Get Ready
How do you respond to the idea that “you only get one chance to make a good first impression?” Do you respond to how another person looks or is dressed? Do you respond to how they talk or what they have to say? Or do you tend to watch what they do and how they interact with others?
The Word
12 28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ – this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
The question about David’s son
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.”’
37 David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
Jesus denounces the scribes
38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The widow’s offering
41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.
44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” NRSV
Get into the Word
1. What question is put to Jesus? Why do you think the scribe asked this question? How does Jesus answer? What is he quoting [see Notes]? Why do you think Jesus answered this way?
2. How does the scribe respond to Jesus’ answer? What else does the scribe say about Jesus’ answer? What does Jesus say about the scribe’s comment? What effect does this have?
3. Who asks the next question? Did this surprise you? What is the question? Why do you suppose Jesus asks this question? What does Jesus quote [see Notes]?
4. What does Jesus say about religious leaders? What does he condemn? Why do you think he selected these things? How do you think the crowd reacted?
5. What does Jesus do next? What does he see happening? What does he say about this? Why do you think Jesus makes this point?
Get Personal
What is common to each of theses three incidents? What is Jesus saying about our actions? What is important about what we do versus what we say? How has God helped you “walk his talk?”
Notes . . .
(Cross-references to Matthew and Luke are given in brackets)
12:28-34. The first commandment — Matthew calls this question another attempted trap from the Pharisees: When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” And Jesus’ reply omits the Shema (“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one” [Deut 6:4]). He also describes the two commandments differently: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets, [Matt 22:28-40].
Matthew also includes other comments by Jesus about the law; check 5:18-20; 7:12; and 19:17-22.
Luke reports a different conversation earlier in Jesus’ ministry: Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live,” [Luke 10:25-28].
12:33. More important — God told the Israelites many times that actions are more important than sacrifice: I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that’s more important than burnt offerings, [Hos 6:5-6; also check 1 Sam 15:22-23 and Isa 1:16-17].
12:35-37. David’s son — In Matthew’s version Jesus challenges the Pharisees: Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” Jesus then responds as in Mark. Matthew then concludes: No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions, [Matt 22:41-46].
Luke’s report of this exchange is even shorter than Mark’s and has no comment about the crowd, [Luke 20:41-44].
12:38-40. Denouncing the scribes — Matthew includes a more extensive warning to the crowd and disciples, and Jesus tells the people: Call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father – the one in heaven . . . The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. He also includes a series of “Woe’s” to the scribes and Pharisees,
[Matt 23:1-36].
Luke’s version is almost identical to Mark’s, [Luke 20:45-47].
12:36. Jesus is quoting Psalm 110:1. “The Lord” is “Yahweh,” the Hebrew name for God the Father; and “my Lord” is “adonai,” which is the Hebrew word for “Messiah” or “anointed one.”
12:41-44. The widow’s offering — Matthew does not include this incident.
Luke’s version, again, is briefer than Mark’s, but Jesus’ comment is identical, [Luke 21:1-4].
Memory Verse
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, [Mark 12:29]
Next Lesson
Jesus foretells the future — Mark 13
