Marcos 12
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 12
Guzik comments that "This passage has made many wonder if marriage relationships will exist in heaven, or if those who are husband and wife on earth will have no special relationship in heaven. We are not told enough about life in the world beyond to answer in great detail, but we can understand a few principles. Family relationships will still be known in life in the world beyond. The rich man Jesus described in the afterlife was aware of his family relationships (Luke 16:27-28). The glory of heaven will be a relationship and connection with God that surpasses anything else, including present family relationships (Revelation 21:22-23). If it seems that life in the resurrection that Jesus spoke of here does not include some of the pleasures of life we know on earth, it is only because the enjoyments and satisfactions of heaven far surpass what we know on earth. We can’t be completely certain what life in glory beyond will be like, but we can know with certainty that no one will be disappointed with the arrangements (Revelation 22:1-5). (Mark 12 Commentary) Stevenson - The resurrection does not constitute a continuation of life as it is on earth. The old physical laws will no longer apply. And the old physical and social relationships will pale to insignificance in the presence of our relationship with the Lord. Danny Akin - The world of resurrection, the world to come, is different than the world we live in. There is continuity to be sure. I will be I and you will be you, but we will exist and live for all of eternity in an entirely new dimension and reality. (Mark 12:18-27 Will There Be Sex in Heaven?) Leon
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Guzik - This sort of tenant farming relationship was a common practice in Jesus’ day, especially in the region of Galilee. Archaeologists have discovered records of this same sort of dispute between landowners and tenant farmers. (Mark 12 Commentary) While one has to be cautious in identifying every aspect of a parable, in this parable the main players are relatively clear. Here the "Man" who planted the vineyard is God the Father and the vineyard is the nation of Israel chosen and cultivated by God Himself (Isa 5:1-4+).. Notice how He proceeded to protect His "vineyard," from destruction. The vineyard (or grapevine) had been the national symbol for Israel for centuries (as was the fig tree mentioned in Mk 11:12-14+) so the religious leaders did not have to guess the identity in this parable. God expected Israel to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, yet it consistently produced the sour grapes of selfish and sinful living ("worthless ones" in Isa 5:2,4,7+). NET Note adds that "The vineyard is a figure for Israel in the OT (Isa 5:1–7+). The nation and its leaders are the tenants, so the vineyard here may well refer to the promise that resides within the nation. The imagery is like that in Romans 11:11–24+." Lenski on went on a journey - This going abroad pictures the great trust which God imposed on the leaders of Israel: the precious vineyard of his people reposed entirely in their care. Yes, God brought Israel from Egypt to Canaan, planted it, fenced it in, equipped it there, and placed it under these spiritual rulers whose office was continuous. (Borrow The interpretation of St. john's gospel)
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Guzik - They apparently thought that if they killed the owner’s son, the owner would then just give up and let them have the vineyard. (Mark 12 Commentary) Herbert Lockyer -In my unregenerate state I was among the number who cried, "This is the heir—come, let us kill him." I must never lose sight of the part my sin played in slaying the sacrifice on Calvary. Mark 12:8 "They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. threw: Mt 21:33,39 Lu 20:15 Heb 13:11-13 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 21:39 “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Luke 20:15+ “So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? Hebrews 13:12-13+ Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. CAST OUT THE HEIR They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard - And in very few days this is exactly what the religious hierarchy of Israel is going to do to Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified outside of the city of Jerusalem (out of the vineyard) (see Hebrews passage above). Grassmick comments "Some say this predicts what would happen to Jesus: He would be crucified outside of Jerusalem, expelled from Israel in a climactic expression of the leaders’ rejection of Him. But this presses the parable’s details too far here. It is better to see the throwing of the son’s dead body over the wall without burial as a climax to their wicked indignities. Mark’s emphasis of their rejection and murder of the son took place within the vineyard, that is, within Israel." (See The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Mark 12:9 "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. will: