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Chapter 12

Parable of the Tenants.[a] He began to speak to them in parables.(A) “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey.(B) At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What [then] will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture passage:(C)

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
11 by the Lord has this been done,
    and it is wonderful in our eyes’?”

12 They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to the Emperor. 13 [b]They sent some Pharisees(D) and Herodians to him to ensnare him(E) in his speech.[c] 14 They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” 15 Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.(F)

The Question About the Resurrection.[d] 18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and put this question to him, 19 saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’(G) 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. 21 So the second married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. 23 At the resurrection [when they arise] whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God? 25 When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. 26 As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, [the] God of Isaac, and [the] God of Jacob’?(H) 27 He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”

The Greatest Commandment.[e] 28 One of the scribes,(I) when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’(J) 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”(K) 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(L) 34 And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.(M)

The Question About David’s Son.[f] 35 As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said,(N) “How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the holy Spirit, said:

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

37 David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?” [The] great crowd heard this with delight.

Denunciation of the Scribes.[g] 38 In the course of his teaching he said,(P) “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

The Poor Widow’s Contribution.[h] 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.(Q) Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Footnotes

  1. 12:1–12 The vineyard denotes Israel (Is 5:1–7). The tenant farmers are the religious leaders of Israel. God is the owner of the vineyard. His servants are his messengers, the prophets. The beloved son is Jesus (Mk 1:11; 9:7; Mt 3:17; 17:5; Lk 3:22; 9:35). The punishment of the tenants refers to the religious leaders, and the transfer of the vineyard to others refers to the people of the new Israel.
  2. 12:13–34 In the ensuing conflicts (cf. also Mk 2:1–3:6) Jesus vanquishes his adversaries by his responses to their questions and reduces them to silence (Mk 12:34).
  3. 12:13–17 See note on Mt 22:15–22.
  4. 12:18–27 See note on Mt 22:23–33.
  5. 12:28–34 See note on Mt 22:34–40.
  6. 12:35–37 Jesus questions the claim of the scribes about the Davidic descent of the Messiah, not to deny it (Mt 1:1; Acts 2:20, 34; Rom 1:3; 2 Tm 2:8) but to imply that he is more than this. His superiority derives from his transcendent origin, to which David himself attested when he spoke of the Messiah with the name “Lord” (Ps 110:1). See also note on Mt 22:41–46.
  7. 12:38–40 See notes on Mk 7:1–23 and Mt 23:1–39.
  8. 12:41–44 See note on Lk 21:1–4.

Parábola de los labradores malvados

12 (A)Entonces comenzó a hablarles en parábolas(B): Un hombre plantó una viña y la cercó con un muro[a], cavó un estanque debajo del lagar y edificó una torre(C); la arrendó a labradores y se fue de viaje. Al tiempo de la vendimia envió un siervo a los labradores para recibir de los labradores su parte de los frutos de la viña. Pero ellos, echándole mano, lo golpearon y lo enviaron con las manos vacías. De nuevo les mandó otro siervo, y a él lo hirieron en la cabeza y lo trataron vergonzosamente. Y envió a otro y a este lo mataron; y así con otros muchos, golpeando a unos y matando a otros. Todavía le quedaba[b] uno, un hijo amado; y les envió a este último, diciendo: «Respetarán a mi hijo». Pero aquellos labradores se dijeron entre sí: «Este es el heredero; ¡venid, matémosle, y la heredad será nuestra!». Y echándole mano, lo mataron y lo arrojaron fuera de la viña. ¿Qué hará, entonces, el dueño[c] de la viña? Vendrá y destruirá a los labradores, y dará la viña a otros. 10 ¿Ni aun esta Escritura habéis leído:

«La piedra que desecharon los constructores,
esa, en piedra angular[d] se ha convertido(D);
11 esto fue hecho de parte del Señor,
y es maravilloso a nuestros ojos(E)»?

12 Y procuraban prenderle(F), pero temían a la multitud, porque comprendieron que contra ellos había dicho la parábola. Y dejándole, se fueron(G).

El pago del impuesto al César

13 (H)Y le enviaron* algunos de los fariseos y de los herodianos(I) para sorprenderle en alguna palabra(J). 14 Y cuando ellos llegaron*, le dijeron*: Maestro, sabemos que eres veraz y que no buscas el favor[e] de nadie, porque eres imparcial[f], y enseñas el camino de Dios con verdad. ¿Es lícito pagar[g] impuesto al César, o no? 15 ¿Pagaremos[h] o no pagaremos[i]? Pero Él, dándose cuenta de su hipocresía, les dijo: ¿Por qué me estáis poniendo a prueba? Traedme un denario[j] para verlo. 16 Se lo trajeron, y Él les dijo*: ¿De quién es esta imagen y la inscripción? Y ellos le dijeron: Del César. 17 Entonces Jesús les dijo: Dad al César lo que es del César, y a Dios lo que es de Dios(K). Y se maravillaban de Él.

