Podcasts about Herodians

In this solo episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb explores the profound depths of Jesus' Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. While this parable might seem unassuming compared to others, Jesse reveals how it serves as the "granddaddy" of all parables—offering a God's-eye view of salvation through the ordinary imagery of farming. The episode examines why different people respond differently to the same gospel message, and challenges listeners to consider what kind of soil their own hearts represent. Through historical context and theological reflection, Jesse unpacks how this parable prepares believers for the mixed responses they'll encounter when sharing the gospel and reminds us that the efficacy of salvation depends not on the sower's skill, but on God's sovereign work in preparing hearts to receive His Word. Key Takeaways The Parable of the Sower provides a framework for understanding the various responses to the gospel message, serving as preparation for disciples who would face both acceptance and rejection. Jesus' parables, particularly the Sower, demonstrate how God uses ordinary, mundane things to express profound spiritual truths about His kingdom. The efficacy of salvation doesn't depend on the skill of the sower but on God's sovereign work in preparing the soil of human hearts. God's Word never returns void but always comes back "full" of either acceptance or rejection—it accomplishes exactly what God intends. Historical context matters: Jesus' audience had high expectations for a Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, but Jesus was revealing a different kind of kingdom. The Parable of the Sower shows that the kingdom of God isn't received equally by all—some receive it with joy while others reject it outright. Having "ears to hear" is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit, not merely intellectual understanding but spiritual receptivity. The Word That Never Returns Void The power of God's Word stands at the center of the Parable of the Sower. Jesse highlights Isaiah 55, where God declares that His word "shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose." Unlike human words that often fall flat, God's Word always achieves its intended effect. This doesn't mean universal salvation, but rather that God's purposes are never thwarted. When the gospel is proclaimed, it always returns to God "full" of something—either acceptance or rejection. The parable illustrates this reality by showing the various responses to the same seed. This should encourage believers in evangelism: we are simply called to faithfully sow the seed, while God determines the harvest according to His sovereign purposes. Our success is not measured by conversions but by faithfulness in proclamation. Kingdom Expectations vs. Kingdom Reality The historical context of Jesus' ministry reveals a profound disconnect between what people expected from the Messiah and what Jesus actually delivered. Jesse explains how the Jewish people anticipated a conquering king who would overthrow Roman oppression and establish a visible earthly kingdom. Instead, Jesus announced a kingdom that begins in the heart, dividing even families according to their response to Him. The Parable of the Sower anticipates this mixed response, preparing disciples for both acceptance and rejection. This teaches modern believers an important lesson: the gospel will not be universally embraced, even when perfectly presented. Some hearts are like paths, others rocky ground, others thorny soil. Yet we continue sowing because God has appointed some to be good soil—hearts prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the Word and bear fruit. This reality should both humble us and embolden our witness. Quotes "The power of this message is in the message itself, but the medium by which it is delivered... it does pierce the heart. It does pierce through bone and marrow. It does divide because it always returns full of either acceptance or full of rebellion and denial." - Jesse Schwamb "We find ourselves humbled. We find ourselves rushing in, coming into the kingdom, fighting to come into it because God has impassioned us with that same zeal that has accomplished this very thing. He implants it in our hearts, in our minds, in our guts, so that we would come before him and worship him." - Jesse Schwamb "Consider what it means that this good news... that God's word is his deed. This is why... it's such a blessing to live in this period of time where we have such easy access for most of us to the word of God, and that we ought to be zealous about getting that word out to all people because behind it and within it and around it is the full power of the Holy Spirit." - Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript Welcome to episode 463 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast for those with ears to hear. Hey, brothers and sisters, so I am just one half. Of the Reform Brotherhood squad. Tony, of course, wanted to join us on this episode, but it sometimes happens in life. Our schedules were a little bit crazy this week, and God gave us responsibilities that put us in opposite directions for part of the time. And so that means that today on this episode, I thought. You and I, we could just hang out and Tony will be back to join us in the next episode. [00:01:20] Solo Episode and Parable Series Overview But for now, this is one of those solo or formed brotherhood episodes. And if you have been tracking with us, we just started this great and amazing journey on going through all the parables that our Lord and Savior gives to us in teaching us about the kingdom of God and its power. And we just started by talking about the parable of the sower, in fact. In the last episode, we just covered basically the first two soils, the first half of that amazing little story, and I thought it would be really, really great to camp out in that for just a little bit more because even though Tony's not here, the podcast goes on and we, Tony and I never really. Thinking about these things and when we start a series in particular, we always find that we just gotta keep going back on it in our minds ruminating on what we said and what God was teaching us and the conversations like all good conversations that draw your mind back to the things that you talked about, which I should say maybe before I begin in earnest, that is also my denial, which is saying things like, let's camp out in this text now to be. Sure. There's no wrong reason why, or there's no bad reason to say words like that. It's just when I hear myself say them, I think about all the things that Christians say, like saying like, we should camp out in this text, or Let's sit in it for a while. And I think maybe it's because I'm just not into camping or maybe because I think most of the time when you use the phrase like, sit in, it's not. A happy or blessed or joyful thing that you're describing. So I always find that funny, and yet here I am saying it because I just couldn't think of anything better to say except, you know what? We should pause and maybe ruminate a little bit more. On all of this good stuff that's in Matthew chapter 13, where Jesus gives us the parable of the sower, so you can join me in sharing which little Christian phrases maybe you think you hear, we say too much or just become rote or part and parcel what it means to talk. The best way for you to do that is do me a. Go to your favorite internet device and in the browser, type T me slash reform brotherhood, that will just take you that little link to a part of the internet using an app called Telegram where a bunch of brothers and sisters who listen to the podcast are chatting about the podcast, their live sharing prayer requests, and there's even a place for you to share, Hey, what are the things that Christians say that you think. Why do we say that? Why are we always talking about hedges of protection? Why are we always talking about camping out in a text? So that's a place that you can come hang out. So go to t.me/reform brotherhood. [00:03:56] Deep Dive into the Parable of the Sower But enough of that, let's talk a little bit more about this incredible parable that our Lord and Savior gives us in Matthew chapter 13. It's so, so short in fact that I figured. The best parts of any conversation about the Bible is just hearing from God in his word. So let me read just those couple of verses. It's just eight verses beginning in Matthew chapter 13, the parable of the sower. That same day, Jesus went out from the house and sat beside the sea and great crowds gathered about him so that he got into a boat and sat down and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables saying a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no roots, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seed fell on good soil and produced grain. Some a hundred fold, some 60, some 30. He who has ears let him hear. [00:05:09] Personal Reflections on the Parable I have to say that of all the parables, and we mentioned in the previous episode that this one is kind of the granddaddy of them all. It's a god's eye view on salvation told in this lovely kind of encased way about horticulture and farming and growing plants. But to be totally transparent, I never really got into this parable. It was never really my favorite one. Like of all the things that Jesus says, of all the creative and wonderful terms of phrase, this one for me always just seemed to be lacking That stuff. You know, it doesn't have really strong characters. It's about a sower, seed and soil, and compared to some other things that seems kind of unassuming and. Not very exciting, quite honestly, to me, and it's not as exciting, I think, as stories about, I don't know, losing something of value and then suddenly finding it and rejoicing and having the characters, feeling yourself in those characters as they go about experiencing all the emotions. That Jesus expresses and keyed in these lovely little riddles called parables. And so for this one, it's always been a little bit kind of like a, okay. It's interesting and the point seems fairly straightforward and it just doesn't captivate me as the others. And I've been thinking about about that, how even in this, it just seems like a really normal, mundane, kind of pedestrian expression of a life in that time. And it's all wrapped up in gardening. And throwing seeds into the ground, not even having control of their outcome. And then in this way, though, expressing and explaining this grand narrative and arc of salvation from God's perspective. So it is, again, another lesson in God using ordinary, normal, almost seemingly mundane things to express his power, to express our lack of control and to show so that he does. Did I just say so to, so that he does all things and certainly we get so much of that in this parable, and so it made me think this week after Tony and I talked about it a little bit. Just how it raises a question in this really normative, kind of unassuming, almost boring, if I can say way, this really profound question, which is, will we be this fruitful, fertile soil? Will we be fruitful followers? Of Jesus Christ. And it doesn't just raise this question, I suppose it also gives us some hope, but it also does so with a warning. It is a maybe a little bit of law and gospel even embedded in these simple means of, again, talking about what it means to plant something and to entrust the planting, the acy of the growth there to the soil and the seed, and there's hope. There's warning and there's so much of that that's in this context of the parable, and that's what's led me to wanna talk to you all a little bit about that as we kinda process together more of what this means. [00:08:00] Historical Context and Expectations of the Messiah I was thinking that when Jesus began his ministry, when he's coming forward, he's really announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God. And it's helpful, I think, to meditate as a second on how profound that is, that he comes again, not just as the message, but the messenger and the medium of that message. I was just kinda ruminating on the fact that. Everybody had high expectations. There was no one, I think, with kind of a low opinion of what was about to happen or of what the Messiah was going to bring or what he was going to do. And here you have like explicitly Jesus' hearers, their ancestors would've been taken into exile and captivity because they had broken the covenant with God. And the prophets had made this case for God's punishment because of their idolatry and their injustice. But that message, and you get this especially in in books like Isaiah. Where there's this mixture that's bittersweet. There is not only an exclusive message of woe for the people, but there is at the same time up against sick, almost running parallel. This promise of a day when God, by his own effort in Zeal, would bring about a restoration where he'd set up visibly an earthly reign through his anointed Wanda Messiah. And so I can only imagine if I could. Even partially put myself in the place of these people who are hearing this particular parable, that there is all this sense that we have strayed from God, that we're covenant breakers, but that he has promised to make a way and that his own zeal will very much accomplish this, but it will be visible and earthly, not just spiritual in the sense that we believe these things and we internalize them in the sense for our being, and therefore we speak about them in these kind of grandiose and ephemeral terms. But more than that, that God was going to come and set up an earthly reign, purely manifested in the world in which we live and breathe and have our being. And so two things would happen. Israel's oppressors would be defeated. And God would institute a pure worship and a reestablished pure worship. And so I can't help but think maybe there was some of this expectation. They're, they're seeing this Messiah, this Jesus, the one who speaks with a different kind of authority, come into their midst. And there I think all these things are somewhere in their minds as their processing. Maybe they should be in ours as well. And so there's this portrait that's being painted here of the prophet saying there's gonna be. Restoration and this image of a seed being sown. And then of course you have these metaphors that Jesus is employing in his own time. Very reminiscent of passages like in Isaiah 55, where you find the prophet saying, for as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. It shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and I shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. What an amazing, glorious promise of God that there is no suboptimal nature. In his expression of who he is and what he's accomplished, that the very thing that he intends to do, he always does, and this word comes back. I think what really strikes me about this passage in particular is the fact that it does not return to God empty. I mean, think about what that means. It's strange in a way. That. In other words, it's full of something. And here I think it's full of response. It's full of anticipation. It's full of this. Like what? What has gone out is now received by the individual and then returns with either acceptance or denial, very much in the same way that we're about to receive it in this parable before us. And in fact, even our ability to understand the parable. This if you have ears, he has ears. Let him hear that itself is an expression. So in other words. The power of this message is again, in the message itself, but the medium by which it is delivered, it does pierce the heart. It does pierce through bone and marrow. It does divide because it always returns full of either acceptance or full of rebellion and denial. And so when we think about the people of Israel. They exactly in that way. They return from exile under Ezra Nehemiah. But even those returns, even those improvements or some of that remediation seems to me like to come short of expectations. You know, Ezra rebuilt the temple, but it paled in comparison to Solomon's original, in fact. If we go to Ezra chapter three, there's like so much honesty as the people are seeing this rebuilt temple. Their response is, is like tragic in a way. So this is Ezra chapter three, beginning verse 12. