24th Sunday after Pentecost Mark 12:28-34

Ancient Lens

What's the historical context?

An Honest Inquiry from the Religious Leaders

It is easy—perhaps tempting—to read this passage with built-in sarcasm because we know the general tone of Jesus’s interactions with the religious intelligentsia of his day. In this case, however, we see Jesus entertaining the game of formalities that his contemporaries liked to play and answering them almost in kind. In fact, there are many times when we should recognize that Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, etc. approached Jesus with honest inquiry and even respected him as a rabbi and teacher. This is one of those times.

Profound, but Not Unheard Of

Jesus’s teachings were also not…

1. If you had the opportunity to ask Jesus a question about the Law, what would it be?

2. What would be a motivation for wondering which laws were greater than others?

3. Have you ever prayed the Shema? (Consider doing so in your service or Bible study.) How does it feel to pray a prayer Jesus probably prayed every day? What do you notice about it? What parts of the life of one of God's people does it emphasize?

4. How does the world around you prioritize God’s commandments (or expectations)? How important is their priority to you?

5. Think about the questions you have heard people ask about God. What tone of voice or posture do you assume people have when they ask questions about God?

6. Why might we presume…