兇狠的佃戶

12 耶穌用比喻對他們說:「有人開闢了一個葡萄園,在四周築起籬笆,又在園中挖了一個榨酒池,建了一座瞭望臺,然後把葡萄園租給佃戶,就出遠門了。

「到葡萄成熟時,園主派一個奴僕去收取他該得的一份。 那些佃戶卻捉住那個奴僕,打了他一頓,使他空手而歸。

「園主又差另一個奴僕去。這一次,佃戶不但侮辱他,還把他打得頭破血流。 園主再派一個奴僕前往,他們卻把他殺掉了。園主後來派去的人不是挨打,就是被殺。 最後只剩下園主的愛子,園主就派他去,以為那些佃戶會尊重他的兒子。 這班佃戶卻彼此商量說,『這個就是園主的繼承人。來吧!我們殺掉他,產業就歸我們了。』

「於是他們抓住他,殺了他,把他拋到葡萄園外。 那麼,園主會採取什麼行動呢?他必定會來殺掉這些佃戶,把葡萄園轉給別人。 10 聖經上說,

『工匠丟棄的石頭已成了房角石。
11 這是主的作為,
在我們看來奇妙莫測。』

你們沒有讀過這經文嗎?」

12 他們聽出這比喻是針對他們說的,就想逮捕耶穌,但又害怕百姓,只好先離開了。

納稅給凱撒的問題

13 後來,他們派了幾個法利賽人和希律黨人到耶穌那裡,企圖利用祂所說的話設計陷害祂。

14 他們上前對耶穌說:「老師,我們知道你誠實無偽,不看人的情面,因為你不以貌取人,而是按真理傳上帝的道。那麼,向凱撒納稅對不對呢? 15 我們該不該納呢?」耶穌看破他們的陰謀,就說:「你們為什麼試探我呢?拿一個銀幣來給我看。」

16 他們就拿來一個銀幣,耶穌問他們:「上面刻的是誰的像和名號?」

他們說:「凱撒的。」

17 耶穌說:「屬於凱撒的東西應該給凱撒,屬於上帝的東西應該給上帝。」

他們聽了這話,都很驚奇。

論復活

18 撒都該人向來不相信有復活的事,他們來問耶穌: 19 「老師,摩西為我們寫下律例,如果一個人死了,遺下妻子,又沒有兒女,他的兄弟就當娶嫂嫂,替哥哥傳宗接代。 20 有弟兄七人,老大結了婚,沒有孩子就死了。 21 二弟把大嫂娶過來,也沒有生孩子就死了,三弟也是一樣, 22 七個人都沒有留下孩子。最後,那女人也死了。 23 那麼,到復活的時候,她將是誰的妻子呢?因為七個人都娶過她。」

24 耶穌說:「你們弄錯了,因為你們不明白聖經,也不知道上帝的能力。 25 死人復活之後,將不娶也不嫁,就像天上的天使一樣。 26 關於死人復活的事,你們沒有讀過摩西書有關火中荊棘的記載嗎?上帝對摩西說,『我是亞伯拉罕的上帝,以撒的上帝,雅各的上帝。』 27 上帝不是死人的上帝,而是活人的上帝。你們大錯了!」

最大的誡命

28 有一位律法教師聽到他們的辯論,覺得耶穌的回答很精彩,就走過去問道:「誡命中哪一條最重要呢?」

29 耶穌回答道:「最重要的誡命是,『聽啊,以色列!主——我們的上帝是獨一的主。 30 你要全心、全情、全意、全力愛主——你的上帝』; 31 其次就是『要愛鄰如己』。再也沒有任何誡命比這兩條更重要了。」