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers houses, old men. Who had seen the first house as the temple of God wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy so that the people cannot distinguish the sound of the joyful from the sound of people's weeping for the people shouted with a great shout and the sound was heard far away, even in just the setting up the foundation, the base layer. There are those saying this is. This is not like it used to be. Even this is just far piles in comparison and falls very far short of the original. And of course you have Nehemiah's rebuilt wall around Jerusalem. Couldn't even ensure the holiness of God's people. And so everything up to that point. All of it was still just a shadow. It was like a big, giant disappointment, a blemish as it were, on God's people. Even as there was an attempt to restore, there was still this longing from the inside to have the real McCoy to everything made right to have the true Messiah come, not the one that was the type. Not the thing that was the shadow, not the the poor replacement or the analog, but the real thing. And so you have in response to this, you know, some of God's people move into the wilderness and pursue holy living. Some accommodated to Roman occupation like the Sadducees, some retreated into kind of individual individualistic piety or rule keeping like the Pharisees. And then there's all kinds of accounts of God's people in rebellion. Like Simon, the Zealots. There were some who even located themselves under the legitimate, yet Roman endorsed leadership of Herod, you know the Herodians. So you have all of these people you can imagine literally in the same audience. Jesus pushes back and he begins to teach them. And he starts by talking about horticulture. He starts by saying, A sower goes out and he throws all this kind of seed. And it's not difficult to imagine that all of the seed, all the soil, everything is represented in what he's saying right there. And then it's not a story as if like, well, you take this away and try to process it in such a way that you might come to terms with it later on. It's happening in the here and now. Even what he's saying. Even the message that he's communicating is being man made manifest right there in their midst, and it's not returning a void to him. The one who wrote it to begin with is the one who's speaking it, and it's having its desired effect, even as we read it now, and it reads us today. [00:15:13] Jesus' Ministry and the Kingdom of God And so it's amazing that it's on this stage that Jesus steps out and he stands, especially in the synagogue when he reads from the Isaiah scroll. And he announces that the true jubilee has now arrived and it's arrived in him. You know, by the way, what's interesting there is we have, we have no real reason to think that Israel ever really practiced Jubilee as it was outlined in the scriptures. So we have this beautiful instruction for a reset, a pure reset, and one that is liberty and freedom in so many ways, but especially demonstrated in this economic reality. And Jesus commences his public ministry proclaiming the good new. News that the kingdom of God has arrived. I feel like we have to go there, right? Because this is just so good. So in MOOC chapter four, Jesus stands up. He asks for the scroll, and this is what he reads. Loved ones. These are fantastic words. I mean, hear them from the mouth of our Savior. Again, Jesus reads this, the spirits of the Lord is upon me. Because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. It's such incredibly strong and powerful news. We're getting this sense that there are those who are poor that need. To hear that something will be different. That they are her, that they're seen that all of the straining in life and all of their labor is not in vain, but here is one who's come to rescue them and that those who have been set in prison, those who are chained and under duress and find themselves locked up. That here he has come to proclaim liberty to the captives, and then for those that cannot see, that have lost their way entirely, that are groping in the dark, here is one that's coming to recover the sight. Hear that word, not to give it brand new, but to restore that which was originally present to begin with. Imagine the horror of having your sights and then having it taken away that. Knowing that there was something there that was beautiful in your midst, something that was precious to you, and now to have that restored, in fact, like Blind by de MEUs the Greek, there is more when God says, or Jesus rather, says, what do you want me to do for you? The Greek is very clear, just says, sight again, sight again. And I think we like our ancestors and Israel here before us. We ought to be always clamoring and crying. Then I tell God like, son of David sight again. Would you help me to see truly not as the world appears to be, but we spiritual eyes, to know the truth, to understand how much you love me, and would you gimme the strength to love you? Me back love you back by way of giving, yes, this sight. And then for all those who are downtrodden. Where, wherever, and whatever that means, physically, emotionally, spiritually, that here's the one who has come to, again, set you at liberty and then to say, do you know what this time is? This is the time of the Lord's favor. Why? Because the son of man is here and where the son of man is. There is freedom and restoration. There is a new king over all things. There's one who super intends over all of the earth. Who has been given control over all things and has come to win literally the day for those who are rebellious before God, for those who have sinned, who are covenant breakers, who are gospel abusers, while we were at yet enmity with God at the right time, Jesus and his son for us. And so we find that it's like the pretext, it's the context for all of this, and especially this parable. And of course, rather than. Everybody listening to what Jesus has to say here and just being one over being filled with some kind of winsome logic of what's being said here, of being thoroughly convinced. We know that of course it's not just a matter of evidence, but unless the Holy Spirit comes the same spirit, which is upon Jesus, the sin of God, to change us, to open our ears, that we do not hear these things, we don't hear them as we ought to. We do not give them heed. We do not internalize them, and we cannot understand them. And so because of that, rather than of course meeting with universal acceptance, Jesus, of course, he encounters a host of reactions. Some opposed him. The crowds sometimes were way more motivated, like people in our day by novelty or curiosity or by presume rewards or blessings. You can imagine this is what makes, of course, something like the Blat and grab, its kind of gospel, the prosperity of some of our modern evangelical expression, so incredibly dangerous. Because of course people will say, well, if I can get that blessing, of course I want Jesus. Or if I'm gonna be made, well, yes, I'll, I'll find, I'll take Jesus. If I'm gonna get wealth and riches and a 401k, that's gonna suit my every need. Well sure I'll take Jesus. And of course, the blessing, the reward of getting Jesus is getting the son of God, getting the one who restores us first and predominantly. With God the father himself, that all of those blessings are already ours in the spiritual realm because of Jesus. In fact, we've, we've already been placed with him in the heavenly realms. That is the reward. And so sometimes the gods were a little bit more motivated by, this guy's given us bread before. Let's see if there's gonna be another buffet, rather than he says We ought to eat and drink his flesh. That in that is eternal life, and so we get distracted. And so sometimes novelty and curiosity just win the day. And then of course, on the other hand. Some of the most unlikely unseemly, most sinful were responding with incredible joy and embracing Jesus and his announcement. Tenaciously like voraciously, the ones who were humble, who knew that they needed a savior, they needed a reconciliation that was alien and outside of themselves. Something powerful that could defeat even the sin that was within them and bring about a pure and unbridled atonement, unreserved in its ability to clean. These were the ones who were saying, come, Lord Jesus, these were the ones crying out, saying, have mercy on me, son of David. And we like them. Ought to follow that example. And so throughout Matthew's Gospel and Luke's gospel. There's a mixed response throughout the entire ministry of Jesus. And again, what's unique about this parable, I think, is that Jesus comes setting the stage for that unique response. All of those different kind of options and how people will perceive him, how they respond to him, what they will say to him. And so whether as you go through the narratives in the gospels, you look to. The Samaritan Leopard or the blind beggar, or the Chief tax Collector, or the impoverished widow, all of these were those who were forcing their way into the kingdom in response during the good news. There's really something I think that's beautiful about that, that God allows for us to force our way as it were. When we are convicted of this kingdom, that he is the kingdom and that he brings it to us. That we come headlong, rushing in, falling over ourselves to get into that kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit. And that's why I think, why, why Luke writes in chapter 16 of his gospel. The law in the prophets were until John. Since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is preached and everyone forces his way into it. What a amazing and lovely thing that God allows us. Which is the truth, to force our way into that. So these were the ones who proved to be the fertile soil for the word of the kingdom, not the ones who chose the places of honor or the privilege, or we saw Jesus one of many important priorities to be managed. What we have here is the ones who forced their way in. These were the ones who proved to be the fertile soil, and I'm not gonna steal. Any of our thunder, because Tony and I are gonna talk about that in the next episode. But I bring that up merely to say there's so much that's rich here. When we think about are we as Christians fruitful and fertile? In our following, after the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's Matthew's great theme of reversal, like beginning in the birth narratives of Jesus and continuing through the very end of his gospel count. Even like in his final parable, Jesus forced the confrontation with his opponents by declaring that God would give the kingdom to those who had produce a harvest for God in honor. His son. That's the truth. And so he was more than simply this messenger in these cleverly created stories announcing the arrival of God's reign. He was the one who brought the kingdom. And actually, in fact, Jesus embodies the kingdom because he was the king, not only of Israel, but the royal son of God who would rule the nations. And because of that. He did represent a threat to overthrow to some just as much as he was meant as a salvation and a blessing to others. He is divisive. In fact, what's interesting is if you track Jesus standing up in the temple. And he comes forward and reads from Isaiah. It's interesting where he stops reading. This is really before kind of the, all the language about the second coming back, him really coming not to bring just salvation, but to bring retribution, to bring justice and punishment for those who are God's enemies. And so really this first coming. Jesus is all about this. It's it's all about having the message of God go out in that return void. It's returning full of the response of God's people, full of the response of God's enemies and therefore. This parable, an ex explanation to his inner circle would be understood as an accounting for the surprising range of responses. And even more than I think like an ex explanation, like explicitly it would be this kind of preparation. This kind of, again, setting a table or opening up a pathway for this hard road that lay ahead for those who would remain true to Jesus. These would be the ones who would serve the ultimate purpose of God's great act of sowing in his son to produce a great harvest. And of course. That is partly what lies the hope for us. I mean, I think I said last time we spoke about this, what I appreciate about this teaching is not only that it doesn't pull any punches, but it's just so. Real, it's so resonant because Jesus already gives us some of the breadth and scope or the continuum of the responses so that when we go out and we should so unreservedly that that is by proclaiming Jesus as the king who has come as the kingdom already ushered in as here, but not yet. When we do this, we can expect already that there'll be various responses. So one for us, it takes away the surprise. The second is it does prepare us. That these things might in fact happen. And three, it gives us a sense that, again, the efficacy of salvation. And we're getting, by the way, this view of salvation from, from God isn't again dependent on the skillset of the sower. Instead, it is God's prerogative. It's always God's prerogative. And here as loved ones, you've heard me say again, I must invoke the phrase, we have God doing all the verbs, right? He's the one walking in the field. He's the one reaching in into the seed bag, as it were. He's the one casting it liberally across the ground. He's the one making it grow. All of this is what God is doing. The preparation of the soil, the casting of the seed, the being present in. Farmland. All of this is what God is doing now. We emulate that by design. So now the call is to do what Jesus has done here in Mala for us, and that is that we also go out into the world and we proclaim this good news because what is unequivocally true is that the good news of Jesus Christ. Is for all people. Now, this does not mean that all people will accept it. That is abundantly clear in the message that Jesus gives to us. It does not prevent though us or him from casting it out to all people. We see that really, really. Vividly. Some will be given ears to hear. We ought to pray that our neighbors, our children, those in our churches and our communities, our politicians, we ought to be praying that all would be given ears to hear, and the seed of God's word will accomplish exactly what God intends and Jesus' word, a proclamation announcing the good news of the kingdom of God. We see vividly the point that God's word is. Deed that this word that he spoke speaks is his action. It's not simply that God says what he will do, but that his very act of speaking is the means by which he does that very thing. When we hear God speak to us, it is proof that we are alive. Not only do like dead men tell no tales, I think I've just inadvertently like quoted from Disney's. Um. Pirates movie, but they hear no tells as well. You know, you have been born again, not a perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and abiding word of God. Incredible. Isn't it? Loved ones like it's incredible this story that to me on the beginning seems like so kind of. Boring and not particularly catchy and maybe not as interesting as some of the others contained within. This is literally all the words of life in the seed that we've seen thrown and in. It is like the continuum we find, not that it emulates the Old Testament, or that it somehow compliments New Testament, but within all within this parable is all of the scriptures and all of the full plan of God and all of his great love for us. That again, while we were at his enemies, he came and on this path, as he walks among the field, he casts the seed. To all, and he, by his power, gives to some these ears to hear. We find ourselves humbled. We find ourselves rushing in coming into the kingdom, fighting to come into it because God has impassioned us with that same zeal that has accomplished this very thing. He implants it in our hearts, in our minds, in our guts, so that we would come before him and worship him, fall down and find. The one who is our savior, who ushers in the visible kingdom of God, the one that is not built merely on political theories, on good rules. The kind of gospel that didn't come to make bad people good, but came to make dead people alive again. And I think that that is the absolute. Untouchable, unfathomable, almost completely un understandable, if you will, truth of this particular parable. I think this is why the Westminster confession describes the word of God, and particularly the preaching of the word as a means of grace. The word is powerful in itself by the spirits of God. I had to quote the Westminster, of course, at least in honor of Tony, so. [00:30:02] Call to Action and Final Thoughts That's my little challenge to you on this short little episode. It's just you and me and I'm saying to you loved ones. Consider this parable again. Consider how palpable this parable is. Consider what God has for us in it. Consider this soils. And then think about what it means that this good news, we see this within it, this vivid point again, that God's word is his deed. And so this is why though we do not create any kind of legalistic, conscription, or prescription around something like daily Bible study. Why? It's such a blessing to live in this period of time where we have such easy access for most of us to the word of God, and that we ought to be zealous about getting that word out to all people because, because behind it and within it and around it is the full power of the Holy Spirit that is always going out into the world and returning full with response and that when God. Speaks his word. He's always accomplishing his act in that very deed. And so it should be a blessing. We should be compelled to find ourselves in it as much as often as we can because what we're finding there is the power of God for us, in us speaking, administering to us to produce in us a great harvest. That's the promise it's coming, and we're gonna get there in the next. Episode, but what I'll leave you with is just those first two soils thinking about if you have ears to hear, if you have been made alive together with Christ, then consider that there was a time when you are one of the other soils and God who's being rich in mercy has rescued you. Not because of work done in righteousness, not because you've come forward and. Elevate your place to the, to elevate your state to the place of deserving poor. Not because like you came forward with, with empty hands and somehow convinced God that you are worthy enough, or sorry enough or contrite enough. But because of his great mercy, and it's that mercy, I think that compels us to say things to Jesus like Son of David Sight again. Son of David, have mercy on me, son of David. You are the real arrival of the Kingdom of God and your word bears testimony and your Holy Spirit has in a great work in my life. And to that end, I want to follow you and I want to ensure that this word that you've given to me is given to all people. So there's work to do, loved ones. And there's a lot there to process. I hope that you will take some time. Think about this in your own way, and as you are processing this as God is speaking to you, as you are joining together with loved ones from literally all over the world who are hanging out and listening to Tony and I chat about this stuff, that again, you would share your own voice, the best way to do that. Why do you make me beg you? Come join the Telegram chat. You'll have a great time. It's super fun. T me slash Reform Brotherhood. I would also be remiss if I didn't on behalf of myself and Tony, thank everyone who does hang out there, everyone who sent us the email, everyone who shares prayer requests or has prayed for us, and as well everyone who makes sure that this podcast. Is free of charge. It comes with its own expenses. It's not free to produce. And so we're so thankful that those who've said, listen, I've been blessed by the podcast, or It's just been important or special to me. God has done something in it. Or God has renewed a different kind of desire and passion to talk about the things of God or to encourage me in my life. I'm so happy if other things have happened. By the way, it's not because of Tony or me. It's because God is good to us. I mean, can I get an amen? I see that hand. In the back, God is good to Tony and me and we're just so thankful that we get to do this. And so if you'd like to join in supporting financially. Every little gift helps. You can go to patreon.com/reform brotherhood patreon.com, reform Brotherhood, and there you can find a way to give one time or reoccurring all of those gifts together. Make sure that there's no payrolls on this bad boy that you're not gonna get any super weird ads in the middle of it. You're just gonna get us talking. We want to em, I would say be emblematic of what we've talked about here, which is. Freely we've received freely want to give. And for those who join and say, I wanna make that possible so that no one has to be compelled to pay for this kind of thing, I love that we are here for that every day of the week and twice on the Lord's day. So next episode, Tony and I are gonna continue in this parable. We're probably, you know, gonna get together. We'll set up our tents, we'll just camp out here for a little bit. So until we get the tents out, we get the s'mores. And we start camping. Honor everyone love the brotherhood.

