← Mark

Mark 12

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. Begin Abide·
2
At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. Begin Abide·
3
But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Begin Abide·
4
Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully. Begin Abide·
5
He sent still another, and this one they killed. He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed. Begin Abide·
6
Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. Begin Abide·
7
But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ Begin Abide·
8
So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. Begin Abide·
9
What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Begin Abide·
10
Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Begin Abide·
11
This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” Begin Abide·
12
At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away. Begin Abide·
13
Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words. Begin Abide·
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?” Begin Abide·
15
But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” Begin Abide·
16
So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. Begin Abide·
17
Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him. Begin Abide·
18
Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him: Begin Abide·
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. Begin Abide·
20
Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. Begin Abide·
21
Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. Begin Abide·
22
In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died. Begin Abide·
23
In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.” Begin Abide·
24
Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? Begin Abide·
25
When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven. Begin Abide·
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’? Begin Abide·
27
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” Begin Abide·
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?” Begin Abide·
29
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Begin Abide·
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.’ Begin Abide·
31
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Begin Abide·
32
“Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him, Begin Abide·
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. This is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Begin Abide·
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. Begin Abide·
35
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? Begin Abide·
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.”’ Begin Abide·
37
David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight. Begin Abide·
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, Begin Abide·
39
and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. Begin Abide·
40
They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.” Begin Abide·
41
As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. Begin Abide·
42
Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. Begin Abide·
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. Begin Abide·
44
For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Begin Abide·