Mark 12

The Parable of the Tenant Farmers in the Vineyard

1 And he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a trough for the winepress, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey.2 And he sent a slave to the tenant farmers at the proper time, so that he could collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from the tenant farmers.3 And they seized him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.4 And again he sent to them another slave, and that one they struck on the head and dishonored.5 And he sent another, and that one they killed. And he sent many others, some of whom they beat and some of whom they killed.6 He had one more, a beloved son. Last of all he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’7 But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and the inheritance will be ours!’8 And they seized and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.9 Whatt will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.

10 Have you not read this scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
this has become the cornerstone.t
11 This came about from the Lord,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”t
12 And they were seeking to arrest him, and they were afraid of the crowd, because they knew that he had told the parable with reference to them. And they left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 And they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him so that they could catch him unawares in a statement.14 And when they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and you do not care what anyone thinks,t because you do not regard the opinion of peoplet but teach the way of God in truth. Is it permitted to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?”15 But because he knew their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so that I can look at it!”16 So they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” And they said to him, “Caesar’s.”

17 And Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!” And they were utterly amazed at him.

A Question About Marriage and the Resurrection

18 And Sadducees—who say there is no resurrection—came up to him and began to askt him, saying,19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if someone’s brother dies and he leaves behind a wife and does not leave a child, that his brother should take the wife and fathert descendants for his brother.20 There were seven brothers, and the first took a wife. And when he died, he did not leave descendants.21 And the second took her, and he died without leaving descendants. And the third likewise.22 And the seven did not leave descendants. Last of all the woman also died.23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whoset wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.24 Jesus said to them, “Are you not deceived because of this, because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.26 Now concerning the dead, that they are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses in the passage about the busht how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’?t

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

The Greatest Commandment

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them debating. When he saw that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength.’t31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’t There is no other commandment greater than these.”32 And the scribe said to him, “That is true, Teacher. You have said correctlyt that he is one and there is no other except him.33 And to love him from yourt whole heart and from yourt whole understanding and from yourt whole strength, and to love yourt neighbor as yourself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 And Jesus, when he saw that he had answered thoughtfully, said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to put a question to him any longer.

David’s Son and Lord

35 And continuing, Jesus said while teaching in the temple courts, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is David’s son?

36 David himself said by the Holy Spirit,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies
under your feet.” ’t
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ and how is he his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him gladly.

Warning to Beware of the Scribes

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and greetings in the marketplaces39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

40 who devour the houses of widows and pray lengthy prayers for the sake of appearance. These will receive more severe condemnation!”

A Poor Widow’s Offering

41 And he sat down opposite the contribution box and was observing how the crowd was putting coins into the contribution box. And many rich people were putting in many coins.t42 And one poor widow came and put in two small copper coinst (that is, a penny).t43 And summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow put in more than all those who put offerings into the contribution box.

44 For they all contributedt out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in everything she had, her whole means of subsistence.”

Mark 12

1 And he began to speak unto them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruits of the vineyard.3 And they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and handled shamefully.5 And he sent another; and him they killed: and many others; beating some, and killing some.6 He had yet one, a beloved son: he sent him last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard.9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.10 Have ye not read even this scripture: The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

11 This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?

12 And they sought to lay hold on him; and they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spake the parable against them: and they left him, and went away.13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might catch him in talk.14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and carest not for any one; for thou regardest not the person of men, but of a truth teachest the way of God: Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why make ye trial of me? bring me a denarius, that I may see it.16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.17 And Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled greatly at him.18 And there come unto him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,19 Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.20 There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed;21 and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise:22 and the seven left no seed. Last of all the woman also died.23 In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.24 Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.26 But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.28 And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?29 Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:30 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.31 The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.32 And the scribe said unto him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said 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, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.34 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.35 And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David?36 David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.

37 David himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly.38 And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and to have salutations in the marketplaces,39 and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts:40 they that devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation.41 And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.42 And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.43 And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury:44 for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.