(Mark 12:13-17) Today we continue to follow along with Jesus' last week and we encounter a moment where some Pharisees and Herodians are sent by the leaders of the Jews to trap Jesus with a question about imperial taxes. Yet knowing their intent, Jesus not only sidesteps the trap but chooses to turn it into a teaching about our relationship with the world. Join us as Iain unpacks what Jesus is speaking about, while also inviting us to consider what it looks like for us to engage with the things of the world.

1 Chronicles 10 records the tragic death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa. Although they died fighting valiantly for Israel the final two verses of the chapter summarise his tragic life verses  "So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore, the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse." ESV The same message is found in nearly all Bible translations. Saul's life was the antithesis to the counsel of the Proverbs verses  "Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths" 3 verses 5-6. Ezekiel 23 deals with the two sisters Aholah (Samaria, or Israel - the undivided kingdom) and Aholibah (Judah). Their unfaithfulness to God is likened to adultery. Firstly, with the Assyrians. These women i.e. Israel and Judah didn't maintain their trust in their God. They suffered greatly for this, but failed to learn. Their lewdness was legendary, and they acted out of their own insatiable desires - not for any gain. The language used is quite graphic and it would be indelicate for us to elaborate now. Their whoring that had begun in the land of Egypt would find its outcome in the judgments to be exacted upon those two unfaithful kingdoms - symbolised by the two wicked sisters (Aholah and Aholibah). The fate that befell Israel (Samaria) would soon come upon Judah, who had failed to heed the warnings. In Luke 20 Jesus' authority to preach is challenged by each of the main religious parties of the time. The Lord's rebuttals are both masterful and examples of how to clearly understand and apply the Scriptures. Firstly, the priests came with a question regarding the authority of John the Baptist - was it endorsed by God, or not? Our Lord turned the question back on his adversaries. The priests and scribes refuse to answer our Lord's question knowing that they would be exposed whichever answer they provided. So, Jesus effectively says if you cannot decide on John's authority you cannot understand my authority to preach. So, neither will I answer you on the source of my authority. Jesus put to them a parable about the wicked tenants which was designed to show that our Lord was describing his enemies. This was proven by their reaction and demonstrated that they knew Jesus is the Son of God. And for that reason, our Lord's foes sought to put him to death. Then the Herodians came with the Pharisees to him with a question about taxes - they were political pragmatists, who were advanced because of Rome's favour. Their trick question was verses  "Should tribute be paid to Caesar or not?" A yes answer from Jesus was sure to alienate him from the Jewish people. An answer of no would amount to a charge of treason against Rome. How masterfully Christ answers verses  "Bring me a denarius. Whose is the image and superscription?" The coin bore Caesar's image - so, says our Lord, pay Caesar what is his. But our Lord Jesus is making a stronger point that we are made in the image and likeness of God. So, everything else belongs to our LORD. Next the Sadducees came with a hypothetical question about the resurrection. They thought, once again, that whichever way Jesus answers the answer would make the resurrection farcical.  The Lord's masterful answer was that they were clearly wrong on two counts - one being a failure to understand the Scriptures; and, secondly, a denial of the power of the Almighty. Jesus answers them by quoting from the Book of Moses (Exodus 3 verses 15). If those words are true 500 years after Abraham's death that Yahweh IS Abraham's God, then Abraham's future is assured. The logic is irrefutable since the Scriptures only speak of one path to immortality i.e. through resurrection and subsequently glorification. Our hope is that in the kingdom we will be as the angels are now. Jesus then poses to them a question about Psalm 110 - "If Messiah is David's son, then why does David call him 'My Lord'?" The obvious answer being that not only is Christ David's son, but more importantly he is also the Son of God. His enemies were utterly silenced. The chapter concludes with a denunciation of the scribes. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

Mark 3:1-6 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin see Jesus's Sabbath miracle as backing up His claim to be Lord of the Sabbath.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=22680The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Gary reflects on Mark 12:13-17, looking at the Pharisees and Herodians questioning Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar. 

Jesus is confronted with two tricky questions, one about paying taxes to Caesar and one about the resurrection. In this episode of Midweek Move, Dallas and Carlos unpack Mark 12:13-27, exploring Jesus' wisdom, the motives of His challengers, and what this passage means for us today. Time Stamps 00:00 – Intro: Death and taxes 00:21 – Setting the stage: Confrontations in Mark 12 01:27 – Pharisees and Herodians team up 03:01 – The trap question: Pay taxes or not? 04:29 – Jesus' brilliant response 06:01 – What this means for Christians and government today 07:46 – Enter the Sadducees: another trap question 08:56 – Reading motives into Scripture carefully 12:00 – The hypothetical marriage question 13:07 – False dichotomies and modern parallels 16:15 – Jesus' answer: No marriage in the resurrection 19:02 – Jesus proves resurrection from the Pentateuch 20:26 – Importance of knowing Scripture and staying teachable 23:29 – Final thoughts and challenge

More than Taxes: Giving God What Is His

More than Taxes: Giving God What Is His

Jesus addresses the topics of taxes and life after death. Jesus skillfully navigates the trap set by the Pharisees and Herodians and teaches about our obligations to both earthly authorities and God. Sermon Notes Mark 12:13 – 17 Seeking to trap Jesus the Pharisees and Herodians ask Him a question about taxes and Jesus' amazing response Mark 12:18 – 23 Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection Mark 12:24 – 27 Jesus' answer is that God is the God of the living

In Matthew 22:15–22, the Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar, but He responds with wisdom: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” The coin bore Caesar's image, so taxes rightfully belonged to him; but since people bear God's image, our lives belong to God. This passage teaches us to respect governing authorities and fulfill civic duties like paying taxes, while remembering that our ultimate loyalty is to God. More than money, He desires our whole selves—our time, talents, and treasures—as a response to His grace, because in Christ He has declared us priceless.

