A Full and Informed Devotion

This sermon is from Grace Fellowship Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. To access other sermons or to learn more about us, please visit our website at graceedmonton .ca.

The Setting in Mark 12 and the Coming Tests of Jesus

We're going to pick up this week exactly where we left off last week in the Gospel of Mark in chapter 12. And the last time that we were here together, we heard about Christ's parable of the tenants, at least in chapter 12 as we were in there in verses 1 to 12.

If we remember back to last week, we might recall that in that exchange, our Lord had gravely offended the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. In fact, he compared them to a group of rebellious vineyard workers who were guilty not only of rejecting the owner of the vineyard, Israel as the vineyard, rejecting the God of Israel, but rejecting his servants, the prophets, and looking ahead to even the rejection of his only beloved son.

And at the end of last week's passage in Mark chapter 12 and verse 12, we came to those words right at the beginning. It said, and they were seeking to arrest him in the present tense. They were looking for any opportunity to get a hold of him and to deliver him over even unto death.

The Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin, they were enraged at Christ's statement. And where we pick up today is right where we left off with that enraged group of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. And as we pick up this week, I want to place us back in the narrative.

You might wonder why I keep doing this, but I keep giving us the day of the week in that Passion Week. What day are we on and how much longer until we get to the cross? Well, in this case, in verse 13, where we find ourselves today, it is still Tuesday.

It is Christ's final Passion Week. In just a few short days, we're almost at the hump day. In just a few short days, God the Son, Jesus Christ, will be going to that cross for sinners at the hands of sinners.

And as we will see over the next few weeks, on this last Tuesday of Christ's earthly life and ministry, he's going to endure a round of tests, of trials, of traps that the religious leaders are going to set for him.

The most powerful people in Jerusalem. See, when Christ had his ministry in Galilee, that was tolerable. He was far enough away from the nation's capital and the center for religion and power in Israel.

But now that Christ is in Jerusalem, he has stirred up the hornet's nest. And they're going to come for him. And for today's purposes, what we're going to look at, we find a total of three attacks or tests that they'll bring to him.

We're going to look at the first two in reference to paying taxes to Caesar and the resurrection, as we have just heard. And as we look at those first two trials, those first two tests, this is what we're going to find.

Here is these sanctimonious leaders seek to trap Christ in his word. Christ not only teaches about taxation, we're going to hear about taxation. I think I was preparing this week and I often verbalize as I prepare.

It's kind of embarrassing and I leave my office door closed, but every once in a while people hear me. And I think my wife commented, taxes, I don't like paying taxes. Well, Christ not only teaches us about taxation, and not only about the resurrection.

Certainly important topics, and we'll give some time to that. But he reveals the foundational truths of what it means to be the true people of God. In these brief exchanges, we get some very helpful information for us as Christians.

You see, as these religious leaders fixated on the tangential and the peripheral matters of their own nuanced views. They had lost sight of the core realities of what it meant to be the very people of God.

In their sin-hardened hearts, they could no longer see the forest for the trees, as we would say. And so in this passage, not only do we get to see Christ masterfully deal with them. And hopefully we can appreciate that.

Just how masterfully he deals with these cowardly religious leaders. But this passage is going to give us some timely reminders for the Christian life. Like, what does it mean to be image-bearers of the living God?

What does it mean that you were created in the image and likeness of God? And what does God require of you as one of his image-bearers? Or even more, how are we to know what to believe about God, and how to live in light of who he is?

Christ answers those questions in this account. And so we're going to begin, at least for today's purposes, I've broken up our text into four expositional points. And they really are more narrative-based than application-based.

I often give application-based points. You'll see that this is more narrative-based in nature. But we will look at application. And the first point that I want to look at, we find in verses 13 and 14.

So it's Mark chapter 12, 13 and 14. I will read them. And here we will see what I'm calling a cunning trap. A cunning trap. It says this. And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to trap him in his talk.

And they came and said to him, Teacher, we know that you are true, and do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. But truly teach the word of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

Should we pay them, or should we not? The very first thing we might notice if we're looking carefully in verse 13. Is that the passage begins with these words, And they sent them. Or, and they sent to him.

Who are the they in this passage? It's very likely that this was the Sanhedrin. The very men who Christ interacted with last week. In the first 12 verses. And they sent to him the Pharisees and the Herodians as we see.

