The Wicked Vinedressers
Mark 12, verse 1. Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Mark 12, verse 2. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. Mark 12, verse 3. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Mark 12, verse 4. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. Mark 12, verse 5. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Mark 12, verse 6. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ Mark 12, verse 7. But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ Mark 12, verse 8. So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Mark 12, verse 9. “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Mark 12, verse 10. Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. Mark 12, verse 11. This was the Lord ’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” Mark 12, verse 12. And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.
Taxes to Caesar
Mark 12, verse 13. Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. Mark 12, verse 14. When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Mark 12, verse 15. Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it. ” Mark 12, verse 16. So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Mark 12, verse 17. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
Jesus Explains the Resurrection
Mark 12, verse 18. Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: Mark 12, verse 19. “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Mark 12, verse 20. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. Mark 12, verse 21. And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. Mark 12, verse 22. So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. Mark 12, verse 23. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.” Mark 12, verse 24. Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? Mark 12, verse 25. For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Mark 12, verse 26. But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? Mark 12, verse 27. He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.”
The Greatest Commandment
Mark 12, verse 28. Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Mark 12, verse 29. Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Mark 12, verse 30. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Mark 12, verse 31. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12, verse 32. So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. Mark 12, verse 33. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12, verse 34. Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.
David's Son and Lord
Mark 12, verse 35. Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? Mark 12, verse 36. For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ Mark 12, verse 37. Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly.
Beware of the Scribes
Mark 12, verse 38. Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, Mark 12, verse 39. the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, Mark 12, verse 40. who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
A Poor Widow Gives All
Mark 12, verse 41. Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Mark 12, verse 42. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. Mark 12, verse 43. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; Mark 12, verse 44. for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”