People's New Testament 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. 12:1 A Day of Controversy
SUMMARY OF MARK 12: The Vineyard and the Wicked Husbandmen. Prophecy of the Calling of the Gentiles. The Herodians and Pharisees. Tribute to Caesar. The Sadducees and the Resurrection. Which Is the Greatest Commandment?. The Son of David, David's Lord. Beware of the Scribes. The Widow's Mite. He began to speak unto them ny parables. A series of parables, given more fully by Matthew, outlining the sins and fate of the stubborn Jewish nation. A certain man planted a vineyard. For notes on this parable, see Mt 21:33-46. Compare Lu 20:9-19. 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. 12:13-17 They send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians. For notes on the effort to entrap Jesus on the matter of tribute to Caesar, see Mt 22:15-22. Compare Lu 20:20-26.
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 Caesar, or not? 12:13-17 They send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians. For notes on the effort to entrap Jesus on the matter of tribute to Caesar, see Mt 22:15-22. Compare Lu 20:20-26.
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. 12:13-17 They send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians. For notes on the effort to entrap Jesus on the matter of tribute to Caesar, see Mt 22:15-22. Compare Lu 20:20-26.
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 12:13-17 They send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians. For notes on the effort to entrap Jesus on the matter of tribute to Caesar, see Mt 22:15-22. Compare Lu 20:20-26.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. 12:13-17 They send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians. For notes on the effort to entrap Jesus on the matter of tribute to Caesar, see Mt 22:15-22. Compare Lu 20:20-26.
Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
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. 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
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. 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
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? 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. 12:18-27 Then come unto him the Sadducees. For notes on this interview with the Sadducees, see Mt 22:23-33. Compare Lu 20:27-40.
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? 12:28-34 One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, tempting him (Mt 22:35); that is, testing him.
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 12:28-34 One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, tempting him (Mt 22:35); that is, testing him.
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. 12:28-34 One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, tempting him (Mt 22:35); that is, testing him.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 12:28-34 One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, tempting him (Mt 22:35); that is, testing him.
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: 12:28-34 One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, tempting him (Mt 22:35); that is, testing him.
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. 12:28-34 One of the scribes came. See notes on Mt 22:34-40. Matthew adds that the scribe asked his question, tempting him (Mt 22:35); that is, testing him.
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. 12:34 Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. This commendation, not given by Matthew, is given because the scribe had declared that outward obedience amounted to nothing unless the heart was right. Pharisaism consisted of forms and paid little attention to love, mercy, and purity of heart. Alford says:
This man had hold of that principle in which law and gospel are one. He stood, as it were, at the door of the kingdom of God. He only wanted (but the want was indeed a serious one) repentance and faith to be within it. The Lord shows us here, that even outside his flock, those who can answer discreetly, who have knowledge of the spirit of the great command of law and gospel, are nearer to being of his flock than the formalists; but then, as Bengel adds, If thou art not far off, enter; otherwise it were better than thou wert far off.'' And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? 12:35-37 How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? See notes on Mt 22:41-46.
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. 12:35-37 How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? See notes on Mt 22:41-46.
David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. 12:37 The common people heard him gladly. Mark adds to Matthew's account (Mt 22:41-46). Not the Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees or rulers, but the common people, of whom the Pharisees were wont to say, This people who know not the law and are cursed (Joh 7:49). We have many hints of the favor with which Christ was regarded by the people.
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, 12:38-40 Beware of the scribes. Mark gives in three verses his report of the wonderful discourse recorded in Matthew, chapter 23. These three verses are parallel to Mt 23:5,6,14. See notes there. Compare Lu 20:45-47.
