35 (A)And Jesus responded and began saying, as He (B)taught in the temple area, “How is it that the scribes say that the [a]Christ is the (C)son of David? 36 David himself said [b]in the Holy Spirit,

(D)The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’

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

38 (F)And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like (G)personal greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and seats of honor in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, 40 (H)who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”

The Widow’s Coins

41 (I)And Jesus sat down opposite (J)the treasury, and began watching how the [d]people were (K)putting [e]money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large amounts. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two [f]lepta coins, which amount to a [g]quadrans. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all [h]the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their [i]surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, [j]all she had (L)to live on.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:35 I.e., Messiah
  2. Mark 12:36 Or by
  3. Mark 12:37 Lit was gladly hearing Him
  4. Mark 12:41 Lit crowd was
  5. Mark 12:41 I.e., copper coins
  6. Mark 12:42 The smallest Greek copper coin, about 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wage
  7. Mark 12:42 A small Roman copper coin, worth about 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage
  8. Mark 12:43 Lit those who were putting in
  9. Mark 12:44 Or abundance
  10. Mark 12:44 Lit her whole livelihood

The Question about David’s Son

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah[a] is the son of David?(A) 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’(B)

37 “David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.(C)

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces(D) 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.(E) 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.(F) 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

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Footnotes

  1. 12.35 Or the Christ

35 And Jesus answering, said, teaching in the temple: How do the scribes say, that Christ is the son of David?

36 For David himself saith by the Holy Ghost: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool.

37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord, and whence is he then his son? And a great multitude heard him gladly.

38 And he said to them in his doctrine: Beware of the scribes, who love to walk in long robes, and to be saluted in the marketplace,

39 And to sit in the first chairs, in the synagogues, and to have the highest places at suppers:

40 Who devour the houses of widows under the pretence of long prayer: these shall receive greater judgment.

41 And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury.

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.

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35-37 While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, “How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David’s ‘son,’ when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said,

God said to my Master,
    “Sit here at my right hand
    until I put your enemies under your feet.”

“David here designates the Messiah ‘my Master’—so how can the Messiah also be his ‘son’?”

The large crowd was delighted with what they heard.

38-40 He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”

41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”

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