Mark 12
1 He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.
Then Jesus began to speak to them using illustrated stories. “Once there was a man who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to some farmers, and left on a journey.
2 When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
When harvest-time came, he sent one of his servants to the tenant farmers to collect some of the grapes from the vineyard.
3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.
But they grabbed hold of him, beat him up, and sent him away with nothing.
4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
So the man sent another servant. They hit him over the head and abused him.
5 Again he sent another, and they killed him, and many others, beating some, and killing some.
He sent another servant, and this one they killed. He sent many other servants, and they beat some of them and killed others.
6 Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
In the end the only one left was his son whom he loved, and eventually he sent him, thinking ‘they will respect my son.’
7 But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
But the farmers said to themselves, ‘Here's the owner's heir—if we kill him, we can get what he would have inherited!’
8 They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
Now what is the owner of the vineyard going to do? He will come and kill those farmers, and then he will lease the vineyard to others.
10 Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.
Haven't you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone rejected by the builders has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”
This is from the Lord, and it's marvelous to see!’?”
12 They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him and went away.
The Jewish leaders tried to have him arrested because they realized that the illustration was directed at them, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him alone and went away.
13 They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
Later they sent some Pharisees with some of Herod's supporters to Jesus in an attempt to catch him out by what he said.
14 When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
They arrived and said, “Teacher, we know you are a truthful person and you don't look for approval, because you don't care about status or position. Instead you teach God's way in accordance with the truth. So is it right to pay tribute to Caesar or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”
Should we pay up, or should we refuse?” Jesus, realizing how hypocritical they were, asked them, “Why are you trying to catch me out? Bring me a coin to look at.”
16 They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
They gave him a coin. “Whose is this image, and whose inscription?” Jesus asked them. “Caesar's,” they replied.
17 Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.
“Then give back to Caesar what belongs to him, and give back to God what belongs to him,” Jesus told them. They were amazed at his reply.
18 Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,
Then the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, came and asked a question:
19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
“Teacher, Moses instructed us that if a man dies, leaving his widow childless, then his brother should marry his wife, and have children by her on his behalf.
20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
Once there were seven brothers. The first one got married, and then died without having children.
21 The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
The second married his widow, and then died, childless. The third did the same.
22 and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.
In fact all seven died without having children. In the end the woman died too.
23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”
In the resurrection, whose wife will she be, because she was the wife of all seven brothers?”
24 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Jesus told them, “This proves you're mistaken, and that you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God.
25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
When the dead rise, they don't marry, and aren't given in marriage. They're like the angels in heaven.
26 But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
But concerning the resurrection, haven't you read in Moses' writings the story of the burning bush, where God spoke to Moses and told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’
27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”
He's not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are completely mistaken!”
28 One of the scribes came and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”
One of the religious teachers came and heard them arguing. He recognized that Jesus had given them a good answer. So he asked him, “Which is the most important commandment of all?”
29 Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Jesus replied, “The first commandment is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is one.
30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your spirit, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
31 The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The second is ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There's no more important commandment than these.”
32 The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he;
“That's right, Teacher,” the man replied. “It's true as you said that God is one, and there is no other.
33 and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
We are to love him with all our heart, all our understanding, and all our strength, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is far more important than offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.
Jesus saw that he gave a thoughtful answer, and said, “You're not far from the kingdom of God.” After this no one was brave enough to ask him any more questions.
35 Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the religious teachers state that Christ is the son of David?
36 For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’
As David himself declared, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that the Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’
37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.
Since David himself calls him Lord, how can he be David's son?” The large crowd listened to what Jesus said with great delight.
38 In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
Jesus continued to teach them, saying, “Beware of religious leaders! They love to walk around in long robes, to be greeted respectfully in the marketplaces.
39 and to get the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts,
They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues, and the best places at banquets.
40 those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
They cheat widows out of what they own, and cover up the kind of people they really are with long-winded prayers. They will receive severe condemnation in the judgment.”
41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury collection box, watching people tossing in coins. Many of the rich were extravagantly throwing in a lot of money.
42 A poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.
Then a poor widow came along and put in just two small coins.
43 He called his disciples to himself and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,
He called his disciples together and told them, “I tell you the truth: this poor widow has put in more than all the rest together.
44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
All of them gave from their wealth what they had, but she gave from her poverty what she didn't have. She put in all she had to live on.”
