Mark 12-13
Contemporary English Version
Renters of a Vineyard
(Matthew 21.33-46; Luke 20.9-19)
12 (A) Jesus then told them this story:
A farmer once planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it and dug a pit to crush the grapes in. He also built a lookout tower. Then he rented out his vineyard and left the country.
2 When it was harvest time, he sent a servant to get his share of the grapes. 3 The renters grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him away without a thing.
4 The owner sent another servant, but the renters beat him on the head and insulted him terribly. 5 Then the man sent another servant, and they killed him. He kept sending servant after servant. They beat some of them and killed some.
6 The owner had a son he loved very much. Finally, he sent his son to the renters because he thought they would respect him. 7 But they said to themselves, “Someday he will own this vineyard. Let's kill him! That way we can have it all for ourselves.” 8 So they grabbed the owner's son, killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard.
9 Jesus asked, “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? He will come and kill those renters and let someone else have his vineyard. 10 (B) You surely know that the Scriptures say,
‘The stone the builders
tossed aside
is now the most important
stone of all.
11 This is something
the Lord has done,
and it is amazing to us.’ ”
12 The leaders knew that Jesus was really talking about them, and they wanted to arrest him. But because they were afraid of the crowd, they let him alone and left.
Paying Taxes
(Matthew 22.15-22; Luke 20.20-26)
13 The Pharisees got together with Herod's followers.[a] Then they sent some men to trick Jesus into saying something wrong. 14 They went to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are honest. You treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. And you teach the truth about what God wants people to do. Tell us, should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”
15 Jesus knew what they were up to, and he said, “Why are you trying to test me? Show me a coin!”
16 They brought him a silver coin, and he asked, “Whose picture and name are on it?”
“The Emperor's,” they answered.
17 Then Jesus told them, “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God.” The men were amazed at Jesus.
Life in the Future World
(Matthew 22.23-33; Luke 20.27-40)
18 (C) The Sadducees did not believe that people would rise to life after death. So some of them came to Jesus and said:
19 (D) Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow. Their first son would then be thought of as the son of the dead brother. 20 There were once seven brothers. The first one married, but died without having any children. 21 The second brother married his brother's widow, and he also died without having children. The same thing happened to the third brother, 22 and finally to all seven brothers. At last the woman died. 23 When God raises people from death, whose wife will this woman be? After all, she had been married to all seven brothers.
24 Jesus answered:
You are completely wrong! You don't know what the Scriptures teach. And you don't know anything about the power of God. 25 When God raises people to life, they won't marry. They will be like the angels in heaven. 26 (E) You surely know about people being raised to life. You know that in the story about Moses and the burning bush, God said, “I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”[b] 27 He isn't the God of the dead, but of the living. You Sadducees are all wrong.
The Most Important Commandment
(Matthew 22.34-40; Luke 10.25-28)
28 (F) One of the teachers of the Law of Moses came up while Jesus and the Sadducees were arguing. When he heard Jesus give a good answer, he asked him, “What is the most important commandment?”
29 (G) Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. 30 You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ 31 (H) The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.”
32 (I) The man replied, “Teacher, you are certainly right to say there is only one God. 33 (J) It is also true that we must love God with all our heart, mind, and strength, and that we must love others as much as we love ourselves. These commandments are more important than all the sacrifices and offerings that we could possibly make.”
34 When Jesus saw that the man had given a sensible answer, he told him, “You are not far from God's kingdom.” After this, no one dared ask Jesus any more questions.
About David's Son
(Matthew 22.41-46; Luke 20.41-44)
35 As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the teachers of the Law of Moses say the Messiah will come from the family of King David? 36 (K) The Holy Spirit led David to say,
‘The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right side[c]
until I make your enemies
into a footstool for you.’
37 If David called the Messiah his Lord, how can the Messiah be his son?”[d]
The large crowd enjoyed listening to Jesus teach.
Jesus Condemns the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law of Moses
(Matthew 23.1-36; Luke 20.45-47)
38 As Jesus was teaching, he said:
Guard against the teachers of the Law of Moses! They love to walk around in long robes and be greeted in the market. 39 They like the front seats in the synagogues and the best seats at banquets. 40 But they cheat widows out of their homes and pray long prayers just to show off. They will be punished most of all.
