Mark 12 Commentary
The parable of talents here parallels Isaiah’s song about the vineyard. There is no intention to lift and paste Isaiah’s song, yet the parallels exist to highlight an important point. The nation of Israel is the vineyard and the LORD God is the farmer (Farmer).
In Isaiah’s song, the vineyard is the problem while in Mark the caretakers are the problem. However, as with all other parables, we pay less attention to mappings. Instead, we apply ourselves to the general thought.
The caretakers represent Israel’s leaders who are opposed to God’s project. The Farmer won’t collect any vines from His vineyard. They have zero interest in godliness and discourage the peddlers of righteousness to the point of killing them. They represent the will of God’s adversary.
When you hear of today’s campaigns for immoral practices, right up against the required fruitfulness of holiness, you wonder who is behind it all. Many think and feel they can support wickedness like they do a football team. But there are consequences. The owner of the field shows up one day and we must face the consequences of our actions. Verses 10 and 11 should encourage the saint who feels low on confidence and feels holiness is a lost cause.
Jesus’ response to the question of paying an imperial tax is a timeless gem. Who isn’t amazed? Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. It destroyed both the argument and the trap. It is a special gift wrapped in pure gold? Never mind the gift, you can do with the wrapping!
Think about it and know that God’s wisdom satisfies the entire you. It brings peace while demolishing pretensions within the heart. Don’t race with it; you cannot win. But the Sadducees didn’t know that.
They export the complications from this side of Heaven and make their own conclusions. Jesus’ response to the learned is this: you cannot use tools of reason, experiences, and observations to understand Heaven. Use faith. Use the thought that what is impossible with our faculties is possible with God. And you don’t need any education at all to reach this very high level of existence! See how God equalizes His creation!
See how Jesus reduces the entire Torah into a couple of sentences! Wisdom in action! Jesus, the wisdom (Wisdom) of God! The scribe is commended. He is not far from the kingdom of God. He gets there when he realizes that this great wisdom is the Wisdom of God. The scriptures become the Scripture and the many instructions become the Word of God – the person, the man Jesus Christ!
The son of David, Solomon, is synonymous with wisdom. This son of David here, Jesus, is one with wisdom. But that isn’t the greatest revelation. Go back to the Transfiguration and see the facts. Jesus is the God that Moses spoke to on the Mountain (Sinai). Jesus is the God that Elijah spoke to on the Mountain (Horeb, otherwise called Sinai). The facts blow your mind!
Just when you think a copper coin with Caesar’s inscription isn’t important to God, see how the LORD Jesus commends the widow for offering two coins! Can you win?
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