Mark Chapter 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.”

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 Parable of the Wicked Tenants

¹ With tensions mounting, Jesus began speaking to them again in parables, saying, "A landowner carefully planted a vineyard, built a protective wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress, and built a watchtower. He then leased it to vinedressers who would tend it while he traveled abroad. ² When harvest season arrived, he sent a trusted servant to the vinedressers to collect the produce of his vineyard. ³ But they brutally attacked his representative, beating him mercilessly and sending him away empty-handed.

⁴ Undeterred by their shocking response, the owner sent another servant in good faith. This time they went even further, striking him on the head and subjecting him to humiliating treatment. ⁵ Still showing patience, he sent yet another, whom they murdered in cold blood. More servants followed, each meeting either violence or death. ⁶ Finally, the owner made an unfathomable choice, he sent his cherished son, thinking, "Surely they will show proper respect to my own beloved son."

⁷ But these tenants, corrupt to their core, saw an opportunity and plotted among themselves, saying, "This is the heir who will one day own everything. If we kill him, we can steal his inheritance and claim it all as our own!" ⁸ Their evil scheme came to fruition as they seized the son, murdered him, and callously threw his body outside the vineyard walls.

⁹ With all this said, "What response can these vinedressers expect from the vineyard owner? He will surely come himself, destroy those murderers, and entrust his vineyard to others who will honor their responsibilities." ¹⁰ Surely you've reflected on the scripture that declares:

'The stone that the builders rejected as worthless,
Has become the cornerstone,
¹¹ This is יהוה (Yahweh's) own doing,
And it's wondrous to behold! '"

¹² The religious leaders burned with anger, knowing Jesus was speaking about them through this shocking story. Yet they couldn't arrest Him because they feared the crowds' reaction. So they slunk away, leaving Him alone for the moment.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

¹³ Later they sent a carefully chosen group of Pharisees and supporters of Herod - natural enemies who united against Jesus. Their mission? To trap Him with His own words, seeking any statement they could use to destroy Him. ¹⁴ These manipulators approached with false flattery: "Teacher! We know You're a man of absolute integrity who shows no favoritism and teaches God's way with complete truthfulness. Tell us - is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” Jesus saw right through them, exposing their hypocrisy: "Why are you trying to trap Me? Bring Me a denarius coin and let Me examine it."

¹⁶ When they handed Him the coin, He asked, "Whose image and inscription do you see here?" They stated the obvious: "Caesar's!" ¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, "Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give God what belongs to God." This profound statement left them speechless with amazement.

Marriage at the Resurrection

¹⁸ Next came the Sadducees - religious leaders who deny any possibility of resurrection. They approached with what they thought was a clever theological trap. ¹⁹ "Teacher," they began, "Moses wrote that if a married man dies childless, his brother should marry the widow and have children to preserve the family line.

²⁰ Now consider this scenario: There were seven brothers. The first married and died without children. ²¹ Following the law, the second brother married the widow, but he also died childless. The third brother did the same. ²² This continued until all seven had married her and died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman herself passed away. ²³ In the resurrection that You teach of, whose wife will she be? After all, she was married to all seven!"

²⁴ Jesus replied, "Your entire question reveals your twofold mistake - you understand neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. ²⁵ When people rise from the dead, marriage as we know it ceases to exist. The resurrection life is different - people will be like the angels in the heavens. ²⁶ But regarding the reality that the dead will rise again - haven't you read how God spoke to Moses at the burning bush? He declared, '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! Your flawed logic is gravely mistaken."

The Greatest Commandment

²⁸ A religious scholar had been listening to these debates, impressed by Jesus' wisdom. He asked sincerely, "Of all God's commandments, which is most important?" ²⁹ Jesus responded, "The most important is this:

'Listen!
O Israel,
Yahweh is our God,
Yahweh is One.'
³⁰ And you must love Yahweh your God,
With all your heart,
All your soul, all your mind,
And all your strength.'

³¹ The second vital command is: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these two - they capture the essence of faithful living."

³² The scholar responded with genuine insight: "Well said, Teacher. You speak truth in saying God is One and there is no other. ³³ And yes - loving Him with all our heart, understanding, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves is far more important than all the religious rituals and sacrifices we could offer." ³⁴ Jesus, recognizing the man's spiritual perception, encouraged him: "You are not far from God's Kingdom." After this profound exchange, no one dared to question Jesus further.

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

³⁵ Later, while teaching in the Temple, Jesus posed His own question: "Why do the religious scholars say the Messiah must be David's son? ³⁶ David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit's inspiration, declared:

"Yahweh said to My Lord, 'Sit in honor at My right hand,
Until I humble Your enemies beneath Your feet.'"