Mt 21:40,41 he will: Lev 26:15-18,23,24,27,28 De 4:26,27 28:15-68,61 Jos 23:15 Pr 1:24-31 Isa 5:5-7 Da 9:26,27 Zec 13:7-9 Mt 3:9-12 12:45 Mt 22:7 23:34-38 Lu 19:27,41-44 20:15,16 and will: Isa 29:17 32:15,16 65:15 Jer 17:3 Mal 1:11 Mt 8:11-13 21:43 Ac 13:46-48 28:23-28 Ro 9:30-33 10:20,21 11:1-12 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 21:40 “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” 41 They *said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” Luke 20:15-16+ “So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 “He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!” LEADERS ANNOUNCE THEIR OWN FATE! What will the owner of the vineyard do? - Jesus asks a rhetorical question of His "learned" audience of religious leaders. Matthew records the answer "They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” (Mt 21:41) Ray
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Guzik - They were cut to the heart and convicted by the Holy Spirit. They reacted to the conviction of the Holy Spirit by rejecting, not by receiving. They plotted to murder Jesus instead of repenting before Him. (Mark 12 Commentary) And so they left Him and went away - "This is the second time the Sanhedrin representatives would have arrested our Lord in the precincts of the Temple, but fear of the people prevented this (Mark 11:18+). For the moment they were forced to admit defeat, and they returned to their council chamber to mature their schemes. Kistemaker adds "The lesson is: Principiis obsta: "Resist the beginnings!" Watch out for the first misstep. Every further advance into sin will be easier than the previous step." Mark 12:13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. they sent: Ps 38:12 56:5,6 140:5 Isa 29:21 Jer 18:18 Mt 22:15,16 Lu 11:54 Lu 20:20-26 Herodians: Mk 3:6 8:15 Mt 16:6 Mark 12:13-17 - Pharisees and Herodians Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. Luke 20:20+ So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor. YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO TRAP JESUS Think about the context for a moment. Jesus had just issued a very solemn warning to the religious leaders in the parable of the Vineyard, but it has no effect on their desire to kill Him! Then - then is an expression of time which frequently marks the sequence of events as in this case. Keep in mind that neither Mark or Luke had the intervening parable of the marriage feast (Mt 22:1-14). Presumably this preceded this attempt to trap Jesus. Geddert - The whole prelude to their question is loaded with irony and hypocrisy: Teacher (as if they are planning to learn from him). We know that you are sincere (if only they were). You show deference to no one. (You give straightforward answers to everyone. They will soon wish he did not!) You do not regard people with partiality. (True, he will embarrass them just as he embarrassed those who sent them!) The literal wording is heavily ironic: You do not look into the face of people. (True again: he looks into the heart!) You teach the way of God. (True, Jesus does teach the way—the word hodos is used. Too bad his enemies have rejected the way that John has prepared and Jesus is walking.) In accordance with the truth (something of little interest to those setting their trap for Jesus!). (Mark Believers Church Bible Commentary) They sent (apostello) some of the Pharisees (pharisaios) and Herodians (see note below) to Him - Luke 20:20+ describes them as "spies (egkathetos) who pretended (hupokrinomai) to be righteous." Jesus knew they were hypocrites for He "did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man." (Jn 2:24-25+) Matthew describes some of these men as "disciples" of the Pharisees (thus they would have been younger men) (Mt 22:15). The Herodians were political adherents to Herod supported Roman rule, both hated by the Pharisees. So here we see a sad example of the ancient proverb "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" in which two generally opposing parties (Pharisees and Herodians) choose to work together against their common enemy Jesus Christ! The irony is that the name Pharisees means "separatist," but they did not live up to their name and were willing to work closely with men they despised so that might kill Jesus! Their plotting anticipates Mark 15:3,4, where the ruling priests began "to accuse Him harshly.” We see several passages alluding to these natural enemies uniting forces to destroy their common Enemy, Jesus (Mark 3:6+, Mark 8:15+; Mt. 22:16). 