3 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. A Great Crowd Follows Jesus7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. The Twelve Apostles13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Jesus' Mother and Brothers31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 3:1–35.

Whose authority are you living under? When confronted with a politically charged trap, Jesus shows Himself to be the wisest person on earth. The Pharisees and Herodians, enemies who unite only because they hate Him more, try to corner Him with a question about taxes. But Jesus doesn't take the bait. Instead, He exposes the deeper issue—our rebellion against God. “Why put Me to the test?” He asks, cutting straight to the heart. His answer, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's,” challenges our view of ownership and authority. Taxes may belong to Caesar, but our very lives belong to God. To render to Him is not to pay from what we think is ours, but to surrender what has always been His. This call feels costly, but it comes from the One who gave up His own riches, stepped down into poverty, and bore the cost of our rebellion so we could be made rich in Him. The real question is not whose authority Jesus affirms—but whether we have surrendered ourselves fully to God.You can join our OneLife Sunday morning gatherings via livestream at 8:45am and 10;30am CST every Sunday morning. Or if you're local to the Bay Area of Houston, we'd love to have you join us in person Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 8:45am, 10:30am, or 12:30pm!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to join us live on Sunday mornings: https://www.youtube.com/@onelifechurch381Listen to more messages from OneLife Church at https://www.onelifehouston.com/messagesIf you would like to give to OneLife Church, you can do that here https://www.onelifehouston.com/giveAt OneLife, we want to be and make disciples of Jesus who love God, one another, and our world. We are God's people making much of Jesus in everyday life for the good of the neighborhoods in the Bay Area of Houston and beyond.For more information about us and our gatherings, visit https://www.onelifehouston.comConnect with us over social media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onelifehouston​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onelifechurch

1 Kings 12 tells us of Rehoboam's folly following the death of Solomon. Rehoboam fails to heed the wise counsel of the elders and rather harkens to the ridiculous reasoning of his entitled peers. The outcome of this is the division of the kingdom, as prophesied by Ahijah. Jeroboam is termed in scripture "the man who caused Israel to sin". Jeroboam set up two golden calves - the one in the north at Dan; and the other in Beersheba in the south. Rehoboam sent his treasurer to collect the tribute from Israel. But they stoned the treasurer causing Rehoboam to flee in his chariot. Rehoboam then mustered his army but was dissuaded from fighting against his brethren by the prophet Shemaiah who tells the king that the division is from the LORD. To his credit Rehoboam responded to the Word of God and sent the army home. King Jeroboam from the northern branch of the divided kingdom next changes the timing of the feast of worship from the seventh to the eighth month. This idolatrous man made his priests from the lowest of the people. All of this was designed to maintain the division. Jeroboam was fearful that Israel might, if they went to the Feast in Jerusalem, be reconciled to Rehoboam. This 38th chapter of Jeremiah told of the malevolent treatment afforded the prophet at the hands of the treacherous princes casting him into the mire (mud) of the cistern. He was rescued by the kind and faithful Ethiopian, Ebed-melech. Our Sovereign recompensed the Ethiopian eunuch's kindness to Yahweh's prophet. After his deliverance Jeremiah presented his entreaties secretly to the king. Jeremiah again counsels the king to save Judah by surrendering to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.Mark 12 begins with the parable of the tenants of the vineyard which spoke of Israel. The parable tells of the constant rejection of God's servants, the prophets; and the ultimate sin of Israel in rejecting the Son of the Father. The nation's wicked rulers saw themselves in Jesus' words and fulfilled the prophecy of our Lord in plotting Jesus' death. Christ's enemies make several attempts to undermine our Lord's authority. The chapter shows that each prominent party posed hypothetical questions. The first was from an alliance of the Herodians, who were pragmatists who were prepared to cooperate with Rome, and the arch enemies of the Herodians - the Pharisees. The question from this unholy alliance was on taxation. The master not only answers majestically, but he directs their minds to God's claims on them. We are next told of the Sadducees posing their question on resurrection. This sect were the priestly class. They were wealthy and used their power to accumulate wealth. The Sadducees did not accept the teaching of the resurrection; nor any of the Scriptures apart from the 5 Books of Moses. These hypocrites were likewise confounded by incontestable proof from Exodus 3 - one of the five writings that were accepted by them - of the raising of the dead. The Scribes with the Pharisees pose a problem to our Lord as to which commandment was the greatest. Jesus answers by showing that the entire message of the Law and the Prophets hung equally on the love of God and the love one's neighbour. Christ then turns the tables on his foes through a simple question in two parts;- 1) whose son is the Messiah (easy they thought - David's of course); and, part 2) how then in Psalm 110 is the Christ spoken of as David's Lord? The inescapable answer was that the Christ, Messiah, was greater because he was the Son of God as well as son of David. The chapter concludes with a denunciation of the Scribes and an object lesson from the widow, who gave all. https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

1 Kings 12 tells us of Rehoboam's folly following the death of Solomon. Rehoboam fails to heed the wise counsel of the elders and rather harkens  to the ridiculous reasoning of his entitled peers. The outcome of this is the division of the kingdom, as prophesied by Ahijah. Jeroboam is termed in scripture "the man who caused Israel to sin". Jeroboam set up two golden calves - the one in the north at Dan; and the other in Beersheba in the south. Rehoboam sent his treasurer to collect the tribute from Israel. But they stoned the treasurer causing  Rehoboam to flee in his chariot. Rehoboam then mustered his army but was dissuaded from fighting against his brethren by the prophet Shemaiah who tells the king that the division is from the LORD. To his credit Rehoboam responded to the Word of God and sent the army home. King Jeroboam from the northern branch of the divided kingdom next changes the timing of the feast of worship from the seventh to the eighth month. This idolatrous man made his priests from the lowest of the people. All of this was designed to maintain the division. Jeroboam was fearful that Israel might, if they went to the Feast in Jerusalem, be reconciled to Rehoboam.  This 38th chapter of Jeremiah told of the malevolent treatment afforded the prophet at the hands of the treacherous princes casting him into the mire (mud) of the cistern. He was rescued by the kind and faithful Ethiopian, Ebed-melech. Our Sovereign recompensed the Ethiopian eunuch's kindness to Yahweh's prophet. After his deliverance Jeremiah presented his entreaties secretly to the king. Jeremiah again counsels the king to save Judah  by surrendering to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. Mark 12 begins with the parable of the tenants of the vineyard which spoke of Israel. The parable tells of the constant rejection of God's servants, the prophets; and the ultimate sin of Israel in rejecting the Son of the Father. The nation's wicked rulers saw themselves in Jesus' words and fulfilled the prophecy of our Lord in plotting Jesus' death. Christ's enemies make several attempts to undermine our Lord's authority. The chapter shows that each prominent party posed hypothetical questions. The first was from an alliance of the Herodians, who were pragmatists who were prepared to cooperate with Rome, and the arch enemies of the Herodians - the Pharisees. The question from this unholy alliance was on taxation. The master not only answers majestically, but he directs their minds to God's claims on them. We are next told of the Sadducees posing their question on resurrection. This sect were the priestly class. They were wealthy and used their power to accumulate wealth. The Sadducees did not accept the teaching of the resurrection; nor any of the Scriptures apart from the 5 Books of Moses. These hypocrites were likewise confounded by incontestable proof from Exodus 3 - one of the five writings that were accepted by them - of the raising of the dead. The Scribes with the Pharisees pose a problem to our Lord as to which commandment was the greatest. Jesus answers by showing that the entire message of the Law and the Prophets hung equally on the love of God and the love one's neighbour. Christ then turns the tables on his foes through a simple question in two parts;- 1) whose son is the Messiah (easy they thought - David's of course); and, part 2) how then in Psalm 110 is the Christ spoken of as David's Lord? The inescapable answer was that the Christ, Messiah, was greater because he was the Son of God as well as son of David. The chapter concludes with a denunciation of the Scribes and an object lesson from the widow, who gave all.  https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

In this sermon based on Mark 12:13-17, Pastor Jim explores Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees and Herodians, who aimed to trap him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus cleverly asks for a coin and replies, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." The sermon highlights our dual citizenship as believers—we have duties to earthly authorities, such as paying taxes and obeying laws, as well as responsibilities to God, like tithing and following His Word. Pastor Jim also discusses the story of the widow's mite from Mark 12:41-44 to illustrate that giving should come from a joyful, generous heart rather than a focus on the amount.Please let us know if you are watching our stream for the first time, if you have made a decision, or need prayer – text CONNECT to (941) 260-1395 or click here: https://form.church/connectionClick here if you would like to give online: https://subsplash.com/u/-QJD4RD/giveMusic used with permission, CCLI License # 594759, Streaming Plus License # 21044022

We all want to do the will of God, don't we? The Bible is full of examples of those who claim to do the will of God, but who fail to grasp what the will of God really is!  Some deceive themselves into thinking that what they say and do  is in harmony with the ways of God – and is therefore his will.The principle we need to follow is plain – to read God's word regularly and do so with a totally honest God-fearing heart, so that we do not twist its' meaning to suit our own desires.What we read today in Mark ch. 3 shows that many of the Jews, especially the religious leaders were obsessed with  keeping the Sabbath in a ritualistic way.- creating for themselves the spirit of self-righteousness to such an extent it blinded their minds to what Jesus was saying and doing.Because Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath Day “the Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” [v.6]  They later made wild allegations against him saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul … the prince of demons” [v.22]It is highly interesting that there is no mention of demons, or even the word ‘devil' in the Old Testament.  Baalzebub gets a mention (2 Kings 1 v.3) as the idol-God in Ekron!    Human imagination about the evil-spirit world had only come as a result of the influence of Greek philosophy when they conquered the ancient world before Christ.We notice how Jesus, in a sense ‘makes fun' or ridicules their ways of thinking ‘How can Satan cast out Satan?” [v.23]  His family members come to see what is going on, obviously there were rumours circulating about him: they are “standing outside, they sent to him and called him.” [v.31]  He is told they “are outside seeking you”.His response is very significant, “looking about at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he (or she) is my brother and sister and mother.”The religious leaders had a corrupted perception of the will of God: we, who have God's word so readily available have no excuse for failing to read it carefully so that we know the ways and principles upon which God acts and so do “the will of God” and as a result are truly Christ's “brother and sister and mother”