A Widow's Offering
(Luke 21.1-4)
41 Jesus was sitting in the temple near the offering box and watching people put in their gifts. He noticed that many rich people were giving a lot of money. 42 Finally, a poor widow came up and put in two coins worth only a few pennies. 43 Jesus told his disciples to gather around him. Then he said:
I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 44 Everyone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn't have a cent to live on.
The Temple Will Be Destroyed
(Matthew 24.1,2; Luke 21.5,6)
13 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these beautiful stones and wonderful buildings!”
2 Jesus replied, “Do you see these huge buildings? They will certainly be torn down! Not one stone will be left in place.”
Warning about Trouble
(Matthew 24.3-14; Luke 21.7-19)
3 Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him in private. 4 (L) They asked, “When will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
5 Jesus answered:
Watch out and don't let anyone fool you! 6 Many will come and claim to be me. They will use my name and fool many people.
7 When you hear about wars and threats of wars, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end. 8 Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. There will be earthquakes in many places, and people will starve to death. But this is just the beginning of troubles.
9 (M) Be on your guard! You will be taken to courts and beaten with whips in their synagogues. And because of me, you will have to stand before rulers and kings to tell about your faith. 10 But before the end comes, the good news must be preached to all nations.
11 When you are arrested, don't worry about what you will say. You will be given the right words when the time comes. But you will not really be the ones speaking. Your words will come from the Holy Spirit.
12 Brothers and sisters will betray each other and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed. 13 (N) Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved.
The Horrible Thing
(Matthew 24.15-21; Luke 21.20-24)
14 (O) Someday you will see that “Horrible Thing” where it should not be.[e] Everyone who reads this must try to understand! If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. 15 (P) If you are on the roof[f] of your house, don't go inside to get anything. 16 If you are out in the field, don't go back for your coat. 17 It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. 18 Pray that it won't happen in winter.[g] 19 (Q) This will be the worst time of suffering since God created the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again. 20 If the Lord doesn't make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of his chosen and special ones, he will make the time shorter.
21 If someone should say, “Here is the Messiah!” or “There he is!” don't believe it. 22 False messiahs and false prophets will come and work miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God's chosen ones. 23 But be on your guard! That's why I am telling you these things now.
When the Son of Man Appears
(Matthew 24.29-31; Luke 21.25-28)
24 (R) In those days, right after this time of suffering,
“The sun will become dark,
and the moon
will no longer shine.
25 (S) The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky[h]
will be shaken.”
26 (T) Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.
A Lesson from a Fig Tree
(Matthew 24.32-35; Luke 21.29-33)
28 Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. 29 So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come.[i] 30 You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. 31 The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.
No One Knows the Day or Time
(Matthew 24.36-44)
32 (U) No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know. Only the Father knows. 33 So watch out and be ready! You don't know when the time will come. 34 (V) It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. 35 So be alert! You don't know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. 36 But if he comes suddenly, don't let him find you asleep. 37 I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!
Footnotes
- 12.13 Herod's followers: People who were political followers of the family of Herod the Great and his son Herod Antipas.
- 12.26 I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: Jesus argues that if God is worshiped by these three, they must still be alive, because he is the God of the living.
- 12.36 right side: The place of power and honor.
- 12.37 David … his son: See the note at 10.47.
- 13.14 where it should not be: Probably the holy place in the temple.
- 13.15 roof: See the note at 2.4.
- 13.18 in winter: In Palestine the winters are cold and rainy and make travel difficult.
- 13.25 the powers in the sky: In ancient times people thought that the stars were spiritual powers.
- 13.29 the time has almost come: Or “he (that is, the Son of Man) will soon be here.”
