Mark 12

Jesus had been dealing with the Sadducees and Pharisees and Chief priests. He is trying to tell them that they have been entrusted with the things of God and explaining in parables about them taking over the things of the master and not preparing for the master's return. They did not want to pay what they owed, in fact they wanted it all for themselves. It will always eventually turn into that when we do not make God the first priority in all things. The master deceiver will tell us things that make sense but are contrary to the things of God. When we put God first, we begin to see what the Lord wants and things begin to get in the right order. Then the stone that the builders rejected will be your chief cornerstone.

In paying taxes Jesus said "bring me a denarius that I may look at it." Here He would say bring me a quarter. Whose image and inscription is this? Give the government what is due to them. Whose image are we made in? We are to give our life to our creator and He will do a work in us and give us life.

This is by the author of life, the author of redemption and the author of all creation. He has taken care of mankind since the beginning of the world. He loves you immensely and has made provision for you in His kingdom. We don't have to know all the detail, we must know the living God who takes care of every detail. He is alive, well and just as powerful today as ever. Not even a bird drops to earth that He is not aware of. In Matthew 6:26 Jesus says "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" And in Mark 12:27 Jesus says "He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

Jesus answered the greatest commandment question: 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these." Understanding this the way our Lord does, brings us into a true kingdom viewpoint of God's purpose for His world. We then see Jesus instructing us to watch out for those who like importance and seats of honor yet will mistreat widows and make lengthy prayers only for show. we see Him saying the widow,s offering was more than their great showy gifts. We must keep our hearts humble and clean to have the Lord greet our offerings and sacrifice of service as acceptable to Him. That only comes through the cleansing power of Jesus when we confess our sins and pray daily and walk in the light as He is in the light.