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Thank you for joining me today and following us throughout Project 23. If you want to know more about this project click the link to learn more and partner with us. Our text today is Mark 12:13-17: And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him. — Mark 12:13-17 It's a trap disguised as a question. The Pharisees and Herodians, strange allies, join forces to corner Jesus. They ask about taxes. If he sides with Caesar, he looks like a sellout. If he sides against Caesar, they'll turn him in. But Jesus doesn't flinch at their political trap. He asks for a coin, points to Caesar's image, and delivers a mic-drop moment: “Render to Caesar what is Caesar's—and to God what is God's.” They came for a soundbite. What they got was a lesson on image, ownership, and ultimate allegiance. Because the coin may bear the emperor's image, but you bear God's. Jesus isn't just being clever. He's being confrontational. Caesar may own the coin, but God owns everything—including you. You're made in His image. That means every breath, every choice, every allegiance belongs to Him. That's not a political dodge—it's the deeper political tension. It's the political discussion most people won't have. God's image is the greater political image. And no matter where your passport says you're from, His image on your soul demands a higher allegiance. So yes—pay your taxes. Be a good citizen. Honor the laws of the land. But don't let politics become a spiritual escape. Don't let national loyalty replace kingdom loyalty. Because you can't truly render to Caesar what's his unless you've already rendered to God what's His: that's everything. #GreaterAllegiance, #GodsImage, #Mark12 ASK THIS: Why did Jesus ask about the image on the coin? What does it mean to bear God's image in daily life? How are you tempted to give your energy to earthly kingdoms over God's? What would it look like to truly “render to God” what is His? DO THIS: Ask: Am I spending more energy defending Caesar's image than reflecting God's? PRAY THIS: Father, you made me in your image. I don't want to give my loyalty to lesser kings. Help me live in a way that reflects your rule. Amen. PLAY THIS: “No Other Name”

In this episode, we continue our Inquisition series by looking at one of Jesus' most brilliant and politically loaded questions: “Whose image is on the coin?” (Matthew 22, Luke 20, Mark 12). What starts as a trap by the Pharisees and Herodians becomes a powerful teaching on identity, allegiance, and the Kingdom of Heaven.We unpack the historical tension of Roman occupation, the weight of taxation in Jesus' day, and how Jesus flips the question to reveal a deeper truth: we are made in God's image, and our ultimate allegiance belongs to Him. In a world full of competing loyalties, this message calls us to give Caesar his coin—but give God our lives.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Get a copy of the MM Companion Journal: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/journal ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:13–17 - [13] And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. [14] And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” [15] But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” [16] And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” [17] Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate. To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Get a copy of the MM Companion Journal: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/journal ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:13–17 - [13] And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. [14] And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” [15] But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” [16] And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” [17] Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

JUNE 15 | III The Advancement of the Kingdom | Mark 3:1-6Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Dr. Tom Curran continues to share insights from 20 life-changing scripture passages. Tom talks about what it looks like to live a "withered hand existence" in the world today and encourages Catholics to rise and come forward! Tom's List of Life-Changing Scripture PassagesAgain he entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death. (Mk 3: 1-6)OrMoving on from there, he went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. (Matt. 12: 9-14)

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 13. We find ourselves right in the middle of Holy week. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the Passover and has been spending the days leading up to the feast speaking in the temple being challenged by Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and an many others trying to get him to slip up so that they can arrest him. Now as he and his disciples make their way out of the city, Jesus takes the opportunity in private to reveal to his followers things that are yet to come.

This week we continue with Mark Chapter 13. We find ourselves right in the middle of Holy week. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the Passover and has been spending the days leading up to the feast speaking in the temple being challenged by Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and an many others trying to get him to slip up so that they can arrest him. Now as he and his disciples make their way out of the city, Jesus takes the opportunity in private to reveal to his followers things that are yet to come.

Mark 12:13-17Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?”But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”“Caesar's,” they replied.Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.”And they were amazed at him.

InLuke 20, the Jewish priests, elders, scribes, and the Herodians confront Jesuswith different questions or situations seeking to find a reason to have Himkilled (v.19). They have questioned Him about His authority and Jesus respondswith a question for them about the authority of John the Baptist and also aparable (vv. 1-19). The spies, sent by the Pharisees and the Herodians (Mark12:13), question Him about paying taxes to Caesar and Jesus shuts them downwith His answer (vv. 20-26).   Inverses 27-40, we find next in line were the Sadducees with a hypotheticalquestion based on the Jewish law of "levirate marriage". You willfind where they get this teaching from in Genesis 38 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10.The word levirate comes from the Latin levir, which means "a husband'sbrother." The Sadducees accepted as Scripture only the Five Books of Moses.Also in Acts 23:8 we are told they did not believe in angels, spirits, or theresurrection of the dead. They claimed that Moses did not write about any ofthese doctrines.  Itis interesting to also note that the priestly party in Israel during the timeof Jesus was mostly composed of Sadducees, which explains why the priestsopposed the Apostles' preaching of the Resurrection (Acts 4:1-2) and why theywanted to kill Lazarus, who was raised from the dead (John 12:10-11). Jesuspointed out that His opponents were wrong and that their question revealedassumptions that limited God's power and denied God's Word. Resurrection is notreconstruction; it is the miraculous granting of a new body that has continuitywith the old body. Paul compared our present body to a planted seed and thefuture resurrection body to the glorious flower and fruit (1 Cor. 15:35-50).Our Lord's resurrection body was the same as before His death and yetdifferent! Remember after Jesus' resurrection His disciples recognized Him andeven felt Him; He could eat food and yet He could also walk through closeddoors, change His appearance, and vanish suddenly.  Thefuture life with God is not a mere continuation of the present life only on"a higher scale." We will maintain our identities and know each other(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), but there will be no more death-hence, no need formarriage and procreation. Christians do not become angels.  Inheaven we will share the image of Jesus Christ and be much higher than theangels (1 John 3:2). Angels appear in Scripture as men, but they are spiritbeings without sexuality. It is in this regard that we will be like them; therewill be no need for marriage or childbearing in heaven. Isnot God powerful enough to raise the dead and give them new bodies suited totheir new environment? If today He can give different bodies to the variousthings in creation, why can He not give people new bodies at the resurrection? (1Corinthians 15:35-44). In their attempt to be "rational," theSadducees denied the very power of God! Paulunveils the mystery of when and what takes place concerning the believer'sresurrection body in both 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:47-58. Ibelieve that Jesus is coming back soon and “in a moment, in the twinkling of aneye” the living believers will experience a great change! Our perishable bodywill put on the imperishable, and our mortal body will put on immortality.  Hallelujah!!!What a day that will be! Are you prepared for that great day! It could betoday!

InLuke 20:20-26 the Jewish priests, elders, scribes, and the Herodians continueto confront Jesus seeking to find a reason to have Him killed (v.19). On thisparticular occasion, Jesus knew that the men who questioned Him were spies sentby the Pharisees and the Herodians according to Mark 12:13, but He patientlylistened and replied.  Thesetwo groups were usually fighting each other, but now they had a common enemy,and this brought them together. They wanted to discuss taxes and Romanauthority, hoping to provoke Jesus into offending either the Jews or the Romans.If Jesus said, “pay the Roman tax,” they knew that He would offend and angerthe Jews who hated the Romans ruling over them. If Jesus said, “don't pay the Romantax,” He would be considered an insurrectionist by the Roman rulers and couldbe put to death. But Jesus lifted the discussion to a much higher level andforced the spies to think about the relationship between the kingdom of God andthe kingdoms of men. TheBible teaches that governmental authority is instituted by God and must berespected (Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21, 37-38; Rom. 13; 1 Peter 2:11-17). Yes, ourcitizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and we are strangers and pilgrims onearth, but that does not mean we should ignore our earthly responsibilities.Human government is essential to a safe and orderly society, for man is asinner and must be kept under control.  Whenyou read the book of Judges you find what it is like when there is no authorityover the people. Because there was no king in Israel, “every man did what wasright in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). The land was filled with anarchy,violence, murder, stealing, confusion, and chaos! God knows we need human governmentfor peace and order. Inverses 20-26, Jesus was not suggesting that we divide our loyalties between Godand government. Since "the powers that be are ordained of God" (Rom.13:1), we live as good citizens when we obey the authorities for the Lord'ssake. When obedience to God conflicts with obedience to man, then we must putGod first (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29), but we must do it in a manner that is honorableand loving. Even if we cannot respect the people in office, we must respect theoffice.  Thecounsel that Jeremiah gave to the Jewish exiles in Babylon is a good one forGod's "strangers and pilgrims" to follow today. “And seek thepeace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and prayto the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” (Jeremiah 29:7) Todaywe are instructed in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “Therefore I exhort first of all thatsupplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for allmen, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet andpeaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptablein the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come tothe knowledge of the truth.” Caesar'simage and name were on the coins, so it was basically his currency. To pay thepoll tax meant simply to give Caesar back that which belonged to him. God'simage is stamped on us; therefore, He has the right to command our lives ascitizens in His kingdom. We should seek to be such good citizens that God willbe glorified and the unsaved will be attracted to the Gospel and want to becomeChristians (1 Peter 2:9-12; 3:8-17).  Itis unfortunate that some Christians have the mistaken idea that the moreobnoxious they are as citizens, the more they please God and witness forChrist. We must never violate our conscience, but we should seek to bepeacemakers and not troublemakers. Daniel is an example to follow (Dan. 1). God bless!

➡️ The Parable of the TenantsJesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who leased his property to tenants. At harvest time, he sent servants to collect his portion of the fruit, but the tenants beat and killed them. Finally, he sent his son, but they killed him too, believing they could take the inheritance.Jesus asked, "What will the owner do? He will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." Then he quoted Psalm 118: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."The religious leaders knew Jesus was speaking about them, and they were trying to arrest him. But what's truly striking is what God was seeking to collect — not your good works or religious achievements, but your sins. ➡️ What About Taxes?Then, Pharisees and Herodians (normally enemies) joined forces to trap Jesus with a question about taxes: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?" Jesus asked for a coin and said, "Whose image is on this? Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."This goes beyond just paying taxes. Caesar claimed divinity, putting his image on coins to assert ownership. Roman citizens idolized him.Jesus established proper boundaries: earthly rulers have legitimate but limited authority, while God's authority is ultimate.We make the same mistake today, turning political leaders into idols, believing our safety depends on "our side" winning. We forget all rulers are temporary, and God works His saving purpose even through imperfect governments — remember, Jesus "suffered under Pontius Pilate."Whether you have a good government or bad, pray for it — but we never want to confuse which kingdom ultimately matters.Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

Inthe first 10 verses of Luke 19, we meet Jesus as the Savior who seeks the lostand we have the story of Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector who comes to faithand salvation through Jesus Christ. Then, in verse 11, we meet the master whorewards faithful servants. My friend, that's who Jesus is. He is the Savior,but he's also the master who expects us to be faithful servants. Itsays in verse 11, "Now as they heard these things, he spoke anotherparable because he was near Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdomof God would appear immediately." Jesus is at the end of His three anda half years of earthly ministry. He's on his way to Jerusalem with hisdisciples, preaching, sharing, doing miracles, and healing people. He knowsthat He's going to be crucified, but the disciples and many others believe He isgoing to Jerusalem to set up his kingdom. Atthat time in the Jewish world, there were subversive groups like the Zealotswho used commando tactics against Rome. There were also the Herodians, Jewishpoliticians who compromised their faith to rule with the Romans over the Jewishpeople in the land of Israel. Then, you had the common people, the majority,who were looking for the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies for theMessiah, the King to come and set up His kingdom. That'swhy this verse says that as Jesus neared Jerusalem, He told this parablebecause they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. They werethinking Jesus is this possible king, the Prophet prophesied in the OldTestament, the Messiah who's come to give us a deliverer. This was at the timeof Passover, and people were flooding into Jerusalem by the thousands. Theywere looking for a deliverer, just like the Passover represented beingdelivered out of Egypt when God gave them a deliverer, Moses. Now they believedthat one like Moses would come and deliver them from the Roman rule. Theythought Jesus was that deliverer. Jesusthen tells them this story, beginning in verse 12, about “a certain noblemanwho went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. Hecalled 10 of his servants, delivered to them 10 minas, and said to them,"Do business till I come." But his citizens hated him and sent adelegation after him, saying, "We will not have this man to reign overus." When he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded theseservants to whom he had given the money to be called to him that he might knowhow much every man had gained by trading.” Jesusis presenting a picture here. It's interesting that there were 10 servants towhom he gave 10 minas, money. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable ofthe talents, and the master giving different amounts,5 to one, two to another,and one to one, to three servants. That was a picture of the gifts God giveseach of us to serve Him, and how we use those gifts will be held accountable.But here, he gave the same amount of money to ten servants and then tells howat least three of them were held accountable. We believe the application isthat Jesus gave the Word of God to all His followers today to share witheveryone we can, and we're going to be held accountable for it. Thelesson here is that God expects us to be faithful with whatever He gives us,and He will hold us accountable for our faithfulness and obedience with thegifts and the Word of God that we're to share with those around us. May theLord help us to learn this lesson well.  Itrust you will use the Spiritual gifts that God's blessed you with and also sharethe Word of God with whoever crosses your path today.