And what we need to appreciate. If you know anything about biblical history, redemptive history. Is that this is a very unlikely alliance between these two particular groups. They were two groups that were indeed diametrically opposed to each other.

In terms of their world view and agenda. So it's really helpful I think for us to hone in for a moment. On who these particular groups were. The Pharisees. Now we've already heard a great deal about them.

We're not going to go into it at great length. But they were the religious zealots of the day in Israel. Today if we were to use maybe some derogatory modern media terms. They were the Jewish nationalists.

Not quite as nationalistic as the zealots. But leading in that direction. They longed for a liberated Israel. That was free from bondage to the Romans. They loved and promoted Jewish religious life and culture.

And despised anything and everything that interfered with that. Including Roman taxation. So like the vast majority of Jews in Christ's day. They saw the Roman taxation system as a burdensome yoke to be cast off.

They didn't want Rome. They didn't want to be taxed by Rome. Now on the other hand. Standing next to these Pharisees were the Herodians. And the Herodians in stark contrast to the Pharisees. Were far more sympathetic to Roman rule.

They were called Herodians because they backed the Herodian dynasty. You'll remember when Christ was a babe in the manger. There was Herod the Great who sought to kill him. Well Herod had a number of sons.

Three of which took over ruling his kingdom. And the Herodians in particular were champions for the puppet king. That was Herod Antipas. Now Herod Antipas was the same one who imprisoned John the Baptist.

Beheaded him. He was the same one that we're going to read about in a short time. When Christ went to him before the crucifixion. And the Herodians in stark contrast to the Pharisees. Supported Roman taxation.

Not only because it enriched Herod. But because it brought them favor with the nation of Rome. And so what we immediately see is these two groups come. Sent to Christ together. Is what we would maybe call the common enemy effect.

There's that saying nothing unites humanity like a common enemy. Nothing in this case unites fallen humanity like a common enemy. And in this case that common enemy is the Lord Jesus Christ. And so it says that they came to Christ and set a trap.

Mark says to trap him in his words. And there Mark uses a hunting term. You guys know for some of you that do know that I love hunting. And here this is a hunting term. To catch or to ensnare. And what it does is it uses this word to paint a picture of the violent pursuit of Christ.

It conjures up an image of a hunter. Who camouflages themselves in order to ensnare and kill their prey. And these men while they appeared meek on the outside. Approached Christ with violence in their hearts.

And verse 14 tells us that they baited the trap with flattery. Now kids I want you to think about this for a second. Why would they bait the trap with flattery? We'll get back to that in a second. They called him teacher.

They called him true. They said he was true. That he wasn't swayed by human opinions or appearances. That he truly taught the way of God. What's interesting about those sayings if you read them. As I read them earlier I found myself saying amen.

Amen. Amen. Amen. It is exactly true of Christ. That he was true. Not swayed by human appearances. That he truly indeed in stark contrast to these men. Taught the way of God.

Truly.

And yet these men were saying this for exactly the wrong reason. In Proverbs 29 .5. Kids I want you to think about this. How people might use flattery to deceive. To trick. To trap us. Proverbs 29 .5 says a man who flatters his neighbor.

Spreads a net for his feet. And that is what these men were up to. They're digging a pit. They're covering it. They're calling on Christ to walk right into it. And they ask him about the imperial poll tax.

This was an imperial tax that was implemented in AD 6. Which required that every individual in Rome pay a denarius. That was the equivalent of one day's wages for a laborer. As a head tax to the Roman government.

And this question that they pose to Christ. These two diametrically opposed groups. This unlikely alliance. Is posed to put Christ in an impossible situation. Because what Christ is faced with is this.

It's two groups of people. That believe and think the exact opposite thing about taxation. And they're saying either you must side with the Herodians. And advocate for taxation. Which would have been repulsive to the contemporary Jewish mind.

Or you can side with the Pharisees. And denounce taxation. And when you do you can count on it. The Herodians are going to go to Rome. And Christ is going to bring upon himself the swift justice of the Roman Imperium.

So as far as the Herodians and the Pharisees were concerned. This wasn't a sincere question. It was a duplicitous trap. A brilliant and a cunning scheme. To force Christ into some kind of compromising position.

