Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, give me a clean heart and pure motives as I seek your truth. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

So the Jewish leaders waited for the right time to get Jesus. They sent some men to Jesus. They told these men to act like they were good men. They wanted to find something wrong with the things Jesus said. (If they found something wrong, then they could give Jesus to the governor, who had power and authority {over him}.) So the men asked Jesus, "Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is true. It doesn't matter who is listening—you teach the same to all people. You always teach the truth about God's way. Tell us, is it right that we should pay taxes to Caesar ? Yes or No?" But Jesus knew that these men were trying to trick him. Jesus said to them, "Show me a coin. Whose name is on the coin? And whose picture is on it?" They said, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. And give to God the things that are God's." The men were amazed at his wise answer. They could say nothing. The men were not able to trick Jesus before the people. Jesus said nothing they could use against him. Some Sadducees came to Jesus. (Sadducees believe that people will not rise from death.) They asked Jesus, "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and had no children, then his brother must marry the woman. Then they will have children for the dead brother. One time there were seven brothers. The first brother married a woman, but died. He had no children. Then the second brother married the woman, and he died. And the third brother married the woman, and he died. The same thing happened with all the other brothers. They all died and had no children. The woman was the last to die. But all seven brothers married her. So when people rise from death, whose wife will this woman be?" Jesus said to the Sadducees, "On earth, people marry each other. Some people will be worthy to be raised from death and live again after this life. In that life they will not marry. In that life people are like angels and cannot die. They are children of God,because they have been raised from death. Moses clearly showed that people are raised from death. When Moses wrote about the burning bush, he said that the Lord is 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ' {If God said he is their God, then} these men are not really dead. He is God only of living people. All people that belong to God are alive." Some of the teachers of the law said, "Teacher, your answer was very good." No person was brave enough to ask him another question.

Related Scripture Readings

So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, if a person continues asking, that person will receive. If a person continues looking, that person will find. And if a person continues knocking, the door will open for that person. Does any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give his son a snake? No! You would give him a fish. Or, if your son asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion ? No! {You are like all other people}—you are evil. But you know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to those people that ask him."

God, create a pure heart in me! Make my spirit strong again!

{Lord,} no person can see all of his own mistakes. So don't let me do secret sins. Don't let me do the sins I want to do. Don't let those sins rule me. If you help me, then I can be pure and free from my sins. I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—You are the One who saves me.