Wednesday, August 23: “Correction and Warning”
Mark 12: 17, 24, 27: “Jesus said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s’ … Jesus said to them, ‘Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the scriptures or the power of God?’ … ‘He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.’”
The chief priests, scribes, and elders have decided that the time is right to launch an all-out assault against Jesus (Mark 11: 27). After failing themselves, they send the Pharisees (12: 13), then the Sadducees, to try their luck. Even though Jesus knows the motives of these men were not pure, He never gives them condemnation, only correction and warning. He never curses them for their duplicity and cunning, but cares enough to give them the confrontational truth. Truly, considering the depths of their malice against Him, His compassion and patience is a true wonder.
