Thematic Bible
Mark 12:1 (show verse)
Jesus began to speak to them [the chief priests, scribes and elders who were questioning Him] in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and put a wall around it, and dug a pit for the wine press and built a tower; and he rented it out to tenant farmers and left the country.
Mark 12:2 (show verse)
Mark 12:3 (show verse)
Mark 12:4 (show verse)
Mark 12:5 (show verse)
Mark 12:6 (show verse)
Mark 12:7 (show verse)
Mark 12:8 (show verse)
Mark 12:9 (show verse)
Mark 12:10 (show verse)
Mark 12:11 (show verse)
Mark 12:12 (show verse)
And they were looking for a way to seize Him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they knew that He spoke this parable in reference to [and as a charge against] them. And so they left Him and went away.
Mark 12:13 (show verse)
Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to trap Him into making a statement [that they could use against Him].
Mark 12:14 (show verse)
They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and have no personal bias toward anyone; for You are not influenced by outward appearances or social status, but in truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay the poll-tax to [Tiberius] Caesar, or not?
Mark 12:15 (show verse)
Should we pay [the tax] or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a coin (denarius) to look at.”
Mark 12:16 (show verse)
So they brought one. Then He asked them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
Mark 12:17 (show verse)
Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were greatly amazed at Him.
Mark 12:18 (show verse)
Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him, and began questioning Him, saying,
Mark 12:19 (show verse)
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us [a law] that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but leaves no child, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.
Mark 12:20 (show verse)
There were seven brothers; the first [one] took a wife, and died leaving no children.
Mark 12:21 (show verse)
The second brother married her, and died leaving no children; and the third likewise;
Mark 12:22 (show verse)
and so all seven [married her and died, and] left no children. Last of all the woman died also.
Mark 12:23 (show verse)
In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven [brothers] were married to her.”
Mark 12:24 (show verse)
Jesus said to them, “Is this not why you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures [that teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [who is able to raise the dead]?
Mark 12:25 (show verse)
Mark 12:26 (show verse)
Mark 12:27 (show verse)
Mark 12:28 (show verse)
Then one of the scribes [an expert in Mosaic Law] came up and listened to them arguing [with one another], and noticing that Jesus answered them well, asked Him, “Which commandment is first and most important of all?”
Mark 12:29 (show verse)
Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord;
Mark 12:30 (show verse)
Mark 12:31 (show verse)
Mark 12:32 (show verse)
The scribe said to Him, “Admirably answered, Teacher; You truthfully stated that He is One, and there is no other but Him;
Mark 12:33 (show verse)
and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to [unselfishly] love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Mark 12:34 (show verse)
When Jesus saw that he answered thoughtfully and intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions.
Mark 12:35 (show verse)
Jesus began to say, as He taught in [a portico or court of] the temple, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
Mark 12:36 (show verse)
Mark 12:37 (show verse)
Mark 12:38 (show verse)
In [the course of] His teaching He was saying, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [displaying their prominence], and like to receive respectful greetings in the market places,
Mark 12:39 (show verse)
Mark 12:40 (show verse)
[these scribes] who devour (confiscate) widows’ houses, and offer long prayers for appearance’s sake [to impress others]. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
Mark 12:41 (show verse)
And He sat down opposite the [temple] treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in large sums.
Mark 12:42 (show verse)
A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a mite.
Mark 12:43 (show verse)
Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this poor widow put in [proportionally] more than all the contributors to the treasury.