GOSPEL OF MARK - CHAPTER 12
The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard 12:1-12
v1 Jesus began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted grape vines in his vineyard. He planted a hedge round it. He dug a big hole in which to press the grapes. He built a tall building from which to watch over the land. He let the vineyard to some tenants. Then he went away to another country. v2 At the right time, he sent a slave in order to receive from the tenants his share of the fruit. v3 But the tenants struck the slave and they sent him away without anything. v4 The owner sent them another slave. But they hurt his head and they behaved very badly towards him. v5 The owner sent another slave. The tenants killed him. He sent many other slaves. They struck some of them and they killed other slaves. v6 The owner still had one more person to send. It was his son, whom he loved very much. The owner sent him last of all. He said, “They will respect my son.”
v7 But the tenants said to each other, “This man will receive his father’s property after his father dies. Let us kill him. Then the property will be ours.” v8 So they took him and they killed him. They threw him out of the vineyard. v9 I will tell you what the owner of the vineyard will do then. He will come and he will kill the tenants. He will give the vineyard to other people. v10 Surely you have read what the Scriptures say! “The stone that the builders did not accept became the most important stone in the building. v11 The Lord has done this. We think that this is wonderful.” ’ v12 The religious leaders looked for a way to arrest Jesus. They knew that he had told the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Jesus and they went away.
Commentary
Verse 1
A parable usually has only one main teaching point. But this story has several points. Writers call this story an ‘allegory’. An allegory is a story in which each part contains a separate lesson.
A vineyard was the picture language for the Jewish nation. Isaiah used this picture in his ‘Song about the Vineyard’ (Isaiah 5:1-7). Jesus described the care that the owner had taken. There was a hedge to keep out wild animals. The tower was a small building where the workers stored the wine. At harvest time, the workers would look out from the platform in order to guard the crop from thieves. The grape juice flowed into the large hole after the workers had pressed the grapes with their feet. God was like the owner of the vineyard. He had done everything necessary to protect the Jewish nation. They should have been a nation that produced the ‘fruit’ of good lives.
In Jesus’ time, there were often owners who went away. They left their vineyards in the care of tenants. The tenants would pay the owner rent, either in money or in a share of the crop. The Jewish leaders were like the tenants. God had trusted them to obey him. They should have given him the ‘fruit’ of good lives.
Commentary
Verses 2-5
The slaves who went to collect the harvest were like the prophets. God had sent them on many occasions to demand sincere worship. The rulers of the Jewish nation refused to respect the prophets. They insulted Amos (Amos 7:12). They made fun of Jeremiah. They struck him and they put him in prison (Jeremiah 20:7; 37:15). They killed Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-21). God showed great patience when he sent the prophets. He gave the Jewish people every opportunity to do what was right.
Verse 6
In the end, God sent ‘his son, whom he loved’. God used these words about Jesus when John the Baptist baptized him (Mark 1:11). They show that Jesus was the Messiah. In the parable, the tenants murdered the son. So, Jesus knew what was going to happen to him.
Verses 7-9
The tenants believed that the owner was far away or even dead. But the owner returned to punish them. Many people still think that they are free to act against God. But God knows what they are doing. They forget that. God is very patient, but one day he will act in judgment.
God would be the judge of the people who refused to obey his message. They would receive their punishment. And God would choose other people to serve him. They would come from every nation. And God would make these people into his holy nation. They would become his royal priests (1 Peter 2:9).
Verses 10-11
Jesus used words from Psalm 118:22. Jesus was like the stone. The Jewish leaders were like the builders. At first, they thought that the stone had no value. But it became the most important stone in the building. This might be the stone that united two parts at the top of the building. Or it was a cornerstone. A cornerstone unites two walls at the base of the building in order to give it a strong foundation. Many Jewish leaders refused to accept Jesus. But he became the strong foundation of the Christian church. Other early Christian writers also used these words from Psalm 118 (Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7; Ephesians 2:20).
Verse 12
The religious leaders realized that Jesus had told this story about them. They were the ‘wicked tenants’. They wanted to arrest Jesus, but they were too afraid of the crowd. They were afraid for their own safety. And if the crowd tried to prevent them from arresting Jesus, they might disturb the peace. Then there would be trouble from the Romans.
