Podcasts about Mark 12

Welcome back to Fresh Text! In this episode John Drury is joined again by graduate students Alex Lawrence and Tim Kelly. This time, they analyze Mark 12:1-2 to discuss the parable of the wicked tenants. Enjoy this conversation!Produced by:Tyler Sanders (@tylerwsanders) and The Called Collective (@thecalledcollective) Edited by:Seth StrandGraphics created by:Hannah Harris (@hannahrae.of.sunshine)Facilities Provided by:Indiana Wesleyan UniversityThe Called Collective seeks to equip the next generation of ministry leaders. We accomplish this by resourcing teens and pastors for the work of ministry. The Called Collective Social Network is designed for High School teens called to ministry in order for them to learn ministry skills, share in community with students across the world, and develop their call. Please check out the Called Collective.Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecalledcollective.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠C2 Social Network: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠members.thecalledcollective.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcasts:Fresh Text - A weekly podcast where two pastor-scholars come up with sermon ideas . Every Monday, 1 hr typically.Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/freshtextpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Modern Parables - A weekly podcast where four pastors create sermon illustrations from cultural topics. Every Tuesday, 30-1hr typically.Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/modernparables⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Days with Eddy Shigley and Charlie Alcock - A weekly podcast where they will share a Ministry Principle and how it has played out in their years of ministry. Every Wednesday, 20-25 minutes typically.Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/GoodDayswithEddyandCharlie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Defining Yes. A Women in Ministry Podcast - A weekly podcast where women called into ministry share their stories. Every Thursday, 30 minutes typically.Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thedefiningyes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coffee and Calling - A weekly podcast where a pastor, missionary, professor, or student shares their calling story. Every Friday, 30-35 minutes typically.Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/coffeeandcalling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Called Collective is a ministry sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The School of Theology & Ministry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (STM) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Indiana Wesleyan University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The School of Theology & Ministry has been equipping pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders at the undergraduate level for over 100 years. We are relentless in our mission to advance the Kingdom by equipping women and men for a lifetime of transformation service. rk 12:1-12 (Pentecost Sunday)

523. The Greatest Commandment Mark 12:28-37 Toki Numbere 01062025 by City Church Lagos

=eries: Mark: The Good News of the Son of God Title: The Vineyard and the Cornerstone Passage: Mark 12:1-12 Preached by Pastor Mason Ballard Resurrection Church 6.1.2025 #ResurrectionChurch #Charleston #WestVirginia

90 : Gospel of Mark 12 1. And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. ; AB church Lausanne

522. Heaven is Better Mark 12:18-27 Tomisin Olanrewaju 25052025 by City Church Lagos

A theological chess match unfolds in Mark 12:35-44 as Jesus, having weathered a barrage of trick questions from religious leaders, turns the tables with a single profound question that leaves them speechless. Drawing from Psalm 110, Jesus asks how the Messiah can be both David's descendant and David's Lord—a paradox that reveals the divine nature of the Messiah and exposes the limitations of His opponents' understanding of Scripture.The crowd delights in this reversal as Jesus delivers a scathing critique of religious leaders who parade around in fancy robes seeking recognition and honor while exploiting the vulnerable. His warning about "greater condemnation" for such hypocrites reveals that judgment comes in degrees, particularly severe for those who use spiritual authority for personal gain.The scene shifts dramatically when Jesus sits to observe worshippers making donations to the temple treasury. Among the wealthy contributors, he notices a poor widow who places two small copper coins—her entire livelihood—into the collection. In this quietly powerful moment, Jesus declares she has given more than all others combined, not by amount but by sacrifice.Through these encounters, Jesus demonstrates divine wisdom and authority, revealing profound theological truths, exposing religious hypocrisy, and elevating humble faithfulness above outward displays of piety. His teachings continue to challenge our understanding of true spirituality and what it means to follow God wholeheartedly.Have you considered how you measure generosity in your own life? Is it by the dollar amount or by the sacrifice it represents? 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

May 25, 2025 - Doyle Corder

Hello and welcome to Bethel Evangelical Church in Gorseinon and thank you for checking out this weeks sermon recordings. The 25th of May saw us host our Sunday morning service from the church building, with a livestream available via Facebook. The service was led by our pastor, Dafydd Williams, who continued in the 12th chapter […]

