MRK 12
12
The Parable of the Vineyard and the Farmers
Matt. 21:33-46; Lk. 20:9-19
1 Jesus then began teaching them through parables, saying: "There was a landowner who established a vineyard, surrounding it with a protective wall, constructing a winepress pit, and building a watchtower. After completing these preparations, he entrusted the vineyard to tenant farmers and travelled to another country.
2 When harvest season arrived, the owner despatched a slave to the tenants to retrieve his portion of the vineyard's yield.
3 The tenants, however, seized this slave, assaulted him violently, and dismissed him with nothing.
4 The owner sent another slave to them, whom they struck on the head and dishonoured severely.
5 He despatched yet another slave, whom they murdered. He continued sending numerous other slaves—some were beaten, others were killed.
6 The owner had one remaining emissary: his cherished son. As a final attempt, he sent his son to them, reasoning, 'Surely they will show respect to my son.'
7 The tenant farmers, however, conspired among themselves: 'This is the heir to the estate. If we kill him, we can seize his inheritance for ourselves!'
8 They seized the son, murdered him, and discarded his body outside the vineyard boundaries.
9 What action will the vineyard's owner take? He will arrive personally, execute those wicked tenants, and transfer the vineyard's stewardship to others who will prove faithful.
10 Have you not encountered this prophetic Scripture:
'The builders dismissed a particular stone as defective and useless,
yet this rejected stone has now become the principal cornerstone.
11 The Lord Himself has accomplished this reversal, and we marvel at its wonder'?"*
12 The religious authorities recognised that Jesus had directed this parable against them and sought to arrest Him immediately, yet they feared the crowd's reaction. Consequently, they departed, leaving Him temporarily.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
Matt. 22:15-22; Lk. 20:20-26
13 The religious leaders then despatched representatives from both the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus, hoping to ensnare Him through His own words.
14 These representatives approached Jesus with feigned respect: "Teacher, we recognise Your integrity and impartiality. You show no favouritism based on social standing but teach God's way truthfully. Given this, tell us: Does Jewish law permit paying taxes to the Roman Caesar, or should we refuse?"
15 Jesus, perceiving their duplicity, responded: "Why do you test Me with this trap? Bring Me a Roman denarius for examination."
16 When they produced the coin, Jesus inquired, "Whose portrait and title appear on this coin?" They acknowledged, "Caesar's."
17 Jesus declared to them, "Then render to Caesar what rightfully belongs to Caesar, and render to God what rightfully belongs to God."
Concerning Resurrection
Matt. 22:23-33; Lk. 20:27-40
18 Next came Sadducees—a sect that rejects the doctrine of resurrection—who presented Jesus with a question:
19 "Teacher, Moses instructed us that when a man dies childless, his brother must marry the widow to produce offspring for the deceased brother's lineage.
20 Consider this scenario: Seven brothers existed. The eldest married but died without children.
21 The second brother then married the widow but likewise died childless. The same occurred with the third brother.
22 All seven brothers successively married this woman, yet none produced offspring. Finally, the woman herself died.
23 At the resurrection, whose wife will this woman be, given that all seven brothers married her?"
24 Jesus replied, "Your error stems from ignorance—both of Scripture and of God's power.
25 When people rise from death, earthly marriage institutions cease. Instead, resurrected believers exist like angels in heaven's realm.
26 Regarding resurrection itself, have you not carefully read Moses' account of the burning bush, where God declared to Moses, 'I am Abraham's God, Isaac's God, and Jacob's God'?
27 God is not the God of the dead but of the living. Your theological understanding is profoundly mistaken."
The Great Commandments
Matt. 22:34-40; Lk. 10:25-28
28 A scribe who had been observing these exchanges approached Jesus, impressed by His responses. He inquired, "Among all the commandments, which holds primary importance?"
29 Jesus answered, "The foremost commandment is: 'Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.
30 Love the Lord your God with your complete heart, your entire soul, your full mind, and your total strength.'
31 The second commandment is: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' No other commandments surpass these in importance."
32 The scribe responded approvingly, "Teacher, You speak truthfully. God is absolutely one, with no other deity existing beside Him.
33 To love God completely—with one's whole heart, understanding, and strength—and to love one's neighbour as oneself far exceeds the value of all burnt offerings and ritual sacrifices."
34 Observing the scribe's wise response, Jesus told him, "You are not distant from God's kingdom." After this, no one ventured further questions.
Concerning David's Son
Matt. 22:41-46; Lk. 20:41-44
35 While teaching in the temple courts, Jesus posed this question: "How can the scribes claim that the Messiah is merely David's descendant?
36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared:
'The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at My right hand until I subjugate Your enemies beneath Your feet.'*
37 David himself addresses Him as 'Lord'—so how can the Messiah be merely David's son?" The large crowd listened with delight.
The Denouncing of the Scribes
Matt. 23:1-36; Lk. 20:45-47
38 In His teaching, Jesus warned: "Beware of the scribes who desire to parade in elaborate robes and receive respectful greetings in public squares,
39 who seek prominent synagogue seats and honoured positions at banquets,
40 who financially exploit widows while performing lengthy prayers for appearance's sake. These men will receive the most severe condemnation."
The Poor Widow's Contribution
Lk. 21:1-4
41 Jesus seated Himself opposite the temple treasury, observing how people deposited their offerings. Numerous wealthy individuals contributed substantial amounts.
42 Then a destitute widow approached and deposited two tiny copper coins—collectively worth less than a penny.
43 Jesus summoned His disciples and declared, "I tell you truthfully: this impoverished widow has contributed more than all the other donors combined.
44 They gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her poverty—she donated everything she possessed, her entire livelihood."
Notes
10-11 Quoted from Ps. 118:22-23
36 Quoted from Ps. 110:1
Currently Selected:
MRK 12: AFINT
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
