Scripture Reading : Mark 12:13-34
Theme : Three Theological Traps
The leaders of Israel knew that Jesus spoke the parable of the tenants against them (Mark 12:12). But instead of repenting, they sent the theologians of their time (the Pharisees and the Sadducees) and politicians (the Herodians) to trap Jesus.
- The Present. The Pharisees were a group of religious Jews who focused on the oral law, traditions and scribal laws. The Herodians were a political party of Jews who supported Herod Antipas, who in turn was a puppet of Rome. They came together in order to trap Jesus, because the Pharisees could accuse Jesus in supporting a Gentile ruler (Caesar) if Jesus said that it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. On the other hand, the Herodians could accuse Jesus of going against Rome if He were to reply “no”. They were trying to trap Jesus in His theological application to the present.
- The Future. The Sadducees were the most wealthy, influential and aristocratic of all the Jewish sects. All the high priests and chief priests were Sadducees. They controlled the temple business and were upset with Jesus for cleansing the temple, affecting their profits. They did not believe in the resurrection (Mark 12:18), but used a hypothetical scenario of the future resurrection to trap and discredit Jesus in front of the people. Jesus rebuked them for not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
- The Past. Finally, one of the scribes, who were experts of Old Testament law, came to test Jesus regarding His theological interpretation of the past – the commandments spelt out in the Old Testament. The Pharisees had determined that there were 613 commandments, but disputed on which was the most important.
Praying the Scripture
- Some Christians believe a false dichotomy – they think there is a spiritual and a worldly aspect of their lives. However, the Bible teaches that we are to do all things for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). It is meaningless to engage in theological debates when we disobey God’s clearly-revealed Word regarding our responsibilities in the present. Let us pray that we will submit to the governing authorities, for this is God’s will for us (Romans 13:1-2).
- It is equally meaningless to engage in theological debates of future eschatology when we disobey God’s clearly-revealed Word over many matters. Some Christians come up with all kinds of hypothetical scenarios in order to challenge the authority of the Bible (e.g. What happens to the uneducated man in the remotest part of the deepest jungle who dies without hearing the Gospel?), instead of obeying it (e.g. preach the Gospel to people around them). Let us pray that we will submit to the Word of God and be doers of the Word (James 1:22).
- Similarly, many Christians busy themselves with theological discussions of the past (e.g. Do the Old Testament prophecies for Israel now apply to the church?), but they neither serve God nor their brethren (evident when they do not serve in the local church). The scribe was only “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34), but he was not actually in the kingdom. Let us pray that we will truly enter the kingdom through the obedience of God’s Word.
经文：马可福音12:13-34
主题：三个神学圈套
以色列的首领晓得耶稣所陈述的园户的比喻是针对他们的（12节）。可是，他们不但不肯悔改，还派当代的神学家（法利赛人和文士）和政治家（希律党的人）给耶稣设下圈套。
- 当前。法利赛人是一群专注于饮食律法、传统和法律的虔诚犹太人。希律党则是一群支持希律·安提帕斯（Herod Antipas）的犹太政治群体，也就是罗马人的傀儡。他们齐来给耶稣设下圈套，因为倘若耶稣说给凯撒纳税是应该的，法利赛人就能控告耶稣说祂支持一位外邦君王；若耶稣说“不”，希律党人就能控告耶稣反抗罗马。他们正想从耶稣对当前的神学应用捆住祂。
- 将来。撒都该人是犹太教派中最富裕，最有影响力及最有贵族气派的。所有的大祭司和祭司长都是撒都该人。他们掌控着圣殿交易，所以对耶稣洁净圣殿一事耿耿于怀，因为那有损了他们的利润。他们不信复活这事（18节），但使用了一个未来复活的假设情景想在众人面前动摇他们对耶稣的信心。耶稣斥责他们既不明白圣经，又不晓得神的大能。
- 过去。最后，其中一个文士（旧约律法专家）前来探测耶稣有关祂对过去的神学见解：旧约中的诫命。法利赛人曾断定旧约有613条诫命，但对哪一项是最重要的起了争论。
用经文祷告
- 有些信徒相信有二分法——他们认为生命有分属灵和属世两部分。然而，圣经教导我们要凡事为神的荣耀而行（林前10:31）。当我们违背了话语中关乎我们当前职责的清楚教导时，起神学争论是毫无意义的。让我们祷告我们会顺服于在上的权柄，因为那是神对我们的旨意（罗13:1-2）。
- 同样的，当我们违背神话语中的许多清楚启示时，对末世论起神学争论也是毫无意义的。有些信徒想了很多假设状况，为要挑战圣经的权柄（如：在荒山野岭中未受教育的人没听福音就去世了，他会发生什么事？），不是顺服神的话（如：向周围人传福音）。让我们祷告我们会顺服神的话，行神的道（各1:22）。
- 同样的，许多信徒忙于古时的神学议论（如：给以色列的旧约预言是否能应用在今日教会上？），但他们不服侍神和弟兄（显示在不事奉地方教会上）。文士们是“离神的国不远了”（34节），但却不在神的国里。让我们祷告我们会藉着顺服神的话真实进入神的国。