The religious leaders continue to confront Jesus revealing themselves as failed shepherds, more concerned with public opinion and preserving power than genuinely seeking truth. When they send an unlikely alliance of Pharisees and Herodians to trap Jesus with a seemingly impossible dilemma about paying Roman taxes, they expose their desperation. Their flattering approach – "Teacher, we know you are truthful" – thinly veils their attempt to force Jesus into a political no-win situation.What happens next has shaped Christian understanding of political engagement for two millennia. Jesus asks for a coin, revealing both his own lack of wealth and creating a powerful teaching moment. "Whose image is on this?" he asks, before delivering his revolutionary answer: "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God." With elegant simplicity, Jesus transcends their false dichotomy, leaving his would-be trappers "amazed."This passage challenges prosperity gospel teachings (Jesus had no money) and those who equate holiness with poverty (Jesus had no problem with money itself). Instead, it offers a balanced, profound understanding of how believers navigate dual citizenship in earthly kingdoms while maintaining primary allegiance to God's kingdom.Dive deeper into Mark's gospel with us as we examine how Jesus masterfully teaches eternal truths while deliberately moving toward the cross that will change everything. Subscribe now to continue this journey verse by verse through Scripture.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day. We are working our way through the entire Bible in what we call Project23. If you want to read more about this or get behind it, you can read about Project23 at the link in the description today. I would love to give a shout-out today to David Weiss from Stillwell, KS. Thanks for being a partner with the ministry. We cannot do what we do without the faithful support of families like yours. This is for you today! Today, we're looking at Mark 3:1-6: Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. — Mark 3:1-6 Jesus walked into the synagogue, but not everyone came to worship. Imagine that worshippers came to test the teacher. They weren't there to be taught—but to trap the teacher. They also weren't concerned with the disabled man standing nearby. They were there looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. But Jesus didn't back down, and he did not change course. In fact, it did not seem to affect his presence or approach. Jesus calls the disabled man forward—right through the cold stares of the religious elite. And what could've been a moment of confrontation becomes a moment of clarity and compassion. Calling the man to him, Jesus asks one probing question: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm?” Then silence. No one said a word. And that silence broke Jesus's heart. Jesus looked at them—not with fear (as we might) but with disappointment and grief because their hearts had grown so hard. They had become so obsessed with rules they'd forgotten how to be merciful, compassionate, and loving. Then Jesus turned to the man and said, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man did. He didn't argue or hide. He simply obeyed. And in that moment, what was physically broken was made whole. Jesus didn't just heal a hand—He exposed every heart. You see, Jesus didn't just restore one man's hand. He revealed the hearts of every man in the room. One man was open to healing—and let himself be changed. The others, especially the religious elite, resisted any change at all. Their minds and hearts were darkened. Therefore, one man was left healed. The others left plotting a scandalous murder. But here's the issue: It is easy to spot legalism in others, and it's harder to see where that legalism lives in us until we are "plotting" to murder others with our attitude and actions. So here's my question to you today: Do you have a hard heart to the healing that Jesus wants to provide? Jesus is here, and he's inviting you to lay down your hard heart and receive deep healing. He's still saying: “Stretch out your hand and be made new.” ASK THIS: What stands out most to you in Jesus' question to the crowd? Why do you think silence grieved Him more than words? Where do you see the difference between a hard heart and a humble one? What's one thing Jesus may be asking you to stretch out in trust today? DO THIS: Bring one part of your life that feels weak or hidden into the light. Name it. And offer it to Jesus today in prayer. PRAY THIS: Jesus, I don't want to live with a hard heart. Soften me. Heal what's broken. Give me the courage to stretch out my weakness in faith. Amen. PLAY THIS: Healer.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:1–6 - [1] Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. [2] And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. [3] And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” [4] And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. [5] And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. [6] The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen -- Support our SPANISH TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportSpanish -- Support our HINDI TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportHindi -- Support our CHINESE TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportChinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate. To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:1–6 - [1] Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. [2] And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. [3] And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” [4] And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. [5] And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. [6] The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen -- Support our SPANISH TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportSpanish -- Support our HINDI TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportHindi -- Support our CHINESE TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportChinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

These parables are oftentaken out of context and misinterpreted, but they have much to teach us aboutGod's work, Satan's schemes, and our call to discernment.  First, Jesus asks, “Whatis the kingdom of God like? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a mantook and planted in his garden; and it grew and became a great tree, and thebirds of the air lodged in its branches” (Luke 13:18-19). On the surface,this sounds like success—a tiny seed sprouting into a towering tree. Butsomething's off. Mustard seeds grow into shrubs, not trees. This abnormalgrowth hints at distortion. The Jews knew their Scriptures: a mighty tree oftensymbolized a world power (Ezekiel 17:22-24; Daniel 4:20-22), and birds, as inthe parable of the sower (Luke 8:5, 12), represent evil—Satan and his forces(Matthew 13:19). Jesus isn't picturing triumph here, but a kingdom infiltratedby falsehood. Then He says, “Towhat shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman tookand hid in three measures of meal until it was all leavened” (Luke13:20-21). Leaven, in Scripture, consistently symbolizes evil (Exodus 12:14-20;Luke 12:1).  Think of the Pharisees'hypocrisy or Herod's corruption (Matthew 16:12; Mark 8:15). A woman hidingleaven in meal suggests stealthy contamination, not godly influence. Theseparables, echoing Matthew 13, don't show the kingdom conquering the world.Instead, they warn of Satan's two-pronged attack: abnormality (the oversizedtree) and adulteration (the hidden leaven). For context, Jesusspoke amid opposition. The synagogue ruler had just fumed over a Sabbathhealing, clinging to dead traditions. These parables counter that mindset:“Your rules won't stop God's kingdom, but Satan will distort it.” Historically,Israel rejected Christ, and during this church age, God's program facesfailure—not in its ultimate victory, but in its present form. The mustard seedreflects “Christendom”—the visible, professing church—growing unnaturallylarge, like after Constantine, when the “Organized Church” became a politicalpower, not a humble “little flock” (Luke 12:32). Like birds, the false teachersnest in its branches.  The leaven showscorruption creeping in: Pharisees with empty rituals, Sadducees denying thesupernatural, Herodians bowing to Rome. Today the church battles similardistortions, such as legalism, skepticism, and compromise. Jesus isn'tcontradicting Himself here. He'd already called leaven evil (Luke 12:1). Nor dothese parables promise global permeation; population growth outpaced by truefaith. The kingdom's seed often falls on barren soil, Satan sows counterfeits,and the net catches good and bad fish (Matthew 13). Yet, there's hope: God'strue kingdom endures, despite the mess. These stories challenge the crowd, andus, to look beyond appearances. The religious leaders saw only theirtraditions; Jesus saw Satan's schemes and God's bigger plan. What does this mean forus? We're in a mixed age where truth and falsehood grow together. We mustdiscern the real kingdom from its counterfeits, not confusing size or influencewith godliness. Satan attacks with abnormality (prideful bigness) andadulteration (subtle lies). Our job isn't to fix the whole tree or the meal butto be faithful, bearing true fruit in a crooked world, trusting God for thefinal harvest. Closing ChallengeThis week, examine yourfaith: Are you swayed by the “big tree” of flashy religion or the “leaven” ofwatered-down truth? Pick one area of your life, maybe a belief, habit, orinfluence, and test it against Scripture. Root out any distortion and commit toauthentic, humble faith. Be a seed of truth in a tangled world. PrayerLord Jesus, thank Youfor revealing the kingdom's reality of growth amid corruption. Open our eyes toSatan's schemes and keep us from false traditions or lies. Help us bear truefruit, faithful to You, not the world's show. Strengthen us to stand firm untilYour victory comes. Amen. 

Having seen the repeated questions and confrontations between Jesus and the religious leaders in Mark's gospel, we came to a decisive moment last Sunday. In Mark 3:6, the Pharisees and Herodians resolved that Jesus had to be "destroyed." He had disregarded their traditions regarding ritual fasting, separation from sinners, and the Sabbath, and His message of God's kingdom was not the same message they taught. He had become a threat. Though the Pharisees' opposition was now at a fever pitch, Jesus' ministry had never been more popular. As Mark 3:7 begins, Jesus withdraws to the seashore, and a massive crowd of people from a hundred-mile radius come to Him. As the leaders refuse to acknowledge Jesus' identity, masses of people are coming. However, Mark doesn't present this as a cause for celebration. Mark 3:7- 19 contrasts how the crowd (and unclean spirits) respond to Jesus and how his called disciples respond. The crowd comes to Jesus as nothing more than consumers. They desire relief from their physical ailments and spiritual maladies rather than Jesus Himself. Mark presents their press upon Jesus to touch him and be healed as a danger to Jesus, whose priority is proclaiming the kingdom of God (hence his need for a boat. 3:9; 4:1). Yet there is another group present who acknowledge Jesus' identity and authority in all its reality. The unclean spirits fall before Jesus and declare Him the Son of God, something the religious leaders would not do. However orthodox their profession may be, they are not citizens of His kingdom or those whose hearts desire and love Him. They profess the truth about Him, but they hate it. Finally, Jesus chooses the twelve, committed and commissioned, as His ambassadors: three groups - three responses to Jesus. Sunday, we will apply this passage to our own lives and ask which group describes us. I. The Consumers: The Crowd (v. 7-10) II. The Cognizant: The Unclean Spirits (v. 11-12) III. The Committed & Commissioned (v. 13-19)

