Mark 12
May 17, 2022
“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 that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, 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 the imperial tax to Caesar or not?’” (v13-14)
The Pharisees are keenly aware that Jesus is not “swayed by others” because His courage stands in such stark contrast to their own fear of man:
“they feared the people” (11:32)
“they feared the crowd” (12:12)
Jesus wasn’t trying to win a popularity contest. And so He was able to boldly “teach the way of God in accordance with the truth” (v14) - even when His teaching was offensive.
Lord Jesus, I praise You for teaching the truth, even when it wasn’t popular. You played for an Audience of One, always seeking to please the Father, not man. And the result was not only a life that brought honor to the Father, but ultimately salvation to people. Empower me today, by the Spirit, to live and teach with a focus on pleasing the Father (even if it offends people), since I know that is what will bring true blessing to people.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
