“Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”” Mark 12:13-17 NKJV
“Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” 24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. “ Mark 12:18-25 NKJV
Father God,
Jesus brought holy living to earth. He showed that it was possible to obey You God and live a holy life day to day but it cost hIm dearly. Cost Him not just His life but it would try His patience, tire Him out. People would try to trip Him up with questions and ask Him questions that were not even the right ones to ask.
When the temple tax was due Jesus told Simon to catch a fish and the coin to pay the tax was in its mouth. Jesus paid His religious dues. You, God provided for Jesus to pay a tax to the Temple dedicated to You! (Matthew 17:24-27).
And sometimes we get it totally wrong. Like the sadducees trying to work out who would be married to who in heaven. That’s not even a question Jesus says. John in his prophetic writings tells us it will be like the marriage of the church to the Lamb! (Revelations 19:7-9. Though I have lots of questions about that. There is so much to explore in Jesus answers as they are from You Father. And much to learn about how You still answer those trying to test You today or who have got it upside down. Your teachings and answers are available to everyone seeking answers. You teach us, speaking to each generation, right where they and we are. I pray I remain teachable.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 30th October 2026
Saviour, teach me, day by day,
love’s sweet lesson to obey;
sweeter lesson cannot be,
loving him who first loved me.
With a child’s glad heart of love,
At thy bidding may I move;
Prompt to serve and follow thee,
Loving him who first loved me.
Teach me I am not mine own
I am Thine, and Thine alone;
Thine to keep, to rule, to save
From all sin that would enslave.
Love in loving finds employ
In obedience all her joy;
Ever new that joy will be
Loving Him who first loved me.
Teach me thus thy steps to trace,
strong to follow in thy grace;
learning how to love from thee,
loving him who first loved me.
Lyrics: Jane Eliza Leeson