Love forms the foundation of our entire faith journey. In this profound episode of Reasoning Through the Bible, we explore what Jesus called the greatest commandment of all – the command to love God wholeheartedly and to love our neighbors as ourselves.During the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry, a remarkable conversation unfolds between Christ and a sincere scribe. Unlike other religious leaders trying to trap Jesus, this scribe genuinely seeks wisdom. "What commandment is foremost of all?" he asks. Jesus' answer revolutionizes our understanding of what matters most to God.The greatest commandment isn't about religious ritual or following rules. It's about love – loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This radical prioritization of love over religious works challenges both ancient and modern assumptions about what God desires from us.We discover how Christianity fundamentally differs from works-based religious systems. Our faith begins with love, not obligation. We don't obey to appease God; we obey because we already love Him. This subtle but crucial distinction transforms how we approach our spiritual journey.The episode also explores an often-neglected dimension of faith: loving God with our minds. While many Christians embrace emotional connection with God, Jesus explicitly commands intellectual engagement. Christianity has a rich tradition of deep thinkers who have loved God with brilliant minds – a tradition we're invited to continue.Join us for an intellectually stimulating and spiritually enriching exploration of love as the greatest commandment – the profound truth that can transform your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.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

Mark 12: 28-31

➡️ 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.

What happens when religious leaders try to trap Jesus with clever theological puzzles? In Mark 12:18-27, the Sadducees present Jesus with what they believe is an unsolvable riddle about resurrection – a concept they themselves reject. Their question about a hypothetical woman who married seven brothers sequentially was designed to make resurrection seem absurd. Instead, Jesus turns their challenge into a profound teaching moment that reverberates through centuries of theological understanding.The conversation reveals something shocking: these full-time priests and Bible teachers "do not understand the Scriptures," despite studying them since childhood. Jesus masterfully defends resurrection by pointing to a seemingly minor detail – God's declaration to Moses at the burning bush, "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." The present tense verb becomes the foundation for affirming that these patriarchs are still alive in some sense, proving resurrection is real. This grammatical subtlety demonstrates how essential doctrines can hinge on the precise wording of Scripture.We explore fascinating parallels between ancient Sadducees and modern progressive theologies that prioritize social missions over supernatural faith realities. Both risk creating religious systems that miss core biblical truths about sin, salvation, and eternity. Jesus also provides intriguing glimpses into heaven's reality, explaining that marriage won't exist there – not because relationships lose value, but because God's overwhelming presence will transform all human desires and connections into something even more beautiful. His rebuke of the Sadducees reminds us that sincerity in religious belief doesn't guarantee correctness, challenging us to approach Scripture with both academic rigor and spiritual receptivity.Discover how this ancient confrontation continues to challenge our understanding of Scripture, resurrection, heaven, and the nature of true faith. Subscribe to Reasoning Through the Bible for more insightful explorations of biblical passages and their profound theological implications.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

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

521. Living as a Faithful Steward Mark 12:1-17 Emmanuel Oset 180520205 by City Church Lagos

“Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’” (Mark 12:10) This verse is part of a powerful parable Jesus told about a vineyard—one that reveals how people can miss, ignore, or even reject God’s voice and messengers. In today’s episode, Ash and Jacquie dive deep into the story behind Mark 12:10 and talk about how easy it can be to reject God’s invitation when it doesn’t look the way we expected. What does it mean to truly receive Jesus as the cornerstone of your life? And what happens when we push away the very thing God wants to use to transform us? Get Connected:Follow us on InstagramJoin the Facebook CommunityGot something to share? Email us at everydayjoy@positivemedia.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Message from Lyndsay Slocum on May 18, 2025

The confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities reaches a crescendo in Mark 12 with the parable of the wicked vinedressers—a story that's both a judgment and a prophecy. Standing in the temple courts, Jesus speaks with unmistakable authority as he tells of a landowner who prepared a vineyard with meticulous care, only to have his servants abused and his son murdered by those entrusted with its care. The symbolism cuts through centuries of religious pretense: God created Israel, nurtured it, protected it, and expected fruitful service. The prophets he sent were rejected, beaten, and killed. Now the Son stands before them, and the religious leaders are plotting the very crime Jesus describes in his parable.What makes this exchange particularly remarkable is the religious leaders' response. Scripture tells us "they knew he was speaking about them"—yet rather than repenting, they immediately begin plotting his arrest. The parable becomes self-fulfilling as they conspire to become the very characters Jesus portrays them to be.This powerful teaching carries profound implications for spiritual leadership in every generation. The vineyard always belongs to God—never to those temporarily entrusted with its care. When leaders forget they are stewards rather than owners, disaster follows. The cornerstone meant to support everything is rejected, while those who should recognize divine authority instead oppose it.The parable serves as both warning and invitation. While judgment comes to unfaithful stewards, the vineyard itself remains. God's purposes continue through new caretakers, and the rejected stone becomes the foundation of something greater. This masterful teaching reveals Jesus not merely as prophet but as the beloved Son with unique authority to speak for the Father and establish his kingdom.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

Mark 12: 24-25

Message from Marchant Young on May 11, 2025

Pastor Jason discusses the tense events surrounding Jesus' final days, emphasizing the significance of His teachings and interactions with religious leaders. As Jesus answers challenging questions from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, he emphasizes the importance of truth, love, and God's power. Finally, we reflect on how we give to God, not just in financial terms, but in our devotion and commitment to Him.

Exodus 21-22; 19 Psalms 78; 41 Mark 12

Daily Dose of Hope May 5, 2025 Day 1 of Week 6   Scripture - Mark 12:35-44   Prayer:  Lord, We come before you on this Monday as we start a new week, and we pray for you to speak to us.  We need you.  We need a new word from you.  We need your guidance, your wisdom, your help.  Help us set aside the distractions of our day, our many scattered thoughts, and focus on you.  During these next few moments of silence, Jesus, help us remember that we belong to you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  We are finishing Mark 12 today.  We will learn more about what it means to be the Messiah, as well as how different God's economy is from the economy of the world.  Let's get started!   The first part of the text is a little puzzling.  What is Jesus speaking of here?  Whose son is the Messiah?  The scribes and the Jewish leaders knew that the Messiah would be a son of David.  They thought he would be a human descendant of David, someone who would come to save them from the Romans with strength and military might.  Again, they are purely thinking in human terms.    But when Jesus quotes from Psalm 110, he is showing that the Messiah would be more than simply a son of David.  The Psalm calls the Messiah, “my Lord.”  In Jewish thought, a descendant of someone could never be also the Lord of that person.  Jesus is saying, if the scribes agree that Psalm 110 is talking about the Messiah, how then could David call his son his Lord?   Essentially, Jesus is telling the scribes and Jewish leaders that the Messiah would be greater than they thought, greater than simply a human leader who would come to defeat the Romans. He is wanting them to stretch their thinking and begin to consider that the Messiah may come in a totally different form than they are expecting.  Remember, at this time, even the disciples still have a narrow view of Messiah.    Think about Friday's Scripture from earlier in Mark 12.  Jesus had a conversation with a particular scribe/teacher of the law.  When Jesus tells him that the greatest commandment is to love God with his own heart and mind and to love his neighbor as himself, he tells Jesus that he has taught truth and answered well.  This scribe seems open to what Jesus is teaching, possibly open to changing his ways of thinking.   It's on the tail end of this discussion that Jesus brings up the “whose son is the Messiah” topic.  Jesus gives everyone who is listening, including this one scribe, enough information to stretch their thinking about Messiah and possibly get them to consider changing their minds.  This scribe is open to Jesus and Jesus sees that.  He wants to offer him another piece of the puzzle.  He wants to see if he will consider new information about the Messiah and possibly be open to true belief in Jesus.  We don't know what this scribe does with the information.  Did he come to believe in Jesus as Messiah and Lord?  Does he come to accept faith in Jesus Christ?    But it got me thinking.  When someone is open to new information about Jesus, are we open to sharing more?  Are we paying attention?    The second part of the text is pretty harsh.  Jesus is still speaking of the teachers of the law and scribes but this time it's a warning.  He speaks of how they seek the best seats in the synagogue, they wear flowing robes (that clearly identify who they are), and they pray obnoxiously long prayers.  But it's all insincere.  It's all for show.  Really, their hearts are far from God as they “devour widows' homes.”  What does this mean?  It's possible that the scribes find ways to take the widows' homes, either legitimately or illegitimately.  Or, it could be that traveling scribes used up the few resources that widows had in their possession.  Basically, they are without mercy.  They take advantage of the vulnerable in order to serve their own selfish needs.  We have already learned that whoever wants to be first must be last, but these teachers of the law have things totally upside down.  Jesus is clear that they will be punished for their lack of compassion.    While we hopefully don't have hearts that devour widows' houses, we definitely need to look at our own lives here.  What is our motivation for giving?  Do we want our names on a donors' plaque?  Is recognition important?  And most importantly, are we demonstrating true compassion for the poor?    Mark is telling this story to provide a stark contrast with the next portion of the text.  This is what we typically call the “widow's mite” story. The widow, who is desperately poor, gives all she has.  And Jesus holds her up as an example, saying she has given so much more than those who have much and give a fair amount.  Does this mean we should give everything we have to the Kingdom?  Maybe, I don't really know.  It's definitely challenging.    What we can discern is that the things valued in the Kingdom of God differ from the human realm.  Should we give our money to buy a new A/C unit for the church?  Should we give to a new roof?  I mean, those things are necessary for sure.  Are they valued in the Kingdom?  Or should we give the money to a homeless shelter?  How do we make these decisions?  How do we know what Jesus is calling us to do?  It's clear that he expects giving to be sacrificial.    Here is something even more challenging.  In our world, time is money.  Maybe Jesus is calling us to give our time in a sacrificial way.  What does that look like?  Sometimes, its actually easy to write a check but what if Jesus is calling us to give of our time in a way that is really hard?  What would that look like?   There is a lot to think about and pray about today.  Spend some time with Jesus before you end your devotional time.  How is he speaking to YOU personally about sacrificial giving?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

