Mác 12
New Vietnamese Bible
Ngụ Ngôn Về Các Quản Gia Của Vườn Nho(A)
12 Bấy giờ Đức Giê-su bắt đầu dùng ngụ ngôn nói với họ: “Một người kia trồng một vườn nho, dựng rào chung quanh, đào hầm ép rượu, và xây một tháp canh. Người ấy giao cho các người làm công rồi đi xa. 2 Đến mùa nho, chủ vườn sai một đầy tớ đến cùng các người làm công để thâu phần hoa lợi. 3 Nhưng các người làm công bắt đầy tớ ấy đánh đập rồi đuổi về tay không. 4 Chủ vườn sai một đầy tớ khác, các người làm công nhục mạ và đánh nó bể đầu. 5 Chủ sai một đầy tớ khác nhưng bị chúng giết chết và nhiều người khác nữa, kẻ thì bị chúng đánh đập, người bị chúng giết đi.
6 Cuối cùng, còn lại con trai yêu dấu của mình, chủ sai con đến cùng họ, tự nhủ: ‘Chúng sẽ kính nể con ta.’
7 Nhưng bọn người làm công bàn với nhau: ‘Đây là con thừa tự, hãy giết nó đi thì tài sản này sẽ về tay chúng ta.’ 8 Chúng bắt người con trai, giết đi và ném thây ra ngoài vườn nho.
9 Vậy, chủ vườn nho sẽ làm gì? Người sẽ đến diệt bọn chúng và giao vườn cho những người làm công khác. 10 Các ông chưa đọc lời Kinh Thánh này sao?
‘Viên đá bị thợ nề loại bỏ,
Lại trở thành phiến đá đầu góc nhà;
11 Chúa đã làm điều này,
Và là việc kỳ diệu trước mắt chúng ta.’ ”[a]
12 Các lãnh tụ Do Thái tìm cách bắt Ngài, vì họ biết Ngài kể ngụ ngôn này để ám chỉ họ, nhưng vì sợ dân chúng nên bỏ Ngài mà đi.
Nộp Thuế Cho Ai?(B)
13 Vài người Pha-ri-si và đảng viên Hê-rốt được sai đến để gài bẫy Đức Giê-su trong lời nói của Ngài. 14 Họ đến hỏi Ngài: “Thưa Thầy, chúng tôi biết Thầy là người chân thật, không vị nể ai, vì Thầy không xem bề ngoài của người ta, nhưng trung thực dạy đường lối của Đức Chúa Trời. Xin Thầy cho biết nộp thuế cho Sê-sa đúng hay là không đúng? Chúng tôi có nên nộp thuế hay không?” 15 Nhận biết dã tâm của họ, Ngài đáp: “Tại sao các ông thử Ta? Hãy đem cho Ta xem một đồng tiền.”[b] 16 Họ đem đến cho Ngài một đồng tiền. Ngài hỏi: “Hình và hiệu này của ai?” Họ đáp: “Của Sê-sa.”
17 Ngài bảo: “Những gì của Sê-sa hãy trả cho Sê-sa, những gì của Đức Chúa Trời hãy trả cho Đức Chúa Trời.” Và họ ngạc nhiên về Ngài.
Câu Hỏi Về Sự Sống Lại(C)
18 Các người thuộc phái Sa-đu-sê là những người cho rằng không có sự sống lại, đến hỏi Đức Giê-su: 19 “Thưa Thầy, Môi-se đã viết cho chúng tôi rằng nếu một người chết để vợ lại nhưng không có con, người em trai phải cưới người vợ góa để có con nối dõi cho anh. 20 Có bảy anh em kia, anh cả cưới vợ rồi chết nhưng không có con. 21 Người em trai kế lấy người vợ góa đó, rồi cũng chết không con. Người thứ ba cũng vậy. 22 Cả bảy người không ai để lại đứa con nào. Cuối cùng, người đàn bà cũng chết. 23 Trong ngày phục sinh, khi họ sống lại, nàng sẽ là vợ của ai? Vì cả bảy anh em đều đã lấy nàng làm vợ.”
