Mark 12

1 Then Jesus began [to rule, commenced] to speak to them in parables [illustrated stories, comparisons]: “A man [a human] planted [to set in the earth to grow] a vineyard [a place where grapes are grown]. He put [to place around, periethiken] a wall [a fence] around it, dug [to burrow in the ground, oruxen] a wine vat [a trough, under-wine-vat], and built [to construct] a watchtower [a high structure]. Then he rented [to lease, exedoto] it out to some tenants [farmers] and went away [to travel to a foreign land] on a journey [to another country]. word study 2 At [the right time, the season] harvest time, he sent [dispatched, set apart] a servant [slave, bondservant] to the tenants [farmers, husbandmen] to collect [receive, gather] his share [portion, due] of the fruit [product, produce] of the vineyard [grape garden, cultivated land]. word study 3 But they seized [grabbed hold of, took] the servant [work-man, messenger], beat [beat up, flay] him, and sent [dispatched, set apart] him away [back] empty-handed [with nothing, devoid of anything]. word study 4 Then he sent [dispatched on a mission] them another [different, additional] servant [slave, bondservant], and they struck [hit, wounded] him over the head [on the skull, with a violent blow] and treated [handled, used] him shamefully [with disrespect, in a disgraceful manner, to treat with contempt]. word study 5 He sent [once more, again] still another [a different one, another servant], and this one [that specific person] they killed [took his life, destroyed]. He sent [dispatched, set apart] many others [a large number, numerous ones]; some [certain ones] they beat [flayed, scourged] and others [different ones] they killed [took their lives, slew]. word study 6 Finally, having [one last, a single] one beloved [dearly loved, cherished] son, he sent [dispatched, commissioned] him to them [last of all, as a final attempt]. ‘They will respect [reverence, have regard for] my son [child, heir],’ he said. word study 7 But the tenants [husbandmen, farmers] said to one another, ‘This is the heir [the one who will inherit]. Come [draw near], let us kill [destroy, take the life of] him, and the inheritance [property] will be ours [belong to us].’ word study 8 So they seized [took hold of, laid hands on] the son [the heir, the beloved one], killed [put to death, destroyed] him, and threw [expelled, cast out] him out of the vineyard [the garden, the place of cultivation]. word study 9 What then [therefore, as a consequence] will the owner [lord, master] of the vineyard [a place where grapes are grown] do? He will come [and go, arrive] and kill [destroy, put to death] those tenants [husbandmen, farmers], and will give [bestow, grant] the vineyard [unto different people] to others [another, different ones]. word study 10 Have you never read [even this passage] this Scripture: ‘The stone [a rock or a foundation stone] the builders [those constructing, the architects] rejected [disapproved, refused] has become [been made, come to be] the cornerstone [the head of the corner, the chief stone]. word study 11 This [from the very source, originating with] is from the Lord [God, the supreme authority], and it is [truly, wonderfully] marvelous [worthy of great wonder, astonishing] in our eyes’ ?” word study 12 At this, the leaders [sought to lay hold on him, tried to seize] sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew [perceived, understood] that He had spoken this parable [story that teaches a moral lesson, comparison] against them [toward them, in relation to them]. But fearing [being in awe of, reverencing] the crowd [large group of people, multitude], they left [released, sent away] Him and went away [departed, went their way]. word study 13 Later, they sent [as emissaries, to trap] some of the Pharisees [strict Jewish sect members] and Herodians [supporters of Herod’s rule] to catch [ensnare, trap in his words] Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] in His words [teachings, message, logos]. word study 14 “Teacher [instructing us in God’s ways],” they said, “we know that You are honest [true, trustworthy] and seek favor [approval, recognition] from no one [no human, no earthly authority]. Indeed, You are impartial [fair, unbiased] and teach the way [path, journey] of God [the Almighty, Creator] in accordance with the truth [reality, sincerity]. Is it lawful [permitted, allowed] to pay taxes [tribute, census] to Caesar [the Roman emperor, earthly ruler] or not [is it forbidden, prohibited]? Should we pay them [give, render] or not [refuse, withhold]?” word study 15 But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy [acting like they were something they were not] and said, “Why are you testing [trying to tempt] Me? Bring Me a denarius [a Roman coin equal to a day’s wage] to inspect [see and examine].” word study 16 So they brought [gave, presented] it, and He asked [said, inquired of] them, “Whose [whose likeness, whose representation] image [a likeness or representation] is this? And whose [whose authority, whose name] inscription [a written message]?” “Caesar’s [the Roman emperor’s, belonging to the ruler],” they answered. word study 17 Then Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] told them, “Give to Caesar [the Roman emperor, the ruling power] what is Caesar’s [belonging to the state, worldly authority], and to God [the supreme deity, Creator] what