Mark 12
Easy-to-Read Version
God Sends His Son(A)
12 Jesus used stories to teach the people. He said, “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around the field and dug a hole for a winepress. Then he built a tower. He leased the land to some farmers and left for a trip.
2 “Later, it was time for the grapes to be picked. So the man sent a servant to the farmers to get his share of the grapes. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant and beat him. They sent him away with nothing. 4 Then the man sent another servant to the farmers. They hit this servant on the head, showing no respect for him. 5 So the man sent another servant. The farmers killed this servant. The man sent many other servants to the farmers. The farmers beat some of them and killed the others.
6 “The man had only one person left to send to the farmers. It was his son. He loved his son, but he decided to send him. He said, ‘The farmers will respect my son.’
7 “But the farmers said to each other, ‘This is the owner’s son, and this vineyard will be his. If we kill him, it will be ours.’ 8 So they took the son, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
9 “So what will the man who owns the vineyard do? He will go and kill those farmers. Then he will lease the land to others. 10 Surely you have read this in the Scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders refused to accept
became the cornerstone.
11 The Lord did this,
and it is wonderful to us.’” (B)
12 When these Jewish leaders heard this story, they knew it was about them. They wanted to find a way to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of what the crowd would do. So they left him and went away.
The Jewish Leaders Try to Trick Jesus(C)
13 Later, the Jewish leaders sent some Pharisees and some men from the group called Herodians to Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong. 14 They went to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man. You are not afraid of what others think about you. All people are the same to you. And you teach the truth about God’s way. Tell us, is it right to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not?”
15 But Jesus knew that these men were really trying to trick him. He said, “Why are you trying to catch me saying something wrong? Bring me a silver coin. Let me see it.” 16 They gave Jesus a coin and he asked, “Whose picture is on the coin? And whose name is written on it?” They answered, “It is Caesar’s picture and Caesar’s name.”
17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” The men were amazed at what Jesus said.
Some Sadducees Try to Trick Jesus(D)
18 Then some Sadducees came to Jesus. (Sadducees believe that no one will rise from death.) They asked him a question: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and had no children, his brother must marry the woman. Then they will have children for the dead brother.[a] 20 There were seven brothers. The first brother married but died. He had no children. 21 So the second brother married the woman. But he also died and had no children. The same thing happened with the third brother. 22 All seven brothers married the woman and died. None of the brothers had any children with her. And she was the last to die. 23 But all seven brothers had married her. So at the time when people rise from death, whose wife will she be?”
24 Jesus answered, “How could you be so wrong? It’s because you don’t know what the Scriptures say. And you don’t know anything about God’s power. 25 When people rise from death, there will be no marriage. People will not be married to each other. All people will be like angels in heaven. 26 Surely you have read what God said about people rising from death. In the book where Moses wrote about the burning bush,[b] it says that God told Moses this: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[c] 27 So they were not still dead, because he is the God only of living people. You Sadducees are so wrong!”
Which Command Is the Most Important?(E)
28 One of the teachers of the law came to Jesus. He heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees and the Pharisees. He saw that Jesus gave good answers to their questions. So he asked him, “Which of the commands is the most important?”
29 Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘People of Israel, listen! The Lord our God is the only Lord. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’[d] 31 The second most important command is this: ‘Love your neighbor[e] the same as you love yourself.’[f] These two commands are the most important.”
32 The man answered, “That was a good answer, Teacher. You are right in saying that God is the only Lord and that there is no other God. 33 And you must love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And you must love others the same as you love yourself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God.”
34 Jesus saw that the man answered him wisely. So he said to him, “You are close to God’s kingdom.” And after that time, no one was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions.
Is the Messiah David’s Son or David’s Lord?(F)
35 Jesus was teaching in the Temple area. He asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 With the help of the Holy Spirit, David himself says,
‘The Lord God said to my Lord:
Sit by me at my right side,
and I will put your enemies under your control.[g]’ (G)
37 David himself calls the Messiah ‘Lord.’ So how can the Messiah be David’s son?” Many people listened to Jesus and were very pleased.
Jesus Criticizes the Teachers of the Law(H)
38 Jesus continued teaching. He said, “Be careful of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around wearing clothes that look important. And they love for people to show respect to them in the marketplaces. 39 They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 But they cheat widows and take their homes. Then they try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. God will punish them very much.”
True Giving(I)
41 Jesus sat near the Temple collection box[h] and watched as people put money into it. Many rich people put in a lot of money. 42 Then a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth less than a penny.
43 Jesus called his followers to him and said, “This poor widow put in only two small coins. But the truth is, she gave more than all those rich people. 44 They have plenty, and they gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had. It was money she needed to live on.”
Footnotes
- Mark 12:19 if … dead brother See Deut. 25:5, 6.
- Mark 12:26 burning bush See Ex. 3:1-12.
- Mark 12:26
Quote from Ex. 3:6. - Mark 12:30
Quote from Deut. 6:4-5. - Mark 12:31 your neighbor Or “others.” Jesus’ teaching in Lk. 10:25-37 makes clear that this includes anyone in need.
- Mark 12:31
Quote from Lev. 19:18. - Mark 12:36 control Literally, “feet.”
- Mark 12:41 collection box A special box in the Jewish place for worship where people put their gifts to God.