24 Đức Giê-su bảo: “Các ông lầm rồi! Các ông vẫn chưa hiểu Kinh Thánh và quyền năng của Đức Chúa Trời sao? 25 Khi những kẻ chết sống lại sẽ không còn cưới vợ, lấy chồng nhưng giống như thiên sứ trên trời. 26 Về việc kẻ chết sống lại, các ông không đọc kinh sách Môi-se nói về bụi gai, thế nào Đức Chúa Trời đã bảo ông: ‘Ta là Đức Chúa Trời của Áp-ra-ham, Đức Chúa Trời của Y-sác, và Đức Chúa Trời của Gia-cốp sao?’ 27 Ngài là Đức Chúa Trời của người sống, chứ không phải của kẻ chết. Các ông lầm to.”
Điều Răn Lớn(D)
28 Một trong các giáo sư Kinh Luật đến đó nghe họ tranh luận và thấy Ngài trả lời rất hay, nên hỏi Ngài: “Trong tất cả các điều răn, điều nào lớn nhất?”
29 Đức Giê-su đáp: “Đây là điều lớn nhất: ‘Hỡi Y-sơ-ra-ên, hãy lắng nghe! Chúa, Đức Chúa Trời chúng ta là Chúa duy nhất. 30 Ngươi phải hết lòng, hết linh hồn, hết trí, hết sức mà yêu kính Chúa là Đức Chúa Trời ngươi.’ 31 Đây là điều răn thứ hai: ‘Hãy yêu thương người khác như chính mình.’ Không có điều răn nào lớn hơn hai điều này.”
32 Giáo sư Kinh Luật nói cùng Ngài: “Thưa Thầy, Thầy nói đúng, chỉ có một Đức Chúa Trời, ngoài ra không có Đấng nào khác. 33 Còn yêu kính Chúa hết lòng, hết trí, hết sức và yêu thương người khác như mình quan trọng hơn là dâng các tế lễ thiêu và mọi tế lễ khác.”
34 Thấy người ấy trả lời khôn ngoan, Đức Giê-su bảo rằng: “Ông không xa Nước Đức Chúa Trời đâu!” Không còn ai dám chất vấn Ngài nữa.
Câu Hỏi Về Đấng Cứu Thế(E)
35 Khi giảng dạy trong đền thờ, Đức Giê-su hỏi: “Tại sao các giáo sư Kinh Luật lại nói rằng Chúa Cứu Thế là con vua Đa-vít? 36 Chính Đa-vít bởi Đức Thánh Linh nói rằng:
‘Chúa[c] phán cùng Chúa tôi:
Hãy ngồi bên phải Ta,
Cho đến khi Ta đặt kẻ thù con
Dưới chân con.’
37 Chính Đa-vít xưng Ngài bằng Chúa, lẽ nào Chúa Cứu Thế lại là con của vua?” Đám đông nghe Ngài cách thích thú.
Cảnh Giác Về Các Giáo Sư Kinh Luật(F)
38 Đang khi dạy dỗ, Ngài bảo: “Hãy coi chừng các giáo sư Kinh Luật là những kẻ thích mặc áo dài đi đây đó, và thích được cúi chào giữa chợ, 39 muốn dành ghế chính trong các hội đường và chỗ danh dự trong các đám tiệc. 40 Họ chiếm đoạt nhà của những người góa bụa và làm bộ đọc những lời cầu nguyện dài. Họ sẽ bị hình phạt nặng hơn.”
Người Quả Phụ Dâng Hiến(G)
41 Đức Giê-su ngồi đối diện rương đựng tiền dâng, Ngài quan sát cách những người đến bỏ tiền vào rương. Lắm người giàu có bỏ rất nhiều tiền, 42 cũng có một bà góa nghèo đến dâng hai đồng tiền nhỏ, trị giá một xu.
43 Ngài gọi các môn đệ đến và bảo họ: “Thật, Ta nói cùng các con, bà góa nghèo này đã bỏ vào thùng nhiều hơn hết thảy những người khác. 44 Vì mọi người lấy phần dư để đem dâng, còn bà góa nghèo này đã dâng tất cả những gì mình có, là tất cả những gì bà ấy có để sống.”