The Question About Paying Taxes to Caesar 12:13-17
v13 The religious leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to Jesus. They wanted a chance to accuse him about something that he said. v14 They came to him and they said, ‘Teacher, you are a man who speaks the truth. We know that. You do not let other people’s opinions about you make a difference. You teach the truth about the way of God, whomever you are speaking to. Is it against the Law to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? v15 Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But Jesus knew what they were trying to do. He said to them, ‘I know that you are testing me. Bring me a coin and let me look at it.’ v16 And they brought one. Jesus said to them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose name is on it?’ They said to him, ‘Caesar’s’. v17 Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Give to God what belongs to God.’ Jesus’ reply astonished them.
Commentary
Verse 13
The Pharisees and the Herodians had already united in order to plot against Jesus (Mark 3:6). The Pharisees considered the Romans enemies. The Herodians were a group with political ambitions, so they were friendly with the Romans.
Verse 14
They began by praising Jesus, although they did not really respect him. But what they said about Jesus was true. He did not change his views in order to gain support. He was sincere in everything that he said.
The tax that they asked about was a tax on each person. Everyone had to pay a personal tax of one denarius to the great ruler in Rome every year. A denarius was a man’s wage for a day. The Jews hated it because they were not a free nation. They had to pay the tax with a silver coin. The coin had the name of the great ruler in Rome on it. When this tax began in AD 6, the Jews were extremely angry. Judas from Galilee led Jews to fight against the tax (Acts 5:37). Although the Romans soon stopped his resistance, the Eager Men continued to plot against the Romans.
The question was like a clever trap. Jesus might say that Jews should pay the tax. Then, he would lose his popularity. People would think that he was not being loyal to his own nation. Jesus might say that they should not pay. Then, he would be in trouble with the Romans.
Verse 16
Jesus did not have a coin himself, but the Pharisees and Herodians produced one. Tiberius Caesar was the great ruler in Rome at that time. His image and his name were on the silver coin with which the Jews had to pay the tax.
Verse 17
They had asked whether they should ‘pay’ taxes to Caesar. Jesus told them to ‘pay back’ what belonged to Caesar. Taxes were not a gift to the state. They were a debt that they owed. The coin belonged to Caesar, from whom they received benefits. The Romans made good roads. They kept peace and they made society work better. Therefore, people should be willing to pay for what the state did for them. But men belong to God because he created them (Genesis 1:26-27). Therefore, they should give God the honor and service that is his right. Paul said that ruling authorities have God’s authority (Romans 13:1-2). So, Christians’ duty to the state is part of their duty to God. But if the law of the state is against God’s laws, then the duty to God must come first. Daniel served the king. But he refused to stop praying to God when there was a law against praying to anyone except the king (Daniel 6:6-10). Peter told the Jewish leaders, ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).
Jesus showed great wisdom as he avoided the ‘trap’ in the question. And he spoke with great authority. And so he astonished everyone.
The Question About Life After Death 12:18-27
v18 Sadducees came to Jesus. They believed that there is no life after death. They asked Jesus a question. They said, v19 ‘Teacher, Moses wrote this law for us. “A man may die and leave a wife with no children. Then, his brother must marry the widow. This is so that he can have children for his brother." v20 There were seven brothers. The first one married. But, when he died, he left no children. v21 The second one married her, and he died. But he left no children. The third brother did the same. v22 The seven brothers left no children. Last of all, the woman died too. v23 In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? All seven brothers had married the widow!’
v24 Jesus replied, ‘You are wrong because you do not know the Scriptures. And you do not know the power of God. v25 When men and women rise from death, they will not marry. Nor will their parents give them in marriage. They will be like the angels in heaven. v26 And now about whether dead people will rise to live. Surely you have read in the book of Moses the story about the bush. God said to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. I am the God of Jacob.” v27 He is not God of dead people, but of those who are alive. You are quite wrong.’
Commentary
Verse 18
The Sadducees were a powerful group in the Jewish Sanhedrin. Most of them were priests. The chief priest was a Sadducee. They were wealthy, and they did not oppose the Romans. They agreed with only the first five books of the Old Testament. They said that there was no evidence of life after death in these books.
They did not believe in angels. They did not agree with the traditions of the Pharisees.
The Sadducees came with a question that would make people laugh at Jesus. They did not ask in order to find out the true answer to a problem.