Pregunta sobre la resurrección

18 (L)Y algunos saduceos (los que dicen que no hay resurrección) se le acercaron*, y le preguntaban, diciendo: 19 Maestro, Moisés nos dejó escrito: Si el hermano de alguno muere y deja mujer y no deja hijo, que su hermano tome la mujer y levante descendencia a su hermano(M). 20 Hubo siete hermanos; y el primero tomó esposa, y murió sin dejar descendencia. 21 Y el segundo la tomó, y murió sin dejar descendencia; y asimismo el tercero; 22 y así los siete, sin dejar descendencia. Y por último murió también la mujer. 23 En la resurrección, cuando resuciten[k], ¿de cuál de ellos será mujer? Pues los siete la tuvieron por mujer. 24 Jesús les dijo: ¿No es esta la razón por la que estáis equivocados: que no entendéis[l] las Escrituras ni el poder de Dios? 25 Porque cuando resuciten de entre los muertos, ni se casarán ni serán dados en matrimonio, sino que serán como los ángeles en los cielos. 26 Y en cuanto a que los muertos resucitan, ¿no habéis leído en el libro de Moisés, en el pasaje(N) sobre la zarza ardiendo, cómo Dios le habló, diciendo: «Yo soy el Dios de Abraham, y el Dios de Isaac, y el Dios de Jacob(O)»? 27 Él no es Dios de muertos, sino de vivos(P); vosotros estáis muy equivocados.

El mandamiento supremo

28 (Q)Cuando uno de los escribas se acercó, los oyó discutir, y reconociendo que les había contestado bien(R), le preguntó: ¿Cuál mandamiento es el más importante[m] de todos? 29 Jesús respondió: El más importante[n] es: «Escucha, Israel; el Señor nuestro Dios, el Señor uno es(S); 30 y amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma, y con toda tu mente, y con toda tu fuerza(T)». 31 El segundo es este: «Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo(U)». No hay otro mandamiento mayor que estos. 32 Y el escriba le dijo: Muy bien, Maestro; con verdad has dicho que Él es uno, y no hay otro además de Él(V); 33 y que amarle con todo el corazón y con todo el entendimiento y con todas las fuerzas, y amar al prójimo como a uno mismo(W), es más que todos los holocaustos y los sacrificios(X). 34 Viendo Jesús que él había respondido sabiamente, le dijo: No estás lejos del reino de Dios. Y después de eso, nadie se aventuraba a hacerle más preguntas(Y).

Jesús, Hijo y Señor de David

35 (Z)Y tomando la palabra, Jesús decía mientras enseñaba en el templo(AA): ¿Por qué[o] dicen los escribas que el Cristo[p] es hijo de David(AB)? 36 David mismo dijo por el Espíritu Santo:

«El Señor dijo a mi Señor:
siéntate a mi diestra,
hasta que ponga a tus enemigos debajo de tus pies(AC)”».

37 David mismo le llama «Señor». ¿En qué sentido es, pues, su hijo? Y la gran multitud(AD) le escuchaba con gusto.

Advertencia contra los escribas

38 (AE)Y en su enseñanza les decía: Cuidaos de los escribas, a quienes les gusta andar con vestiduras largas, y aman los saludos respetuosos en las plazas(AF), 39 los primeros asientos en las sinagogas y los lugares de honor en los banquetes; 40 que devoran las casas de las viudas, y por las apariencias hacen largas oraciones; estos recibirán mayor condenación(AG).

La ofrenda de la viuda

41 (AH)Jesús se sentó frente al arca del tesoro(AI), y observaba cómo la multitud echaba dinero[q] en el arca del tesoro(AJ); y muchos ricos echaban grandes cantidades. 42 Y llegó una viuda pobre y echó dos pequeñas monedas de cobre[r], o sea, un cuadrante[s]. 43 Y llamando a sus discípulos, les dijo: En verdad os digo, que esta viuda pobre echó más que todos los contribuyentes al[t] tesoro; 44 porque todos ellos echaron de lo que les sobra[u], pero ella, de su pobreza echó todo lo que poseía, todo lo que tenía para vivir[v](AK).

Footnotes

  1. Marcos 12:1 O, una cerca
  2. Marcos 12:6 Lit., tenía
  3. Marcos 12:9 Lit., señor
  4. Marcos 12:10 Lit., cabeza del ángulo
  5. Marcos 12:14 Lit., no te preocupas
  6. Marcos 12:14 Lit., no miras la apariencia de los hombres
  7. Marcos 12:14 Lit., dar
  8. Marcos 12:15 Lit., Daremos
  9. Marcos 12:15 Lit., Daremos
  10. Marcos 12:15 Un denario valía aprox. 4 gramos de plata, o el equivalente al salario de un día
  11. Marcos 12:23 La mayoría de los mss. antiguos no incluyen: cuando resuciten
  12. Marcos 12:24 O, no conocéis
  13. Marcos 12:28 O, el primero
  14. Marcos 12:29 O, el primero
  15. Marcos 12:35 Lit., ¿Cómo
  16. Marcos 12:35 I.e., el Mesías
  17. Marcos 12:41 I.e., monedas de cobre
  18. Marcos 12:42 O, blancas; gr., lepta, las monedas de menos valor (1/128 de un denario)
  19. Marcos 12:42 Un cuadrante equivale aprox. a dos blancas; i.e., 1/64 de un denario
  20. Marcos 12:43 Lit., los que estaban poniendo en el
  21. Marcos 12:44 O, de su abundancia
  22. Marcos 12:44 Lit., toda su subsistencia

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