马可福音 12-13
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
凶狠的佃户
12 耶稣用比喻对他们说：“有人开辟了一个葡萄园，在四周筑起篱笆，又在园中挖了一个榨酒池，建了一座瞭望台，然后把葡萄园租给佃户，就出远门了。
2 “到葡萄成熟时，园主派一个奴仆去收取他该得的一份。 3 那些佃户却捉住那个奴仆，打了他一顿，使他空手而归。
4 “园主又差另一个奴仆去。这一次，佃户不但侮辱他，还把他打得头破血流。 5 园主再派一个奴仆前往，他们却把他杀掉了。园主后来派去的人不是挨打，就是被杀。 6 最后只剩下园主的爱子，园主就派他去，以为那些佃户会尊重他的儿子。 7 这班佃户却彼此商量说，‘这个就是园主的继承人。来吧！我们杀掉他，产业就归我们了。’
8 “于是他们抓住他，杀了他，把他抛到葡萄园外。 9 那么，园主会采取什么行动呢？他必定会来杀掉这些佃户，把葡萄园转给别人。 10 圣经上说，
“‘工匠丢弃的石头已成了房角石。
11 这是主的作为，
在我们看来奇妙莫测。’
你们没有读过这经文吗？”
12 他们听出这比喻是针对他们说的，就想逮捕耶稣，但又害怕百姓，只好先离开了。
纳税给凯撒的问题
13 后来，他们派了几个法利赛人和希律党人到耶稣那里，企图利用祂所说的话设计陷害祂。
14 他们上前对耶稣说：“老师，我们知道你诚实无伪，不看人的情面，因为你不以貌取人，而是按真理传上帝的道。那么，向凯撒纳税对不对呢？ 15 我们该不该纳呢？”耶稣看破他们的阴谋，就说：“你们为什么试探我呢？拿一个银币来给我看。”
16 他们就拿来一个银币，耶稣问他们：“上面刻的是谁的像和名号？”
他们说：“凯撒的。”
17 耶稣说：“属于凯撒的东西应该给凯撒，属于上帝的东西应该给上帝。”
他们听了这话，都很惊奇。
论复活
18 撒都该人向来不相信有复活的事，他们来问耶稣： 19 “老师，摩西为我们写下律例，如果一个人死了，遗下妻子，又没有儿女，他的兄弟就当娶嫂嫂，替哥哥传宗接代。 20 有弟兄七人，老大结了婚，没有孩子就死了。 21 二弟把大嫂娶过来，也没有生孩子就死了，三弟也是一样， 22 七个人都没有留下孩子。最后，那女人也死了。 23 那么，到复活的时候，她将是谁的妻子呢？因为七个人都娶过她。”
24 耶稣说：“你们弄错了，因为你们不明白圣经，也不知道上帝的能力。 25 死人复活之后，将不娶也不嫁，就像天上的天使一样。 26 关于死人复活的事，你们没有读过摩西书有关火中荆棘的记载吗？上帝对摩西说，‘我是亚伯拉罕的上帝，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。你们大错了！”
最大的诫命
28 有一位律法教师听到他们的辩论，觉得耶稣的回答很精彩，就走过去问道：“诫命中哪一条最重要呢？”
29 耶稣回答道：“最重要的诫命是，‘听啊，以色列！主——我们的上帝是独一的主。 30 你要全心、全情、全意、全力爱主——你的上帝’； 31 其次就是‘要爱邻如己’。再也没有任何诫命比这两条更重要了。”
32 那位律法教师说：“老师，你说的对，上帝只有一位，除祂以外，别无他神。 33 我们要全心、全意、全力爱祂，又要爱邻如己。这样做比献什么祭都好。”
34 耶稣见他答得很有智慧，就告诉他：“你离上帝的国不远了。”此后，没人再敢问耶稣问题了。
基督的身份
35 耶稣在圣殿里教导的时候，问道：“律法教师为什么说基督是大卫的后裔呢？ 36 大卫自己曾经受圣灵的感动，说，
“‘主对我主说，
你坐在我的右边，
等我使你的仇敌伏在你脚下。’