May 4, 2025 - Brian Mashburn

Daily Dose of Hope May 2, 2025 Day 5 of Week 5   Scripture - Mark 12:18-34   Prayer:  Lord, How we need you.  Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today is day 2 of Mark 12.  Like I said yesterday, there is a lot here!  Today, we will talk about Jesus' comments regarding marriage at the resurrection and the greatest commandment.   Let's start with marriage at the resurrection.  The Sadducees were a group of Jewish wealthy and aristocratic leaders who did not believe in the resurrection.  It's not clear if they were trying to trap Jesus or possibly discredit him, but they ask him a question based on levirate law as outlined by the law of Moses.    Levirate law was intended to protect widows without a male heir.  When a brother died, leaving his wife without children, a surviving brother marries the widow with the sole intention of producing an heir.  If a son is conceived, he is actually considered to be the deceased brother's child.  In ancient near-East culture, a widow without any connection to a male would either starve or be forced to beg or prostitute herself.    Thus, the Sadducees question makes a little more sense even though it is a bit absurd.  A woman's husband dies and she marries a brother.  That brother dies and she marries another brother and so forth until she has been married to all seven brothers.  Then she dies.  Whose wife will she be at the resurrection?  Keep in mind, they ask this question knowing that they think the resurrection is false.  They have an ulterior motive here – possibly make a fool of Jesus?   Jesus basically tells them they are totally missing the point. In the resurrection, our bodies will be different – perfect and glorious.  There will also be a change in our spiritual nature.  Jesus is saying that in regard to marriage and sexual matters, we will be like the angels (note that he did not say we will be angels but we will be like them.)    But the Sadducees were mistaken so significantly not because of this absurd question but because they didn't believe in the resurrection.  This is a fundamental aspect of Jesus' teaching and they missed it entirely.  “You are badly mistaken!” Jesus says to them.   Let's move on. To the other part of today's text, the greatest commandment.  A scribe comes up to ask Jesus a question.  Unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees, he isn't combative and patronizing.  He saw how well Jesus answered questions and he genuinely wanted to hear from Jesus.  He asks Jesus for the greatest commandment.   Jesus begins his answer with the Shema which comes from Deuteronomy 6, 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 strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.    The Shema recognizes the uniqueness and oneness of God. There aren't other gods but only one true God.  God calls his people to love him and obey him with every part of their being.  He called the ancient Israelites to this this and he calls us to do this as well.  Jesus took the Shema and added an important element.  In Mark 12, we read that Jesus says this: 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.”  Yes, we love God with our whole being but we also love others.  In fact, love of God is demonstrated by love of others.  As Christians, we cannot separate the two.    Love of God and love of others cannot be separated.  How often do we try to say that we love God while we hate another person?    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Judges - Jephthah, ninth judge. Jephthah's tragic vow. Jephthah and his successors. Mark - Parable of the vine-growers. Jesus answers the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes.