is God’s [belonging to the divine, spiritual realm].” And they marveled [were amazed, astonished] at Him [in wonder, with great admiration]. word study 18 Then the Sadducees [who reject the afterlife, denying any resurrection], who say [claim, affirm] there is no [absolutely none, not any] resurrection [a standing up again from death, a rising again], came [approached, drew near] to Jesus and questioned [asked, sought information from] Him: word study 19 “Teacher [Moses’ instructor, a spiritual leader], Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother [male sibling, fellow believer] dies and leaves a wife [woman, spouse] but no children [offspring, descendants], the man is to marry [take as his own, wed] his brother’s widow [the woman left behind, bereaved] and raise up [produce, bring forth] offspring [seed, spiritual heritage] for him [on his behalf, in his place]. word study 20 Now there were seven brothers [male siblings, fellow believers]. The first one married [took a wife, entered into a covenant union] and died [passed away, ceased to live], leaving [abandoning, bequeathing] no [none, no offspring] children [seed, descendants]. word study 21 Then the second one married the widow, but he also died [stopped living] and left no children [offspring]. And the third did likewise [in the same way]. word study 22 In this way [by this means, in this manner], none of the seven [all seven brothers] left [did not have, failed to produce] any children [seed, offspring]. And last [finally, at the end] of all [everything, every person], the woman [wife, the female] died [passed away, came to an end]. word study 23 In the [future, to come] resurrection [standing up again from death, revival], then, whose [which one’s] wife [woman, partner] will she be [exist, live as]? For all [every one of the] seven [complete, perfect number] were married [had her as wife, took her in marriage] to her [as their own, in a marital relationship].” word study 24 Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken [to lead astray, in error], because you do not know [are unaware of, lack understanding] the Scriptures [holy Writings, God’s Word] or [nor] the power [divine ability, strength] of God [the one true deity]? word study 25 When [at the time of resurrection, from the very moment] the dead [lifeless, spiritually or physically] rise, they will neither [not one or the other, under no circumstances] marry [to wed, enter into a covenant of marriage] nor be given in marriage [arranged to be wed, promised to another]. Instead, they will be like [similar to, in the manner of] the angels [messengers of God, heavenly beings] in [dwelling within, among the realms of] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place, a state of supreme bliss]. word study 26 But concerning [regarding, about] the dead [those who have passed away, lifeless] rising [being resurrected, coming back to life], have you not read [studied, learned] about the burning bush [thorn bush, a miraculous sign] in the Book of Moses [the writings of Moses, the law], how God [the one true deity, Creator] told him, ‘I am [exist, present tense] the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Abraham [the father of the Jewish nation], the God of Isaac [the son of Abraham], and the God of Jacob’ ? word study 27 He is not [completely opposite of] the God [the one true deity] of the dead [lifeless, without spiritual vitality], but [in stark contrast] of the living [those having eternal life, spiritually alive]. You [as individuals, personally] are [therefore, as a result] badly mistaken [greatly erring, led astray]!” word study 28 Now one [a certain, specific] of the scribes [scholars of the law] had come up [approached, drawn near] and heard [listened, perceived] their debate [discussion, reasoning together]. Noticing [perceiving, seeing] how well [with great wisdom, effectively] Jesus had answered [responded, replied] them, he asked Him, “Which [what, which one] commandment [divine instruction, law] is the most important [first, greatest] of all [everything, every commandment]?” word study 29 Jesus replied, “This [the most important, foremost] is the most important: ‘Hear [listen, obey] O Israel [God’s chosen people], the Lord [Master] our God [the one true deity], the Lord [the supreme God] is [exists as] One [unique, alone, unified]. word study 30 Love [with all your affection, deeply] the Lord [the supreme Master] your God [the one true deity] with all [every part, completely] your heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] and with all [every aspect, fully] your soul [the breath of life, the seat of emotions and desires] and with all [every faculty, entirely] your mind [the ability to think and reason] and with all [every ounce, completely] your strength [the power or ability to do something, physically or spiritually].’ word study 31 The second [next in importance] is this: ‘Love [showing esteem and goodwill] your neighbor [someone near or close to you] as [with the same care and concern as] yourself [your own person, taking care of your own needs].’ No other [different or additional] commandment [divine instruction or order] is greater [more significant or important] than these [these specific commands].” word study 32 “Right [truly, of a truth], Teacher [instructor, rabbi],” the scribe [scholar, Jewish leader] replied [said, spoke]. “You have stated [said, spoken] correctly [well, rightly] that God [the one true deity, Elohim] is One [unique, single] and there is no [none, not any] other [different, another] but [except, however] Him [He, the self-existent One], word study 33 and to love Him [with all devotion, from the heart] with all your heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] and with all your understanding [comprehension, discernment] and with all your strength [power, ability], and to love your neighbor [those near to you, fellow believers] as yourself [with the same care and concern], which is more important [of greater value, surpassing] than all burnt offerings [wholly-consumed sacrifices] and sacrifices [gifts, acts of worship].” word study 34 When Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] saw that the man had answered [responded, spoken in reply] wisely [with discretion, thoughtfully], He said, “You are not [by no means, in no way] far [distant, remote] from the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the supreme Deity, Creator].” And no one [nobody, not a single person] dared to question [ask, inquire of] Him any further [again, anymore]. word study 35 While Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] was teaching [instructing, guiding] in the temple [a sacred place, the entire Temple area] courts, He asked, “How [in what way, why] can the scribes [scholars, teachers of the law] say [declare, claim] that the Christ [the anointed One, Messiah] is [exists as, is known as] the Son [a descendant, offspring] of David [King David of Israel]? word study 36 Speaking by the Holy [set apart, consecrated] Spirit, David [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] himself declared: ‘The Lord [the supreme God, Yehovah] said to my Lord [the Messiah, the Christ], “Sit [be seated, take your rightful place] at My right [the place of honor and power] hand until [until the appointed time, when the end comes] I put [subdue, bring under control] Your enemies [those who oppose, rebel against] under Your feet [in a position of subjection, under Your authority].”’ word study 37 David himself [the great king of Israel] calls Him [as his Lord and Master] ‘Lord [the supreme authority].’ So how can He be David’s [physical or biological] son?” And the large [and enthusiastic] crowd listened to Him [with rapt attention] with delight [gladly and with great pleasure]. word study 38 In His teaching [instruction, doctrine] Jesus also said, “Watch out [be aware, beware] for the scribes [Jewish leaders, scholars of the law]. They like [desire, love] to walk around [live, conduct themselves] in long robes [dignified garments], to receive [get, have] greetings [salutations, respect] in the marketplaces [public areas], word study 39 and to have the chief seats [places of honor, positions of prominence] in the synagogues [Jewish meeting places, gatherings] and the places of honor [positions of respect, seats of dignity] at banquets [feasts, dinner parties]. word study 40 They defraud [cheat, take advantage of] widows [women who have lost their husbands] of their houses [homes, property], and for a show [pretense, outward appearance] make lengthy [long, distant] prayers [to pray, worship]. These men [they, the ones who do this] will receive [take, accept] greater [excessive, superior] condemnation [judgment, decision against].” word study 41 As Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] was sitting [to seat or to set, as in a posture of teaching] opposite [directly before, face to face with] the treasury [a place where money is kept, like a temple treasury], He watched [to see or experience, discerning the actions of] the crowd [a large group of people, like a multitude] putting [to throw with force, as in tossing coins] money [copper, bronze, or a coin made of it, referring to wealth or riches] into [toward or into, indicating direction or purpose] it. And many [a large amount or a great number] rich [having wealth or material possessions, being affluent] people [individuals or persons, with inherent value] put [to throw with force, as in tossing coins] in [toward or into, indicating direction or purpose] large [much or many, an abundance] amounts [quantities or portions, referring to the extent of their giving]. word study 42 Then [and, also] one [a single, unified] poor [needy, destitute] widow [a woman who has lost her husband] came [to come, to go] and put in [threw, cast] two [a pair, dual] small [little, insignificant] copper [brass, metal] coins [mites], which [that, referring to the coins] amounted to [make, equal] a small [tiny, minimal] fraction [part, portion] of a denarius [penny]. word study 43 Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] called [summoned, invited] His disciples [learners, followers] to Him and said, “Truly [verily, assuredly] I tell you, this [specific, particular] poor [needy, impoverished] widow [a woman who has lost her husband] has put [given, contributed] more [a greater amount, exceeding] than all [every one, the entirety] the others [those who have given, the rest] into the treasury [the storehouse of riches, the temple’s coffers]. word study 44 For they all [out of their abundance, from their surplus] contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her [state of need] poverty has put in all [everything, her entire living] she had to live on [her whole life, daily existence].” word study