Mark 12

Commentary

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

(Matthew 21:33-46; Luke 20:9-18)

1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

10And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

11This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

(Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:19-26)

13And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, 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: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 17And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Sadducees Question the Resurrection

(Matthew 22:23-33; Luke 20:27-40)

18Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 19Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 21And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 22And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 24And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

The Greatest Commandment

(Deuteronomy 6:1-19; Matthew 22:34-40)

28And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Whose Son is the Christ?

(Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44)

35And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

37David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes

(Luke 20:45-47)

38And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

The Poor Widow's Offering

(Luke 21:1-4)

41And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Luke 20:9–18)

1 He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country. 2 When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. 6 Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.

10 Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.

11 This was from the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Luke 20:19–26)

13 They sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words. 14 When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.” 16 They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40)

18 There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring. 21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; 22 and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.” 24 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God? 25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”

The Greatest Commandment
(Deuteronomy 6:1–19; Matthew 22:34–40)

28 One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” No one dared ask him any question after that.

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Luke 20:41–44)

35 Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

36 For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’

37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes
(Luke 20:45–47)

38 In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts: 40 those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering
(Luke 21:1–4)

41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. 43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Luke 20:9–18)

1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

2 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

4 Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully.

5 He sent still another, and this one they killed.

He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed.

6 Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

7 But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you never read this Scripture:

‘The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

11 This is from the Lord,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’ a?”

12 At this, the leaders sought b to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Luke 20:19–26)

13 Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words. 14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

15 But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius c to inspect.” 16 So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they answered.

17 Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40)

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. d 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. 21 Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. 22 In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died. 23 In the resurrection, then, e whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.

26 But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ f? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

The Greatest Commandment
(Deuteronomy 6:1–19; Matthew 22:34–40)

28 Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ g 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ h No other commandment is greater than these.”

32 “Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him, 33 and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

And no one dared to question Him any further.

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Luke 20:41–44)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, i He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand

until I put Your enemies

under Your feet.” ’ j

37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?”

And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

Beware of the Scribes
(Luke 20:45–47)

38 In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They defraud widows of their houses, k and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering
(Luke 21:1–4)

41 As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. l

43 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. 44 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

 

Footnotes:

11 a Psalm 118:22–23
12 b Literally they sought
15 c A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.
19 d Deuteronomy 25:5
23 e Literally In the resurrection, when they rise,
26 f Exodus 3:6
30 g Deuteronomy 6:4–5
31 h Leviticus 19:18
35 i Literally the temple
36 j Psalm 110:1
40 k Literally They devour widows’ houses
42 l Greek put in two lepta, which is a kodrantēs ; a lepton was a Jewish coin of bronze or copper worth about 1-128 of a denarius.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

(Matthew 21:33-46; Luke 20:9-18)

1And he began to speak to them in similes: 'A man planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around, and digged an under-wine-vat, and built a tower, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad; 2and he sent unto the husbandmen at the due time a servant, that from the husbandmen he may receive from the fruit of the vineyard, 3and they, having taken him, did severely beat him, and did send him away empty. 4And again he sent unto them another servant, and at that one having cast stones, they wounded him in the head, and sent away -- dishonoured. 5'And again he sent another, and that one they killed; and many others, some beating, and some killing. 6'Having yet therefore one son -- his beloved -- he sent also him unto them last, saying -- They will reverence my son; 7and those husbandmen said among themselves -- This is the heir, come, we may kill him, and ours shall be the inheritance; 8and having taken him, they did kill, and cast him forth without the vineyard. 9'What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others.

10And this Writing did ye not read: A stone that the builders rejected, it did become the head of a corner:

11from the Lord was this, and it is wonderful in our eyes.'

12And they were seeking to lay hold on him, and they feared the multitude, for they knew that against them he spake the simile, and having left him, they went away;

Paying Taxes to Caesar

(Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:19-26)

13and they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they may ensnare him in discourse, 14and they having come, say to him, 'Teacher, we have known that thou art true, and thou art not caring for any one, for thou dost not look to the face of men, but in truth the way of God dost teach; is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? may we give, or may we not give?' 15And he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, 'Why me do ye tempt? bring me a denary, that I may see;' 16and they brought, and he saith to them, 'Whose is this image, and the inscription?' and they said to him, 'Caesar's;' 17and Jesus answering said to them, 'Give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;' and they did wonder at him.

