The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Mark:12:13-17

kjv@Mark:12:13 @ And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

kjv@Mark:12:14 @ And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

kjv@Mark:12:15 @ Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

kjv@Mark:12:16 @ And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

kjv@Mark:12:17 @ And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - having the heir's inheritance
After - do ye not therefore err?

Key Concepts:

What is God's righteousness observed doing?:

Using man's own attempts to detach other's support from Jesus as HIS opportunity to reveal the filter:NONE heart AND reins of these attackers to all men in general.
In the process of the revealing the larger issue separating what is due to Caesar from what is due God. Not shying from the answer sought by them to destroy Him.

What does this tell us about God's righteousness?:

The game of strategy between man and God is being played at a much higher level than any man expects or is remotely aware of. No matter how high men elevate their game it is not a game that they are going to win with God. Even when they think they are winning, even as they are nearing what they believe to be an easy check mate, they are but blind by their own ambition and exposed as being such throughout the infantile exercise and in the end. They fail to see that they are mere pawns in a greater strategic battle waged by a much larger thinking foe, foe to God/foe to man/foe to God's angels.
Jesus was tempted by a much greater adversary than these puny men and their self important senders and has been all along. Jesus is right to label them children of Satan because they are but children thinking that they are player enough themselves to play on the big field when it is they that are being played. Satan himself isn't even on the same field. The play being made is not in his hands either. The play is in the God the Father's. So where does that put man if he is being played by some one who doesn't even have the play at hand nor ever did?

How is man reacting?:

They send, they don't come themselves or as a body, but as a certain commissioned/enlisted subset of a perceivable broad coalition (showing unified front) for the purpose of. Perhaps the attempt was too obvious, perhaps the intent too transparent (as all other similar efforts), better for a few to be exposed than all. Worth the effort however to gain the dissimulation of Jesus from His support.

Notes:

Strange bedfellows? dict:all Pharisees separatists, separated, formalists, free thinkers, puritans. dict:all Herodians supporting the Herods, holding the duty of submission to Rome as last hope of any form of Jewish rule.

strkjv@STRING:G3985 tempt, test, scrutinize, entice, discipline, try
strkjv@STRING:G5373 feigned, deceit, condemnation, dissimulation, hypocrisy

Remember the context the Mark has drawn this together in: hirelings attempting to steal away the inheritance of the rightful heir. How many know is not of as much importance as the fact that that is the play being made by at least some, perhaps the most influential few of them. Even if not in full knowledge the play is relatively easy considering the alliances and loyalties of the rest of these men. Today, though the Father's hand has been victoriously played, man assumes that their play is still the same: steal the inheritance from the rightful heir. Whether in full knowledge or in less knowledgeable alliance and loyalty the action is exactly the same; therefore the sin. One can say that they don't sin and yet sin in this very regard constantly. It is said "he that is with Me is only with Me and he that is not with Me is only against Me".

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

Do you know how hard it is to bring together substantial and opposing factions to any common cause? It takes a matter so mutually detestable and threatening that they are willing to put aside their differences to act in closer accord. It has to be so much harder and deeply detested that all historical and prophetical evidences suggest that one is making the same mistake so often made by their forefathers uncompromisingly presuming to know and be acting in the will of God.
Where are the Pharisee and Herodian of today? Are they still the separated, the so called free thinker, the puritan? Are they still the beholden to the powers that be for the hope of a small piece of power of their own? Do they still send the certain select out to catch the LORD at His word so as to not be so obvious of their greater intention to the larger public support? Is their game or gain any different? Even when they think that they are winning?

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Mark:12:13-17
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Mark:12:13-17 rwp@Mark:12:13-17 mhcc@Mark:12:13-17
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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