jesus lived in that He didn’t even have a coin, but the real reason was more likely that He like most righteous Jews refused to carry Roman coinage. They linked it to the government, and saw the image on the coin as an idol as it portrayed Caesar as the high priest of the imperial cult.[iv]  A common threat (Jesus) forced these two enemies, the Pharisees and the Herodians, to unite.  Their alliance was a subtle trap, for no matter how Jesus replied to their question, He was in trouble with either Rome or Herod! But how did Jesus move the discussion from taxes to God, catching these hypocrites in their own trap? (v. 17)

4.  These men went away from this failed attempt marveling at Jesus; actually marveled in Greek means they wondered beyond measure and kept doing so, not being able to get over it![v]  The question about the Christian’s responsibility to and role in accepting the government over us has been controversial at times.  What do Romans 13:1–7 and
I Timothy 2:1–3 tell us about our submission to the government over us?  What would be the exception to this? (Acts 5:27–32)

Scripture Memory:  Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

Jesus answered him, "The _________________ of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall __________________ the Lord your God with all your _____________________, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.  And the _____________________, like it, is this: 'You shall love your _____________________ as yourself.'” (Mark 12:29–31a nkjv)