Now kids you've heard the passage read. What is Christ going to do? Is he going to side with the Herodians? Or is he going to side with the Pharisees? You have your guess in mind? He'll side with neither of them.

Okay let's see what happens. Now it's worth noting here. Before we get to the answer. Kids this is supposed to keep you hooked in a little bit. It's worth noting that this is not the first or the last time.

That God's enemies will seek to entrap his people. Brothers and sisters as Christians in this world. We must be wise to the schemes of the enemy. People will flatter us. They will come to us with feigned sincerity.

Some will even appear to be Christians. As our brother Sam, I was speaking to him a few weeks ago. He reminded me some people who seem like close friends today. Will be the Judas's of tomorrow. And this is what we see here.

That people are going to come against Christians. That we have a real enemy in a real war. Against that which is good and holy and true. And of God and that which is of darkness. And of the devil. And we must be prepared for that.

In my early Christian life I had an obsession. Or an obsessive interest in the persecuted church. As a new believer I think I've shared the story before. The very first thing the Lord did was he gave me an insatiable appetite for his word.

I praise God for that. That is of his grace to his glory. The other thing he gave me an insatiable appetite for was to read Christian books. And so my one friend bought me a Christian book. It was called, I still have it on my bookshelf, Your God is Too Small.

By Mark Buchanan who now lives I think in Three Hills or Two Hills, Alberta. Whichever the Christian town is. And so called Christian town anyways. And after I finished reading that book I wanted to read other Christian books.

And my wife had The Voice of the Martyrs. DC Talk, The Voice of the Martyrs, book one and two. On modern and ancient Christian martyrs. And so I remember just reading my Bible voraciously. And reading the book of the martyrs.

And one of the things that I saw over and over again in these stories. Was how frequently the Chinese secret police would infiltrate the underground churches. They would befriend believers. They would attend Bible studies.

They would try to make as many relationships as they could with the Christians around them. And then once they had all the intelligence that they needed. They would swiftly move in. And all the Christians in that location would disappear.

And would go to some undisclosed jail or work camp or whatever it was. Sometimes for years on end. And as Christians we need to be wise to these things. And we must be prepared to count the cost of following Christ.

Jesus said in John 15 20. Remember the word that I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will persecute you. Peter later wrote to a dispersion of persecuted Christians.

In what is modern day Turkey. In 1 Peter chapter 4. And starting in verse 12 he said. Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. As though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings. That you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ. You are blessed. Because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief. Or as an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian. Let him not be ashamed. But let him glorify God in that name. So the very first thing we see in this image.

Is this cunning trap that is set against Christ. And the same cunning traps will be set against the Christian in this life. And we must walk circumspectly. Walk wisely. Walk carefully. Walk diligently according to scripture.

As I said. Even for you kids as you grow up. And our prayer to God is that you would believe in Christ. That you would be right with him. You must be prepared to be at odds with the world. I think it was C .T. Studd who said.

That a living fish swims upstream. And a dead fish floats downstream. Well the Christian is a living fish. And we are always going to be moving against the waves of this world. I found an interesting story.

It came to mind as I was preparing this week. The story of John Wesley that I once heard. If you know anything about John Wesley. John Wesley. I hope on our book table at some point. We'll get some John Wesley books.

As well as some George Whitfield books. John Wesley and George Whitfield. I've shared this a number of years ago. So most of you weren't here when I shared it. But they would go. Especially George Whitfield.

Would stand outside of the mine shafts. As the workers would come out of the mine shafts. And they would preach the gospel in the open air. And as the miners would stand there after a long day's work.

They knew that the miners were really becoming affected by the gospel. When they would see that their blackened faces. Would have streams of skin color beneath their blackened faces. And John Wesley who was a contemporary of George Whitfield.

He was once riding his horse along a dusty road. And it dawned on him that he had not been persecuted for three days. No one had thrown rocks or bricks or eggs at him. He had gone completely unscathed for the last three days.

And it alarmed him so much that he said. Can it be that I have sinned? Can it be that I have backslidden? That the world is now that favorable towards me? And so he got down. That experience of suffering had been so normative for him.

He got down on the ground. On his knees. And he began praying to God. And he asked God. What was going on? And why no one was persecuting him anymore? And as he sat there on the ground praying. A man.

