Mark 12:1-44 King James Bible KJV
The Parable of the Tenants, Taxes to Caesar, The Greatest Commandment, Warning Against the Scribes, Widow’s Offering
Mark 12:1-44 King James Bible KJV. Mark 12 can be divided into distinct sections, each containing specific teachings or encounters between Jesus and various groups of people. The key themes include warnings against hypocrisy, the nature of the Kingdom of God, and the primacy of love for God and others. The chapter emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, living in love for God and others, and being sincere in one’s devotion to God.
Mark 12:1-44 King James Bible KJV
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The Parable of the Tenants – verses 1-12
This parable illustrates the relationship between God, Israel, and the religious leaders. The vineyard represents Israel, the tenants are the religious leaders, the servants are the prophets, and the son is Jesus. The parable warns of the judgment awaiting the religious authorities who reject God’s messengers and eventually His Son. It foreshadows Jesus’ death and resurrection, as well as the coming judgment on those who do not recognize Him.
The Question about Taxes to Caesar – verses 13-17
Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus’ responds with, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” highlights the dual responsibility of people toward earthly authorities and to God. It underscores the importance of loyalty to God, who deserves our ultimate allegiance.
The Question about the Resurrection – verses 18-27
The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, question Jesus about marriage in the afterlife. Jesus corrects their misunderstanding, teaching that life after the resurrection is not bound by earthly conventions, such as marriage. He also reaffirms the reality of the resurrection, pointing to God’s identity as the God of the living, not the dead..
The Greatest Commandment – verses 28-34
A scribe asks Jesus to identify the greatest commandment. Jesus emphasizes that the most important commandments are to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. These two commandments encapsulate the essence of the law and the prophets.
Jesus’ Question about the Messiah – verses 35-37
Jesus poses a theological question to the scribes about the Messiah’s identity. Jesus challenges the prevailing understanding that the Messiah is merely David’s son. He quotes Psalm 110:1 to show that the Messiah is greater than David, hinting at His divine nature.
Warning against the Scribes – verses 38-40
Jesus warns His disciples about the pride and hypocrisy of the scribes, who seek status and recognition rather than humble service. Jesus condemns religious hypocrisy, emphasizing that God values humility and sincerity over outward displays of piety.
The Widow’s Offering – verses 41-44
Jesus observes people giving offerings at the temple, and He commends a poor widow who gives two small coins. Jesus highlights the widow’s offering as an example of true generosity. She gave out of her poverty, sacrificing everything she had, while others gave out of their abundance. This teaches that God values the heart behind the giving, not the amount.
Mark 12:1-44 King James Bible KJV
1 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.
2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 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.
5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast himout of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
12 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.
13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14 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 Cæsar, or not?
15 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.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19 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.
20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25 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.
26 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?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
28 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?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 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.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 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:
33 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.
34 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.
35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
36 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.
37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
38 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,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
41 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.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 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:
44 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.