NOTES:
1] The battle between Jesus & his enemies - Pharisees (strict ones) Herodians (toadies to the Herods & Romans), Sadducees (a largely priestly party) & Scribes (scholars) - continues 2] In 18-27, Sadducees use GEN 38:8 & DEUT 25:5+ to ridicule resurrection. 3]  'Good' Jews didn't like Roman coins. Jesus' shrewd guess(?) at the contents of his enemies' pockets pays off! 4] vv. 18-27 are from DEUT 25:5+ ('Levirate' law, from the Latin for 'brother-in-law'). 5] Jesus argues in v.29+ from DEUT 6:4-5, LEV 19:18, 1SAM15:22.

WARMING UP: Do you always carry coins, avoid carrying coins, or are coins 'beneath you'?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Afterthoughts from, follow-up to last week's Group, or since?

EXPLORING GOSPEL:

13-17    Do we ever find ourselves using false flattery like the Ss & Hs do here, either to get at someone, or ingratiate ourselves into their patronage? If someone said to us, "you're sincere, you don't defer to anyone, you're impartial" would we think they were confusing us with someone else? Or would it be only too obvious flattery? What do they want? What are they up to? Would open & honest people say something very different about us? Is that a worry? Does the old asking- questions-&-discovering-answers method of teaching have something to offer us as we explore God, faith, & life issues today? Or is there too much pontificating from 'on high' e.g. the method assumed in traditional church catechism? Do we have enough confidence in our own ability to 'take God on board' by exploring issues openly?
             Do we find much of a conflict between the demands of  today's 'Caesars' & the call to be totally loyal as a friend of Jesus? If there isn't any conflict, should that be cause for rejoicing or penitence? How much does the amount of conflict between the demands of 'Caesar' & God vary with the age & stage of life we ourselves have reached? If it does, is that a good thing? Is that the way it's meant to be? If we give up on worrying away at pursuing God through faith, truth, doubt, etc., who's likely to benefit more - God or 'Caesar'? At this stage of our life, have we really sorted out what 'belongs to 'Caesar' & what doesn't?

28-34   Are we in the habit of thinking the commandments have some order of ranking in order of importance? Aren't they all equally important? Or, today, are they all equally unimportant? Does it appeal to us that Jesus gives the commandments a 'spin' that's more positive than legal? Does his more positive 'spin' make keeping the original commandments, or the two he summarises them as, any easier?
             Does it ever seem to be easier to love God: 1) with our heart more than our mind? 2) with our mind more than our heart? 3) with our strength (= energy) more than either our heart or our mind? 4) with our heart or our mind more than our strength (energy)? Are any of these 'variations on a theme' a satisfactory substitute for the wholeness of approach Jesus demands? Satisfactory to whom?
            Do we ever find ourselves trying to make liturgical or other 'offerings' as a substitute for doing what Jesus asks? Does it work? Who /what tells us that kind of thing is either working or not working? Have we developed any kind of rule of thumb for telling when some person is 'not far from the kingdom (rule) of God'? Do we have such a rule of thumb for our own closeness to or distance from God's rule?