And 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.
And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
And 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.
And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
And 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.
And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
And 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 Cesar, or not?
Shall 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.
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar’s.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
Master, 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.
Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
And 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?
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
And 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?
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
And 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.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
And 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.
And 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.
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
For 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.
David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And 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:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Mark 12, a pivotal chapter, finds Jesus in the heart of Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion. Having entered the city to shouts of praise (Mark 11:1-11), he now faces intense scrutiny and challenges from the religious and civil leaders. This chapter reveals the growing conflict between Jesus and those who should have recognized him, exposing their hypocrisy and contrasting it with genuine faith. Jesus' final public teachings in the temple courtyard take place here, culminating in lessons of profound significance for believers today.
The Parable of the Tenants (Mark 12:1-12)
Jesus begins by telling a parable about a vineyard owner who leases his land to tenants. The owner sends servants to collect his share of the harvest, but the tenants brutally mistreat and even kill them. Finally, the owner sends his own son, hoping they will respect him. Tragically, the tenants conspire to kill the son, believing they can seize the inheritance.
This parable is a powerful indictment of the Jewish leaders. The vineyard represents Israel, entrusted to their care by God, the owner. The servants are the prophets sent by God throughout history, rejected and persecuted. The son represents Jesus himself, whom they plan to kill in order to maintain their power.
Tony Evans points out that those listening to Jesus would have been familiar with Isaiah's similar story about a vineyard representing Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7). Jesus's addition of the vineyard owner's son highlights the ultimate act of rejection and the leaders' evil intentions to rule Israel without the Messiah.
The parable concludes with the owner's inevitable judgment: he will execute the wicked tenants and give the vineyard to others (Mark 12:9). This foreshadows God's judgment on the leaders and the shift of His kingdom program, at least temporarily, to the church. Jesus then quotes Psalm 118:22-23, identifying himself as the rejected stone that will become the cornerstone. Despite their rejection, God's plan will prevail.
Paying Taxes to Caesar (Mark 12:13-17)
Seeking to trap Jesus, the Pharisees and Herodians, strange bedfellows united in their opposition to him, pose a loaded question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (Mark 12:14). This was a carefully crafted dilemma. Answering "yes" would alienate the people, who resented Roman rule. Answering "no" would be seen as sedition against Rome.
Jesus, discerning their hypocrisy, asks for a denarius, a Roman coin used for paying taxes. He asks whose image is on the coin, and they reply, "Caesar's." Jesus then delivers his famous response: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17).
This answer is brilliant. It acknowledges the legitimacy of secular authority while affirming the higher claim of God. We are to fulfill our civic duties, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. As Paul writes in Romans 13:1, "Let everyone submit to the governing authorities." However, our commitment to God, whose image we bear, is comprehensive and takes precedence. The key question isn't just about paying taxes; it's about submitting to God's rule in every area of our lives.
The Pharisees and Herodians, amazed by Jesus's wisdom, are left speechless.
The Question About the Resurrection (Mark 12:18-27)
The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, attempt to discredit the idea with a complex hypothetical situation involving the law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). They ask whose wife a woman would be in the resurrection if she had been married to seven brothers in succession (Mark 12:20-23).
Jesus rebukes them, saying, "Are you not mistaken, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" (Mark 12:24). He explains that in the resurrection, people will be like angels, neither marrying nor being given in marriage (Mark 12:25). Furthermore, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:27). He points to Exodus 3:6, where God identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even though they had died centuries earlier. This demonstrates that they are spiritually alive with God.
Jesus exposes the Sadducees' flawed understanding of both Scripture and God's power. The resurrection is not a mere continuation of earthly life; it is a transformed existence in God's presence.
The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28-34)
A scribe, impressed by Jesus's wisdom, asks him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" (Mark 12:28). Jesus answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And 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" (Mark 12:29-30).
He then adds the second greatest commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). Jesus connects the vertical (love of God) with the horizontal (love of neighbor). We cannot truly love God without loving others, and vice versa. Loving God means passionately pursuing His glory with our whole being. Loving our neighbor means compassionately and righteously seeking their well-being.