馬可福音 12
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
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。
2 「到葡萄成熟時，園主派一個奴僕去收取他該得的一份。 3 那些佃戶卻捉住那個奴僕，打了他一頓，使他空手而歸。
4 「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。 5 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。 6 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。 7 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。』
8 「於是他們抓住他，殺了他，把他拋到葡萄園外。 9 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。」
Mark 12
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
12 And [Jesus] started to speak to them in parables [with comparisons and illustrations]. A man planted a vineyard and put a hedge around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower and let it out [for rent] to vinedressers and went into another country.
2 When the season came, he sent a bond servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 But they took him and beat him and sent him away without anything.
4 Again he sent to them another bond servant, and they stoned him and wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully [sending him away with insults].
5 And he sent another, and that one they killed; then many others—some they beat, and some they put to death.
6 He had still one left [to send], a beloved son; last of all he sent him to them, saying, They will respect my son.
7 But those tenants said to one another, Here is the heir; come on, let us put him to death, and [then] the inheritance will be ours.
8 And they took him and killed him, and threw [his body] outside the vineyard.
9 Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others.
10 Have you not even read this [passage of] Scripture: The very Stone which [[a]after putting It to the test] the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner [Cornerstone];
11 This is from the Lord and is His doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?(A)
12 And they were trying to get hold of Him, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He spoke this parable with reference to and against them. So they left Him and departed.(B)
13 But they sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to Him for the purpose of entrapping Him in His speech.
14 And they came up and said to Him, Teacher, we know that You are [b]sincere and what You profess to be, that You cannot lie, and that You have no personal bias for anyone; for You are not influenced by partiality and have no [c]regard for anyone’s external condition or position, but in [and on the basis of] truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful (permissible and right) to give tribute ([d]poll taxes) to Caesar or not?
15 Should we pay [them] or should we not pay [them]? But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, Why do you put Me to the test? Bring Me a coin (a denarius), so I may see it.
16 And they brought [Him one]. Then He asked them, Whose image (picture) is this? And whose superscription ([e]title)? They said to Him, Caesar’s.
17 Jesus said to them, Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to [f]God the things that are God’s. And they [g]stood marveling and greatly amazed at Him.
18 And [some] Sadducees came to Him, [of that party] who say there is no resurrection, and they asked Him a question, saying,
19 Teacher, Moses gave us [a law] that if a man’s brother died, leaving a wife but no child, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(C)
20 Now there were seven brothers; the first one took a wife and died, leaving no children.
21 And the second [brother] married her, and died, leaving no children; and the third did the same;
22 And all seven, leaving no children. Last of all, the woman died also.
23 Now in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For the seven were married to her.
24 Jesus said to them, Is not this where you wander out of the way and go wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
25 For when they arise from among the dead, [men] do not marry nor are [women] given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven.
26 But concerning the dead being raised—have you not read in the book of Moses, [in the passage] about the [burning] bush, how God said to him, I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?(D)
27 He is not the God of [the] dead, but of [the] living! You are very wrong.
28 Then one of the scribes came up and listened to them disputing with one another, and, noticing that Jesus answered them fitly and admirably, he asked Him, Which commandment is first and most important of all [[h]in its nature]?
29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 And you shall love the Lord your God [i]out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your [j]life) and out of and with all your mind (with [k]your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. [l]This is the first and principal commandment.(E)
31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.(F)
32 And the scribe said to Him, Excellently and fitly and admirably answered, Teacher! You have said truly that He is One, and there is no other but Him;
33 And to love Him out of and with all the heart and with all the understanding [with the [m]faculty of quick apprehension and intelligence and keenness of discernment] and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.(G)
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered intelligently (discreetly and [n]having his wits about him), He said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And after that no one ventured or dared to ask Him any further question.
35 And as Jesus taught in [a [o]porch or court of] the temple, He said, How can the scribes say that the Christ is David’s Son?
36 David himself, [inspired] in the Holy Spirit, declared, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies [a footstool] under Your feet.(H)
37 David himself calls Him Lord; so how can it be that He is his Son? Now the great mass of the people heard [Jesus] gladly [listening to Him with delight].
38 And in [the course of] His teaching, He said, Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and [to get] greetings in the marketplaces [public forums],
39 And [have] the front seats in the synagogues and the [p]chief couches (places of honor) at feasts,
40 Who devour widows’ houses and to cover it up make long prayers. They will receive the heavier [sentence of] condemnation.
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the crowd was casting money into the treasury. Many rich [people] were throwing in large sums.
42 And a widow who was poverty-stricken came and put in two copper mites [the smallest of coins], which together make [q]half of a cent.
43 And He called His disciples [to Him] and said to them, Truly and surely I tell you, this widow, [she who is] poverty-stricken, has put in more than all those contributing to the treasury.
44 For they all threw in out of their abundance; but she, out of her deep poverty, has put in everything that she had—[even] all she had on which to live.
Footnotes
- Mark 12:10 Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:14 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon.
- Mark 12:14 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- Mark 12:14 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- Mark 12:16 Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:17 A rebuke of emperor worship.
- Mark 12:17 Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:28 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:30 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:30 Hermann Cremer, A Biblico-Theological Lexicon.
- Mark 12:30 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:30 Some manuscripts do not contain this part of verse 30.
- Mark 12:33 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:34 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- Mark 12:35 Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
- Mark 12:39 Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
- Mark 12:42 John D. Davis, A Dictionary of the Bible.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
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