Sadducees Question the Resurrection

(Matthew 22:23-33; Luke 20:27-40)

18And the Sadducees come unto him, who say there is not a rising again, and they questioned him, saying, 19'Teacher, Moses wrote to us, that if any one's brother may die, and may leave a wife, and may leave no children, that his brother may take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. 20'There were then seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, he left no seed; 21and the second took her, and died, neither left he seed, and the third in like manner, 22and the seven took her, and left no seed, last of all died also the woman; 23in the rising again, then, whenever they may rise, of which of them shall she be wife -- for the seven had her as wife?' 24And Jesus answering said to them, 'Do ye not because of this go astray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God? 25for when they may rise out of the dead, they neither marry nor are they given in marriage, but are as messengers who are in the heavens. 26And concerning the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the Book of Moses (at The Bush), how God spake to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; 27he is not the God of dead men, but a God of living men; ye then go greatly astray.'

The Greatest Commandment

(Deuteronomy 6:1-19; Matthew 22:34-40)

28And one of the scribes having come near, having heard them disputing, knowing that he answered them well, questioned him, 'Which is the first command of all?' 29and Jesus answered him -- 'The first of all the commands is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one; 30and thou shalt love the Lord thy God out of all thy heart, and out of thy soul, and out of all thine understanding, and out of all thy strength -- this is the first command; 31and the second is like it, this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; -- greater than these there is no other command.' 32And the scribe said to him, 'Well, Teacher, in truth thou hast spoken that there is one God, and there is none other but He; 33and to love Him out of all the heart, and out of all the understanding, and out of all the soul, and out of all the strength, and to love one's neighbour as one's self, is more than all the whole burnt-offerings and the sacrifices.' 34And Jesus, having seen him that he answered with understanding, said to him, 'Thou art not far from the reign of God;' and no one any more durst question him.

Whose Son is the Christ?

(Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44)

35And Jesus answering said, teaching in the temple, 'How say the scribes that the Christ is son of David?

36for David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said to my lord, Sit thou on My right hand, till I place thine enemies -- thy footstool;

37therefore David himself saith of him Lord, and whence is he his son?' And the great multitude were hearing him gladly,

Beware of the Scribes

(Luke 20:45-47)

38and he was saying to them in his teaching, 'Beware of the scribes, who will in long robes to walk, and love salutations in the market-places, 39and first seats in the synagogues, and first couches in suppers, 40who are devouring the widows' houses, and for a pretence are making long prayers; these shall receive more abundant judgment.'

The Poor Widow's Offering

(Luke 21:1-4)

41And Jesus having sat down over-against the treasury, was beholding how the multitude do put brass into the treasury, and many rich were putting in much, 42and having come, a poor widow did put in two mites, which are a farthing. 43And having called near his disciples, he saith to them, 'Verily I say to you, that this poor widow hath put in more than all those putting into the treasury; 44for all, out of their abundance, put in, but she, out of her want, all that she had put in -- all her living.'

The Favor of God Message paraphrase

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

¹ Jesus began speaking to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some tenants and went away on a journey.

² At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

³ But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

⁴ Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully.

⁵ He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

⁶ He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

⁷ But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

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

⁹ What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

¹⁰ Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

¹¹ the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”*

¹² Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders looked for a way to arrest Him because they knew He had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left Him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

¹³ Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch Him in His words.

¹⁴ They came to Him and said, “Teacher, we know You are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because You pay no attention to who they are; but You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?

¹⁵ Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap Me?” He asked. “Bring Me a denarius and let Me look at it.”

¹⁶ They brought the coin, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.

Marriage at the Resurrection

¹⁸ Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him with a question.

¹⁹ “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

²⁰ Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children.

²¹ The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.

²² In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.

²³ At the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

²⁴ Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

²⁵ When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

²⁶ Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

²⁷ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

The Greatest Commandment

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him.

³³ To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask Him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

³⁵ While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?

³⁶ David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

“‘Yahweh said to my Lord:

“Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’

³⁷ David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ How then can He be his son?” The large crowd listened to Him with delight.

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

³⁸ As He taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

⁴⁰ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.

⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Footnotes:

12:11: Jesus references Psalm 118:22-23 here, showing that He, the “rejected stone,” would become the cornerstone of God’s plan, a fulfillment of prophecy.