Footnotes
- 12:11 Thi 118:22-23
- 12:15 Đê-na-ri: một đơn vị tiền tệ trị giá một ngày công
- 12:36 Ctd: Đức Chúa Trời
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
New English Translation
The Parable of the Tenants
12 Then[a] he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard.[b] He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then[c] he leased it to tenant farmers[d] and went on a journey. 2 At harvest time he sent a slave[e] to the tenants to collect from them[f] his portion of the crop.[g] 3 But[h] those tenants[i] seized his slave,[j] beat him,[k] and sent him away empty-handed.[l] 4 So[m] he sent another slave to them again. This one they struck on the head and treated outrageously. 5 He sent another, and that one they killed. This happened to many others, some of whom were beaten, others killed. 6 He had one left, his one dear son.[n] Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours!’ 8 So[o] they seized him,[p] killed him, and threw his body[q] out of the vineyard.[r] 9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy[s] those tenants and give the vineyard to others.[t] 10 Have you not read this scripture:
‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[u]
11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”[v]
12 Now[w] they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So[x] they left him and went away.[y]
Paying Taxes to Caesar
13 Then[z] they sent some of the Pharisees[aa] and Herodians[ab] to trap him with his own words.[ac] 14 When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality[ad] but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.[ae] Is it right[af] to pay taxes[ag] to Caesar[ah] or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” 15 But he saw through their hypocrisy and said[ai] to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius[aj] and let me look at it.” 16 So[ak] they brought one, and he said to them, “Whose image[al] is this, and whose inscription?” They replied,[am] “Caesar’s.” 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”[an] And they were utterly amazed at him.
Marriage and the Resurrection
18 Sadducees[ao] (who say there is no resurrection)[ap] also came to him and asked him,[aq] 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us: ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man[ar] must marry[as] the widow and father children[at] for his brother.’[au] 20 There were seven brothers. The first one married,[av] and when he died he had no children. 21 The second married her and died without any children, and likewise the third. 22 None of the seven had children. Finally, the woman died too. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again,[aw] whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”[ax] 24 Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you deceived[ay] for this reason, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels[az] in heaven. 26 Now as for the dead being raised,[ba] have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush,[bb] how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the[bc] God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?[bd] 27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living.[be] You are badly mistaken!”
The Greatest Commandment
28 Now[bf] one of the experts in the law[bg] came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus[bh] answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love[bi] the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[bj] 31 The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[bk] There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The expert in the law said to him, “That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him.[bl] 33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength[bm] and to love your neighbor as yourself[bn] is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”[bo] Then no one dared any longer to question him.
The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, “How is it that the experts in the law[bp] say that the Christ[bq] is David’s son?[br] 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, said,
37 If David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”[bu] And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
Warnings About Experts in the Law
38 In his teaching Jesus[bv] also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law.[bw] They like walking[bx] around in long robes and elaborate greetings[by] in the marketplaces,[bz] 39 and the best seats in the synagogues[ca] and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They[cb] devour widows’ property,[cc] and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Then[cd] he[ce] sat down opposite the offering box,[cf] and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins,[cg] worth less than a penny. 43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth,[ch] this poor widow has put more into the offering box[ci] than all the others.[cj] 44 For they all gave out of their wealth.[ck] But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”[cl]
Footnotes
- Mark 12:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
- Mark 12:1 sn The vineyard is a figure for Israel in the OT (Isa 5:1-7). The nation and its leaders are the tenants, so the vineyard here may well refer to the promise that resides within the nation. The imagery is like that in Rom 11:11-24.
- Mark 12:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
- Mark 12:1 sn The leasing of land to tenant farmers was common in this period.
- Mark 12:2 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 10:44.sn This slave (along with the others) represent the prophets God sent to the nation, who were mistreated and rejected.
- Mark 12:2 tn Grk “from the tenants,” but this is redundant in English, so the pronoun (“them”) was used in the translation.
- Mark 12:2 tn Grk “from the fruits of the vineyard.”
- Mark 12:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Mark 12:3 tn Grk “But they”; the referent (the tenants, v. 1) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Mark 12:3 tn Grk “seizing him, they beat and sent away empty-handed.” The referent of the direct object of “seizing” (the slave sent by the owner) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The objects of the verbs “beat” and “sent away” have been supplied in the translation to conform to English style. Greek often omits direct objects when they are clear from the context.
- Mark 12:3 sn The image of the tenants beating up the owner’s slave pictures the nation’s rejection of the prophets and their message.
- Mark 12:3 sn The slaves being sent empty-handed suggests that the vineyard was not producing any fruit—and thus neither was the nation of Israel.