The scribe recognizes the wisdom of Jesus's answer, acknowledging that loving God and neighbor is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:32-33). Jesus commends him, saying, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34). Understanding the true purpose of the law—love—brings him closer to the Messiah.
Whose Son is the Messiah? (Mark 12:35-37)
Having silenced his opponents, Jesus takes the offensive. He asks them how the Messiah can be both the son of David and David's Lord, citing Psalm 110:1: "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.'" (Mark 12:36).
Jesus is pointing to the Messiah's dual nature: both fully human (a descendant of David) and fully divine (David's Lord). He is challenging the scribes' limited understanding of the Messiah's identity. The Son of David is also the Lord of David.
Warning Against the Scribes (Mark 12:38-40)
Jesus warns the crowds to beware of the scribes, who seek public honor and recognition while exploiting vulnerable widows (Mark 12:38-40). They should be examples of godliness and humility, but instead, they use their position for personal gain. Jesus condemns their hypocrisy and warns that they will receive a harsher judgment. Their false piety and mistreatment of others are detestable to God.
The Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41-44)
In stark contrast to the scribes, Jesus highlights the example of a poor widow who gives sacrificially. He observes people putting offerings into the temple treasury and notices the rich giving large sums. But a poor widow drops in two small copper coins, worth very little (Mark 12:42).
Jesus calls his disciples and says, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:43-44).
The widow's offering is significant not because of its monetary value, but because of its sacrifice. She gave all she had, demonstrating her complete trust in God. Her act of devotion reveals a heart that is truly surrendered to God's will. Stewardship is a matter of the heart, and our relationship with money reflects our spiritual condition. God looks not only at the amount we give but also at our motives.
Mark 12 exposes the hypocrisy of religious leaders while celebrating the genuine faith of those who are often overlooked. It reminds us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our actions reflect a sincere love for God and a compassionate concern for others. It calls us to a life of true devotion, where our allegiance to God takes precedence over all earthly concerns.
And 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.
And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
And 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.
And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
And 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.
And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
And 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 Cesar, or not?
Shall 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.
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar’s.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
Master, 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.
Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
And 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?
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
And 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?
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
And 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.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
And 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.
And 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.
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
For 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.
David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And 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:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Mark 12, a pivotal chapter, finds Jesus in the heart of Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion. Having entered the city to shouts of praise (Mark 11:1-11), he now faces intense scrutiny and challenges from the religious and civil leaders. This chapter reveals the growing conflict between Jesus and those who should have recognized him, exposing their hypocrisy and contrasting it with genuine faith. Jesus' final public teachings in the temple courtyard take place here, culminating in lessons of profound significance for believers today.
The Parable of the Tenants (Mark 12:1-12)
Jesus begins by telling a parable about a vineyard owner who leases his land to tenants. The owner sends servants to collect his share of the harvest, but the tenants brutally mistreat and even kill them. Finally, the owner sends his own son, hoping they will respect him. Tragically, the tenants conspire to kill the son, believing they can seize the inheritance.
This parable is a powerful indictment of the Jewish leaders. The vineyard represents Israel, entrusted to their care by God, the owner. The servants are the prophets sent by God throughout history, rejected and persecuted. The son represents Jesus himself, whom they plan to kill in order to maintain their power.
Tony Evans points out that those listening to Jesus would have been familiar with Isaiah's similar story about a vineyard representing Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7). Jesus's addition of the vineyard owner's son highlights the ultimate act of rejection and the leaders' evil intentions to rule Israel without the Messiah.
The parable concludes with the owner's inevitable judgment: he will execute the wicked tenants and give the vineyard to others (Mark 12:9). This foreshadows God's judgment on the leaders and the shift of His kingdom program, at least temporarily, to the church. Jesus then quotes Psalm 118:22-23, identifying himself as the rejected stone that will become the cornerstone. Despite their rejection, God's plan will prevail.
