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。

“到葡萄成熟时,园主派一个奴仆去收取他该得的一份。 那些佃户却捉住那个奴仆,打了他一顿,使他空手而归。

“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。 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。 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。 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。’

“于是他们抓住他,杀了他,把他抛到葡萄园外。 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。”

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

Parable of the Vine-Growers

12 (A)And He began to speak to them in parables: (B)A man (C)planted a vineyard and put a [a]wall around it, and dug a vat under the wine press and built a tower, and rented it out to [b]vine-growers and went on a journey. And at the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vine-growers. And they took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and that one they killed; and so with many others, beating some and killing others. He had one more, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those vine-growers said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’ And they took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the [c]owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not even read this Scripture:

(D)The stone which the builders rejected,
This has become the chief corner stone;
11 (E)This came about from the [d]Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 (F)And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the crowd, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so (G)they left Him and went away.

Taxes to Caesar

13 (H)Then they *sent some of the Pharisees and (I)Herodians to Him in order to (J)trap Him in a statement. 14 And they *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and [e]defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it [f]lawful to pay a tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a [g]denarius to look at.” 16 And they brought one. And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus said to them, (K)Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they [h]were amazed at Him.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

18 (L)Then some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) *came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that (M)if a mans brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no child, his brother should [i]marry the wife and raise up a seed for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; and the first [j]married a wife, and died leaving no [k]seed. 21 And the second one [l]married her, and died leaving behind no seed; and the third likewise; 22 and so [m]all seven left no seed. Last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection, [n]when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For [o]all seven [p]had married her.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not [q]understand the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But [r]regarding the fact that the dead are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, (N)in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘(O)I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 (P)He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”

The Foremost Commandment

28 (Q)And when one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, he (R)recognized that He had answered them well and asked Him, “What commandment is the [s]foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘(S)Hear, O Israel! The [t]Lord our God is one [u]Lord; 30 (T)and you shall love the [v]Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘(U)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that (V)He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33 (W)and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love ones neighbor as himself, (X)is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Y)After that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions.

35 (Z)And Jesus began to say, as He (AA)taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the [w]Christ is the (AB)son of David? 36 David himself said [x]in the Holy Spirit,

(AC)The [y]Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.”’

37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And (AD)the large crowd [z]enjoyed listening to Him.

38 (AE)And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who want to walk around in long robes, and want (AF)respectful greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 40 (AG)who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 (AH)And He sat down opposite (AI)the treasury, and began observing how the crowd was (AJ)putting [aa]money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two [ab]lepta, which amount to a [ac]quadrans. 43 And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those putting money into the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their [ad]surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, [ae]all she had (AK)to live on.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:1 Or fence
  2. Mark 12:1 Or tenant farmers, so in vv 2, 7, 9
  3. Mark 12:9 Lit lord
  4. Mark 12:11 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 118:23
  5. Mark 12:14 You do not seek anyone’s favor; lit it is not a concern to You about anyone
  6. Mark 12:14 Or permissible
  7. Mark 12:15 A Roman silver coin, approx. a laborer’s daily wage
  8. Mark 12:17 Or were greatly marveling
  9. Mark 12:19 Lit take
  10. Mark 12:20 Lit took
  11. Mark 12:20 Or offspring
  12. Mark 12:21 Lit took
  13. Mark 12:22 Lit the seven
  14. Mark 12:23 Early mss omit when they rise again
  15. Mark 12:23 Lit the seven
  16. Mark 12:23 Lit had her as a wife
  17. Mark 12:24 Or know
  18. Mark 12:26 Lit concerning the dead, that they rise
  19. Mark 12:28 Or first
  20. Mark 12:29 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Deut 6:4
  21. Mark 12:29 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Deut 6:4
  22. Mark 12:30 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Deut 6:5
  23. Mark 12:35 Messiah
  24. Mark 12:36 Or by
  25. Mark 12:36 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 110:1
  26. Mark 12:37 Lit was gladly hearing Him
  27. Mark 12:41 Copper coins
  28. Mark 12:42 Smallest Greek copper coin, approx. 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wage
  29. Mark 12:42 A Roman copper coin, approx. 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage
  30. Mark 12:44 Or abundance
  31. Mark 12:44 Lit her whole livelihood

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers(A)

12 Then (B)He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to [a]vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant, [b]and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, (C)beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those [c]vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and (D)killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

“Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not even read this Scripture:

(E)‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 (F)And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?(G)

13 (H)Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and [d]care about no one; for You do not [e]regard the person of men, but teach the (I)way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”

But He, knowing their (J)hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it. 16 So they brought it.

And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

17 And Jesus answered and said to them, [f]“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to (K)God the things that are God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?(L)

18 (M)Then some Sadducees, (N)who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 “Teacher, (O)Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore [g]mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but (P)are like angels in heaven. 26 But concerning the dead, that they (Q)rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, (R)‘I am the God of Abraham, 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 [h]mistaken.”

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?(S)

28 (T)Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, [i]perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the [j]first commandment of all?”

29 Jesus answered him, “The [k]first of all the commandments is: (U)‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall (V)love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ [l]This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: (W)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than (X)these.”

32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, (Y)and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, [m]with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, (Z)is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

(AA)But after that no one dared question Him.

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?(AB)

35 (AC)Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said (AD)by the Holy Spirit:

(AE)‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his (AF)Son?”

And the common people heard Him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes(AG)

38 Then (AH)He said to them in His teaching, (AI)“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, (AJ)love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the (AK)best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 (AL)who devour widows’ houses, and [n]for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Two Mites(AM)

41 (AN)Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money (AO)into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two [o]mites, which make a [p]quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that (AP)this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, (AQ)her whole livelihood.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:1 tenant farmers
  2. Mark 12:4 NU omits and at him they threw stones
  3. Mark 12:7 tenant farmers
  4. Mark 12:14 Court no man’s favor
  5. Mark 12:14 Lit. look at the face of men
  6. Mark 12:17 Pay
  7. Mark 12:24 Or deceived
  8. Mark 12:27 Or deceived
  9. Mark 12:28 NU seeing
  10. Mark 12:28 foremost
  11. Mark 12:29 foremost
  12. Mark 12:30 NU omits the rest of v. 30.
  13. Mark 12:33 NU omits with all the soul
  14. Mark 12:40 for appearance’ sake
  15. Mark 12:42 Gr. lepta, very small copper coins
  16. Mark 12:42 A Roman coin