Mark 12:28-34
The Greatest Commandment
12:28-34pp – Mt 22:34-40
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“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.”
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
- Why did the teacher of the law in this encounter ask Jesus the question he did? Was he trying to test or trap Jesus?
- What does in mean that “Love the Lord your God” is the most important commandment?
- Why does Jesus include “the second greatest commandment” in his answer? What does it mean to “Love your neighbor as yourself?”
- How are you keeping or not keeping these commandments?
- Is the teacher of the law “grading” Jesus’ response? How do you interpret his comment at the end and Jesus’ response to it?
- What are some of the commands we see in the Bible? How do they relate to these two commands?
Mark 12:35-40
Whose Son Is the Christ?
12:35-37pp – Mt 22:41-46; Lk 20:41-44 12:38-40pp - Mt 23:1-7; Lk 20:45-47
Mark 12:35-40
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of 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?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”
- Where was Jesus teaching? Why do you think the leaders allowed this?
- What issue is Jesus addressing in his teaching about David and the Messiah? (See Psalm 110:1)
- What is the warning that Jesus gives the people? Why is the behavior of the religious leaders dangerous to the people?
- Describe the behavior of the religious leaders.
- What do we learn about prayer from this passage?
Mark 12:41-44
The Widow’s Offering
12:41-44pp – Lk 21:1-4
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything– all she had to live on.”
- What was Jesus’ observation about people who were giving money to the temple?
- What is the underlying principle about giving that this passage teaches? What is the takeaway for the “rich”? The poor?
- How do we put our faith into practice through our giving?