- Mark 12:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the tenants’ mistreatment of the first slave.
- Mark 12:6 tn Grk “one beloved son.” See comment at Mark 1:11.sn The owner’s decision to send his one dear son represents God sending Jesus.
- Mark 12:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
- Mark 12:8 tn Grk “seizing him.” The participle λαβόντες (labontes) has been translated as attendant circumstance.
- Mark 12:8 tn Grk “him.”
- Mark 12:8 sn Throwing the heir’s body out of the vineyard pictures Jesus’ death outside of Jerusalem.
- Mark 12:9 sn The statement that the owner will come and destroy those tenants is a promise of judgment; see Luke 13:34-35; 19:41-44.
- Mark 12:9 sn The warning that the owner would give the vineyard to others suggests that the care of the promise and the nation’s hope would be passed to others. This eventually looks to Gentile inclusion; see Eph 2:11-22.
- Mark 12:10 tn Or “capstone,” “keystone.” Although these meanings are lexically possible, the imagery in Eph 2:20-22 and 1 Cor 3:11 indicates that the term κεφαλὴ γωνίας (kephalē gōnias) refers to a cornerstone, not a capstone.sn The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The use of Ps 118:22-23 and the “stone imagery” as a reference to Christ and his suffering and exaltation is common in the NT (see also Matt 21:42; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:6-8; cf. also Eph 2:20). The irony in the use of Ps 118:22-23 in Mark 12:10-11 is that in the OT, Israel was the one rejected (or perhaps her king) by the Gentiles, but in the NT it is Jesus who is rejected by Israel.
- Mark 12:11 sn A quotation from Ps 118:22-23.
- Mark 12:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to introduce a somewhat parenthetical remark by the author.
- Mark 12:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
- Mark 12:12 sn The point of the parable in Mark 12:1-12 is that the leaders of the nation have been rejected by God and the vineyard (v. 9, referring to the nation and its privileged status) will be taken from them and given to others (an allusion to the Gentiles).
- Mark 12:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
- Mark 12:13 sn See the note on Pharisees in 2:16.
- Mark 12:13 sn Pharisees and Herodians made a very interesting alliance. W. W. Wessel (“Mark,” EBC 8:733) comments: “The Herodians were as obnoxious to the Pharisees on political grounds as the Sadducees were on theological grounds. Yet the two groups united in their opposition to Jesus. Collaboration in wickedness, as well as goodness, has great power. Their purpose was to trip Jesus up in his words so that he would lose the support of the people, leaving the way open for them to destroy him.” See also the note on “Herodians” in Mark 3:6.
- Mark 12:13 tn Grk “trap him in word.”
- Mark 12:14 tn Grk “and it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”
- Mark 12:14 sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.
- Mark 12:14 tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.
- Mark 12:14 tn According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος (kēnsos) was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government.sn This question concerning taxes was specifically designed to trap Jesus. If he answered yes, then his opponents could publicly discredit him as a sympathizer with Rome. If he answered no, then they could go to the Roman governor and accuse Jesus of rebellion.
- Mark 12:14 tn Or “the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
- Mark 12:15 tn Grk “Aware of their hypocrisy he said.”
- Mark 12:15 tn Here the specific name of the coin was retained in the translation, because not all coins in circulation in Palestine at the time carried the image of Caesar. In other places δηνάριον (dēnarion) has been translated simply as “silver coin” with an explanatory note.sn A denarius was a silver coin stamped with the image of the emperor and worth approximately one day’s wage for a laborer.
- Mark 12:16 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate their response to Jesus’ request for a coin.
- Mark 12:16 tn Or “whose likeness.”sn In this passage Jesus points to the image (Grk εἰκών, eikōn) of Caesar on the coin. This same Greek word is used in Gen 1:26 (LXX) to state that humanity is made in the “image” of God. Jesus is making a subtle yet powerful contrast: Caesar’s image is on the denarius, so he can lay claim to money through taxation, but God’s image is on humanity, so he can lay claim to each individual life.
- Mark 12:16 tn Grk “they said to him.”
- Mark 12:17 sn Jesus’ answer to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s was a both/and, not the questioners’ either/or. So he slipped out of their trap.