🙏 THOUGHT - Beloved follower of Jesus, this hatred of the Pharisees and Herodians toward Christ continues today and explains why men will often reject you and your narrow minded (to them) Gospel and why terrorist groups target Christians. Forewarned is forearmed. Jesus declared "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (Jn 15:18-20, cf Jn 17:14, Pr 29:27). Forewarned is forearmed so keep in mind that the idea of persecute (cf 2 Ti 3:12+) is to continuously hound someone, to stay after them, to ridicule them, to dog them, to watch their every move to try to catch them doing something for which you can accuse them, to not let up on them. This world is not our home and we are aliens and strangers and should expect persecution and derision from those who are dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1+) and detest our holiness (not "holier than thou" but genuine Spirit enabled holy lives!). Herodians - At the time of Jesus, there were certain groups—the Pharisees, the Herodians, and the Sadducees—that held positions of authority and power over the people. Other groups were the Sanhedrin, the scribes, and the lawyers. Each of these groups held power in either religious or political matters. The Herodians held political power, and most scholars believe that they were a political party that supported King Herod Antipas, the Roman Empire's ruler over much of the land of the Jews from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. The Herodians favored submitting to the Herods, and therefore to Rome, for political expediency. This support of Herod compromised Jewish independence in the minds of the Pharisees, making it difficult for the Herodians and Pharisees to unite and agree on anything. But one thing did unite them—opposing Jesus. Herod himself wanted Jesus dead (Luke 13:31), and the Pharisees had already hatched plots against Him (John 11:53), so they joined efforts to achieve their common goal. (See full article - Who were the Herodians?) Hughes "Two opposite powers can bind people together. One is love, and the other is hatred. Of course, love is to be preferred by far. It is the glue of the Holy Trinity. It is God’s ordained adhesive for the Church as well (cf. John 13:34, 35). Nevertheless, hatred, though fragmenting and destructive, serves as a diabolical superglue among otherwise diverse people.Such was the case with the Pharisees and Herodians. There could hardly be two groups with such opposing outlooks. The Pharisees were nationalistic. They longed for the messianic kingdom and the overthrow of the Romans. The Herodians had sold themselves out to the Romans and served as their well-cared-for stooges. The Pharisees represented conservative Judaism, whereas the Herodians were liberal and syncretistic in their convictions. The Pharisees were (so to speak) right-wingers. The Herodians were left-wingers. The Pharisees represented cautious resistance to Rome, the Herodians wholesale accommodation. But they were cemented together by their mutual hatred for Jesus. The Pharisees hated him because he was disrupting their religious agenda, the Herodians because he threatened their political arrangements. They both wanted him dead." (Preach the Word-Luke) In order (term of purpose) to trap Him in a statement - This brood of vipers hatches their serpentine, satanically inspired scheme to snare the Son of God in a verbal trap. These religious snakes had made deceit an art form!They were like "malicious" hunters trying to trap Jesus like one would ensnare a bird or hook a fish. They will "bait the trap" in the following verses. Statement is logos, which is a bit ironic as they are trying to catch the Logos (John 1:1+) in a logos! Luke 20:20 gives the purpose of trapping Jesus in a statement was "so that they could deliver (paradidomi = give over to the power of) Him to the rule and the authority (exousia) of the governor (PILATE)." Trap (64)(agreuo from agra = a capture, a catch of fish - Lk 5:4,9+) means to hunt or catch animals, birds or fish. Here used figuratively to detect a blunder or misstep and thus analogous to catching an animal. Agreuo is used 5x in the Septuagint - Pr 5:22+; Pr 6:25-26 = trap of a harlot! What a picture of danger of not guarding our eyes and heart!!!; Job 10:16; Hos. 5:2. Pr 5:22+ is especially instructive teaching that "His own iniquities will capture the wicked." What a picture of sin as a hunter or trapper, seeking to trap our souls!!! (cf Ge 4:6,7, 1 Pe 2:11+) Mark 12:14 They came and said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? Teacher: Mk 14:45 Ps 12:2-4 55:21 120:2 Pr 26:23-26 Jer 42:2,3,20 we know: Joh 7:18 2Co 2:2,17 4:1 5:11 1Th 2:4 You are truthful and defer: De 33:9,10 2Ch 18:13 Isa 50:7-9 Jer 15:19-21 Eze 2:6,7 Mic 3:8 2Co 5:16 Ga 1:10 2:6,11-14 for You are not partial Ex 23:2-6 De 16:19 2Ch 19:7 Is it lawful : Ezr 4:12,13 Ne 9:37 Mt 17:25-27 22:17 Lu 20:22 23:2 Ro 13:6 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” Luke 20:21+ They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. 22 “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” FLATTERING HYPOCRITES Flattery - excessive or insincere praise given especially to further one's own interests ; praise that is not sincere but is intended to get you something that you want ; the act of giving excessive compliments, generally for the purpose of ingratiating oneself with the subject. Historically, flattery has been used as a standard form of discourse when addressing a king or queen. Note that they make two attempts to set Jesus up: First, by flattery and second by asking Him a double-edged question.
