Mark 12
J.B. Phillips New Testament
Jesus tells a story, with a pointed application
12 1a Then he began to talk to them in parables.
1b-11 “A man once planted a vineyard,” he said, “fenced it round, dug out the hole for the wine-press and built a watch-tower. Then he let it out to some farm-workers and went abroad. At the end of the season he sent a servant to the tenants to receive his share of the vintage. But they got hold of him, knocked him about and sent him off empty-handed. The owner tried again. He sent another servant to them, but this one they knocked on the head and generally insulted. Once again he sent them another servant, but him they murdered. He sent many others and some they beat up and some they murdered. He had one man left—his own son who was very dear to him. He sent him last of all to the tenants, saying to himself, ‘They will surely respect my own son.’ But they said to each other, ‘This fellow is the future owner—come on, let’s kill him, and the property will be ours! So they got hold of him and murdered him, and threw his body out of the vineyard. What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard is going to do? He will come and destroy the men who were working his vineyard and will hand it over to others. Have you never read this scripture—‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?’”
12 Then they tried to get their hands on him, for they knew perfectly well that he had aimed this parable at them—but they were afraid of the people. So they left him and went away.
A test question
13-15a Later they sent some of the Pharisees and some of the Herod-party to trap him in an argument. They came up and said to him, “Master, we know that you are an honest man and that you are not swayed by men’s opinion of you. Obviously you don’t care for human approval but teach the way of God with the strictest regard for truth—is it right to pay tribute to Caesar or not: are we to pay or not to pay?”
15b But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said to them, “Why try this trick on me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it.”
16 So they brought one to him. “Whose face is this?” asked Jesus, “and whose name is in the inscription?”
17 “Caesar’s,” they replied. And Jesus said, “Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God!”—a reply which staggered them.
Jesus reveals the ignorance of the Sadducees
18-23 Then some of the Sadducees (a party which maintains that there is no resurrection) approached him, and put this question to him, “Master, Moses instructed us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a widow but no child, then the man should marry the woman and raise children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers, and the first one married and died without leaving issue. Then the second one married the widow and died leaving no issue behind him. The same thing happened with the third, and indeed the whole seven died without leaving any child behind them. Finally the woman died. Now in this ‘resurrection’, when men will rise up again, whose wife is she going to be—for she was the wife of all seven of them?”
24-27 Jesus replied, “Does not this show where you go wrong—and how you fail to understand both the scriptures and the power of God? When people rise from the dead they neither marry nor are they given in marriage; they live like the angels in Heaven. But as for this matter of the dead being raised, have you never read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him in these words, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not God of the dead but of living men! That is where you make your great mistake!”
The most important commandments
28 Then one of the scribes approached him. He had been listening to the discussion, and noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he put this question to him, “What are we to consider the greatest commandment of all?”
29-31 “The first and most important one is this,” Jesus replied—‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength’. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’. No other commandment is greater than these.”
32-33 “I am well answered,” replied the scribe. “You are absolutely right when you say that there is one God and no other God exists but him; and to love him with the whole of our hearts, the whole of our intelligence and the whole of our energy, and to love our neighbours as ourselves is infinitely more important than all these burnt-offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Then Jesus, noting the thoughtfulness of his reply, said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God!” After this nobody felt like asking him any more questions.
Jesus criticises the scribes’ teaching and behaviour
35-36 Later, while Jesus was teaching in the Temple he remarked, “How can the scribes make out that Christ is David’s son, for David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool’.
37 David is himself calling Christ ‘Lord’—where do they get the idea that he is his son?”
38-40 The vast crowd heard this with great delight and Jesus continued in his teaching, “Be on your guard against these scribes who love to walk about in long robes and to be greeted respectfully in public and to have the front seats in the synagogue and the best places at dinner-parties! These are the men who grow fat on widow’s property and cover up what they are doing by making lengthy prayers. They are only adding to their own punishment!”
41-44 Then Jesus sat down opposite the Temple almsbox and watched the people putting their money into it. A great many rich people put in large sums. Then a poor widow came up and dropped in two little coins, worth together about a halfpenny. Jesus called his disciples to his side and said to them, “Believe me, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. For they have all put in what they can easily afford, but she in her poverty who needs so much, has given away everything, her whole living!”