Paying Taxes to Caesar (Mark 12:13-17)
Seeking to trap Jesus, the Pharisees and Herodians, strange bedfellows united in their opposition to him, pose a loaded question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (Mark 12:14). This was a carefully crafted dilemma. Answering "yes" would alienate the people, who resented Roman rule. Answering "no" would be seen as sedition against Rome.
Jesus, discerning their hypocrisy, asks for a denarius, a Roman coin used for paying taxes. He asks whose image is on the coin, and they reply, "Caesar's." Jesus then delivers his famous response: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17).
This answer is brilliant. It acknowledges the legitimacy of secular authority while affirming the higher claim of God. We are to fulfill our civic duties, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. As Paul writes in Romans 13:1, "Let everyone submit to the governing authorities." However, our commitment to God, whose image we bear, is comprehensive and takes precedence. The key question isn't just about paying taxes; it's about submitting to God's rule in every area of our lives.
The Pharisees and Herodians, amazed by Jesus's wisdom, are left speechless.
The Question About the Resurrection (Mark 12:18-27)
The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, attempt to discredit the idea with a complex hypothetical situation involving the law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). They ask whose wife a woman would be in the resurrection if she had been married to seven brothers in succession (Mark 12:20-23).
Jesus rebukes them, saying, "Are you not mistaken, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" (Mark 12:24). He explains that in the resurrection, people will be like angels, neither marrying nor being given in marriage (Mark 12:25). Furthermore, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:27). He points to Exodus 3:6, where God identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even though they had died centuries earlier. This demonstrates that they are spiritually alive with God.
Jesus exposes the Sadducees' flawed understanding of both Scripture and God's power. The resurrection is not a mere continuation of earthly life; it is a transformed existence in God's presence.
The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28-34)
A scribe, impressed by Jesus's wisdom, asks him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" (Mark 12:28). Jesus answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And 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" (Mark 12:29-30).
He then adds the second greatest commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). Jesus connects the vertical (love of God) with the horizontal (love of neighbor). We cannot truly love God without loving others, and vice versa. Loving God means passionately pursuing His glory with our whole being. Loving our neighbor means compassionately and righteously seeking their well-being.
The scribe recognizes the wisdom of Jesus's answer, acknowledging that loving God and neighbor is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:32-33). Jesus commends him, saying, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34). Understanding the true purpose of the law—love—brings him closer to the Messiah.
Whose Son is the Messiah? (Mark 12:35-37)
Having silenced his opponents, Jesus takes the offensive. He asks them how the Messiah can be both the son of David and David's Lord, citing Psalm 110:1: "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.'" (Mark 12:36).
Jesus is pointing to the Messiah's dual nature: both fully human (a descendant of David) and fully divine (David's Lord). He is challenging the scribes' limited understanding of the Messiah's identity. The Son of David is also the Lord of David.
Warning Against the Scribes (Mark 12:38-40)
Jesus warns the crowds to beware of the scribes, who seek public honor and recognition while exploiting vulnerable widows (Mark 12:38-40). They should be examples of godliness and humility, but instead, they use their position for personal gain. Jesus condemns their hypocrisy and warns that they will receive a harsher judgment. Their false piety and mistreatment of others are detestable to God.
The Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41-44)
In stark contrast to the scribes, Jesus highlights the example of a poor widow who gives sacrificially. He observes people putting offerings into the temple treasury and notices the rich giving large sums. But a poor widow drops in two small copper coins, worth very little (Mark 12:42).
Jesus calls his disciples and says, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:43-44).
The widow's offering is significant not because of its monetary value, but because of its sacrifice. She gave all she had, demonstrating her complete trust in God. Her act of devotion reveals a heart that is truly surrendered to God's will. Stewardship is a matter of the heart, and our relationship with money reflects our spiritual condition. God looks not only at the amount we give but also at our motives.
Mark 12 exposes the hypocrisy of religious leaders while celebrating the genuine faith of those who are often overlooked. It reminds us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our actions reflect a sincere love for God and a compassionate concern for others. It calls us to a life of true devotion, where our allegiance to God takes precedence over all earthly concerns.