Mark 12
CHAPTER 12
Mark 12:1-12 . PARABLE OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN. ( = Matthew 21:33-46 Luke 20:9-18 ).
Mark 12:13-40 . ENTANGLING QUESTIONS ABOUT TRIBUTE THE RESURRECTION, AND THE GREAT COMMANDMENT, WITH THE REPLIES--CHRIST BAFFLES THE PHARISEES BY A QUESTION ABOUT DAVID, AND DENOUNCES THE SCRIBES. ( = Matthew 22:15-46 , Luke 20:20-47 ).
The time of this section appears to be still the third day (Tuesday) of Christ's last week. Matthew introduces the subject by saying ( Matthew 22:15 ), "Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk."
13. And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees--"their disciples," says Matthew ( Matthew 22:16 ); probably young and zealous scholars in that hardening school.
and of the Luke 20:20 these willing tools are called "spies, which should feign themselves just [righteous] men, that they might take hold of His words, that so they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor." Their plan, then, was to entrap Him into some expression which might be construed into disaffection to the Roman government; the Pharisees themselves being notoriously discontented with the Roman yoke.
Tribute to Cæsar ( Mark 12:14-17 ).
14. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master--Teacher.
we know that thou art true, and carest for no man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth--By such flattery--though they said only the truth--they hoped to throw Him off His guard.
Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?--It was the civil poll tax paid by all enrolled in the "census."
15. Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy--"their wickedness" ( Matthew 22:18 ); "their craftiness" ( Luke 20:23 ). The malignity of their hearts took the form of craft, pretending what they did not feel--an anxious desire to be guided aright in a matter which to a scrupulous few might seem a question of some difficulty. Seeing perfectly through this,
He said unto them, Why tempt ye me?--"hypocrites!"
bring me a penny that I may see it--"the tribute money" ( Matthew 22:19 ).
16. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image--stamped upon the coin.
and superscription?--the words encircling it on the obverse side.
And they said unto him, Cæsar's.
17. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's--Putting it in this general form, it was impossible for sedition itself to dispute it, and yet it dissolved the snare.
and to God the things that are God's--How much is there in this profound but to them startling addition to the maxim, and how incomparable is the whole for fulness, brevity, clearness, weight!
and they marvelled at him--"at His answer, and held their peace" ( Luke 20:26 ), "and left Him, and went their way" ( Matthew 22:22 ).
The Resurrection ( Mark 12:18-27 ).
18. Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection--"neither angel nor spirit" ( Acts 23:7 ). They were the materialists of the day.
and they asked him, saying--as follows:
19-22. Master, Moses wrote unto us--( Deuteronomy 25:5 ).
If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him . . . And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23. In the resurrection therefore when they shall rise, &c.
24. Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures--regarding the future state.
neither the power of God?--before which a thousand such difficulties vanish.