Mark 12: The tenants, the questions and the widow's coins
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard, its tenant farmers and the owner's beloved son. In the temple he is then questioned about paying taxes to Caesar, about the resurrection, and about the greatest commandment. He asks his own question about David and the Christ, warns about the scribes, and points out a poor widow who put in two small coins.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. Jesus speaks in verses 1 to 11, 15 to 17, 24 to 27, 29 to 31, 34 to 40 and 43 to 44. Inside his parable the owner and the farmers speak (verses 6 and 7), and in verse 26 he repeats what God said at the bush. The Pharisees and Herodians (verses 14 and 15), the Sadducees (verses 19 to 23) and one of the scribes (verses 28, 32 and 33) speak to him. No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1He 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.
In plain English: Jesus began to speak to them in parables. He said, "A man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower. He rented it out to farmers and went to another country.
Good to know: and speak of a vineyard too: the owner digs it up, plants it with the choicest vine, builds a tower in the middle and cuts out a wine press. Mark's words about the vineyard, the tower and the pit for the wine press are close to those. The text here does not name Isaiah.
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2When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
In plain English: When the time came, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect from them a share of the fruit of the vineyard.
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3They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.
In plain English: The farmers took the servant, beat him, and sent him away with nothing.
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4Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
In plain English: The owner sent another servant to them again. They threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
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5Again he sent another, and they killed him, and many others, beating some, and killing some.
In plain English: He sent another, and they killed him. He sent many others too. They beat some and killed some.
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6Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
In plain English: He still had one person left to send, his beloved son. Last of all he sent him to them. He said, 'They will respect my son.'
The Greek word: "Beloved" is agapetos. The dictionary gives "beloved". It is in 3 verses of Mark: , and this one. This Bible prints "beloved" in all 3.
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7But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
In plain English: But those farmers said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
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8They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
In plain English: They took him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
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9What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
In plain English: What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and he will give the vineyard to others.
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10Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.
In plain English: Have you not even read this Scripture? 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner (or: the chief cornerstone).
Good to know: This is a quotation from and . In this Bible the psalm says "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" and "This is Yahweh's doing. It is marvelous in our eyes." Mark's Greek says "the head of the corner" and "from the Lord".
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11This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”
In plain English: This came from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes.'"
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12They 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.
In plain English: They tried to seize Jesus, but they were afraid of the crowd. They knew he had spoken the parable against them. So they left him and went away.
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13They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
In plain English: They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus, to catch him in what he said.
Good to know: The Herodians are named in 3 verses of the New Testament: here, and one in Matthew. The dictionary calls them "partisans of Herod". The text says no more about them.
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14When 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?
In plain English: They came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are honest and that you do not defer to anyone, because you do not look at a person's outward standing. You teach the way of God truly. Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar or not?
The Greek word: "Tax" is kensos. The dictionary gives "properly, an enrollment ('census'), i.e. (by implication) a tax". It is in 4 verses of the New Testament, and only here in Mark. This Bible prints "tax" in 3 of them.
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15Shall 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.”
In plain English: Should we pay, or should we not pay?" Jesus knew they were pretending. He said to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so that I can see it."
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16They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
In plain English: They brought one. He said to them, "Whose picture and writing is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's."
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17Jesus 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.
In plain English: Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and give to God the things that are God's." They were greatly amazed at him.
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18Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,
In plain English: Some Sadducees came to Jesus. They say there is no resurrection. They asked him,
Good to know: The Sadducees are named in 13 verses of the New Testament, and only here in Mark. Mark says they say there is no resurrection. says the same and adds "nor angel, nor spirit".
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19“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.’
In plain English: "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the brother must take the wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
Good to know: The Sadducees say "Moses wrote" and put the rule in their own words. says that if brothers dwell together and one dies and has no son, his brother shall take the widow as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. Mark's words are "leaves a wife", "no children" and "raise up offspring for his brother".
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20There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
In plain English: There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and when he died he left no offspring.
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21The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
In plain English: The second took her and died, and he left no offspring either. The third did the same.
