1. Today’s Sermon: Mark 12:1-17: “Jesus Spoke Against The Pharisees The Parable Of The Vineyard Owner / Some Pharisees And Herodians Try To Trap Him Asking If They Should Pay A Poll Tax To Caesar” by Pastor Jim Bomkamp

2. Outline of today’s msg: 1. Jesus will speak a parable about a vineyard owner who builds a vineyard and lends it out to men expecting them to give him his due of the yield of the wine, yet they refuse to give it to him and beat up those who he sends to receive the produce. 2. Some Pharisees and Herodians are sent to Jesus to put Him to the test as they ask Him if they should pay the poll-tax to Caesar.

3. Mark 12:1-12: parable of the vineyard owner

4. Israel is referred to as the vineyard of Jehovah in the Old Testament (Isaiah 5:1-7) (see also Psalm 80:8-19)

5. The Jewish nation had been given great privileges but instead of realizing that they also had a great responsibility, they took those privileges for granted.

6. The Jews had persecuted all and killed many of the prophets, and now they were planning to murder God’s only unique Son

7. An key theological construct is made by Jesus here: there is only one unique Son

8. Jesus foretells that there will be a coming day of judgment for Israel

9. There is coming a day of judgment and retribution for all of those who do not know God and reject Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 )

10. Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 as being fulfilled in the religious leaders in His day

11. The Messiah is sometimes referred to as a “rock” (Exodus 17:6, Zechariah 4:7, Romans 9:32-33, 1 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Peter 2:6-8)

12. Mark 12:13-17: Some Pharisees and Herodians ask Jesus if they should pay taxes

13. CONCLUSIONS: 1. We who are God’s people need to recognize that we need to produce fruit to God as a result of the privileges and stewardship we have been granted. 2. We need to remember to be responsible citizens of the country in which we live, render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, including pay our due of taxes. 3. Be sure to render to God the things that are God’s, again, as a responsible citizen. This time a citizen of heaven, and all of its benefits.