37 既然大卫自己称基督为主，基督又怎能是大卫的后裔呢？”百姓听得津津有味。 38 耶稣又教导他们，说：“你们要提防律法教师，他们爱穿着长袍招摇过市，喜欢人们在大街上问候他们， 39 又喜欢会堂里的上座和宴席中的首位。 40 他们侵吞寡妇的财产，还假意做冗长的祷告。这种人必受到更严厉的惩罚。”
穷寡妇的奉献
41 然后，耶稣走到圣殿的奉献箱对面坐下，看大家怎样奉献。很多财主奉献了大量的钱。 42 后来一个穷寡妇来了，投进了相当于一文钱的两个小铜钱。 43 耶稣叫门徒来，说：“我实在告诉你们，这位穷寡妇比其他人奉献的都多， 44 因为他们不过奉献了自己剩余的，但这穷寡妇却奉献了她赖以为生的。”
预言圣殿被毁
13 耶稣走出圣殿的时候，有一个门徒对祂说：“老师，你看！这是多么大的石头，多么宏伟的建筑啊！”
2 耶稣说：“你看见这宏伟的建筑了吗？将来它要被完全拆毁，找不到两块叠在一起的石头。”
3 耶稣面向圣殿坐在橄榄山上，彼得、雅各、约翰和安得烈私下来问祂： 4 “请告诉我们，这些事什么时候会发生？有什么预兆？”
5 耶稣对他们说：“你们要小心，免得被人迷惑。 6 将有很多人冒我的名来，说，‘我是基督’，欺骗许多人。
7 “你们听见战争爆发、战讯频传时，不要惊慌，因为这些事必然发生，只是末日还没有到。
8 “民族将与民族互斗，国家将与国家相争，各处将有地震和饥荒。这些只是灾难[a]的开始。
9 “你们要小心，因为你们将被送上法庭，将在会堂里受鞭打，又将为了我的缘故在官长和君王面前做见证。 10 不过，福音一定要先传遍天下。 11 你们被拘捕，受审讯的时候，不用预先考虑怎样辩解，到时候赐给你们什么话，你们就说什么话，因为那时候说话的不是你们自己，而是圣灵。
12 “那时，人必把自己的弟兄置于死地，父亲必把儿子置于死地，儿女必反叛父母，置他们于死地。 13 你们将为我的名而被众人憎恨，但坚忍到底的必定得救。
大灾难
14 “当你们看见‘那带来毁灭的可憎之物’站在不当站的地方时（读者须会意），住在犹太地区的人要逃到山上去； 15 在屋顶上的人不要下来，不要进房屋收拾行李； 16 在田间的人不要回家取外衣。 17 那时，孕妇和哺育婴儿的母亲们可就遭殃了！ 18 你们要祈求上帝使这些事不要在冬天发生， 19 因为那是上帝创造天地以来空前绝后的大灾难。 20 如果主不缩短灾期，恐怕没有人能活命，但为了祂所拣选的子民，祂已经缩短灾期。 21 那时，如果有人对你们说，‘看啊！基督在这里’，或说，‘基督在那里’，你们不要相信。 22 因为假基督和假先知将出现，行各种神迹奇事，如果可能，甚至会迷惑上帝拣选的子民。 23 你们要小心，我已经把一切预先告诉你们了。
人子降临
24 “大灾难过后，
太阳昏暗，
月亮无光，
25 星宿陨落，
天体震动。
26 那时，世人必看到人子驾着云、带着极大的能力和荣耀降临。 27 祂必差遣天使从四面八方、天涯海角招聚祂拣选的人。
28 “你们可以从无花果树学个道理。当无花果树发芽长叶的时候，你们就知道夏天快来了。 29 同样，当你们看见这些事情发生时，就知道人子快来了，就在门口。 30 我实在告诉你们，这个世代还没有过去，这一切都要发生。 31 天地都要过去，我的话却永远长存。
32 “但没有人知道那日子和时辰何时来到，连天上的天使和人子都不知道，只有天父知道。 33 你们要小心，警醒祷告，因为你们不知道那日子何时来到。
34 “这就好像一个人在出远门之前，把家中的事交给仆人，让他们各做各的工作，又吩咐守门的人要警醒。 35 所以你们要警醒，因为你们不知道主人什么时候回来，可能是黄昏，可能是夜半，也可能是黎明或早上。 36 别让他突然回来时看到你们在睡觉。 37 我劝你们也劝所有的人，要警醒！”
Footnotes
- 13:8 “灾难”希腊文是“生产之痛”。
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