New Testament in a Year – Mark 12

The Parable of the Tenants - Mark 12:1-12

Understand It

• How did Jesus get across His point in this situation? (12:1)
• To whom was Jesus speaking? (12:1)
• Why did the man in the parable plant a vineyard? (12:1)
• What happened to the man’s vineyard while he was away on a journey? (12:1)
• Whom do the farmer, servants, and son in the parable represent? (12:1-6)
• Why did the owner of the vineyard send so many servants to the tenants looking after the vineyard? (12:2-5)
• Who was the last person the owner sent to his vineyard? (12:6)
• How did the tenants want to cheat the son? (12:7)
• How did the tenants treat the owner’s son? Why? (12:7-8)
• What would be the response of the vineyard owner when he discovered how the tenants treated his son? (12:9)
• What is the significance in Jesus saying that He will fulfill Psalm 118:22-23? (12:10-11)
• How did the religious leaders respond to the parable Jesus told? (12:12)

Apply It

• What is one area of your life that you are holding back from the Lord for fear that He may ask too much of you?
• What step can you take this week to commit yourself completely to the Lord?
• What can you do every day this week out of respect for God’s Word?

Paying Taxes to Caesar - Mark 12:13-17

Understand It

• Who sent the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus? (12:13)
• Who made a special trip to see Jesus? Why? (12:13)
• What were the Pharisees and Herodians trying to accomplish with their visit to Jesus? (12:13)
• How did the religious leaders try to trick Jesus? (12:13-15)
• How did the religious leaders flatter Jesus? (12:14)
• How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees and Herodians? (12:15)
• In what way were the religious leaders guilty of hypocrisy? (12:15)
• What did Jesus ask the religious leaders to bring Him? Why? (12:15-17)
• What did Jesus mean when He said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s"? (12:17)
• How did the religious leaders react to Jesus’ words? (12:17)
• How successful were the religious leaders in trapping Jesus? (12:17)

Apply It

• What is a prayer you can use to give to God what belongs to Him?
• In what ways can you stand up for the truth in your place of work this week?

Marriage at the Resurrection - Mark 12:18-27

Understand It

• Who were the Sadducees, and what did they want from Jesus? (12:18)
• What unique belief did the Sadducees have? (12:18)
• How did the Sadducees address Jesus? (12:19)
• What instruction of Moses did the Sadducees cite to support their theology about the Resurrection? (12:19)
• What complicated scenario did the Sadducees develop to get Jesus’ opinion about the Resurrection? (12:20-23)
• What was the basic principle underlying the Sadducees’ question? (12:23)
• How did Jesus respond to the Sadducees’ question? (12:24-27)
• In what way were the Sadducees "in error"? (12:24-27)
• What was wrong with the Sadducees’ viewpoint? (12:24-27)
• How will life in heaven differ from life on earth? (12:25)
• What did God say to Moses "in the account of the bush"? (12:26)
• How is God’s description of His own character relevant to this discussion with the Sadducees? (12:26)
• How did Jesus lend authority to His response to the Sadducees? (12:26)
• What did Jesus mean when He referred to God as "not the God of the dead, but of the living"? (12:27)
• How did Jesus show the Sadducees that the dead are raised? (12:26-27)

Apply It

• What concrete action would you be willing to take this week to get to know the Scriptures better?
• How could you make a conscious effort to learn from those who are more informed about the Scriptures and wiser than you?
• How can you learn more about the Scriptures this week?

The Greatest Commandment - Mark 12:28-34

Understand It

• Why did the teacher of the law come over to speak to Jesus? (12:28)
• What significant question did the teacher of the law pose to Jesus? (12:28)
• How did Jesus respond to the man’s question? (12:29-31)
• How did Jesus use Scripture in answering the question put to Him? (12:29-31)
• What did Jesus say was the second most important commandment? (12:31)
• How did the teacher of the law respond to Jesus’ answer? (12:32)
• How did the man speaking with Jesus show that He understood God’s heart? (12:32-34)
• What does God value more highly than sacrifices and offerings? (12:33)
• How did Jesus evaluate the teacher’s response to Him? (12:34)
• What did Jesus mean when He said to the teacher, "You are not far from the kingdom of God"? (12-34)
• How did the surrounding crowd react to this conversation? (12:34)

Apply It

• What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with the Lord and demonstrate your love for Him?
• Who is one neighbor to whom you can show your love in a practical way this week? How?

Whose Son Is the Christ? - Mark 12:35-40

Understand It

• Where was Jesus teaching? (12:35)
• What question did Jesus ask of His audience? (12:35)
• What was significant about the passage Jesus quoted? (12:36)
• In what way was the Holy Spirit involved in this account? (12:36)
• What did Jesus point out from one of David’s psalms? (12:36-37)
• To whom was David referring in the Scripture Jesus quoted? (12:36)
• What point was Jesus making by quoting David’s words? (12:36)
• How did the crowd respond to Jesus’ teaching? (12:37)
• How are the two parts of Jesus’ teaching in this passage related? (12:35-40)
• About whom did Jesus warn the crowds? (12:38)
• Why did Jesus condemn the teachers of the law? (12:38-39)
• What did the teachers of the law betray about themselves through their actions? (12:38-39)
• How did the teachers of the law "devour widow’s houses"? (12:40)
• For what did Jesus condemn the teachers of the law? (12:40)
• What did Jesus say would happen to the teachers of the law? (12:40)

Apply It

• What step can you take this week to pray, go to church, and do other spiritual devotions only out of a desire to please God?
• What small act of kindness could you show to a less fortunate believer in your church this week?

The Widow's Offering - Mark 12:41-44

Understand It

• Where did the events of this story take place? (12:41)
• Where did Jesus sit? (12:41)
• What did Jesus see from where He sat near the temple? (12:41)
• What did the "rich people" do at the temple treasury? (12:41)
• What do the "rich people’s" actions tell us about their motivation for giving? (12:41)
• What did the "poor widow" give to the treasury? (12:42)
• Why did Jesus call His disciples when He saw the widow put in her offering? (12:43)
• How did Jesus compare the actions of the wealthy people to the actions of the poor woman? (12:43-44)
• Why did the large amounts of money given by the rich people not impress Jesus? (12:44)
• Why was the widow’s gift so significant in Jesus’ eyes? (12:44)

Apply It

• What specific steps are you willing to take this week to give sacrificially to the Lord, of either your material wealth or your abilities and time?
• How can you ensure that your attitude and motivation is right when you give to the Lord this week?