Mark 12

 

1 And He began to speak to them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard (He spoke of the vineyard of the Lord, which is the house of Israel), and set a hedge about it, and dug a place for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to farmers, and went into a far country.

 

2 And at the due time he sent to the farmers a servant, that he might receive from the farmers of the fruit of the vineyard.

 

3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

 

4 And again he sent to them another servant; and they cast stones at him, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away treating him shamefully.

 

5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some and killing others.

 

6 Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last to them, saying, They will reverence my son.

 

7 But those farmers said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

 

8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

 

9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy (cutting off) the farmers and will give the vineyard to others.

 

10 And have you not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner (speaking of Himself):

 

11 This (stone) was the Lord (from heaven), and it is marvelous (astonishing) in our eyes?

 

12 And they sought to lay hold on Him but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left Him and went their way.

 

13 And they sent to Him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch Him in His words (so that they might accuse Him).

 

14 And when they were come, they said to Him, Master, we know that you are truthful, and do not take thought for anyone: for you do not regard the person (or stature) of men, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

 

15 Should we give, or should we not give? But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, Why do you tempt me? Bring Me a penny, so that I may see it.

 

16 And they brought it. And He said to them, Whose is this image and inscription? And they said to him, Caesar's.

 

17 And Jesus answering said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's (which bear his image and his marks), and to God the things that are God's (which bear His image and upon whom He has inscribed His own name). And they marveled at Him.

 

18 Then came to Him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked Him, saying,

 

19 Master, Moses wrote to us, If a man's brother die, and leaves his wife behind him, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

 

20 Now there were seven brothers: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

 

21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

 

22 And the seven had her and left no seed: last of all the woman also died.

 

23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her as a wife.

 

24 And Jesus answering said to them, Do you not err, because you do not know the scriptures, neither the power of God?

 

25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage (but their maker is their husband and they do share in communion with the life that He serves them for all the ages to come); and are like the angels which are in heaven (unchangeable in the presence of God forever).

 

26 And as concerning the dead, that they rise: have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, (testifying to him) saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

 

27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: you therefore do greatly err.

 

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first (and greatest) commandment of all?

 

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

 

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first (and greatest) commandment.

 

31 And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

 

32 And the scribe said to Him, Well, Master, you have said the truth: for there is one God; and there is no other (God) but He:

 

33 And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is greater than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

 

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that dared ask him any question.

 

35 And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, How do the scribes say that Christ is the son of David?

 

36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.

 

37 David therefore himself calls him Lord; and from where is he then his son? (he is his son according to the flesh but Lord according to His divinity) And the common people heard Him gladly.

 

38 And He said to them in His doctrine, Beware (of the way) of the scribes, who love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

 

39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the greatest rooms at feasts:

 

40 Who devour widows' houses, and for appearance (sake) make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation (when the secrets of their hearts are laid bare).

 

41 And Jesus sat over near the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich threw in a lot.

 

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which made up a farthing.

 

43 And He called to Him His disciples, and said to them, Truly I say to you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

 

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her lack did cast in all that she had, even all her living.