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Guzik has an interesting comment on Whose image and inscription does it have? - Essentially, Jesus said “You recognize Caesar’s civil authority when you use his coins, therefore you are obliged to pay him the taxes he asks for.” “The denarii bore the head of Tiberius and the inscription TI. CAESAR DIVI AVG. F. AVGVSTVS (Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, Augustus). The image and inscriptions of ancient coins would have been understood as a property seal; the coins belonged to Caesar.” (Pate). A spiritual lesson can be learned from what is inscribed on coins issued in the United States, because each phrase has an important association in the Christian life. - (1) In God we Trust (2) Liberty (3) E. Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One) (Enduring Word Bible Commentary – Luke) Caesar (2541)(kaisar of Latin origin) refers to the emperor of Rome. It was originally a surname of Julius Caesar, later taken as a title by the chief Roman ruler. Zodhiates on Caesar - The title taken by each of the Roman emperors, e.g., Augustus Caesar who reigned when the Lord Jesus was born (Luke 2:1); his successor Tiberius Caesar, who reigned from a.d. 14-37 (Luke 3:1); Claudius Caesar, from a.d. 41-54 (Acts 11:28; 18:2); Nero, under whom Peter and Paul were martyred, a.d. 54-68 (Phil. 4:22); Domitian was Caesar from a.d. 81-96, and under him John was exiled to Patmos. Caesar is mentioned by the Lord Jesus in Luke 20:22-25, both literally as referring to Tiberius Caesar and figuratively as meaning any earthly ruler. The name Caesar came to be used as a symbol of the state in general and is often used in this sense in the NT (Matt. 22:17, 21; Mark 12:14, 16, 17; Luke 20:22, 24, 25). (Borrow The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament ) Brian Bell summarizes this section on the trap set by the Herodian spies - It was a perfect trap! To affirm would alienate him from the Jews who were against this tax. To deny the lawfulness of this tax would bring Roman wrath upon him So Jesus hits them right between the horns of their dilemma. But Jesus did not deal with it as a political question. He saw it as a spiritual issue! Just as the coin bore the image of Caesar, so man bears the image of God and has a responsibility to Him. But that also means we have a responsibility to human government, because government was instituted by God (Ro 13:1-7) It is not an either/or situation, but a both/and! If you live under a governments rule; If you are protected by your government (police, military, national guard, etc); If you are using your governments money to buy & sell; then you are in debt to the gov under which you live & enjoy its benefits. But whose image & superscription is upon you?The greatest Potentate is stamped upon every human face...God Himself! – We have been made in the image and likeness of God! The superscription on every human life is that God alone is Pontifex Maximus. Thus He said in effect, “As is the coin to Caesar, so are you to God.” Give to Caesar what’s his, but don’t forget to give to God what is His! So what’s God’s? Everything I have, everything I am! If you live under a God’s rule; If you are protected by your God; If you are using God’s power and gifts; then you are in debt to God under which you live & enjoy His benefits. Read - Ro 13:7,8 (our debt to Him is love) Christians must accept the state as ordained by God and render respect and obedience to the governments. When a conflict arises between our allegiance to the state & our allegiance to God, we must be true to God (ED: JESUS SAID IT THIS WAY -“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Mt 6:24-+ JESUS ALONE IS OUR LORD AND OUR MASTER). (Commentary) The Divine Image in the Soul (Bishop Ehrler.) 1. The Divine image ought to be our highest glory. 2. Let the Divine image which we bear be a constant exhortation to serve God. 3. Never defile the Divine image by sin. 4. Endeavour to increase every day the beauty of the Divine image. 