The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-09-14
THE LESSON

LESSON. TEXT:-Mark 12:1s-H.
GOLDEN TEXT. - Render unto
Caesar the things that are Caesars and
unto God the things that are Gods
Mark 1917.
TIME-Tuesday, April 4. A. d. 30, the
next day after our last lesson, and three
days before the crucifixion.
PLACE.-The court OF the temple at
Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestion Thought.
V. 10. They" The chief priests
and scribes and elders mentioned in
1927. "Herodians." The two sets of
men would come as the advocates of
opposing views upon the question they
presented. ITO catch him." AS one
in hunting would catch wild animal.
The word used by Matthew in this con-
nection bears the thought of entrap-
ping one as by snare. In his words"
Better, "in talk" referring, not to the
words of Jesus, but to those of his
questioners, which were, they calcu-
lated, so artfully arranged that Jesus
must by his answer offend one party
or the other
V. IA. Master" They acknowledge
themselves ready to accept Jesus as
true" etc. Note the fattery. rs ii
lawful to give tribute to Caesar?" By
tribute was meant the annual poll tax
levied for the treasury of the Roman
emperor, upon each of his subjects
Jews, who claimed that they lived un-
der theocracy, God alone being their
King, looked upon payment of tribute
to the Roman as disloyalty to the
divine government. If Jesus answered
Yes" he would offend not only the
Pharisees, but the mass of Jews who
hated the Roman government; II
he said NO" he would offend the
Herodians and arouse the whole
Roman power
" Is. Shall we give or not give?"
Not repetition of the first question,
but one asking direction in personal
practice. Hypocrisy" "Wickedness"
Matthew; "Craftiness' Luke). The
word used by Mark comes from one
whose literal meaning is acting.
Bring me a penny" A denarius, the
chief silver coin of the Romans, worth
about II cents.
V. II. Render to Caesar the things
that are Caesars" Pay the Roman
government for the advantages IL af
fords you by paying the tax ii levies.
Both Caesar and God have claims upon
each, and he who would be honest will
pay both ITO God the things that are
Gods" Man was made In the image
of God. He should therefore render
him the sincere worship Of heart,
soul, strength and mind"
V. Is. "Sadducees. Say no
resurrection" They denied the ex
istence of a spiritual world, hence the
doctrines of future life for man, re-
wards and punishments, or the resur
rection of the body.
" 10. Moses wrote unto u.s." etc.
A reference to what is styled the
Levirate law. II is given in Deut
25:5, 6.
VS.. 20-23. There were seven broth
ers," etc. A supposable case, with
which doubtless they had often puz
zled the Pharisees, who held very
materialistic ideas about the future
life.
V. "a. Jesus answering said" We
note that Jesus speaks in a different
tone from that he used when address
ing Pharisees mark 11:27-33). The
Sadducees as yet knew little of him;
their mistakes were those of ignorance
rather than of malicious intent. Jesus
points out that their confusion of
thought i'm the case just cited arises
from two causes: Ignorance of Scrip
ture, and lack of appreciation of the
power Of God He goes on to speak
OF the last named first.
w. 25. When they shall rise" When
God shap raise the dead They