Mark 12

The Parable of the Vineyard

1 Then Jesus started speaking to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, and leased it out to some farmers. Then he went away.

2 When the time came, he sent a servant to collect some fruit from the farmers.

3 But they grabbed him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

4 So he sent another servant, they hit him in the head and treated him shamefully.

5 He sent another, and they killed that one. He kept sending more, some they beat, others they killed.

6 He had one left, his beloved son. Finally, he sent him, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’

7 But those farmers said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

8 So they took him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 What will the owner do, He will come, destroy those farmers, and give the vineyard to others.

10 Have you not read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

11 This came from the Lord, and it is amazing in our eyes’,

12 They knew He was talking about them, and they wanted to arrest Him, but they were scared of the crowd. So they left Him and walked away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 Later, they sent some Pharisees and Herodians to trap Him in His words.

14 They came and said, “Teacher, we know You speak truth and do not care about anyone’s opinion. You are not swayed by people, you teach the way of God straight. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not, Should we pay or not,

15 But Jesus saw right through them and said, “Why are you trying to trap Me, Bring Me a coin so I can look at it.”

16 They brought one, and He asked, “Whose image is this, Whose name is on it,” They said, “Caesar’s.”

17 Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” And they were amazed at Him.

Marriage and the Resurrection

18 Then some Sadducees came, these are the ones who say there is no resurrection. They asked Him,

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man should marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.

20 There were seven brothers. The first one married and died without children.

21 The second married her and died the same way. Then the third.

22 All seven married her, and none of them had children. Last of all, the woman died too.

23 At the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since all seven were married to her,

24 Jesus said, “You are wrong, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

25 When people rise from the dead, they do not marry or get given in marriage, they are like the angels in heaven.

26 And about the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’,

27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are way off.”

The Greatest Commandment

28 One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing. Seeing that Jesus answered well, he asked, “Which command is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no command greater than these.”

32 The scribe said, “You are right, Teacher. You have spoken truth, God is one, and there is no other but Him.

33 And to love Him with all your heart, understanding, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to question Him anymore.

Whose Son Is the Messiah,

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, He said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David,

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.’

37 David calls Him ‘Lord,’ so how is He his son,” The large crowd listened to Him with pleasure.

Warning Against the Scribes

38 As He taught, He said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like walking around in long robes, getting greeted in the marketplaces,

39 taking the best seats in synagogues and places of honor at banquets.

40 They take advantage of widows and make long prayers just to look good. They will receive greater judgment.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down across from the offering box and watched how people were putting money in. Many rich people were putting in large amounts.

42 Then a poor widow came and put in two small coins, almost nothing.

43 He called His disciples and said, “I am telling you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

44 They all gave out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”