Mark 12: 14-15

Daily Dose of Hope May 1, 2025 Day 4 of Week 5   Scripture – Mark 12:1-17   Prayer:  Dear Lord, I feel the need to just start with silence this morning.  Help us sit and reflect on you and your presence...Jesus, we need you.  We go through our days distracted and in a hurry, sometimes even forgetting to pray or acknowledge you.  Help us to be aware of your presence, knowing that you walk with us every step of the way, guiding us and leading us in all our words, actions, and decisions.  This is your day, Lord.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we start Mark 12.  There is a lot of substance in this chapter so we will take three days to walk through it.    Let's start by talking about the parable of the tenants.  This is a hard parable with violence involved in every aspect of it.  A landowner, presumably a man of means, builds a vineyard and gets it set up with all the right equipment.  He has tenants plant the vines and run the farm for him, while he lives in another place.  When the harvest comes, the absent landowner sends a slave to collect his portion of the harvest or profits.  The slave is beaten up pretty badly by the tenant farmers and limps away.   You would think the landowner might do something different next time but he doesn't.  He sends another slave.  Actually, he sends a lot of different slaves to collect on his behalf.  Some are badly beaten while others are actually killed.  We get the impression this happens over many growing seasons.    The landowner decides he has one option left, his beloved son.  He feels assured that the tenants won't hurt him.  Did the son feel the same way?  Not sure.  But things don't go so well.  The tenants know this is the heir and they kill him too, throwing his body out to the wild animals.   The question that Jesus asks is what will the landowner do?  The answer is that he will come there himself, kill the tenants, and give the land to others (or possibly get new tenants.)  What in the world is meant by all of this?  There are several possible things to think about here and none of them are pleasant.   First, throughout the Bible, the concept of the vineyard is associated with the people of Israel.  With that as a backdrop, could it be that God is the stubborn landowner, the slaves are prophets, and the son is Jesus?  That would make the tenant farmers the corrupt religious leaders.    Second, there are aspects to the parable that the first-century hearers would get that aren't necessarily evident to us.  It wasn't that unusual for the wealthy to obtain the land of those who were poor, possibly because of outstanding debts or because the impoverished are forced to sell land to feed their families.  Life was hard.    It also wasn't that unusual for landlords to live elsewhere and demand a large percentage of the harvest from those who are performing the labor.  The reaction of the parable will be different for different people, depending on where they fall on the social ladder in Israel.  There are those who will identify with the slaves.  There are those who will see the landowner as uncaring and reckless and possibly identify with the plight of the tenants.  There are those who will identify with the landowner and his son.  Every single reaction is unsettling.   One other element to consider is how Mark has placed this parable between the triumphal entry and Jesus' authority being questioned in chapter 11 with the story of his betrayal a few chapters later.  Jesus is clearly making a statement here – think of the players: a landowner, tenants, the beloved son, murder, revenge, and new tenants.  The Pharisees begin the see the parable may be about them.  But they don't quite get the cornerstone reference.  It's obvious the story is far from over.   One thing I do want to mention is that people have used this parable over the years in an antisemitic way, stating that it was the Jews who killed the son and it is the Jews who should then be killed by the landowner.  Jesus is not speaking of ethnicity or religion here, he is speaking about faithfulness.  The big issue in the parable is not the identity of the players but rather the failure of the tenants to respond faithfully to their obligations.  It's no secret that Christians over the centuries have also treated the cornerstone with disrespect, irreverence, and indignation, while Jews can (and many have) responded faithfully to God's revelation.   We also have the tax to Caesar text in today's reading.  The Jewish leaders are desperate to get more evidence against Jesus and they think this will be the perfect way to trap him.  What the leaders were referring to was a poll tax, a flat tax that every person living in the Roman Empire was forced to pay.  To the Jews, it was a reminder that they were far from free.  If Jesus had responded with a positive remark like “yes, definitely pay it!” then he would have turned off a lot of his audience.  If he had said, “don't pay it!” then he would have been seen as turning against Rome, a dangerous thing.    But with Jesus' response, to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's, Jesus literally slips right out of their trap.  They are amazed.    I'm going to close today with Psalm 8, Lord, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory     in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants     you have established a stronghold against your enemies,     to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens,     the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,    which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,     human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels     and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;    you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds,     and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky,     and the fish in the sea,     all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