Mark 12
Revised Geneva Translation
12 And He began to speak to them in parables, “A certain man planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a pit for the winepress, and built a tower on it, and leased it to farmers, and went into a strange country.
2 “And at the right time, he sent a servant to them, so that he might receive word about the fruit of the vineyard.
3 “But they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 “And again he sent another servant to them. And they cast stones at him, and struck his head, and sent him away shamefully-handled.
5 “And again he sent another. And him they killed - and many others - beating some and killing some.
6 “He still had one son, his dear beloved. Lastly, he also sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
7 “But the farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him. And the inheritance shall be ours.’
8 “So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 “What shall then the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy these farmers and give the vineyard to others.
10 “Have you not read so much as this Scripture, ‘The stone which the builders refused, has become the cornerstone.
11 “‘This was done by the Lord. And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 Then they planned to take Him. But they feared the people. For they perceived that He spoke that parable against them. Therefore, they left Him alone and went their way.
13 And they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him, that they might catch Him in His words.
14 And when they came, they said to Him, “Master, we know that You are true, and do not care what anyone says. For You do not consider the person of man but teach the way of God truly. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
15 “Should we give it, or should we not give it?” But He knew their hypocrisy, and said to them, “Why do you tempt me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it.”
16 So they brought it, and He said to them, “Whose image and superscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
17 Then Jesus answered, and said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God, those that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
18 Then the Sadducees came to Him (who say there is no resurrection). And they asked Him, saying,
19 “Master, Moses wrote to us, ‘If any man’s brother dies and leaves his wife, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.’
20 “There were seven brothers, and the first took a wife. And when he died, he left no heir.
21 “Then the second took her and died, leaving no heir, and the third likewise.
22 “So these seven had her and left no heir. Last of all the wife died also.
23 “In the resurrection then, when they shall rise again, whose wife shall she be? For seven had her as their wife.”
24 Then Jesus answered, and said to them, “Are you not therefore deceived, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
25 “For when they shall rise again from the dead, neither men nor wives marry, but are as the angels which are in Heaven.
26 “And as for the dead, they shall 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 “God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly deceived.”
28 Then came one of the scribes who had heard them disputing together. And perceiving that he had answered them well, he asked him, “Which is the first Commandment of all?
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the Commandments is, ‘Hear, Israel, The Lord our God is the only Lord.
30 “‘You shall therefore 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 similar; that is, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other Commandment greater than these.”
32 Then that scribe said to Him, “Well, Master, you have said 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 understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Then when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask Him any question after that.
35 And Jesus answered and said (teaching in the Temple), “How can the scribes say that Christ is the Son of David?
36 “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.
37 “Then David himself called him Lord. By what means is He then his son?” And many people heard Him gladly.
38 Moreover He said to them in His doctrine, “Beware of the scribes, who love to go around in long robes and love greetings in the markets,
39 “and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the first rooms at feasts.
40 “They devour widows’ houses, even under a color of long prayers. These shall receive the greater damnation.”
41 And as Jesus sat near the treasury, He saw how much money the people cast into the treasury. And many of the rich men cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow. And she threw in two lepta (which make a kodrantes).
43 Then He called His disciples to Him, and said to them, “Truly I say to you, that this poor widow has cast more in than all those who have cast into the treasury.
44 “For they all cast in out of their excess. But she, out of her poverty, cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
Mark 12
New King James Version
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. 2 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. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent them another servant, [b]and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, (C)beating some and killing some. 6 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those [c]vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and (D)killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 “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
- Mark 12:1 tenant farmers
- Mark 12:4 NU omits and at him they threw stones
- Mark 12:7 tenant farmers
- Mark 12:14 Court no man’s favor
- Mark 12:14 Lit. look at the face of men
- Mark 12:17 Pay
- Mark 12:24 Or deceived
- Mark 12:27 Or deceived
- Mark 12:28 NU seeing
- Mark 12:28 foremost
- Mark 12:29 foremost
- Mark 12:30 NU omits the rest of v. 30.
- Mark 12:33 NU omits with all the soul
- Mark 12:40 for appearance’ sake
- Mark 12:42 Gr. lepta, very small copper coins
- Mark 12:42 A Roman coin
The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
