MSB MARK Chapter 12

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

(Matthew 21:33–46, Luke 20:9–18)

12 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 casting stones[fn] they struck {him} over the head and sent [him] away,[fn] treating [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 his[fn] one beloved son, he sent him to them last.[fn] ‘They will respect my son,’ he said

7 But [the] tenants said[fn] 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[fn] {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’[fn]?”

12 At this, [the leaders] sought[fn] 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[fn] 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[fn] to inspect.”

16 [So] they brought [it], and He asked them, “Whose image [is] this? And [whose] inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered

17 In response[fn] 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].[fn] 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 [who] had her[fn] left [any] children. And last of all, the woman died. 23 In the resurrection, [then] whose wife will she be? For [all] seven were married to her.”

24 Jesus answered them,[fn] 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’[fn]? 27 He is not [the] God of [the] dead, but the God[fn] of [the] living. Therefore[fn] 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 of all the commandments:[fn] ‘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.’[fn] This [is] the first commandment.[fn] 31 [The] second, like [it],[fn] [is] this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[fn] 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] soul[fn] and with all [your] strength, and to love [your] neighbor as yourself. This 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],[fn] [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 make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’[fn]

37 Therefore[fn] 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 to them,[fn] “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,[fn] 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.[fn]

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.”