Mark 12
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Parable of the Vine-growers
12 And He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and put a [a]wall around it, and dug a vat under the wine press and built a tower, and rented it out to [b]vine-growers and went on a journey. 2 At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers. 3 They took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and that one they killed; and so with many others, beating some and killing others. 6 He had one more to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those vine-growers said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’ 8 They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the [c]owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the chief corner stone;
11 This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the [d]people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.
Why did they fear the people? Also, why do so many move to anger instead of repentance?
Often the ears of unbelievers are closed, but this time they heard and understood the message was about them.
They didn’t want Jesus to take away their power and authority, yet they were afraid of the people so they didn’t know what to do. This is an extreme example of what can happen when we put our own desires for power, authority, or people’s approval before God. Instead of fearing God, the Pharisees ended up fearing the people and fearing that they would lose their authority.
Jesus Answers the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes
13 Then they *sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. 14 They *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and [e]defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it [f]lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a [g]denarius to look at.” 16 They brought one. And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they [h]were amazed at Him.
God has made all things and He has made us. All that we have and are is from God. Ultimately we should be surrendering all of our lives and things to God for His purposes. I also think God really wants our hearts and a deep relationship with us.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
When we give to others in need, we are giving to God.
18 Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no child, his brother should [i]marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. 21 The second one [j]married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; 22 and so [k]all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection, [l]when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For [m]all seven had married her.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not [n]understand 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 But [o]regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God [p]of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”
They had the son of God in their midst and they asked silly questions. like “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin.” Do you know any other distracting spiritual questions people ask that aren’t really that important? How do/would you respond?
The Pharisees were unwilling to acknowledge the Jesus was the Son of God, and instead of really listening to the important things He had to say, they asked Him all these silly questions.
I think that some of the questions that people ask in their effort to avoid the truth are valid questions. For example, people often ask why there are so many hypocrites in the church. But very often they are trying to dodge the real issue. I think the best way to deal with a situation like this is probably to pray for the person and ask that God will soften their heart.
28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the [q]foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
35 And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that [r]the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself said [s]in the Holy Spirit,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.”’
37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd [t]enjoyed listening to Him.
38 In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, 39 and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”
The Widow’s Mite
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting [u]money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two [v]small copper coins, which amount to a [w]cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all [x]the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their [y]surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, [z]all she had to live on.”
Reminded me of the beattitudes – Blessed are the pure of heart. Are my motives, the reasons and way in which I give, pure?
It’s easy to think “I don’t have much to give,” or “I’m just one person; why even try?” But that’s not what matters to God, and thinking like that is focusing on our own weakness, not God’s power. In God’s hands, five loaves and two fish can feed thousands.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Footnotes
- Mark 12:1 Or fence
- Mark 12:1 Or tenant farmers, also vv 2, 7, 9
- Mark 12:9 Lit lord
- Mark 12:12 Lit crowd
- Mark 12:14 Lit it is not a concern to You about anyone; i.e. You do not seek anyone’s favor
- Mark 12:14 Or permissible
- Mark 12:15 The denarius was a day’s wages
- Mark 12:17 Or were greatly marveling
- Mark 12:19 Lit take
- Mark 12:21 Lit took
- Mark 12:22 Lit the seven
- Mark 12:23 Early mss do not contain when they rise again
- Mark 12:23 Lit the seven
- Mark 12:24 Or know
- Mark 12:26 Lit concerning the dead, that they rise
- Mark 12:27 Or of corpses
- Mark 12:28 Or first
- Mark 12:35 I.e. the Messiah
- Mark 12:36 Or by
- Mark 12:37 Lit was gladly hearing Him
- Mark 12:41 I.e. copper coins
- Mark 12:42 Gr lepta
- Mark 12:42 Gr quadrans; i.e. 1/64 of a denarius
- Mark 12:43 Lit those who were putting in
- Mark 12:44 Or abundance
- Mark 12:44 Lit her whole livelihoodM
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