- Mark 12:18 sn The Sadducees controlled the official political structures of Judaism at this time, being the majority members of the Sanhedrin. They were known as extremely strict on law and order issues (Josephus, J. W. 2.8.2 [2.119], 2.8.14 [2.164-166]; Ant. 13.5.9 [13.171-173], 13.10.6 [13.293-298], 18.1.2 [18.11], 18.1.4 [18.16-17], 20.9.1 [20.199]; Life 2 [10-11]). They also did not believe in resurrection or in angels, an important detail in v. 25. See also Matt 3:7; 16:1-12; 22:23-34; Luke 20:27-38; Acts 4:1; 5:17; 23:6-8.
- Mark 12:18 sn This remark is best regarded as a parenthetical note by the author.
- Mark 12:18 tn Grk “and asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- Mark 12:19 tn Grk “his brother”; but this would be redundant in English with the same phrase “his brother” at the end of the verse, so most modern translations render this phrase “the man” (so NIV, NRSV).
- Mark 12:19 tn The use of ἵνα (hina) with imperatival force is unusual (BDF §470.1).
- Mark 12:19 tn Grk “raise up seed” (an idiom for fathering children).
- Mark 12:19 sn A quotation from Deut 25:5. This practice is called levirate marriage (see also Ruth 4:1-12; Mishnah, m. Yevamot; Josephus, Ant. 4.8.23 [4.254-256]). The levirate law is described in Deut 25:5-10. The brother of a man who died without a son had an obligation to marry his brother’s widow. This served several purposes: It provided for the widow in a society where a widow with no children to care for her would be reduced to begging, and it preserved the name of the deceased, who would be regarded as the legal father of the first son produced from that marriage.
- Mark 12:20 tn Grk “took a wife” (an idiom for marrying a woman).
- Mark 12:23 tc The words “when they rise again” are missing from several significant witnesses (א B C D L W Δ Ψ 33 579 892 c r1 k syp co). They are included in A Θ ƒ1,(13) M lat sys,h. The strong external pedigree of the shorter reading gives one pause. Nevertheless, the Alexandrian and other mss most likely dropped the words from the text either to conform the wording to the parallel in Matt 22:28 or because “when they rise again” was redundant. But the inclusion of these words is thoroughly compatible with Mark’s usually pleonastic style (see TCGNT 93), and therefore most probably authentic to Mark’s Gospel.
- Mark 12:23 tn Grk “For the seven had her as wife.”
- Mark 12:24 tn Or “mistaken” (cf. BDAG 822 s.v. πλανάω 2.c.γ).
- Mark 12:25 sn Angels do not die, nor do they eat according to Jewish tradition (1 En. 15:6; 51:4; Wis 5:5; 2 Bar. 51:10; 1QH 3.21-23).
- Mark 12:26 tn Grk “Now as for the dead that they are raised.”
- Mark 12:26 sn See Exod 3:6. Jesus used a common form of rabbinic citation here to refer to the passage in question.
- Mark 12:26 tn Grk “and the,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Mark 12:26 sn A quotation from Exod 3:6.
- Mark 12:27 sn He is not God of the dead but of the living. Jesus’ point was that if God could identify himself as God of the three old patriarchs, then they must still be alive when God spoke to Moses; and so they must be raised.
- Mark 12:28 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
- Mark 12:28 tn Or “One of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.
- Mark 12:28 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Mark 12:30 tn Grk “You will love.” The future indicative is used here with imperatival force (see ExSyn 452 and 569).
- Mark 12:30 sn A quotation from Deut 6:4-5 and Josh 22:5 (LXX). The fourfold reference to different parts of the person says, in effect, that one should love God with all one’s being.
- Mark 12:31 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.
- Mark 12:32 sn A quotation from Deut 4:35.
- Mark 12:33 sn A quotation from Deut 6:5.
- Mark 12:33 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.
- Mark 12:34 sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. The nature of the kingdom of God in the NT and in Jesus’ teaching has long been debated by interpreters and scholars, with discussion primarily centering around the nature of the kingdom (earthly, heavenly, or both) and the kingdom’s arrival (present, future, or both). An additional major issue concerns the relationship between the kingdom of God and the person and work of Jesus himself.
- Mark 12:35 tn Or “that the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.
- Mark 12:35 tn Or “the Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”sn See the note on Christ in 8:29.
