Introduction:
A. Sureness is important to us. Teachers give exam to make sure that students understand what they had taught. Parents ask their children where they are going and what time they will be coming back to make sure they know where to find them in case they didn’t come on time they are expected to arrive. Wife asks their husband if their husband if he loves her to make sure she’s the only one and she’s still loved. BUT what would happen when people are not faithful? Can we discern whether someone is honest and faithful or lying or hiding something.
B. We will not try to judge a person here. What we are interested to know here is the signs or manifestations when we (Christians) are no longer walking faithfully or honestly before God.
C. In the passage we’re dealing with, we’ll see Jesus being asked by the RELIGIOUS LEADERS with lots of questions not because those who ask Him believe on His authority but because they look for a way to kill Him (11:18). We are interested to know the behavioral characteristics of these religious leaders in order that we may correct our own attitudes as we serve the Lord. Beginning Mark 11:27, we’ll Jesus confronting the religious leaders of His day by answering their hypocritical questions. Notice 11:27, 12:13, 12:18, & 12:28. We see Jesus revealing the hearts of the religious leaders: THEY ARE NOT SINCERE/HONEST. THEY ARE NOT TRUE AND FAITHFUL TO WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION TO CHANGE. They want to trap Jesus (tax issue), to discredit Jesus (regarding His authority), to confuse Jesus (marriage in heaven). Their questions were sarcastic, pointless, & unintelligent.
Transition: Manifestations when LEADERS are not faithful.
I. THEY DON’T FACE THE TRUTH. (11:27-33)
A. Jesus did not refuse to answer their question. When He was asked, “By what authority are you doing these things?” He did not answer them because Jesus didn’t want to accept and endorse their hypocrisy.
B. This is what happens when LEADERS are not faithful. There are things that they hide. They don’t want to reveal everything because they knew things are not right. They will be in trouble if they say something. So they hide things.
II. THEY THINK THEY CAN ACT AGAINST GOD AND GET AWAY WITH IT. (12:1-12)
A. The owner of the
vineyard is God. The vineyard is Israel. He entrusted it to
the religious leaders (tenants). The servants are the prophets.
They collect the share of the owner of the vineyard. The last one
sent is Jesus (His Son).
There is one reason here why these tenants
are killing the prophets: they want to claim the vineyard as their
own. It was the policy at that time that when the owner was not receiving
anything for a certain period of time, the land will become theirs that
is, the tenants.
B. What can we learn here about God (the owner of the land)? He is patient. According to Psalm 103:10, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve.” Let’s read Mark 12:2-5. Notice verse 5, “He sent many others.”
C. What can we learn
here about the attitudes of the unfaithful LEADERS? They can get
away with the act they did against God. Yet, surely they can’t.
God is patient but He is also confronting LEADERS who sin. Let’s
read verse 12,
“they knew he had spoken the parable against
them.” Remember also what had happened with Annanias and Sapphira.
III. THEY ARE IRRESPONSIBLE (12:13-17)
A. They want to put Jesus in a trap for no matter how Jesus answers their question (Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?), they knew Jesus would be in trouble. They are putting Him in a dilemma between loyalty to God and to Caesar. Jesus replied and we paraphrase: The fact that your coin reflects Caesar’s image and you’re using it demonstrates that you’re already accepting Caesar’s authority. So give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
B. Christians should not be irresponsible to their obligation to the government or to any position they hold to.
IV. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS (12:18-27)
A. They have the intention
of confusing Jesus here. They were quoting and asking a question
based on Deuteronomy 25:7-11. The Sadducees believe that there is
no resurrection. Let’s pick up from verse 19. . . The response of
Jesus in verse 24 is strong and direct. “Are you not in error because
you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
There is something that you can
notice when LEADERS start to be unfaithful: they take the Word of
God lightly. They are slow to hear and obey God’s commandments.
It becomes a burden to them. They don’t love the Word as they should.
They decide based on feelings rather than truth. They become subjective
and sensitive. The same thing with human relationships between husband
and wife.
B. Jesus deals the questions by saying two things: the manner and fact of resurrection: No celestial marriage. Let’s read verses 25-27.
V. THEY ARE AFTER THE RITUALS (GOING THROUGH THE MOTION) RATHER THAN EXPRESSING LOVE (12:28-34)
A. Unfaithfulness begins when there is only form but no content. The Scribe (teacher of the Law) who asked Jesus about the greatest commandment knew that all burnt offerings and sacrifices were meaningless to God the Father IF LOVE AND TOTAL OBEDIENCE WERE NOT EVIDENT.
B. We know we start to become unfaithful when we just go through the motion without our hearts to what we do. As CHRISTIAN LEADERS, we should be examples of sincere service to God. That is why we are leaders. Others are seeing in us something worth emulating for.
CONCLUSION:
When leaders are faithful:
they do tell the truth no matter would be the consequences, the do things
that please God, they are responsible, they love and obey His Word, &
they express love.