2 Year Gospel Study - week 64 (Friday, 03–21-25) Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 6 Scripture - Matthew 21:45-46, Matthew 22:1-45, Revelation 7:9-17, Job 19:26, Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2, Exodus 3:6, Mark 12:28-34, John 14:6, Micah 6:8 Today's teaching centers on Jesus' encounters with the religious leaders in the temple as recorded in the 4 gospels and enlightened by some of the latest findings of archeologists and others who have uncovered things that have been hidden for generations but that clearly testify to the truthfulness of God's Word.  We will see the display of absolute brilliance as Jesus encounters the religious aristocracy, as He answers the critics and as He clearly demonstrates the Divine plan to redeem the human race. Jesus is in the temple courts teaching - This is where we start today - Matthew 21:45-46 “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” They wanted to arrest Him but also saw that the crowds were listening to Jesus and receiving Him with joy. Normally the Chief Priests and Pharisees did not see things the same way, but they did as far as how they both felt about Jesus.  Their desire to eliminate Jesus brought them together. Jesus' Teachings     ⁃    The Parable of the Wedding Banquet  (wedding feast / resurrection life / our destiny as true believers in Jesus) This is a banquet we do not want to refuse to come to!  In this parable Jesus also predicts the ultimate destruction of the city of Jerusalem which would happen in 70AD. Pastor dissects the part of the story about the man at the feast that wasn't dressed appropriately, in light of the teaching of Jesus found in Revelation 7:9-17.      ⁃    Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar - following the Wedding Banquet parable the pharisees came together with the Herodians to lay out a plan to trap Jesus. Herodians were strong supporters of Herod's dynasty and of Rome and the pharisees hated Roman rule and their taxes. But the two groups unite to trap Jesus with this question that would force Him to choose either the Pharisees or the Herodians: “what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”  But to this hot button issue on Roman taxes - Jesus answers: “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought Him a denarius and Jesus asks, “whose image is this and whose inscription?”  Their response is “Caesar's” Then Jesus said to them, “give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is Gods” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Their trap had failed.     ⁃    Marriage at the Resurrection - this onslaught against Jesus comes from the Sadducees with the story of seven brothers and the law in the Torah and Jesus again avoids their trap by confronting them with wisdom and scriptures.     ⁃    The Greatest Commandment -  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” We are called to show love because God love us through His Son, Jesus. And then we read, “And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”     ⁃    Whose Son is Messiah? Now Jesus decides to ask a question, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David.” Then Jesus adds a quote from King David. “David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord:“Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”' David himself calls him ‘Lord.' How then can he be his son?”  Jesus is calling them to really think hard about what David is saying. Pastor shares an enlightened look at what David is saying and what Jesus is desiring for the crowd to understand. The teaching concludes with a look at some archeological  discoveries and a peek into next week's class. Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01 Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries.  Up to Jerusalem is part four of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father's plan. As we study Jesus' final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.  This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

Matthew 22:15-22 — This sermon by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of his last to be recorded prior to his death in 1981, was delivered at the final rally of the British Evangelical Council to take place Westminster Chapel in 1979. In it, Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds on Jesus's famous teaching to "render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's" from Matthew 22:15-22. Dr Lloyd-Jones uses this passage to address what he sees as the great tragedy of mankind - its refusal to listen to the only One who can truly help, Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the modern world, like the Pharisees and Herodians who questioned Jesus, is overly preoccupied with lesser matters like politics, social issues, and culture, while neglecting the things of God. He exhorts Christians to follow Christ's example by putting these worldly concerns in their proper place and focusing instead on proclaiming the supernatural reality of God and the dignity of man as made in God's image. Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the limited benefits and authority of earthly rulers like Caesar with the eternal power and blessings of God. He emphasizes that while we should be good citizens, our ultimate allegiance is to God alone, and calls believers to declare to a materialistic world that man does not live by bread alone, but is a living soul made for fellowship with the Creator. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by highlighting the incomparable benefits of salvation in Christ - forgiveness, peace, joy, and eternal life - which far surpass anything the world can offer. He urges Christians to pray fervently for revival and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower their witness in these dark times. This sermon is a stirring call for the church to maintain its focus on proclaiming the gospel and the supremacy of God in a world consumed by temporal concerns.

Matthew 22:15-22 — This sermon by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of his last to be recorded prior to his death in 1981, was delivered at the final rally of the British Evangelical Council to take place Westminster Chapel in 1979. In it, Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds on Jesus's famous teaching to "render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's" from Matthew 22:15-22. Dr Lloyd-Jones uses this passage to address what he sees as the great tragedy of mankind - its refusal to listen to the only One who can truly help, Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the modern world, like the Pharisees and Herodians who questioned Jesus, is overly preoccupied with lesser matters like politics, social issues, and culture, while neglecting the things of God. He exhorts Christians to follow Christ's example by putting these worldly concerns in their proper place and focusing instead on proclaiming the supernatural reality of God and the dignity of man as made in God's image. Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts the limited benefits and authority of earthly rulers like Caesar with the eternal power and blessings of God. He emphasizes that while we should be good citizens, our ultimate allegiance is to God alone, and calls believers to declare to a materialistic world that man does not live by bread alone, but is a living soul made for fellowship with the Creator. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by highlighting the incomparable benefits of salvation in Christ - forgiveness, peace, joy, and eternal life - which far surpass anything the world can offer. He urges Christians to pray fervently for revival and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower their witness in these dark times. This sermon is a stirring call for the church to maintain its focus on proclaiming the gospel and the supremacy of God in a world consumed by temporal concerns. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29

What if our anger isn't the problem, but how we use it is? Are we letting it lead us to sin, or using it to fight for others? Tune in this Sunday to find out! EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give). Get the fill in the blank bulletins my.harmonychurch.cc/bulletins. --------------------- OPENING ILLUSTRATION: I remember when I was in 6th grade our science teacher - Mr. Cronkite was trying to teach us to think outside of the box.  He said, like, if you are ever surrounded by a bunch of guys who want to get into a fight, you need to look for the person with the biggest weakness and go after it.  He then proceeded to tell us about a kid who got jumped after school and was surrounded by all these kids who were going to beat him up.  He saw that one of the kids had braces and he took Cronkite's advice and he punched that kid in the mouth as hard as he possibly could!  Blood exploded from the boy's mouth and all the other kids ran of terrified about what would happen to them… Needless to say, Mr. Cronkite was all the boys' favorite teacher after that… But he had a point, right, Usually, the one who wins a fight is the one who fights the dirtiest… Today we are starting this series, FIGHT learning to handle conflict (the healthy way) I'm going to give you the boring stuff - Cronkite knew how to make it exciting, but my goal isn't for you to learn to win fights, but how to go an entirely different route over the next few weeks… Especially coming out of this series on relationships… So, today we are going to look at when anger is a good thing, and when it's not so much Let me ask you a question, How many of you struggle with anger? b Better yet, how many of you would those close to you say you can be an angry person? ILLUSTRATION: I asked my kids this and they were like, “no dad, you're not.” But I know that's not always true… The reality is, just like you, I have times where I'm angry and where I explode… Today I want to look at when it's ok to be angry and when it's not. CAVEAT: Here's my worry with this sermon is that not everyone who is angry actually knows they are angry. Some of you have just accepted it as part of who you are. Here's how to know if you have a problem with anger. b Ask yourself this question, “If I had a boss who talked to me the way I talk to __(your spouse, kids, employees, etc)_. Would I put up with it?” If you're really brave, ask your loved ones if they think you are an angry person, but be prepared and give them 100% immunity from any repercussions - because if you are an angry person, I promise you, they are going to be scared to share that with you… The reason I'm preaching this sermon is because if you are someone who struggles with anger, you need to learn when it's appropriate and when it's not. In the coming weeks we are going to look at better ways to handle anger, but today, I want you to know not all anger is bad… I think there are at least two types of anger, Righteous Anger & Danger Anger b Danger anger is when you react with anger that's inappropriate to the situation -This is when your spouse burns the dinner and you rage at them. -This is when your kid leaves a trail of toys, going from one play session to another and you blow up at them -This is when you lock yourself of out of the house and get in the car beating on the steering wheel and cussing up a storm -You shut down and go into violent silent weaponizing withdrawal Danger anger comes when your well-being feels threatened BUT no real harm occurs. Look at this list of things that are often times underlying emotions that are presenting themselves as anger: guilt insecurity worn out confusion pain overwhelmed anxiety embarrassment rejection trauma threatened grief unfairness loneliness jealousy hunger helplessness stressed disappointment sadness Paul's challenge to us is: Ephesians 4:26-27 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Anger is a means to control what feels out of control, when you power up you put yourself in a position to feel protected… But so often it ends up being sinful. You say things that hurt, you do things that break down others. Paul's not saying to “don't be angry,” what he's saying is to not let your anger lead to sin - deal with it before it's too late. One of the things that challenges me is in the first chapter of Isaiah… God tells Isaiah He's done with all the religious things the people are bringing to Him, he sees them all as worthless, and here's why: Isaiah 1:15 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! He's done with them because of the violence they perpetrated. Later He will say: 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.[a] Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. What do you do? You need to start asking yourself “What was that about?” You need to start identifying what is actually driving your anger and deal with that - communicate it to those around you who are experiencing your outbursts. “I'm sorry, I'm just feeling so anxious right now” or “I'm sorry, I'm just feel like I'm no good at this and it ticks me off and I get so angry”… What would it look like if you started to take your anger a different direction. God has given you a passionate personality, and there is definitely a place for anger to make a difference! b Righteous anger is when real harm is done to you or others - it's an appropriate response to what's happening What would it look like for you to take your anger and use it to help others? To turn your passion to protecting those who have no one to protect them? Jesus felt this kind of anger, listen to Mark Mark 3:4-6 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. Jesus sees these religious guys who are willing to let this guy go unhealed in order to keep their laws and Jesus breaks the religious law to rescue this guy. CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: As disciples of Jesus, we need some people who will care so much for others that they will let themselves get riled up for injustice - and it's fine to do that at a governmental level - I know so many of you get politically riled up, but what about the fatherless around us?  What about those who are dying apart from Jesus right now?  What about those who have no hope in this world?  Do you get angry for those who are being taken advantage of?  Do you get angry for the kids in foster care?  What about the single mom working 3 jobs?  What would it look like for you to turn your passionate personality into a response to help them? [Anthony - After the invitation song, I'd like to end with you saying, we want to introduce you to a way that you could put your righteous anger to use, watch this video and then when you exit today stop and talk to someone from Transform Scott County by https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O3rjPTS9YPjoTBJyI826dtZ5y3cfee64]