- Mark 12:35 sn It was a common belief in Judaism that Messiah would be David’s son in that he would come from the lineage of David. On this point the Pharisees agreed and were correct. But their understanding was nonetheless incomplete, for Messiah is also David’s Lord. With this statement Jesus was affirming that, as the Messiah, he is both God and man.
- Mark 12:36 sn The Lord said to my lord. With David being the speaker, this indicates his respect for his descendant (referred to as my lord). Jesus was arguing, as the ancient exposition assumed, that the passage is about the Lord’s anointed. The passage looks at an enthronement of this figure and a declaration of honor for him as he takes his place at the side of God. In Jerusalem, the king’s palace was located to the right of the temple to indicate this kind of relationship. Jesus was pressing the language here to get his opponents to reflect on how great Messiah is.
- Mark 12:36 sn A quotation from Ps 110:1.
- Mark 12:37 tn Grk “David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ So how is he his son?” The conditional nuance, implicit in Greek, has been made explicit in the translation (cf. Matt 22:45).
- Mark 12:38 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Mark 12:38 tn Or “for the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.
- Mark 12:38 tn In Greek this is the only infinitive in vv. 38-39. It would be awkward in English to join an infinitive to the following noun clauses, so this has been translated as a gerund.
- Mark 12:38 sn There is later Jewish material in the Talmud that spells out such greetings in detail. See H. Windisch, TDNT 1:498.
- Mark 12:38 sn See the note on marketplaces in Mark 6:56.
- Mark 12:39 sn See the note on synagogue in 1:21.
- Mark 12:40 tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 38.
- Mark 12:40 tn Grk “houses,” “households”; however, the term can have the force of “property” or “possessions” as well (O. Michel, TDNT 5:131; BDAG 695 s.v. οἶκια 1.a).
- Mark 12:41 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
- Mark 12:41 tc Most mss, predominantly of the Western and Byzantine texts (A D W Θ ƒ1,13 33 2542 M lat), have ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς (ho Iēsous, “Jesus”) as the explicit subject here, while א B L Δ Ψ 892 lack the name. A natural scribal tendency is to expand the text, especially to add the Lord’s name as the explicit subject of a verb. Scribes much less frequently omitted the Lord’s name (cf. the readings of W Θ 565 1424 in Mark 12:17). The internal and external evidence support one another here in behalf of the shorter reading.
- Mark 12:41 tn On the term γαζοφυλάκιον (gazophulakion), often translated “treasury,” see BDAG 186 s.v., which states, “For Mk 12:41, 43; Lk 21:1 the mng. contribution box or receptacle is attractive. Acc. to Mishnah, Shekalim 6, 5 there were in the temple 13 such receptacles in the form of trumpets. But even in these passages the general sense of ‘treasury’ is prob., for the contributions would go [into] the treasury via the receptacles.” Based upon the extra-biblical evidence (see sn following), however, the translation opts to refer to the actual receptacles and not the treasury itself.sn The offering box probably refers to the receptacles in the temple forecourt by the Court of Women used to collect freewill offerings. These are mentioned by Josephus, J. W. 5.5.2 (5.200); 6.5.2 (6.282); Ant. 19.6.1 (19.294), and in 1 Macc 14:49 and 2 Macc 3:6, 24, 28, 40 (see also Luke 21:1; John 8:20).
- Mark 12:42 sn These two small copper coins were lepta (sing. “lepton”), the smallest and least valuable coins in circulation in Palestine, worth one-half of a quadrans or 1/128 of a denarius, or about six minutes of an average daily wage. This was next to nothing in value.
- Mark 12:43 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
- Mark 12:43 tn See the note on the term “offering box” in v. 41.
- Mark 12:43 sn Has put more into the offering box than all the others. With God, giving is weighed evaluatively, not counted. The widow was praised because she gave sincerely and at some considerable cost to herself.
- Mark 12:44 tn Grk “out of what abounded to them.”
- Mark 12:44 sn The contrast between this passage, 12:41-44, and what has come before in 11:27-12:40 is remarkable. The woman is set in stark contrast to the religious leaders. She was a poor widow, they were rich. She was uneducated in the law, they were well educated in the law. She was a woman, they were men. But whereas they evidenced no faith and actually stole money from God and men (cf. 11:17), she evidenced great faith and gave out of her extreme poverty everything she had.
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