Verses 19-23
Moses gave a law called ‘levirate’ marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). A brother or close relative had to marry a widow so that she could have children. Then the dead man’s name and family would continue if a child was born. People then thought of the child as the child of the original husband. The story that the Sadducees told had its origin in this law.
Verse 24
Jesus said that the Sadducees did not know the Scriptures. They did not understand a passage in one of the first five books of the Old Testament! Jesus explained this as part of his answer to their question. They were also denying God’s power to create life.
Verse 25
Jesus said first that life in heaven would not be the same as life on earth. He said that there is no need for marriage in heaven. One of the purposes of marriage is to have children in order to continue the human race. But in heaven, men and women will be like angels, who do not die. Friendships in heaven will be even more wonderful than those on earth. When Jesus brought angels into his answer, he showed the Sadducees another truth. They did not believe in angels.
Verse 26
Jesus then used a passage from Exodus. That was a book that the Sadducees agreed with. When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, he used the words, ‘I am’. He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’ (Exodus 3:1-6). God did not say, ‘I was’. These ancestors of the Jews had died a long time before Moses. But they were still alive with God. Real life is a friendship with God that nothing can end. The death of the physical body makes no difference. The friendship continues. Jesus promised his disciples, ‘Because I live, you will live also’ (John 14:19). Paul knew that this is true. He knew that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39).
Verse 27
Jesus had proved to the Sadducees that they were quite wrong. They were wrong to deny the belief in the resurrection. They were taking no notice of their own Scriptures. They were denying that God is eternal. And his love never ends.
The Question About the Most Important Commandment 12:28-34
v28 One of the scribes came near. And he heard what the Sadducees were discussing with Jesus. He noticed that Jesus had given them a good answer. So he asked Jesus, ‘Which is the most important of all the commandments?’ v29 Jesus answered, ‘The first one is, “Listen, Israel (Jewish people). The Lord our God, the Lord, is one Lord. v30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall love him with all your mind and with all your strength.” v31 This is the second one, “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” There is no other commandment more important than these.’ v32 The scribe said, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have said truly that there is one God. There is no other God but he. v33 To love God with all your heart and mind and strength is very important. So is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. These things are much more important than all burnt gifts to God and sacrifices.’ v34 Jesus saw that the man answered well. He said to the man, ‘You are not far from God’s kingdom.’ From that time, nobody dared to ask Jesus any more questions.
Verse 28
The scribe would have been pleased that Jesus had answered the Sadducees so well. He was a teacher of the law and he did not agree with the Sadducees’ beliefs. His question was a matter that the teachers of the law often discussed. They said that there were 365 commands about what they must not do. There were over 200 commands about what they must do.
Verses 29-30
The first command that Jesus gave him was the Shema. The Shema is still important to the Jews today. The word ‘Shema’ means ‘Listen’, and it is the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4. This verse was so important that the Jews wrote it on tiny pieces of paper. They fixed them in a small box on their doorposts. This was to remind them that there is one God. It reminded them of when they went out. And it reminded them when they came in.
They had to love God with all their thoughts and actions.
Verse 31
The word for ‘love’ of a neighbor is the Greek word ‘agape’. It does not mean the same as the pleasure of being with a friend. It means to want the best things for the neighbor. It means that we help neighbors. We help them, even if they do not give love in return. They may not show that they are grateful. But we still help them. The Jews would have thought that ‘neighbor’ meant another Jew. Jesus showed that a neighbor could be anyone. It was anyone who needed help (Luke 10:29-37). Jesus used the words of Leviticus 19:18 with the Shema.
He was showing that love for a neighbor comes from love for God ‘as you love yourselves’. We love ourselves as we look after our bodies. We love ourselves when we use our minds. We even have to forgive ourselves when God forgives us.
Verse 33
The scribe agreed that the love of God and of neighbor was very important. It was more important than religious ceremonies. God requires men to love and to obey him rather than to offer sacrifices. The prophets had emphasized that. Samuel told Saul, ‘to obey is better than to offer sacrifice’ (1 Samuel 15:22). Hosea wrote that God says, ‘I desire love and not sacrifice’ (Hosea 6:6).
Verse 34
Jesus encouraged the scribe. Jesus said that he was ‘not far’ from God’s kingdom. He had understood Jesus’ answer. He still had to make the decision to follow Jesus.
