The text

Mark 12

Mark 12:1WEB

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.

Mark 12:2WEB

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

Mark 12:3WEB

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

Mark 12:4WEB

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

Mark 12:5WEB

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

Mark 12:6WEB

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

Mark 12:7WEB

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

Mark 12:8WEB

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

Mark 12:9WEB

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

Mark 12:10WEB

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

Mark 12:11WEB

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

Mark 12:12WEB

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.

Mark 12:13WEB

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

Mark 12:14WEB

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?

Mark 12:15WEB

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.”

Mark 12:16WEB

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

Mark 12:17WEB

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

Mark 12:18WEB

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

Mark 12:19WEB

“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.’

Mark 12:20WEB

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

Mark 12:21WEB

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

Mark 12:22WEB

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

Mark 12:23WEB

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

Mark 12:24WEB

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

Mark 12:25WEB

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

Mark 12:26WEB

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’?

Mark 12:27WEB

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

Mark 12:28WEB

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?”

Mark 12:29WEB

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

Mark 12:30WEB

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.

Mark 12:31WEB

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

Mark 12:32WEB

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

Mark 12:33WEB

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.”

Mark 12:34WEB

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.

Mark 12:35WEB

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

Mark 12:36WEB

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.”’

Mark 12:37WEB

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

Mark 12:38WEB

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,

Mark 12:39WEB

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

Mark 12:40WEB

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

Mark 12:41WEB

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

Mark 12:42WEB

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

Mark 12:43WEB

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,

Mark 12:44WEB

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

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.