Mark 12:13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

Who are they? We have to look back to the last chapter to discover who is sending “certain” men to do their bidding. 11:27 identifies them as the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders. This is a very touchy subject. We are to be subject one to another and if we are chosen by church leaders to perform any task, whose bidding are you doing?

When asked to serve, do you take it to the Lord or jump in? When pondering this I was taken back to my military service and remember that it was my duty to execute any lawful order. What constituted a lawful order? First of all, you had to study and understand the military code of conduct. Let me tell you from experience that basic training didn’t cover the whole of the code of conduct. They only covered the basics.

It was up to me to step up and go beyond what was pointed out in basic and study the code for myself. Much in the same way that I had to dedicate myself to serve the military, we should study and understand the commandments above and beyond what teachers and preachers say.

Only by knowing the Word in a personal commitment of relationship will you ever discover if you are doing the Lord’s bidding or executing an illegal order.