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。」

Parabola dei vignaiuoli

12 (A)Poi cominciò a parlare loro in *parabole:
«Un uomo piantò una vigna, le fece attorno una siepe, vi scavò una buca per pigiare l'uva e vi costruí una torre[a]; l'affittò a dei vignaiuoli e se ne andò in viaggio.
Al tempo della raccolta mandò a quei vignaiuoli un servo per ricevere da loro la sua parte dei frutti della vigna. Ma essi lo presero, lo picchiarono e lo rimandarono a mani vuote. Egli mandò loro un altro servo; e anche questo insultarono e ferirono alla testa. Egli ne mandò un altro, e quelli lo uccisero; poi molti altri che picchiarono o uccisero. Aveva ancora un unico figlio diletto e quello glielo mandò per ultimo, dicendo: “Avranno rispetto per mio figlio”. Ma quei vignaiuoli dissero tra di loro: “Costui è l'erede; venite, uccidiamolo e l'eredità sarà nostra”. Cosí lo presero, lo uccisero e lo gettarono fuori dalla vigna. Che farà dunque il padrone della vigna? Egli verrà, farà perire quei vignaiuoli e darà la vigna ad altri.

10 Non avete neppure letto questa Scrittura:
“La pietra che i costruttori hanno rifiutata,
è diventata pietra angolare;
11 ciò è stato fatto dal Signore,
ed è una cosa meravigliosa ai nostri occhi[b]?”»

12 Essi cercavano di prenderlo, ma ebbero paura della folla; perché capirono che egli aveva detto quella parabola per loro. E, lasciatolo, se ne andarono.

Il tributo a Cesare

13 (B)Gli mandarono alcuni *farisei ed *erodiani per coglierlo in fallo con una domanda. 14 Essi andarono da lui e gli dissero: «Maestro, noi sappiamo che tu sei sincero, e che non hai riguardi per nessuno, perché non badi all'apparenza delle persone, ma insegni la via di Dio secondo verità. È lecito, o no, pagare il tributo a *Cesare? Dobbiamo darlo o non darlo?» 15 Ma egli, conoscendo la loro ipocrisia, disse loro: «Perché mi tentate? Portatemi un *denaro, ché io lo veda». 16 Essi glielo portarono ed egli disse loro: «Di chi è questa effigie e questa iscrizione?» Essi gli dissero: «Di Cesare». 17 Allora Gesú disse loro: «Rendete a Cesare quel che è di Cesare e a Dio quel che è di Dio». Ed essi si meravigliarono di lui.

Dibattito sulla risurrezione

18 (C)Poi vennero a lui dei *sadducei, i quali dicono che non vi è risurrezione, e gli domandarono: 19 «Maestro, *Mosè ci lasciò scritto che se il fratello di uno muore e lascia la moglie senza figli, il fratello ne prenda la moglie e dia una discendenza a suo fratello[c]. 20 C'erano sette fratelli. Il primo prese moglie; morí e non lasciò figli. 21 Il secondo la prese e morí senza lasciare discendenti. Cosí il terzo. 22 I sette non lasciarono discendenti. Infine, dopo tutti loro, morí anche la donna. 23 Nella risurrezione, quando saranno risuscitati, di quale dei sette sarà ella moglie? Perché tutti e sette l'hanno avuta in moglie». 24 Gesú disse loro: «Non errate voi proprio perché non conoscete le Scritture né la potenza di Dio? 25 Infatti quando gli uomini risuscitano dai morti, né prendono né danno moglie, ma sono come angeli nel cielo. 26 Quanto poi ai morti e alla loro risurrezione, non avete letto nel libro di Mosè, nel passo del «pruno», come Dio gli parlò dicendo: “Io sono il Dio d'*Abraamo, il Dio d'*Isacco e il Dio di *Giacobbe[d]”? 27 Egli non è Dio dei morti, ma dei viventi. Voi errate di molto».