12:17: Jesus’ teaching on taxes reveals that while earthly governments have authority in certain realms, ultimate allegiance belongs to God, with whom we owe our lives and worship.

12:27: Jesus affirms the resurrection by pointing out that God’s identity as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob means that these patriarchs still live in God’s presence, validating the reality of resurrection.

12:31: Jesus’ pairing of the love for God and love for neighbor reveals that true devotion to God is inseparable from love for others, fulfilling the entire law.

12:37: Jesus’ question about the Messiah’s lineage emphasizes His divine lordship. While the Messiah comes from David’s line, He is far greater than just David’s son.

12:40: Jesus’ warning against the religious leaders reveals their hypocrisy. While appearing righteous, their actions betray a corrupt heart, especially in exploiting the vulnerable.

12:44: The widow’s offering, though small, is seen as greater in God’s eyes because it represents her total dependence on Him, contrasting with the abundance of the rich, who gave only a portion.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Mark 12?
2Introduction to Mark 12
3Context of Mark 12
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Mark 12 Unique Insights
7Mark 12 Connections to Yeshua
8Mark 12 Scriptural Echoes
9Mark 12 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Mark 12?

Introduction to Mark 12

Mark 12 stands as a pivotal chapter in the Gospel, showcasing a series of confrontations between Yeshua and various religious leaders in Jerusalem during His final week before the crucifixion. The chapter masterfully weaves together several encounters that highlight the Messiah’s wisdom, authority, and divine nature while exposing the corrupt religious system of His day. Through parables, theological discourse, and practical teaching, this chapter presents profound truths about God’s kingdom, genuine worship, and the true nature of love for God and neighbor.

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Context of Mark 12

Within Mark’s Gospel, chapter 12 follows immediately after Yeshua’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His prophetic cleansing of the Temple. These actions set the stage for the intensifying conflict with the religious authorities that unfolds in this chapter. The previous episodes established Yeshua’s messianic authority, while chapter 12 demonstrates how He wields that authority through wisdom and teaching rather than political or military power.

This chapter fits into the larger biblical narrative as a crucial moment in salvation history where the true nature of God’s kingdom confronts the corrupted religious system of Second Temple Judaism. The teachings presented here echo themes from the Torah and Prophets while pointing forward to the new covenant that would be established through Yeshua’s death and resurrection. The chapter’s emphasis on love for God and neighbor would later become foundational for early Christian ethics and theology.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • παραβολή (parabolē) – The chapter opens with this word for “parable,” which in Hebrew thought represents more than just a story but a riddle-like teaching that requires spiritual discernment to understand. Its use here signals that Yeshua is revealing deeper truths about God’s kingdom while simultaneously concealing them from those who oppose Him.
  • κληρονομία (klēronomia) – This term for “inheritance” in the vineyard parable carries rich covenant overtones from the Hebrew נַחֲלָה (nachalah), connecting to Israel’s inheritance of the Promised Land and ultimately to believers’ inheritance in God’s kingdom.
  • ἀποδοκιμάζω (apodokimazō) – The word for “rejected” regarding the cornerstone draws from Psalm 118:22, using a technical term for stones deemed unfit by builders, powerfully depicting how religious leaders rejected their Messiah.
  • ἀνάστασις (anastasis) – The Greek word for “resurrection” appears in the debate with the Sadducees, carrying profound theological weight as it represents not just resuscitation but complete transformation into an eternal state.
  • γραμματεύς (grammateus) – Translated as “scribe,” this term represented more than just a copyist but a professional interpreter of Torah, making the positive interaction with one scribe particularly significant.
  • ἀγαπάω (agapaō) – The word choice for “love” in the greatest commandment distinctively emphasizes covenant faithfulness and sacrificial commitment rather than mere emotion.
  • λεπτόν (lepton) – The specific term for the widow’s coins, representing the smallest possible monetary offering, heightens the contrast between her sacrificial giving and the ostentatious donations of the wealthy.
  • κατεσθίω (katesthiō) – The vivid term for “devour” regarding widows’ houses paints a picture of predatory behavior by religious leaders, echoing prophetic condemnations of social injustice.

