Mark 12

He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.

When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

Again he sent another, and they killed him, and many others, beating some, and killing some.

Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.

Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.

This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”

They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him and went away.

They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.

When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”

They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.

Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,

“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’

There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.

The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;

and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.

In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”

Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?

For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”

One of the scribes came and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he;

and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.

Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’

Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.

In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,

and to get the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts,

those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.

A poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.

He called his disciples to himself and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,

for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter presents a series of encounters between Jesus and various Jewish leaders in the temple, following His entry into Jerusalem. Through a parable and successive questions, Jesus reveals the unfaithfulness of Israel’s leaders, asserts divine authority over earthly powers, clarifies resurrection hope, identifies the heart of God’s law, and contrasts hollow religiosity with true devotion, culminating in the example of the poor widow’s offering.

Flow.

Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants, illustrating Israel’s history of rejecting God’s messengers and foretelling the rejection and death of the Son, which provokes opposition.
The religious authorities attempt to entrap Him with questions about paying taxes to Caesar, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment, but Jesus answers each with wisdom and authority.
Jesus then challenges the leaders’ understanding of the Messiah’s identity by appealing to David’s own words in Scripture, deepening the theological tension.
He concludes with a warning about the scribes’ hypocrisy and commends the poor widow’s sacrificial giving, highlighting authentic faith over outward show.

Connections.
Following chapter 11, in which Jesus cleanses the temple and curses the fig tree, this chapter expands on the theme of judgment against unfruitful leadership and empty religion. The parable of the vineyard directly follows the symbolic judgment on the temple, showing that God’s plan will not be thwarted by rebellious stewards. The conflicts over authority and interpretation set up the increasing hostility that chapter 13 will address in Jesus’ eschatological discourse, which begins with the disciples’ observation of the temple’s grandeur—immediately after the widow’s quiet act of faith—leading into Jesus’ prediction of its destruction.

What it teaches.
The chapter underscores Christ’s unique authority as the Son rejected by the builders but appointed by God (WCF 8.2), and His role as the fulfillment of Scripture, particularly in His teaching on the resurrection (WCF 3.4; 32.1). The dialogue with the scribe affirms the unity of God and the centrality of love for God and neighbor (HC LD 34), which fulfills the law’s demands (WCF 19.2). Jesus’ teaching on taxes affirms a dual obligation to civil and divine authority (, cited in WCF 23.1), while the warning against the scribes and the example of the widow expose the danger of hypocrisy and the value of wholehearted consecration (HC LD 35).

Apply.
True worship surrenders all, not from abundance but in complete dependence on God’s provision.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.