Il gran comandamento

28 (D)Uno degli *scribi che li aveva uditi discutere, visto che egli aveva risposto bene, si avvicinò e gli domandò: «Qual è il piú importante di tutti i comandamenti?» 29 Gesú rispose: «Il primo è: “Ascolta, *Israele: il Signore, nostro Dio, è l'unico Signore[e]: 30 Ama dunque il Signore Dio tuo con tutto il tuo cuore, con tutta l'anima tua, con tutta la mente tua, e con tutta la forza tua”[f]. 31 Il secondo è questo: “Ama il tuo prossimo come te stesso[g]”. Non c'è nessun altro comandamento maggiore di questi». 32 Lo scriba gli disse: «Bene, Maestro! Tu hai detto secondo verità, che vi è un solo Dio e che all'infuori di lui non ce n'è alcun altro; 33 e che amarlo con tutto il cuore, con tutto l'intelletto, con tutta la forza, e amare il prossimo come sé stesso, è molto piú di tutti gli olocausti e i sacrifici». 34 Gesú, vedendo che aveva risposto con intelligenza, gli disse: «Tu non sei lontano dal regno di Dio». E nessuno osava piú interrogarlo.

Gesú interroga i farisei

35 (E)Gesú, mentre insegnava nel *tempio, disse: «Come mai gli scribi dicono che il Cristo è Figlio di *Davide? 36 Davide stesso disse per lo Spirito Santo:
“Il Signore ha detto al mio Signore:
`Siedi alla mia destra,
finché io abbia messo i tuoi nemici sotto i tuoi piedi[h]´”.
37 Davide stesso lo chiama Signore; dunque come può essere suo figlio?» E una gran folla lo ascoltava con piacere.

38 (F)Nel suo insegnamento Gesú diceva: «Guardatevi dagli scribi, che amano passeggiare in lunghe vesti, ed essere salutati nelle piazze, 39 e avere i primi seggi nelle *sinagoghe e i primi posti nei conviti; 40 essi che divorano le case delle vedove e fanno lunghe preghiere per mettersi in mostra. Costoro riceveranno una maggior condanna».

L'offerta della vedova

41 (G)Sedutosi di fronte alla cassa delle offerte, Gesú guardava come la gente metteva denaro nella cassa; molti ricchi ne mettevano assai. 42 Venuta una povera vedova, vi mise due spiccioli[i] che fanno un quarto di soldo[j]. 43 Gesú, chiamati a sé i suoi discepoli, disse loro: «In verità io vi dico che questa povera vedova ha messo nella cassa delle offerte piú di tutti gli altri: 44 poiché tutti vi hanno gettato del loro superfluo, ma lei, nella sua povertà, vi ha messo tutto ciò che possedeva, tutto quanto aveva per vivere».

Footnotes

  1. Marco 12:1 Torre, vedi nota Mt 21:33.
  2. Marco 12:11 +Sl 118:22-23.
  3. Marco 12:19 Fratello, cfr. De 25:5-6.
  4. Marco 12:26 +Es 3:6.
  5. Marco 12:29 +De 6:4.
  6. Marco 12:30 +De 6:4, 5.
  7. Marco 12:31 +Le 19:18.
  8. Marco 12:36 +Sl 110:1.
  9. Marco 12:42 Spiccioli, gr. lepton, il pezzo piú piccolo di moneta; vd. la tavola delle Monete.
  10. Marco 12:42 Un quarto di soldo, lett. un quadrante.

The Parable of the Tenants(A)

12 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard.(B) He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

“He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all,(C) saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

“But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;(D)
11 the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a]?”(E)

12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd;(F) so they left him and went away.(G)

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(H)

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians(I) to Jesus to catch him(J) in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”(K)

And they were amazed at him.