Love to go in long clothing. Peculiar to Mark. Long, flowing robes, reaching to the feet, similar to those worn by Romish priests, and were worn by the scribes as a kind of professional attire, in order to attract attention. When Christ sent his apostles out to preach, he directed that they should be clothed as the common people (Mr 6:9 Mt 10:10). The scribes, ancient and modern, love display, showing themselves off in the chief places of concourse. They love appellations of honor and respect, such as Rabbi, Father, Master, Teacher. Men often profess a desire to magnify their office, when in truth they want to magnify themselves. They love robes that advertise to every one that they are separate from the rest of the people. And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 12:38-40 Beware of the scribes. Mark gives in three verses his report of the wonderful discourse recorded in Matthew, chapter 23. These three verses are parallel to Mt 23:5,6,14. See notes there. Compare Lu 20:45-47.
Love to go in long clothing. Peculiar to Mark. Long, flowing robes, reaching to the feet, similar to those worn by Romish priests, and were worn by the scribes as a kind of professional attire, in order to attract attention. When Christ sent his apostles out to preach, he directed that they should be clothed as the common people (Mr 6:9 Mt 10:10). The scribes, ancient and modern, love display, showing themselves off in the chief places of concourse. They love appellations of honor and respect, such as Rabbi, Father, Master, Teacher. Men often profess a desire to magnify their office, when in truth they want to magnify themselves. They love robes that advertise to every one that they are separate from the rest of the people. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. 12:38-40 Beware of the scribes. Mark gives in three verses his report of the wonderful discourse recorded in Matthew, chapter 23. These three verses are parallel to Mt 23:5,6,14. See notes there. Compare Lu 20:45-47.
Love to go in long clothing. Peculiar to Mark. Long, flowing robes, reaching to the feet, similar to those worn by Romish priests, and were worn by the scribes as a kind of professional attire, in order to attract attention. When Christ sent his apostles out to preach, he directed that they should be clothed as the common people (Mr 6:9 Mt 10:10). The scribes, ancient and modern, love display, showing themselves off in the chief places of concourse. They love appellations of honor and respect, such as Rabbi, Father, Master, Teacher. Men often profess a desire to magnify their office, when in truth they want to magnify themselves. They love robes that advertise to every one that they are separate from the rest of the people. 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. 12:41 Jesus sat over against the treasury. This incident of the widow's mites is omitted by Matthew, but given in Lu 21:1-4. It is given as a contrast to the hypocrisy of the scribes.
Treasury. A name given by the rabbis to thirteen chests, called trumpets, from their shape, which stood in the court of the women, at the entrance to the treasure-chamber. Lightfoot says: Nine chests were for the appointed temple tribute, and for the sacrifice-tribute; that is, money-gifts instead of the sacrifices; four chests for free-will offerings, for wood, incense, temple decoration, and burnt offerings.'' Beheld how the people cast money. Jesus still takes note of our offerings. Before the passover, free-will offerings, in addition to the temple tax, were made. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 12:42 There came a certain poor widow. Here, as in other places in the Bible, we must remember the exceedingly depressed and dependent condition of a poor man's widow in the countries where our Lord was. The expression is almost proverbial for one very badly off, and most unlikely to contribute anything to a charitable purpose.
Two mites. The smallest of Jewish coins, about the value of one-fifth of a cent. It took its name from its extreme smallness, being derived from the adjective lepton, signifying thin. A farthing. Mark (not Luke) adds for his Roman readers an explanation, using a Greek word, kodrantes, (taken from the Latin quadrans ), meaning the fourth part, as our word farthing does. The value is only of importance as showing upon how minute a gift our Lord pronounced this splendid panegyric, which might be envied by a Croesus or a Rothschild. 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: 12:43 Cast more in than all. Note the word more --proportionately, to-wit, to her means, and thus more in the estimation of God, who measures quantity by quality.
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. 12:44 For. The worth of a gift is to be determined, not by intrinsic value, but by what it costs the giver. The measure of that cost is what is left, not what is given. For the widow to give her mites was noble; for one well off to give his mite is contemptible. All that she had, even all her living. Out of her want, out of her destitution, she has cast in all that (in cash) she possessed--her whole (present) means of subsistence. In love she devoted all of God, with strong faith in his providential care. The People's New Testament by B.W. Johnson [1891] Bible Hub |
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