Mark 12:28-37

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Lord Answers the Question of a Jewish Scribe

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Word of God is both Human and Divine.

  2. The Son of God is both Human and Divine.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Commitment is more than belief.

  2. Try asking questions as a technique for witnessing.

QUESTIONS

  1. Who tried to trap the Lord to discredit Him before the people, and to get Him arrested by the Roman authorities? How did they try to trap Him? Did they succeed?

  2. Another group tried to trap the Lord. Who were they? How did they try to trap Him? Did they succeed?

  3. What question did the scribe of the Pharisees ask the Lord? How did He answer him? From which Scripture did He quote?

  4. What did the Rabbis do to the law?

  5. Is the Shamah still followed? If so, by whom? What is the Shamah?

  6. Is the Word both human and divine? Support your answer biblically.

  7. Is the Son of God both human and divine? Support your answer biblically.

ANSWERS

  1. The Jewish leaders. They sent a delegation of Pharisees and Herodians to question Him. They tried to trap Him by asking a question about paying taxes to Rome, but they did not succeed.

  2. The Sadducees asked a hypothetical question about the law of Levite marriage in connection with the resurrection. They did not succeed.

  3. He asked which commandment was foremost in all of the law. Jesus answered by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18.

  4. They divided it up in 613 precepts.

  5. Yes, by Orthodox Jews, who have the words written in their phylacteries and placed on a piece of parchment in the mazuza, a box outside their doors. The Shamah is taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one."

  6. Yes. Note how the Lord referred to the authorship of Psalm 110, where David himself said by the Holy Spirit, "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies my footstool." (Psalm 110:1). David wrote this Psalm under the Holy Spirit's direction. This is what is meant by divine authorship. Every book of the Bible was written by men, but the Holy Spirit controlled and superintended it. "Holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21). This is what is meant by inspiration.

  7. Yes. This was the essential point the Lord was making with the scribes and Pharisees. They all agreed that the Messiah would be a descendant of David's, but the Lord's point was that He must be more than this. In Psalm 110, God the Father speaks to God the Son. How could He be David's Lord if He was only a human descendant? He had to be God as well as man.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Do you believe that the Word of God is both human and divine? How would you defend this if a skeptic should challenge you?

  2. Do you believe that the Son of God is both human and divine? How would you defend this belief if challenged?

CHALLENGE

  1. Answer the question, "How can the Messiah be David's son if David himself called Him Lord?" Also answer the question, "What is meant by divine authorship?"

KEY VERSES

  • "David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.' Therefore, David himself calls Him 'Lord;' how is He then His Son?" (Mark 12:36-37)

Mark, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMark 12:28-37