Mark 12

1 et coepit illis in parabolis loqui vineam pastinavit homo et circumdedit sepem et fodit lacum et aedificavit turrem et locavit eam agricolis et peregre profectus est

2 et misit ad agricolas in tempore servum ut ab agricolis acciperet de fructu vineae

3 qui adprehensum eum ceciderunt et dimiserunt vacuum

4 et iterum misit ad illos alium servum et illum capite vulneraverunt et contumeliis adfecerunt

5 et rursum alium misit et illum occiderunt et plures alios quosdam caedentes alios vero occidentes

6 adhuc ergo unum habens filium carissimum et illum misit ad eos novissimum dicens quia reverebuntur filium meum

7 coloni autem dixerunt ad invicem hic est heres venite occidamus eum et nostra erit hereditas

8 et adprehendentes eum occiderunt et eiecerunt extra vineam

9 quid ergo faciet dominus vineae veniet et perdet colonos et dabit vineam aliis

10 nec scripturam hanc legistis lapidem quem reprobaverunt aedificantes hic factus est in caput anguli

11 a Domino factum est istud et est mirabile in oculis nostris

12 et quaerebant eum tenere et timuerunt turbam cognoverunt enim quoniam ad eos parabolam hanc dixerit et relicto eo abierunt

13 et mittunt ad eum quosdam ex Pharisaeis et Herodianis ut eum caperent in verbo

14 qui venientes dicunt ei magister scimus quoniam verax es et non curas quemquam nec enim vides in faciem hominis sed in veritate viam Dei doces licet dari tributum Caesari an non dabimus

15 qui sciens versutiam eorum ait illis quid me temptatis adferte mihi denarium ut videam

16 at illi adtulerunt et ait illis cuius est imago haec et inscriptio dicunt illi Caesaris

17 respondens autem Iesus dixit illis reddite igitur quae sunt Caesaris Caesari et quae sunt Dei Deo et mirabantur super eo

18 et venerunt ad eum Sadducaei qui dicunt resurrectionem non esse et interrogabant eum dicentes

19 magister Moses nobis scripsit ut si cuius frater mortuus fuerit et dimiserit uxorem et filios non reliquerit accipiat frater eius uxorem ipsius et resuscitet semen fratri suo

20 septem ergo fratres erant et primus accepit uxorem et mortuus est non relicto semine

21 et secundus accepit eam et mortuus est et nec iste reliquit semen et tertius similiter

22 et acceperunt eam similiter septem et non reliquerunt semen novissima omnium defuncta est et mulier

23 in resurrectione ergo cum resurrexerint cuius de his erit uxor septem enim habuerunt eam uxorem

24 et respondens Iesus ait illis non ideo erratis non scientes scripturas neque virtutem Dei

25 cum enim a mortuis resurrexerint neque nubent neque nubentur sed sunt sicut angeli in caelis

26 de mortuis autem quod resurgant non legistis in libro Mosi super rubum quomodo dixerit illi Deus inquiens ego sum Deus Abraham et Deus Isaac et Deus Iacob

27 non est Deus mortuorum sed vivorum vos ergo multum erratis

28 et accessit unus de scribis qui audierat illos conquirentes et videns quoniam bene illis responderit interrogavit eum quod esset primum omnium mandatum

29 Iesus autem respondit ei quia primum omnium mandatum est audi Israhel Dominus Deus noster Deus unus est

30 et diliges Dominum Deum tuum ex toto corde tuo et ex tota anima tua et ex tota mente tua et ex tota virtute tua hoc est primum mandatum

31 secundum autem simile illi diliges proximum tuum tamquam te ipsum maius horum aliud mandatum non est

32 et ait illi scriba bene magister in veritate dixisti quia unus est et non est alius praeter eum

33 et ut diligatur ex toto corde et ex toto intellectu et ex tota anima et ex tota fortitudine et diligere proximum tamquam se ipsum maius est omnibus holocaustomatibus et sacrificiis

34 Iesus autem videns quod sapienter respondisset dixit illi non es longe a regno Dei et nemo iam audebat eum interrogare

35 et respondens Iesus dicebat docens in templo quomodo dicunt scribae Christum Filium esse David

36 ipse enim David dicit in Spiritu Sancto dixit Dominus Domino meo sede a dextris meis donec ponam inimicos tuos scabillum pedum tuorum

37 ipse ergo David dicit eum Dominum et unde est filius eius et multa turba eum libenter audivit

38 et dicebat eis in doctrina sua cavete a scribis qui volunt in stolis ambulare et salutari in foro

39 et in primis cathedris sedere in synagogis et primos discubitus in cenis

40 qui devorant domos viduarum sub obtentu prolixae orationis hii accipient prolixius iudicium

41 et sedens Iesus contra gazofilacium aspiciebat quomodo turba iactaret aes in gazofilacium et multi divites iactabant multa

42 cum venisset autem una vidua pauper misit duo minuta quod est quadrans

43 et convocans discipulos suos ait illis amen dico vobis quoniam vidua haec pauper plus omnibus misit qui miserunt in gazofilacium

44 omnes enim ex eo quod abundabat illis miserunt haec vero de penuria sua omnia quae habuit misit totum victum suum

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.