A farmer.

A rough farmer on the other side of the hedge. Heard a man praying. And looked over the hedge and saw. This is John Wesley. And he said to himself. I will fix that Methodist preacher. And he picked up a rock.

And tried to throw it at John Wesley's head. And it narrowly missed John Wesley. And as he got up from his praying. He rejoiced. He said. Thank God. It is alright. I still have his presence. Such is the experience of the Christian.

And if you're not experiencing that. Woe to those. Who that all the world think favorably of them. We will experience opposition just as Christ did.

Jesus’ Uncompromising Answer About Taxes and Allegiance to God

Now.

Getting back to our text. And answering the kids question. How will Christ respond to this cunning trap? We're going to see in verses 15 through 17. But knowing their hypocrisy. He said to them. Why put me to the test?

Bring me a denarius. And let me look at it. And they brought one. He said to them. Whose likeness and inscription is this? They said to him. Caesar's. Jesus said to them. Render to Caesar. The things that are Caesar's.

And to God. The things that are God's. So we see a cunning trap. Here I want us to see. An uncompromising answer. Coming from Christ. An uncompromising answer. Verse 15 tells us that Christ. As very God incarnate.

Immediately. Recognized the scheme. Mark tells us that Christ was aware of. He uses the word hypocrisy. And what this word means. What it meant then. Was to play a part. To pretend. It was used idiomatically.

Like we might call someone. Who is two faced. Or double minded. And Christ recognized. These Pharisees were exactly that. They were compromised. Pretenders. And what they were asking. Wasn't true. And the way they were behaving.

Wasn't reflective of who they were. And so asking for a denarius. In verse 16. Christ put it to the people. And said. Whose likeness. And inscription. Is on this denarius. Now you can. I found this interesting.

Nicole and I once had a pastor. Who had. A denarius. Coin ring on his finger. And he often. Reasoned and said. Perhaps this was the denarius. That Christ held up in his hand. I'm not sure. But I was curious.

You can still find these. Denarius online. If anyone wants to go in with me.

On ebay.

They are about 600 dollars. That's by my estimation. That's maybe depending on. How much you make. Two, three, four days wages. Not one days wage. But a denarius. At least in Christ's day. Was a silver Roman coin.

Bearing the image of. Tiberius Caesar. Tiberius Caesar was the Caesar. At that particular time. And on it had the Latin inscription. Tiberius Caesar.

Divi.

Augusti. Filius Augustus. Which means. Tiberius Caesar. Augustus. Son of the. Divine. Augustus. If you were to hold that coin. In your hand. And then.

Flip it over.

You would see an image. Of Tiberius Caesar's mother.

Livia.

And the Latin phrase. Pontifex Maximus. Which means. High priest. Now just a. Look at that denarius coin. Would give us some. Major insight. Into the. The pagan. Roman beliefs. Of Christ's day. And even.

At that time. As he held that coin. This was a reflection. Of the Roman. Imperial cult. Which insisted on. Caesar worship. The worship of. Roman emperors. And their families. As divine beings. This. This first began.

When Julius Caesar was killed. In AD 44. And Rome declared him to be divine. And then in the. Years that followed. This Roman imperial cult. Only escalated. In its godly work. Godless. Worship. The worship of fallen men.

And its demands. This is an important detail. Its demands of allegiance. To these false gods. And so in Christ's day. Augustus Caesar. Was worshipped as deity. That was Tiberius Caesar's father. And his.

Stepson now. Tiberius Caesar. Was understood. As the pontifex. Maximus.

The.

The high priest. Of Rome's royal religion. And his mother.

Olivia.

Would soon be recognized. As the Roman deity. Of peace. The goddess. Of the Pax. Romana.

So.

This is what this. Small.

Silver.

Roman coin. Represented. If you'll let me go on. A brief tangent. I think there's. Some really important. And helpful information. That looks ahead. At what is to come. History tells us. That. The worship.

Of the Roman emperor.

And the subsequent.

Persecution. Of Christ's people. Would ramp up. And up. And up. And up.

And up.

And up. We see Domitian. Around the. The end of the first century. And then up to 250.

A .D.