5. Respect the Divine image in your neighbour. Mark 12:17 And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him. Render: Pr 24:21 Mt 17:25-27 Ro 13:7 1Pe 2:17 and to God: Mk 12:30 Pr 23:26 Ec 5:4,5 Mal 1:6 Ac 4:19,20 Ro 6:13 12:1 1Co 6:19,20 2Co 5:14,15 And they were amazed: Job 5:12,13 Mt 22:22,33,46 1Co 14:24,25 Mark 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 22:21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away. Luke 20:25+ And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent. RENDERING TO CAESAR AND TO GOD And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." - Jesus escapes what they Pharisees and Herodians thought was an inescapable trap! NET Note - Jesus is making a subtle yet powerful contrast: Caesar’s image is on the denarius, so he can lay claim to money through taxation, but God’s image is on humanity, so he can lay claim to each individual life. Jesus’ answer to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s was a both/and, not the questioners’ either/or. So he slipped out of their trap. Geddert - Mark’s reader, and probably also the original opponents of Jesus, are expected to see in the final part of Jesus’ response a challenge to give themselves completely to God. If God’s image is stamped onto our very being, we owe ourselves fully to God. Jesus’ opponents, instead of giving themselves to God, have robbed God at every turn. They have withheld their love for God and neighbor (Mk 12:32–33), substituting for love both legalism and ceremonialism. They have robbed Jewish pilgrims and especially Gentile visitors in the temple (Mk 11:15–17). They robbed the poor of their possessions (Mk 12:40) and God of the honor that is God’s alone (Mk 12:38–39). To use the imagery of Jesus’ parable, they are stealing the vineyard’s fruit (Mk 12:3) and trying to steal the vineyard itself (Mk 12:7). Then they seek refuge in the temple, turning it into a den of robbers (Mk 11:17). They think they can trap Jesus with a question about taxes. Instead, Jesus has sprung the trap on them. (Mark Believers Church Bible Commentary) Barton - Paying the taxes, however, did not have to mean submission to the divinity claimed by the emperor through the inscription on the coins. Caesar had the right to claim their tax money, but he had no claim on their souls. The Jews had a responsibility to give to God what was his. While they lived in the Roman world, the Jews had to face the dual reality of subjection to Rome and responsibility to God. Jesus explained that they could do both if they kept their priorities straight. The tax would be paid as long as Rome held sway over Judea, but God had rights on eternity and on their lives. (LAC) Steven Cole on “Render ... to God the things that are God’s.” - Jesus’ statement implies that just as the Roman coin had Caesar’s image stamped on it and thus rightfully fell under his jurisdiction, so every person has God’s image stamped on him or her and thus rightfully belongs to God. Just as Caesar had sole authority to issue coins stamped with his image, so God is the only one who creates human beings stamped with His image. We owe God our very existence. He rightfully owns us, our possessions, our money, and our time. If we are not yielding ourselves completely to His sovereign lordship, we are disobeying the supreme authority of the universe! By challenging Jesus, these Pharisees and Herodians were guilty of not rendering to God the things that are God’s. They came to Jesus, not to obey Him, but to trap Him. They acted as if they were sincerely interested in His opinion about a moral issue, but they had no intention of obeying what He said. But the only way you can come to Christ is to come honestly, confessing your sins, being willing to obey Him. If you come to contend with Him in order to get your own way, beware! He knows the secret motives of every heart! One day every knee will bow before Him. So the overarching principle is that we must submit all of our lives to the absolute sovereignty of God, the supreme ruler of the universe. He sets up rulers and takes them down according to His will. As Daniel 4 repeats three times, “The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes” (Da 4:17, 25, 32+). When God’s authority confronts our authority to rule our lives, we must submit to Him or face His judgment. We’ve all got to do business with God who examines our hearts. Don’t risk playing games with Him! It always causes great damage to the cause of Christ when a man who has crusaded against pornography gets caught with a prostitute. We need to judge our hypocrisy and live with integrity before God. A few years ago, the late Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson told about a senator who was speaking at a church men’s dinner. The senator asked how many men believed in prayer in the public schools. Almost every hand went up. He then asked, “How many of you pray daily with your children in your home?” Only a few hands were raised. Ouch! Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. But above all, render to God the things that are God’s. (Guile, Government, and God) R M Edgar on rendering to Caesar and to God - Caesar has his domain, as the currency shows. He regulates the outward relations of men, their barter and their citizenship, and by his laws he makes them keep the peace. But beyond this civil sphere, there is the moral and the religious, where God alone is King. Let God get his rights as well as Caesar, and all shall be well. These words of Christ sounded the death-knell of the Jewish theocracy. They point out two mutually independent spheres. They call upon men to be at once loyal citizens and real saints. We may do our duty by the state, while at the same time we are conscious citizens of heaven, and serve our unseen Master in all things. Render (aorist imperative) (591)(apodidomi from apó = from + didomi = give and so to "give off” from one’s self) literally means to give back, then to put away by giving and then in a more figurative sense to pay back or recompense. To give what is proper and due. And they were amazed at Him - Luke 20:26+ adds this detail "And they were unable to catch (epilambano - get a grip on, take possession of) Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent (sigao) (BUT THEY WOULD ATTACK AGAIN!)." Amazed is ekthaumazo (only here in Bible) in the imperfect tense pictures His enemies as utterly baffled. One can see they talking to each other and over and over they express their total amazement at Jesus' ability to slip their "sure" trap!
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Guzik writes on love the Lord - In this we see that what God really wants from man is love. We can obey God without loving Him, but if we do love Him obedience will follow. (Mark 12 Commentary) Love (25)(agapao see related study of noun agape) means to love unconditionally and sacrificially (selflessly) as God Himself loves sinful men (John 3:16+), the way He loves the Son (Jn 17:26+ - the true in this verse is incomprehensible!).
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Guzik - Jesus’ principle here shows us that before God, the spirit of giving determines the value of the gift more than the amount. God doesn’t want grudgingly given money or guilt money. God loves the cheerful giver. The widow’s gift and Jesus’ comment on it also shows us that the value of a gift is determined by what it costs the giver. This is what made the widow’s gift so valuable. David refused to give God that which cost me nothing (2 Samuel 24:24). (Mark 12 Commentary) Apologetics Study Bible - While this verse has doubtless been used by unscrupulous persons to squeeze money out of others, Jesus commended the piety demonstrated by the widow's action. He was not recommending that everyone should demonstrate piety in exactly the same manner as this woman. Lawrence Richards - It’s not how much we give, but our willingness to surrender all. Undoubtedly Luke purposely placed the ragged, humble widow beside the posturing, well-dressed politicians whose pretentions Jesus had just exposed. Luke wanted us to see others as God sees them. He wants us to realize that the mighty are seldom high on God’s scale of values. (365 Day Devotional Commentary) Concise Bible Commentary - He considered that the widow gave more than anyone else, because he measured the gift not by its commercial value but by the degree of sacrifice of the giver. A heart of true devotion, not money, was the valuable thing in his kingdom Tom Constable's conclusion - Here is another instructive example of a person with a servant's attitude who gave her all, as little as that was, to God (cf. Mark 10:45). Jesus and Mark taught disciples how God values wholehearted commitment to Himself with this incident. Warren