Compare & Contrast

  • The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1-12) deliberately echoes Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7) but adds the sending of the son, transforming it into a clear messianic prophecy. The Greek term γεωργός (georgos) for “vinedressers” was chosen over more common agricultural terms to emphasize their role as stewards rather than mere laborers.
  • In addressing the question about taxes (Mark 12:13-17), Yeshua’s use of ἀπόδοτε (apodote) “render” rather than δότε (dote) “give” implies returning what already belongs to someone, subtly undermining both zealot rebellion and complete submission to Rome.
  • The Sadducees’ question about marriage in the resurrection (Mark 12:18-27) is answered using the present tense “I am” rather than “I was” the God of Abraham, a grammatical choice that proves the patriarchs’ continued existence.
  • In the greatest commandment discussion (Mark 12:28-34), the Hebrew שְׁמַע (Shema) is referenced using διάνοια (dianoia) “mind” in Greek, expanding the understanding of love for God to include intellectual engagement.
  • Yeshua’s teaching about David’s son (Mark 12:35-37) uses κύριος (kyrios) for both instances of “Lord” in the psalm citation, highlighting the divine nature of the Messiah while maintaining monotheism.

Mark 12 Unique Insights

The structure of this chapter reveals a fascinating chiastic pattern centered on the greatest commandment, with controversies about authority bracketing teachings about resurrection and true worship. This literary arrangement emphasizes that love for God and neighbor stands at the heart of proper biblical interpretation and religious practice.

The chapter contains several instances of Yeshua employing the rabbinic method of qal vachomer (arguing from lesser to greater). This is particularly evident in His response to the Sadducees, where He moves from the bush narrative to prove the resurrection, and in the widow’s offering, where the least becomes the greatest in God’s economy.

Early rabbinic sources, particularly in the Tosefta, record similar debates about resurrection and marriage, suggesting these were live issues in first-century Judaism. The Messiah’s answers show both His mastery of traditional Jewish argumentation and His authority to provide definitive interpretation of Torah.

The Temple setting for these encounters is significant, as it was the place where heaven and earth met in Jewish thought. Each controversy thus becomes not just a debate but a cosmic confrontation between God’s kingdom and corrupt human religious systems.

Mark 12 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter powerfully demonstrates Yeshua’s role as the ultimate interpreter of Torah, surpassing even the most learned scribes of His day. His teaching on the greatest commandment synthesizes the entire Law and Prophets, showing how He fulfills rather than abolishes the Torah.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants prophetically depicts His coming rejection and death while simultaneously declaring His divine sonship and ultimate vindication. The reference to the rejected cornerstone (Psalm 118:22-23) points to His resurrection and exaltation as the foundation of God’s new temple, the church.

Mark 12 Scriptural Echoes

The chapter resonates deeply with several Old Testament themes:

Mark 12 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own hearts regarding authority, resurrection hope, and love for God and neighbor. The religious leaders’ questions reveal how intellectual pride can blind us to divine truth standing right before us. In contrast, the poor widow demonstrates that true worship flows from complete trust and devotion to God.

Consider: How often do we, like the religious leaders, approach Scripture seeking to justify our positions rather than encounter God? The scribes’ love of honor and the widow’s sacrificial giving present two paths: self-glorification or self-giving love. Which path characterizes our worship and service?

Did You Know

  • The vineyard parable would have immediately reminded Jewish listeners of the famous “Song of the Vineyard” sung during Sukkot, making its messianic adaptation particularly poignant.
  • The specific coin requested by Yeshua (a denarius) would have been considered ritually unclean by many Jews because it bore Caesar’s image, adding another layer to His teaching about taxes.
  • The Sadducees’ question about marriage was likely a well-known riddle used to mock the concept of resurrection, making Yeshua’s response all the more powerful.
  • The scribe’s positive interaction with Yeshua is unique to Mark’s Gospel, showing that not all religious leaders were hostile to His message.
  • The widow’s two lepta were worth about 1/64 of a typical day’s wage, making her offering equivalent to just a few minutes of labor.
  • The reference to “David’s son” draws on a complex debate in Jewish messianic expectation about whether the Messiah would be a royal or priestly figure.
  • The warning about long robes refers to special clothing worn by religious leaders that made them easily identifiable in marketplaces, allowing them to receive honor from others.
  • The Temple treasury contained trumpet-shaped collection boxes, making the sound of falling coins very public and allowing wealthy donors to draw attention to their giving.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

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