20 Proverbs 23; Exodus 12-16; 19 Psalms 52-56; 41 Mark 12-14

an expository sermon on Mark 12:13-44 preached by Pastor Jordan Atkinson on April 27, 2025

Pastor Matthew McCleary, Associate Pastor

April 27, 2025 - Brian Mashburn

Today's reading opens with a parable that addresses the Pharisees. In the parable of the vineyard owner, farmhands rebel against the owner of the land they are working on. They reject anyone sent by the owner and refuse to give the owner any of the produce of the field. Time and again they reject and even kill the messengers sent to them and when the son of the vineyard owner comes they plot to kill him so that they might take the vineyard for themselves. Later, those view themselves as authorities in matters of theology pepper Jesus with questions about taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment. Christ answers every question deftly and the crowds listen to him with delight. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Mark 12: 10-11

In Mark 12:28-44, Jesus affirms the greatest commandments—love for God and neighbor—challenges the scribes' understanding of the Messiah, condemns their hypocrisy, and praises a widow's sacrificial offering as true devotion.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lets-talk-scripture/donations

Clinton Baptist Church

April 15 | Mark 12:38-44 by Christ Covenant

April 13, 2025 - Brian Mashburn

Pastor Dave Pack, Associate Pastor

True generosity is giving God 100% of what you have. To learn more, please visit us at mercyhouse365.org

April 06, 2025 - Brian Mashburn

Today's sermonette based on Mark 12:28-44 is given by Rev. David Schmidt. This is a rebroadcast from March 29, 2017. Hear a guest pastor give a short sermonette based on the day's Daily Lectionary New Testament text during Morning and Evening Prayer. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Today's sermonette based on Mark 12:13-27 is given by Rev. Dustin Beck. This is a rebroadcast from March 28, 2017. Hear a guest pastor give a short sermonette based on the day's Daily Lectionary New Testament text during Morning and Evening Prayer. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Walker Byrd, Pastor of College & Young Professionals, continues our walk through the second half of the Book of Mark, a series started in the Spring of 2024. If the first half of Mark is all about who Jesus is, the back half is about what he's come to do. Jesus upsets all his disciples' expectations for the Messiah by relentlessly pointing them towards the necessity of the cross while also showing his heart for us because; as awful as the cross is, he never turns away from it. He has come not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The cross is ever before Jesus, and he would have it be ever before his ransomed people as we follow after him. Pastor Walker Byrd Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church Birmingham, Alabama March 30, 2025

Today's sermonette based on Mark 12:1-12 is given by Rev. Kevin Robson. This is a rebroadcast from March 27, 2017. Hear a guest pastor give a short sermonette based on the day's Daily Lectionary New Testament text during Morning and Evening Prayer. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,"Which is the first of all the commandments?"Jesus replied, "The first is this:Hear, O Israel!The Lord our God is Lord alone!You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul,with all your mind,and with all your strength.The second is this:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.There is no other commandment greater than these."The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.You are right in saying,He is One and there is no other than he.And to love him with all your heart,with all your understanding,with all your strength,and to love your neighbor as yourselfis worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,he said to him,"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Founding Pastor at Large Bob Flayheart continues our walk through the second half of the Book of Mark, a series started in the Spring of 2024. If the first half of Mark is all about who Jesus is, the back half is about what he's come to do. Jesus upsets all his disciples' expectations for the Messiah by relentlessly pointing them towards the necessity of the cross while also showing his heart for us because; as awful as the cross is, he never turns away from it. He has come not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The cross is ever before Jesus, and he would have it be ever before his ransomed people as we follow after him. Founding Pastor at Large Bob Flayhart Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church Birmingham, Alabama March 23, 2025

Welcome to week twelve of guided prayer through the gospel of Mark. For the next 10 minutes or so, we are going to turn our attention to God in prayer. He desires to meet with us today, to talk to us, to share His heart with us and for us to share our hearts with Him. If you would like to read along as you listen, you can find this episode's transcript here: churchonthemove.com/lovegod