³⁷ David himself calls the Messiah 'Lord,' so how can He merely be his son?" The people listened to Jesus' teaching with delight, sensing its deeper truth.

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

³⁸ Jesus continued teaching: "Beware of these religious scholars who love to parade around in flowing robes, receiving respectful greetings in public spaces, ³⁹ and claiming the most prominent seats in synagogues. And also the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰ Yet they shamelessly exploit vulnerable widows, stealing their property while making a show of long prayers. Their punishment will be severe indeed."

The Widow’s Offering

⁴¹ As He sat near the Temple treasury, Jesus watched people dropping their offerings into the collection boxes. Many wealthy individuals made grand donations, the clinking of their coins echoing through the trumpet-shaped collection boxes. ⁴² But then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny copper coins, worth about a cent. They barely made a sound as they tumbled into the offering box, but it caught Jesus' attention. ⁴³ Calling His disciples over, He said, "I tell you the truth - this poor widow has given more than all the others combined. ⁴⁴ They gave a tiny part of their abundance, but she, in her poverty, gave everything she had to live on." 

Footnotes:

Verse 11 (a) Psalm 118:22–23
Verse 12 (b) Literally they sought
Verse 15 (c) A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.
Verse 19 (d) Deuteronomy 25:5
Verse 23 (e) Literally In the resurrection, when they rise,
Verse 26 (f) Exodus 3:6
Verse 30 (g) Deuteronomy 6:4–5
Verse 31 (h) Leviticus 19:18
Verse 35 (i) Literally the temple
Verse 36 (j) Psalm 110:1
Verse 40 (k) Literally They devour widows’ houses
Verse 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.

Special thanks to the BSB Translation for the above footnotes. 

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Mark 12?
1.1Context of Mark 12
1.2Ancient Key Word Study
1.3Mark 12 Unique Insights
1.4Question the Text
1.5Mark 12 Connections to Yeshua
1.6Mark 12 Scriptural Echoes
1.7Mark 12 Devotional
1.8Did You Know

What is the meaning of Mark 12?

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to love God with all your heart? Or how to navigate a world filled with conflicting voices about faith and truth? Mark 12 isn’t just a historical account—it’s a chapter that speaks directly to us today, challenging our understanding of God, authority, and love.

In this powerful passage, Yeshua engages in intense debates with religious leaders, exposing hypocrisy while revealing deep spiritual truths. Through parables and teachings, He calls us to a faith that is not just intellectual but deeply lived. Let’s explore Mark 12 together and uncover how its message can transform our lives.

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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.

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.

Mark 12 showcases Yeshua’s use of the rabbinic method of qal vachomer (arguing from a lesser case to a greater one) to reveal deeper spiritual truths. This is evident in His response to the Sadducees, where He uses the burning bush narrative to affirm the resurrection, and in the account of the widow’s offering, where what seems insignificant by human standards is shown to be of greatest value 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.

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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.

Question the Text

As you read Mark 12, take a moment to question the text. What stands out as puzzling or unexpected? Where do the characters act in surprising ways? What cultural or theological assumptions are being challenged? Instead of rushing to find definitive answers, let these questions guide you into deeper reflection about human nature, divine interaction, and the unspoken details within the passage.

  • Why do the tenant farmers react with such extreme violence against the landowner’s servants and son? What might this parable suggest about human rejection of divine authority? Mark 12:1-8
  • Yeshua asks, “Have you not read this Scripture?” when quoting Psalm 118. Why does He challenge the religious leaders with a passage they likely knew well? Mark 12:10-11
  • The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Yeshua with a question about paying taxes. What makes their alliance surprising, and why does Yeshua’s answer leave them marveling? Mark 12:13-17
  • The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, ask about marriage in the afterlife. Why would they pose a question about something they don’t believe in? What does Yeshua’s response reveal about their misunderstanding of יהוה (Yahweh) and the Scriptures? Mark 12:18-27
  • A scribe sincerely asks about the greatest commandment. How does this interaction contrast with the confrontational questions from others? Why does Yeshua affirm that the scribe is “not far from the kingdom of God”? Mark 12:28-34
  • Yeshua questions how the Messiah can be both David’s son and his Lord. Why does this challenge common expectations about the Messiah’s identity? Mark 12:35-37
  • Yeshua condemns the scribes for their pride and exploitation of widows. How does this rebuke connect to the following scene of the poor widow giving her offering? Mark 12:38-44

These questions invite you to wrestle with the text, seeing both its challenges and insights. As you reflect, how do these themes resonate with your own faith journey? Leave a comment with your thoughts and questions below.

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. What is the F.O.G?

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