250. When the Roman emperor. Decius. Would decree that all people. In the Roman empire.

All people.

For the exclusion of the Jews. Who had a special.

Pardon.

You could say. Were required to participate. In what was called. The supplicatio. And what the supplicatio. Was. Was this. It was. The offering. Of a sacrificial.

Pinch.

Of. Incense. To the Roman deities. This pinch. Of incense. Was to be offered. On an open fire. To the Roman gods. In an effort.

Both.

To seek their favor. And to strengthen. The national resolve. Of the Roman people. And so. What would happen. Is this.

This.

Convoy. Would come. Into your town. If you lived. In ancient Rome.

Perhaps.

You're a Christian. Working. In a carpenter shop. Or something like that. And you hear that. The Roman magistrates. Are in town. So that everyone. Can conduct. Their supplicatio. What would you do. As a Christian.

In ancient Rome. Do you offer. A pinch. Of incense. To Caesar. As a worship. As an act. Of worship. To their god. Or gods. The emperors. Or do you remain faithful. As a Christian. What would happen. Is these.

These convoys. Would come.

Through.

And to ensure.

Every.

Citizen.

Participated. In this pagan. Practice. A Roman magistrate. Would carefully. Supervise.

Each.

Sacrifice. An issue. What was called. Libla. Libla.

TC.

A certificate. Of compliance. And the certificate. Granted. A person.

Safety.

And allowed them.

To continue.

To live.

To work.

And to provide. For their families.

But what this did.

For the Christian.

Children.

Think about this. What you would do. In ancient Rome. Adults. Think about what you would do. In ancient Rome. This created a massive. Dilemma. For those faithful. Men and women.

Who were.

Unwilling to compromise. And to offer. A pinch. Of incense. Of worship. To these false gods. They were charged with. Sedition. And sentenced to death. And this declaration. Was so demanding. On Christians.

In particular. That some historians. Looking back. Have even wondered. If Decius. Instituted. The supplicatio. Specifically. To torment Christians. These Christians were. By biblical standards. A peace loving people.

They were content. To pay their denarius. To Caesar. They wanted to live. Quiet. And faithful lives. In the fear of God. They were happy. To render to Caesar. That which was Caesar's. But they refused.

To give to Caesar. That which was God's. And so what happened. Is this. W .A. Criswell writes. He said. When the Romans. Invited the Christians. To place Jesus. In their pantheon. Beside Jupiter. And Juno.

And Neptune. And Isis. And Osiris. The Christians. Flatly. Refused. Praise God. It was. He says. It was.

And is.

Jesus.

Alone. When the Christians were invited.

To just. To just.

Bow down. Before the Roman image. And their lives could be spared. When they were invited. To merely take a pinch of incense. And to put it on the fire. In the presence of the image of. The Roman Caesar.

The Christians. Many of them. Insisted on dying. Rather than compromising. And W .A. Criswell writes. I think with tremendous force. He says. I am telling you. That what is the faith. I'm sorry. I'm telling you.

What is the faith. Of the New Testament. The faith of the martyrs.

The faith.

Of the true. Men of God. Through the centuries. That kind of faith. Is uncompromising. And there is salvation. In no other. There is a story. In Fox's book of martyrs. That are a number of stories. During this particular period in history.

That provides examples. Is replete with examples. Of this kind of Christian faith. And it's uncompromising nature. There was one particular story. Of a man named Nicomachus. Who was arrested by the authorities.

And ordered.

To provide his. Pinch of incense as a sacrifice. And he said to them. He said I cannot pay that respect. To devils. Which is only due to the almighty. And with that the Roman magistrates. Lifted him onto the rack.

And if you know what the rack looked like. One was fastened by their. Wrists and their ankles. And you were stretched until every joint. Even your hip joints were pulled. Out of the socket. And as he was on the rack.

He cried out and recanted. Of his faith in Christ. And they unloaded him off the rack. And he was relieved. By his recanting of his faith. That he fell down and died right there. Before the magistrates.

And there was a young girl. Sixteen years of age. Just a little bit older. Just a little bit younger. Than some of the young people here. And she said this. She said oh unhappy wretch. Why would you buy a moment's ease.

At the expense of a miserable eternity. And the Romans hearing this. They asked her. And she devoured herself to be a Christian. And immediately she was beheaded for her faith. Andrew and Paul. Two companions of Nicomachus.