The question about the Messiah 12:35-37
v35 Jesus was teaching in the Temple courts. He asked, ‘Why do the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the Son of David? v36 The Holy Spirit spoke by means of David. David said, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right side, until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ” v37 David himself calls him “Lord”. So how can the Christ be David’s son?’
The large crowd listened to Jesus with eager interest.
Commentary
Verse 35
Jesus asked a question that was a puzzle. The ‘son of David’ was a way to describe the Messiah. Blind Bartimaeus called to him in this way. Jesus was not denying that he came from the family of David. The angel promised Mary that her son would be a king from David’s family (Luke 1:32). Zechariah sang about the man who would make it possible for God to save people. He said that he would be ‘in the house of God’s servant David’ (Luke 1:69). Luke shows that Jesus came from David’s family (Luke 3:31). But Jesus wanted to show what the title ‘Son of David’ meant as a name for the Messiah. The popular idea was that the Messiah would be a soldier and king like David. He would defeat the Romans and other nations and he would make the Jewish nation an important political power.
Verse 36
Psalm 110 is one of the Psalms that David wrote. The Jews believed that the Psalm was about the Messiah. In verse 1, David refers to the Messiah as his ‘Lord’. Jesus asked how the Messiah could be David’s son if he was David’s ‘Lord’. He wanted to show that the Messiah was much greater than David. God would give the Messiah the place of honor. He would sit at ‘God’s right side’ until all his enemies suffered defeat. An enemy in Jesus’ time had to lie on the ground. Then the man who had defeated him could put his feet on the man’s neck.
Verse 37
The title ‘Son of David’ therefore means more than a military ruler. The Messiah would be a king from the family of David. But he would be a king of peace. He would rule over people’s minds and lives. The words about the interest of the crowd may belong at the beginning of the next section.
Jesus Warns Against the Teachers of the Law 12:38-40
v38 As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk about in long coats. They like to receive greetings in the marketplace. v39 They love to have the most important seats in the Jewish meeting places. And they love to have places of honor at feasts. v40 They rob widows of their property. They then say long prayers for a show. Their punishment will be more severe.’
Commentary
Verse 38
Jesus warned the people about the teachers of the law. Unless the disciples were careful, they might copy their wrong behavior. A long coat was the sign of an educated person who did not have to work with his hands. He could walk with no need to hurry. The teachers dressed in long coats in order to attract attention. They liked the people to greet them with honor. Perhaps the people called them ‘Rabbi’ (teacher). The word actually means ‘My great master’.
Verse 39
The front seats in the meeting place for important people were those in front of the special cupboard. That cupboard contained the scriptures. The teachers liked these because everyone would be able to see them. At the feasts, the places of honor were those nearest to the host.
Verse 40
A teacher of the law should have worked to feed himself. He should not ask for money for explaining the law. But the teachers persuaded the people that it was an honor to make gifts to them. God would reward them if they gave generously. They cheated widows. They persuaded them to make large gifts that the widows could not afford. Then the teachers tried to seem very religious. They said long prayers in public. God would punish them most severely because they were proud. And they loved money. Their religion was not sincere and their example was dangerous.
The Widow’s Gift 12:41-44
The widow’s gift is very different from the gifts of the teachers of the law. They wanted to gain. The widow wanted to give.
v41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where people put their gifts of money for the Temple. He watched the crowd as they put their money into the collecting boxes. Many rich people put in large amounts. v42 A poor widow came and she put in two copper coins. They were worth a quarter of a penny. v43 Jesus called his disciples to him. He said to them, ‘What I am going to say to you is true. This poor widow has put more than all those who made gifts of money. v44 They offered a lot, because they are rich. But she gave, although she is poor. She has put in everything that she had to live on.’
Commentary
Verse 41
In the Court of the Women in the Temple there were 13 boxes. They were wide at the base and narrow at the top. People put money in them. And the money helped to pay for sacrifices or other Temple costs. Many people threw in large sums. But they had plenty of money left.
Verse 42
The widow’s two coins were ‘lepta’. A ‘lepton’ was the smallest of all coins. Its name meant ‘the thin thing’. It had a very tiny value.
Verses 43-44
Jesus told his disciples that the widow’s gift was really very generous. It was more generous than the gifts of those who gave large amounts. They had given what they could easily afford. And they still had money to spare. She gave at great cost to herself.
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