32 那位律法教師說:「老師,你說得對,上帝只有一位,除祂以外,別無他神。 33 我們要全心、全意、全力愛祂,又要愛鄰如己。這樣做比獻什麼祭都好。」

34 耶穌見他答得很有智慧,就告訴他:「你離上帝的國不遠了。」此後,沒人再敢問耶穌問題了。

基督的身分

35 耶穌在聖殿裡教導的時候,問道:「律法教師為什麼說基督是大衛的後裔呢? 36 大衛自己曾經受聖靈的感動,說,

『主對我主說,
你坐在我的右邊,
等我使你的仇敵伏在你腳下。』

37 既然大衛自己稱基督為主,基督又怎能是大衛的後裔呢?」百姓聽得津津有味。 38 耶穌又教導他們,說:「你們要提防律法教師,他們愛穿著長袍招搖過市,喜歡人們在大街上問候他們, 39 又喜歡會堂裡的上座和宴席中的首位。 40 他們侵吞寡婦的財產,還假意做冗長的禱告。這種人必受到更嚴厲的懲罰。」

窮寡婦的奉獻

41 然後,耶穌走到聖殿的奉獻箱對面坐下,看大家怎樣奉獻。很多財主奉獻了大量的錢。 42 後來一個窮寡婦來了,投進了相當於一文錢的兩個小銅錢。 43 耶穌叫門徒來,說:「我實在告訴你們,這位窮寡婦比其他人奉獻的都多, 44 因為他們不過奉獻了自己剩餘的,但這窮寡婦卻奉獻了她賴以為生的。」

12 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.

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.

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 Caesar, 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, Caesar's.

17 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.

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.

The Parable of the Tenants

12 (A)And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted (B)a vineyard (C)and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and (D)leased it to tenants and (E)went into another country. When the season came, he sent a servant[a] to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. (F)And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. (G)Again (H)he sent to them another servant, and (I)they struck him on the head and (J)treated him shamefully. (K)And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, (L)a beloved son. (M)Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, (N)‘This is the heir. Come, (O)let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and (P)threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? (Q)He will (R)come and destroy the tenants and (S)give the vineyard to others. 10 (T)Have you not read (U)this Scripture:

(V)“‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;[b]
11 this was the Lord's doing,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 And (W)they were seeking to arrest him (X)but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they (Y)left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 (Z)And they sent to him some of (AA)the Pharisees and some of (AB)the Herodians, to (AC)trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, (AD)we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For (AE)you are not swayed by appearances,[c] but truly teach (AF)the way of God. Is it lawful to pay (AG)taxes to (AH)Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing (AI)their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why (AJ)put me to the test? Bring me (AK)a denarius[d] and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, (AL)“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

18 And (AM)Sadducees came to him, (AN)who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that (AO)if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man[e] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because (AP)you know neither the Scriptures nor (AQ)the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither (AR)marry nor (AS)are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, (AT)have you not read in (AU)the book of Moses, in (AV)the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, (AW)‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

The Great Commandment

28 (AX)And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, (AY)‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, (AZ)the Lord is one. 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 (BA)The second is this: (BB)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment (BC)greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that (BD)he is one, and (BE)there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all (BF)the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, (BG)is much more than all (BH)whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (BI)And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

35 (BJ)And as (BK)Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that (BL)the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, (BM)in the Holy Spirit, declared,

(BN)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies (BO)under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So (BP)how is he his son?” And the great throng (BQ)heard him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes

38 (BR)And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and (BS)the places of honor at feasts, 40 (BT)who devour widows' houses and (BU)for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow's Offering

41 (BV)And he sat down opposite (BW)the treasury and watched the people (BX)putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two (BY)small copper coins, which make a penny.[f] 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (BZ)this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (CA)poverty has put in everything she had, all (CB)she had to live on.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:2 Or bondservant; also verse 4
  2. Mark 12:10 Greek the head of the corner
  3. Mark 12:14 Greek you do not look at people's faces
  4. Mark 12:15 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  5. Mark 12:19 Greek his brother
  6. Mark 12:42 Greek two lepta, which make a kodrantes; a kodrantes (Latin quadrans) was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)