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22and the seven took her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died.
In plain English: All seven took her, and none left offspring. Last of all, the woman also died.
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23In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as a wife.”
In plain English: In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? All seven had her as a wife."
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24Jesus answered them, “Isn’t this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?
In plain English: Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
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25For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
In plain English: When people rise from the dead, they do not marry and are not given in marriage. They are like the angels in heaven.
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26But 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’?
In plain English: About the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the part about the bush, how God spoke to him? God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
Good to know: Jesus points to "the book of Moses" and "the bush". The words he gives are found in : "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
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27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken.”
In plain English: He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken."
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28One 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?”
In plain English: One of the scribes came up. He had heard them arguing and saw that Jesus had answered them well. He asked Jesus, "Which commandment is the first of all?"
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29Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
In plain English: Jesus answered, "The first is: 'Listen, Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is one (or: the Lord our God is one Lord).
Good to know: These words are from , which in this Bible reads "Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one." Mark's Greek has "Lord" twice and "one", and the word order allows two readings: "The Lord our God, the Lord is one" or "The Lord our God is one Lord". The plain line gives both.
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30You 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.
In plain English: 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.
Good to know: This is from , where this Bible has "heart", "soul" and "might". Mark has four: heart, soul, mind and strength.
The Greek word: "Mind" is dianoia. The dictionary gives "deep thought" and "the faculty (mind or its disposition)". It is in 12 verses of the New Testament, and this Bible prints "mind" in 8 of them. In the scribe says "understanding" in its place.
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31The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
In plain English: The second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Good to know: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" is also in .
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32The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he;
In plain English: The scribe said to Jesus, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth: God is one, and there is no other besides him.
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33and 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.”
In plain English: To love him with all the heart, all the understanding, all the soul and all the strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is worth much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
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34When 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.
In plain English: Jesus saw that the scribe had answered wisely. He said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
The Greek words: "Kingdom of God" is basileia tou theou. Basileia is in 19 verses of Mark, and this Bible prints "kingdom" in all 19. The dictionary gives "royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm".
What changes: Read as "the rule of God", Jesus says the scribe is near God's way of ruling. Read as "the realm of God", he says the scribe is near a place or people under God's rule. The Greek allows both, and the text here does not choose.
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35Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
In plain English: As Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
The Greek word: "Christ" is Christos. The dictionary gives "anointed, i.e. the Messiah". It is in 7 verses of Mark, and this Bible prints "Christ" in all 7.
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36For 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.”’
In plain English: David himself said by the Holy Spirit (or: in the Holy Spirit), 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet."'
Good to know: David's words are from . In this Bible it reads "Yahweh says to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.'" Mark's Greek has the word kyrios (Lord) both times, where this Bible's psalm has "Yahweh" the first time. Mark says David spoke "in the Holy Spirit".
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37Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.
In plain English: David himself calls him Lord. So how is he David's son?" The large crowd listened to Jesus gladly.
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38In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
In plain English: In his teaching Jesus said to them, "Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted in the marketplaces.
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39and to get the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts,
In plain English: They like the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts.
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40those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
In plain English: They eat up the houses of widows, and for show they say long prayers. These people will receive a greater judgment."
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41Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.
In plain English: Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched how the crowd put money into it. Many rich people put in a lot.
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42A poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.
In plain English: One poor widow came and put in two small coins, which together make a quadrans.
The Greek words: "Small coins" is lepta, and "quadrans" is kodrantes. The dictionary gives "something scaled (light), i.e. a small coin" for the first and "the fourth part of an as" for the second. Each is in 1 verse of Mark, this one. The text says two small coins equal one quadrans, and does not give their worth in other money.
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43He 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,
In plain English: Jesus called his disciples to him. He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all the others who are putting money into the treasury.
The Greek word: "Most certainly" is amen. The dictionary gives "properly, firm, i.e. (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely". It is in 15 verses of Mark. This Bible prints "amen" in only 1 of the 15, and here it prints "most certainly".
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44for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
In plain English: They all gave out of what they had to spare. She, out of her need, put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
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