Mark 12

1 Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to them. He said, "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, made a vat for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to vineyard workers and went on a trip.

2 "At the right time he sent a servant to the workers to collect from them a share of the grapes from the vineyard.

3 The workers took the servant, beat him, and sent him back with nothing.

4 So the man sent another servant to them. They hit the servant on the head and treated him shamefully.

5 The man sent another, and they killed that servant. Then he sent many other servants. Some of these they beat, and others they killed.

6 "He had one more person to send. That person was his son, whom he loved. Finally, he sent his son to them. He thought, 'They will respect my son.'

7 "But those workers said to one another, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

8 So they took him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the workers and give the vineyard to others.

10 Have you never read the Scripture passage: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

11 The Lord has done this, and it is amazing for us to see'?"

12 They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them. So they left him alone and went away.

13 The leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of Herod's followers to Jesus. They wanted to trap him into saying the wrong thing.

14 When they came to him, they said, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth. You don't favor individuals because of who they are. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not? Should we pay taxes or not?"

15 Jesus recognized their hypocrisy, so he asked them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a coin so that I can look at it."

16 They brought a coin. He said to them, "Whose face and name is this?" They told him, "The emperor's."

17 Jesus said to them, "Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God." They were surprised at his reply.

18 Some Sadducees, who say that people will never come back to life, came to Jesus. They asked him,

19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.'

20 There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children.

21 The second married her and died without having children. So did the third.

22 None of the seven brothers had any children. Last of all, the woman died.

23 When the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? The seven brothers had married her."

24 Jesus said to them, "Aren't you mistaken because you don't know the Scriptures or God's power?

25 When the dead come back to life, they don't marry. Rather, they are like the angels in heaven.

26 Haven't you read in the book of Moses that the dead come back to life? It's in the passage about the bush, where God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'

27 He's not the God of the dead but of the living. You're badly mistaken!"

28 One of the scribes went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of them all?"

29 Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.

30 So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'

31 The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

32 The scribe said to Jesus, "Teacher, that was well said! You've told the truth that there is only one God and no other besides him!

33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus heard how wisely the man answered, he told the man, "You're not too far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask him another question.

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is David's son?

36 David, guided by the Holy Spirit, said, 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Take the highest position in heaven until I put your enemies under your control."'

37 David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?" The large crowd enjoyed listening to him.

38 As he taught, he said, "Watch out for the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces,

39 and to have the front seats in synagogues and the places of honor at dinners.

40 They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The scribes will receive the most severe punishment."

41 As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, he watched how [much] money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts.

42 A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent.

43 He called his disciples and said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others.

44 All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on."

Mark 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

The parable of the vineyard and husbandmen. (1-12) Question about tribute. (13-17) Concerning the resurrection. (18-27) The great command of the law. (28-34) Christ the Son and yet the Lord of David. (35-40) The poor widow commended. (41-44)

Verses 1-12 Christ showed in parables, that he would lay aside the Jewish church. It is sad to think what base usage God's faithful ministers have met with in all ages, from those who have enjoyed the privileges of the church, but have not brought forth fruit answerable. God at length sent his Son, his Well-beloved; and it might be expected that he whom their Master loved, they also should respect and love; but instead of honouring him because he was the Son and Heir, they therefore hated him. But the exaltation of Christ was the Lord's doing; and it is his doing to exalt him in our hearts, and to set up his throne there; and if this be done, it cannot but be marvellous in our eyes. The Scriptures, and faithful preachers, and the coming of Christ in the flesh, call on us to render due praise to God in our lives. Let sinners beware of a proud, carnal spirit; if they revile or despise the preachers of Christ, they would have done so their Master, had they lived when he was upon earth.

Verses 13-17 The enemies of Christ would be thought desirous to know their duty, when really they hoped that which soever side he took of the question, they might find occasion to accuse him. Nothing is more likely to insnare the followers of Christ, than bringing them to meddle with disputes about worldly politics. Jesus avoided the snare, by referring to the submission they had already made as a nation; and all that heard him, marvelled at the great wisdom of his answer. Many will praise the words of a sermon, who will not be commanded by the doctrines of it.

Verses 18-27 A right knowledge of the Scripture, as the fountain whence all revealed religion now flows, and the foundation on which it is built, is the best preservative against error. Christ put aside the objection of the Sadducees, who were the scoffing infidels of that day, by setting the doctrine of the future state in a true light. The relation between husband and wife, though appointed in the earthly paradise, will not be known in the heavenly one. It is no wonder if we confuse ourselves with foolish errors, when we form our ideas of the world of spirits by the affairs of this world of sense. It is absurd to think that the living God should be the portion and happiness of a man if he is for ever dead; and therefore it is certain that Abraham's soul exists and acts, though now for a time separate from the body. Those that deny the resurrection greatly err, and ought to be told so. Let us seek to pass through this dying world, with a joyful hope of eternal happiness, and of a glorious resurrection.

Verses 28-34 Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for men's transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power except as they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Saviour, and as they led to moral obedience. And because we have not thus loved God and man, but the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy. Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ.

Verses 35-40 When we attend to what the Scriptures declare, as to the person and offices of Christ, we shall be led to confess him as our Lord and God; to obey him as our exalted Redeemer. If the common people hear these things gladly, while the learned and distinguished oppose, the former are happy, and the latter to be pitied. And as sin, disguised with a show of piety, is double iniquity, so its doom will be doubly heavy.

Verses 41-44 Let us not forget that Jesus still sees the treasury. He knows how much, and from what motives, men give to his cause. He looks at the heart, and what our views are, in giving alms; and whether we do it as unto the Lord, or only to be seen of men. It is so rare to find any who would not blame this widow, that we cannot expect to find many who will do like to her; and yet our Saviour commends her, therefore we are sure that she did well and wisely. The feeble efforts of the poor to honour their Saviour, will be commended in that day, when the splendid actions of unbelievers will be exposed to contempt.