By Alex and LokelaniWelcome to our Substack! As promised, we're providing deeper content to complement Amen podcast. This is the third and final part of our series examining Matthew 22:15-22, the famous passage about paying taxes to Caesar.The ScriptureThen the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words, and they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us then what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."When they heard it, they marveled, and they left him and went away. — Matthew 22:15-22Key Message: What Should Consume Our Zeal?In our final exploration of this passage, we examine Jesus' response through the lens of politics and what deserves our zealous devotion.The Cultural ContextDuring Jesus' time, Caesar's coins represented more than currency—they contained inscriptions declaring Caesar divine. This created tension for devout Jews who recognized only one God. The religious leaders were attempting to trap Jesus with an impossible choice:* If he said "pay taxes," religious Jews would see him endorsing idolatry* If he said "don't pay taxes," Roman authorities would view him as an insurrectionistJesus' brilliant response transcended this false dichotomy while revealing a deeper truth.The Image We BearWhen Jesus asked "whose image is on this coin?" he wasn't simply finding a clever escape from their trap. He was highlighting a profound truth about identity and allegiance.Just as coins bear Caesar's image and belong to Caesar's domain, we bear God's image and belong to God. While we can participate in earthly systems (pay taxes, vote, engage in civic life), our primary identity and loyalty must remain with God.Warning Signs: When Politics Overshadows FaithHere are some warning signs that politics may be displacing spiritual priorities:* Being more excited about political rallies than worship* Speaking more passionately about candidates than Christ* Skipping church to watch debates* Defining fellow Christians primarily by their political affiliations* Exhibiting rage rather than the fruit of the Spirit when discussing politicsFinding Balance: The Early Church ModelThe early Christians weren't politically disengaged—they actively sought the welfare of their cities while maintaining ultimate allegiance to Christ. This dual posture made them both beneficial to society and threatening to those in power. They wanted the common good but refused to worship the emperor.This is our model: we can be thoughtfully engaged citizens while remembering that our first love and ultimate hope lies not in political systems but in Christ's kingdom.After the AmenAm I zealous about the things of God? How does my passion for God's kingdom compare with other concerns in my life? When I discuss politics, do I exhibit the fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh?A Call to WisdomPolitics tends to bring out strong emotions, often leading to division even among believers. Wisdom calls us to:* Prioritize Kingdom values above partisan identities* Engage respectfully with those holding different views* Remember that sanctification happens at different paces* Care deeply about our communities while maintaining our first loveOur goal isn't to create a perfect Christian nation through political power, but to live as faithful witnesses who reflect Christ's character in every sphere of life—including the political. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

By Alex and LokelaniWelcome to our Substack! As promised, we're providing deeper content to complement Amen podcast. This is the third and final part of our series examining Matthew 22:15-22, the famous passage about paying taxes to Caesar.The ScriptureThen the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words, and they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us then what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."When they heard it, they marveled, and they left him and went away. — Matthew 22:15-22Key Message: What Should Consume Our Zeal?In our final exploration of this passage, we examine Jesus' response through the lens of politics and what deserves our zealous devotion.The Cultural ContextDuring Jesus' time, Caesar's coins represented more than currency—they contained inscriptions declaring Caesar divine. This created tension for devout Jews who recognized only one God. The religious leaders were attempting to trap Jesus with an impossible choice:* If he said "pay taxes," religious Jews would see him endorsing idolatry* If he said "don't pay taxes," Roman authorities would view him as an insurrectionistJesus' brilliant response transcended this false dichotomy while revealing a deeper truth.The Image We BearWhen Jesus asked "whose image is on this coin?" he wasn't simply finding a clever escape from their trap. He was highlighting a profound truth about identity and allegiance.Just as coins bear Caesar's image and belong to Caesar's domain, we bear God's image and belong to God. While we can participate in earthly systems (pay taxes, vote, engage in civic life), our primary identity and loyalty must remain with God.Warning Signs: When Politics Overshadows FaithHere are some warning signs that politics may be displacing spiritual priorities:* Being more excited about political rallies than worship* Speaking more passionately about candidates than Christ* Skipping church to watch debates* Defining fellow Christians primarily by their political affiliations* Exhibiting rage rather than the fruit of the Spirit when discussing politicsFinding Balance: The Early Church ModelThe early Christians weren't politically disengaged—they actively sought the welfare of their cities while maintaining ultimate allegiance to Christ. This dual posture made them both beneficial to society and threatening to those in power. They wanted the common good but refused to worship the emperor.This is our model: we can be thoughtfully engaged citizens while remembering that our first love and ultimate hope lies not in political systems but in Christ's kingdom.After the AmenAm I zealous about the things of God? How does my passion for God's kingdom compare with other concerns in my life? When I discuss politics, do I exhibit the fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh?A Call to WisdomPolitics tends to bring out strong emotions, often leading to division even among believers. Wisdom calls us to:* Prioritize Kingdom values above partisan identities* Engage respectfully with those holding different views* Remember that sanctification happens at different paces* Care deeply about our communities while maintaining our first loveOur goal isn't to create a perfect Christian nation through political power, but to live as faithful witnesses who reflect Christ's character in every sphere of life—including the political. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

In Matthew 22:15-22, we find one of Jesus's most famous responses to his critics. While many know this passage as simply being about "rendering unto Caesar," there's a deeper wisdom here about how we should live as Christians.The Setup: A Careful TrapThe scene opens with the Pharisees plotting to "entangle" Jesus in his words. They send their disciples along with the Herodians—an unlikely alliance of religious purists and political supporters of Rome—to trap Jesus with what seems like an impossible question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"This wasn't just about taxes. If Jesus said yes, he would alienate devout Jews who saw Roman currency as idolatrous (it bore Caesar's image and proclaimed him lord). If he said no, he'd be marked as a political insurgent against Rome. It was, in modern terms, a "gotcha" question.Jesus's Thoughtful ResponseBut Jesus, showing remarkable wisdom, doesn't rush to answer. Instead, he:* Recognizes their malice despite their flattery* Asks to see the coin used for taxes* Uses their own possession of Roman currency to expose their hypocrisy* Delivers his famous response: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"The Deeper Message: Being Thoughtful ChristiansThe real lesson here isn't just about taxes—it's about thoughtfulness. Jesus exemplifies James 1:19: "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." His response wasn't just clever; it was thoughtful and measured.In our modern world of instant reactions and hot takes, this message is more relevant than ever. Being thoughtful means:* Taking time to understand situations before responding* Not being rushed into hasty answers* Recognizing that God is not slow, but sovereign* Being aware of attempts to trap or manipulate us* Responding with wisdom rather than reactionThe Challenge of Modern LifeWe live in a world that pushes us toward constant hurry and efficiency. We put in our AirPods to multitask, rush through our daily routines, and fill every moment with content. But this hurry can prevent us from being truly thoughtful.Consider: When was the last time you did a task without background noise? When did you last take time to really think before responding to a challenging situation?Practical Steps Toward Thoughtfulness* Start your day intentionally, not rushed* Create space in your mind by reducing mental clutter* Practice being present in mundane tasks without constant stimulation* Be especially thoughtful with those closest to you* Remember that God's sovereignty means we don't need to rushThe Heart of the MatterJust as the coin bore Caesar's image, we bear God's image. The real question isn't just about what we owe to earthly authorities—it's about giving ourselves back to God. This requires thoughtfulness, intentionality, and the wisdom to slow down and listen before speaking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

In Matthew 22:15-22, we find one of Jesus's most famous responses to his critics. While many know this passage as simply being about "rendering unto Caesar," there's a deeper wisdom here about how we should live as Christians.The Setup: A Careful TrapThe scene opens with the Pharisees plotting to "entangle" Jesus in his words. They send their disciples along with the Herodians—an unlikely alliance of religious purists and political supporters of Rome—to trap Jesus with what seems like an impossible question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"This wasn't just about taxes. If Jesus said yes, he would alienate devout Jews who saw Roman currency as idolatrous (it bore Caesar's image and proclaimed him lord). If he said no, he'd be marked as a political insurgent against Rome. It was, in modern terms, a "gotcha" question.Jesus's Thoughtful ResponseBut Jesus, showing remarkable wisdom, doesn't rush to answer. Instead, he:* Recognizes their malice despite their flattery* Asks to see the coin used for taxes* Uses their own possession of Roman currency to expose their hypocrisy* Delivers his famous response: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"The Deeper Message: Being Thoughtful ChristiansThe real lesson here isn't just about taxes—it's about thoughtfulness. Jesus exemplifies James 1:19: "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." His response wasn't just clever; it was thoughtful and measured.In our modern world of instant reactions and hot takes, this message is more relevant than ever. Being thoughtful means:* Taking time to understand situations before responding* Not being rushed into hasty answers* Recognizing that God is not slow, but sovereign* Being aware of attempts to trap or manipulate us* Responding with wisdom rather than reactionThe Challenge of Modern LifeWe live in a world that pushes us toward constant hurry and efficiency. We put in our AirPods to multitask, rush through our daily routines, and fill every moment with content. But this hurry can prevent us from being truly thoughtful.Consider: When was the last time you did a task without background noise? When did you last take time to really think before responding to a challenging situation?Practical Steps Toward Thoughtfulness* Start your day intentionally, not rushed* Create space in your mind by reducing mental clutter* Practice being present in mundane tasks without constant stimulation* Be especially thoughtful with those closest to you* Remember that God's sovereignty means we don't need to rushThe Heart of the MatterJust as the coin bore Caesar's image, we bear God's image. The real question isn't just about what we owe to earthly authorities—it's about giving ourselves back to God. This requires thoughtfulness, intentionality, and the wisdom to slow down and listen before speaking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Mark 3:1-6 - Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if He would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then He said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against Him to put Him to death. Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Great news on President Trump's first day in office 3, 4) Update on the new President and his Administration with Frank Pavone, national Director of Priests for Life

Read OnlineThen he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. Mark 3:4–5Sin damages our relationship with God. But hardness of heart is even more damaging because it perpetuates the damage done by sin. And the harder one's heart, the more permanent the damage.In the passage above, Jesus was angry with the Pharisees. Oftentimes the passion of anger is sinful, resulting from impatience and a lack of charity. But at other times, the passion of anger can be good when it is motivated by love of others and hatred for their sin. In this case, Jesus was grieved by the hardness of heart of the Pharisees, and that grief motivated His holy anger. His “holy” anger did not cause irrational criticism; rather, it drove Jesus to cure this man in the presence of the Pharisees so that they would soften their hearts and believe in Jesus. Sadly, it didn't work. The very next line of the Gospel says, “The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death” (Mark 3:6).Hardness of heart should be greatly avoided. The problem is that those who are hard of heart are usually not open to the fact that they are hard of heart. They are obstinate and stubborn, and oftentimes self-righteous. Therefore, when people suffer from this spiritual ailment, it is difficult for them to change, especially when confronted.This Gospel passage offers you an important opportunity to look into your own heart with honesty. Only you and God need to be part of that interior introspection and conversation. Begin by reflecting upon the Pharisees and the poor example they set. From there, try to look at yourself with great honesty. Are you obstinate? Are you hardened in your convictions to the point that you are unwilling to even consider that you may be wrong at times? Are there people in your life with whom you have entered into a conflict that still remains? If any of this rings true, then you may indeed suffer from the spiritual ill of a hardened heart. Reflect, today, upon your own soul and your relationships with others with as much honesty as possible. Do not hesitate to let your guard down and be open to what God may want to say to you. And if you detect even the slightest tendency toward a hardened and stubborn heart, beg our Lord to enter in to soften it. Change like this is difficult, but the rewards of such a change are incalculable. Do not hesitate and do not wait. Change is worth it in the end. My loving Lord, this day I open myself to an examination of my own heart and pray that You will help me to always be open to change when necessary. Help me, especially, to see any hardness I may have within my heart. Help me to overcome any obstinacy, stubbornness and self-righteousness. Give me the gift of humility, dear Lord, so that my heart can become more like Yours. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Jesus Heals the Man with a Withered Hand, via Wikimedia Commons