Today’s chapter from the gospel of Mark deals with Jesus teachings while being challenged, and the chapter of Deuteronomy deals with the Ten Commandments.
March 12: Mark 12, Deuteronomy 5 (click on the chapter to begin reading)
Mark 12 begins with Jesus telling the parable of the unfaithful tenants, and after that the Pharisees tried to entrap Jesus with the question “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?” You know the answer, if not, check it and ponder. Then it was the Sadducees’ turn to entrap him with the question what happens to marriage at the Resurrection. Jesus answered: “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.” Then Jesus answered the question: “What is the Greatest Commandment,” and answered the riddle “whose son is the Christ?” Finally, looking at temple offerings Jesus noticed the widow that gave her all, two mites.
In Deuteronomy 5 the Ten Commandments are enumerated a second time, the first time was in Exodus 20. The people were afraid of God’s presence, horrified but not in reverential fear.