Were stoned to death. And Faulk says as they died. They called out to their blessed redeemer. He says many were apprehended. For being Christians. And confessing the accusation true. They were beat with staves.

Torn with hooks. And at length burned with fire. And so as Jesus held up this Roman coin. In his divine nature.

Right.

Christ had two natures. A human nature. And a divine nature. In his divine nature. He knew what this coin represented. He knew what Pontifex Maximus. Was going to lead to. And yet without a pinch of compromise.

Christ responded. To this cunning trap. With his own brilliant. And better answer. He navigated the minefield.

With his advisors.

And rendered to God. The things that are God's. And so Christ acknowledges. The legitimacy. Of Christian government. Even of taxation. Much to our woe. That we should pay taxes. Romans 13. Teaches why we should.

1 Timothy 2 verses 1 to 6. 1 Peter 2. 13 to 17. One man said. To the extent that they are asked to. Violate their faith. And disobey the word of God. So Christ. Legitimizes human government. At least to the extent.

That it doesn't interfere with Christian faithfulness. But then he makes an even more profound statement. When Christ speaks about the likeness. Of the Roman denarius. He said whose likeness is on this denarius.

It's the same word. The Greek word icon. That if we go back into our. Our Greek translations of the Old Testament. The Septuagint. Is the same word that's found in. Genesis chapter 1. And verse 26. I don't know if anybody remembers that.

Genesis 1 .26. And God said. Let us make man. In our image. After our likeness. The exact same word. And so what is Christ getting at in all of this? If the coin was made. In the likeness of Caesar. By all means give it to Caesar.

But if man is made in the likeness of God. Then all of that man. Should be given to God. He's going above and beyond. With the Pharisees. And the Herodians have in mind. If Caesar wants his godless coin.

A token of the Roman. Idolatrous and pagan system of government religion. Let him have it. But even more. Not only should people fully pay their taxes. But as image bearers of God.

Fully.

Completely. And unreservedly to God. Jesus takes their puny question. About silver trinkets. And turns it into an opportunity. To teach about the great. And unswerving allegiance. That is required of the people of God.

To the eternal God. And verse 17 rightly says. That they marveled at Christ's answer. They were speechless. And now what is this whole encounter about? Is it really about taxes? And as Christians. What we take home from this.

Is that this is a call. For uncompromising. Devotion to God. This is what it means. To be a Christian. Dear friends. It is not a lackadaisical affair. It's not a tentative approach. To the living God.

It is giving all that belongs to God. And that bears the image of God. Our very persons.

To God.

It is taking that which belongs to Him. Our very lives. And giving it in service to Him. Some people want here. And I think here in this room even. Some of you want to give a pinch of your life to God.

God doesn't want a pinch of your life. He wants and commands and demands. All of your life. Every bit of it. Jesus called these men hypocrites. Pretenders. That is what they are. They are pretending. Put off double mindedness.

And give ourselves wholly to the task. Of living unto Christ. Titus 2 verses 11 to 14 says. For the grace of God has appeared. Bringing salvation for all people. Training us to renounce ungodliness. And worldly passions.

And to live self-controlled. Upright and godly lives. In the present age. Waiting for our blessed hope. The appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior. Jesus Christ. Who gave himself up for us.

To redeem us from all lawlessness. And to purify a people. For his own possession. Who are zealous for good works.

Men.

We have been talking about it in our men's group. How God wants our sincere. And pure. Devotion to Christ. That is what Christ is teaching here. And I ask you. I ask you plainly. Does he have it? Does God have.

Your sincere. And pure devotion? Does he have your will? Does he have your life? Does he have everything? Now that in and of itself. Was not enough to scare away Christ's detractors. So what we read in verse 18 is this.

The Sadducees, the Resurrection, and the Limits of Human Wisdom

Verses 18 to 23. And the Sadducees came to him. Who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question saying. Teacher. Moses wrote for us. And leaves a wife. But leaves no child. The man must take the widow.

And raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers. The first took a wife. And when he died left no offspring. And the second took her. And died leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.

And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection. When they rise again. Whose wife will she be? So we've seen a cunning trap. We've seen this uncompromising answer.