Marriage at the Resurrection(L)

18 Then the Sadducees,(M) who say there is no resurrection,(N) came to him with a question. 19 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(O) 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection[c] whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures(P) or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.(Q) 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[d]?(R) 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

The Greatest Commandment(S)

28 One of the teachers of the law(T) came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f](U) 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g](V) There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.(W) 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(X)

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”(Y) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.(Z)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(AA)(AB)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts,(AC) he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?(AD) 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit,(AE) declared:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your feet.”’[h](AF)

37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

The large crowd(AG) listened to him with delight.

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(AH) 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering(AI)

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put(AJ) and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:11 Psalm 118:22,23
  2. Mark 12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
  3. Mark 12:23 Some manuscripts resurrection, when people rise from the dead,
  4. Mark 12:26 Exodus 3:6
  5. Mark 12:29 Or The Lord our God is one Lord
  6. Mark 12:30 Deut. 6:4,5
  7. Mark 12:31 Lev. 19:18
  8. Mark 12:36 Psalm 110:1

The vineyard is let out. Give to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar. Of the Sadducees and of the doctor of law. Hypocrites must be eschewed. The offering of the poor widow.

12 And he began to speak to them in similitudes: A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it about with a hedge, and made a winepress, and built a tower in it. And he let it out on hire to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And when the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, in order to receive from the tenants some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him and beat him, and sent him back empty-handed. And moreover he sent to them another servant, and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him back utterly reviled. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.

He had yet one son, whom he loved tenderly. Him also he sent to them at the last, saying, They will respect my son. But the tenants said amongst themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

What then will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and let out the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture: The stone which the builders refused is made the chief stone in the corner; 11 this was done by the Lord, and is marvellous in our eyes?

12 And they went about to apprehend him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he had spoken that similitude against them. And they left him and went their way.

13 And they sent to him certain of the Pharisees, along with Herod’s servants, to take him in his words. 14 And as soon as they arrived, they said to him, Teacher, we know that you are true, and mind no man, for you do not consider the degree of men, but teach the way of God truly. Is it lawful to remit tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Ought we to give, or ought we not to give?

He understood their simulation and said to them, Why do you bait me? Bring me a denarius so that I may see it. 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, Whose image and superscription is this? And they said to him, Caesar’s. 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, Then give to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar, and to God that which belongs to God. And they marvelled at him.

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him. And they asked him, saying, 19 Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if any man’s brother dies and leaves his wife behind him, and leaves no children, that then his brother should take his wife and raise up seed for his brother. 20 There were seven brethren. The first took a wife, and when he died left no seed behind him. 21 And the second took her, and died also not leaving any seed. And the third likewise. 22 And all seven had her, but left no seed behind them. Last of all, the wife died also. 23 In the resurrection then, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For seven of them had her as wife.

24 Jesus answered and said to them, Are you not therefore deceived, and do not understand the scriptures, nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise again from death, people neither marry nor are married, but are as the angels who are in heaven. 26 And concerning the dead, that they will rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spoke to 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. You are therefore greatly deceived.

28 And there came one of the scribes who had heard them disputing together. He perceived that Jesus had answered them well, and asked him, Which is the first of all the commandments?

29 Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord God is one Lord. 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. This is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said to him, Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth: that there is one God, and that there is none but he. 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the mind, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is a greater thing than all 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.

And after that, no one dared ask him any question.

35 And Jesus spoke and said, teaching in the temple, How is it the scribes say that Christ is the son of David? 36 For David himself, inspired with the Holy Spirit, said, The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. 37 So David himself calls him Lord. By what means then is he David’s son?

And the crowds of people heard him gladly. 38 And he said to them as he taught them, Beware of the scribes, who love to go about in long clothing, and love salutations in the market places, 39 and the chief seats in the synagogues, and to sit in the uppermost places at feasts; 40 and who devour widows’ houses, and that under a colour of long praying. These shall receive greater damnation.

41 Jesus sat across from the treasury and observed how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two small coins worth a pittance. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all the others who have cast into the treasury. 44 For they all gave from their surplus, but she, in her poverty, did cast in all that she had, even all her living.