Mark 12

Thought on This Chapter

The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection from the dead. They believed that when you die that it is the end. They come to Jesus trying to trap Him in His words. They think they have a situation that cannot be answered. They refer to a law of Moses that said if a man has no children and dies, that his brother is to marry his widow and have children by her. The child would be considered the son of the brother who died. In this way the family line would be carried on. The Sadducees come up with this scenario of 7 husbands and then ask their question.

MK 12:23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

MK 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

MK 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Jesus told them they erred because they did not know the scriptures. No where in God's Word does it say that life in heaven will be like life down here. The Sadducees had made a false assumption that was not based on the Word of God.

Jesus explains to them that there is no marriage in heaven. Jesus also tells them that they don't know the power of God.

All false teaching comes from these two things. Not knowing the scriptures and not knowing the power of God.

People who teach a works salvation don't know the scriptures.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

And people who teach a works salvation do not know the power of God. They don't understand that God has the power to forgive sin.

People who teach that you have to join the Bible of the month club have the same problem. They don't know the scriptures. God promised to preserve His Word.

Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

And they don't know the power of God. If God has the power to inspire His Word, then He has the power to preserve them.

Instead of falling for false teaching, we need to know the scriptures and the power of God.

Thought On This Chapter

MK 12:13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

They had come to do the impossible. They came to catch Jesus in his words. It did not matter how hard they tried or what they said, they were not going to catch Jesus. You can't trip up, all knowing, and all powerful.

MK 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

They tried to catch Jesus off guard by first giving Him flattery. They give Jesus a complement on His teaching, and then they hit Him with what they thought was a trick question. No doubt they had reasoned He can only answer this way or that way, and either way He answers we got Him. Clearly this question was asked with a heart heart.

MK 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

MK 12:16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

MK 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

They marvelled at Jesus. All their plotting, planning and scheming did not foresee this answer. They were speechless. Jesus once again shows forth a small glimpse of His attribute of being all knowing and having perfect knowledge.

His answer was not just for them. Jesus lays out a principal here that applies to us. A Christian should pay his taxes. Some will argue but my money will be used in a way that goes against my faith. And I would say yes the money is not always used with Christian values in mind. But it has always been that way. It was no different in Caesar's day. When Christ walked the earth, tax money was used for a variety of wicked immoral things, and still Jesus taught that it is right to pay our taxes. This truth still applies today. It is never right to do wrong. The end never justifies the means. Christians need to keep a good testimony. Paying all our bills (including taxes) are a part of that.

King James Bible Main Index:

Mark 12 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

MK 12:1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

MK 12:2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

MK 12:3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

MK 12:4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

MK 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

MK 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

MK 12:7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.

MK 12:8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

MK 12:9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

MK 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

MK 12:11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

MK 12:12 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.

MK 12:13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

MK 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

MK 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

MK 12:16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

MK 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

MK 12:18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

MK 12:19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

MK 12:20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

MK 12:21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

MK 12:22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

MK 12:23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

MK 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

MK 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

MK 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

MK 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

MK 12:28 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 commandment of all?

MK 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

MK 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

MK 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

MK 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

MK 12:33 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 neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

MK 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

MK 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?

MK 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

MK 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

MK 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

MK 12:39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

MK 12:40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

MK 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

MK 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

MK 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

MK 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Outline of Mark Chapter 12

F. Parable of the husbandmen
1. A man planted a vineyard
2. He let it out to husbandmen
3. He went into a far country
4. The man sent a servant to receive fruit of the vineyard
a. They caught him
b. They beat him
c. They sent him away empty
5. The man sent another servant
a. They cast stones at him
b. They wounded him in the head
c. They sent him away shamefully handled
6. The man sent another who they killed
7. The man sent many others
a. They beat some
b. They killed some
8. The man sends his son
a. His wellbeloved
b. They will reverence my son
9. The husbandmen talked among themselves
a. This is the heir
b. Let us kill him
c. The inheritance shall be ours
10. They kill the wellbeloved son
11. What will the Lord of the vineyard do
a. He will come and destroy the husbandmen
b. He will give the vineyard to others
12. The rejected stone is the head of the corner
a. This was the Lord's doing
b. It is marvellous in our eyes?
13. They sought to lay hold of Jesus
a. They knew He spoke the parable against them
b. But they feared the people
c. They left Him
d. They went their way
G. Question about tribute
1. They Pharisees and Herodians are sent to catch Jesus in His words
2. They flatter Jesus with words they don't mean
a. Master we know thou art true
b. Thou carest for no man
c. Thou regardest not the person of men
d. You teach the way of God in truth
3. Then they ask their question
a. Is is lawful to pay tribute to Ceasar or not
b. Shall we give or not give
4. Knowing their hypocrisy Jesus answers
a. Why tempt me
b. Bring me a penny
c. Whose is this image
d. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's
e. Render to God the things that are God's
5. They marvelled at Jesus
H. Question about resurrection from the Sadducees
1. If a woman had seven husbands, who is her husband in the resurrection
2. Jesus says you err
a. Because ye know not the scriptures
b. Neither the power of God
c. The resurrected do not marry
d. They are like the angels
3. The dead rise
a. Moses wrote how God said I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
b. He is not the God of the dead
c. He is the God of the living
I. Question about the Great Commandment
1. Jesus answered, The Lord our God is one Lord
2. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
a. With all thy heart
b. With all thy soul
c. With all thy mind
d. With all thy strength
e. This is the first commandment
3. The second is like it, Love thy neighbour as thyself
4. No other commandments are greater
5. The scribe answers
a. Thou has said the truth
b. To love God and man is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices
6. Jesus says, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God
J. Question about the Christ
1. Jesus asks in the temple, how is Christ the son of David
a. David said by the Holy Ghost
b. The LORD said to my Lord
c. Sit on my right hand
d. Till I make thine enemies thy footstool
e. David calleth Him Lord, and whence is he then his son
2. The common people heard Him gladly
K. Warning against Scribes
1. Jesus said this warning in His doctrine
2. Beware of the scribes
a. Which love to go in long clothing
b. Which love salutations in the marketplaces
c. Which love the chief seats in the synagogues
d. Which love the uppermost rooms at feasts
e. Which devour widows' houses
f. For a pretence make long prayers
3. These shall receive greater damnation
L. Widow's mite
1. Jesus beheld how the people cast money into the treasury
a. The rich cast in much
b. A certain poor widow threw in two mites
2. Jesus called His disciples
a. This poor widow cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury
b. They did cast in of their abundance
c. She cast in all that she had
d. Even all her living

We have a great example of giving in this chapter.

Jesus considered the two mites of the poor widow to be more than all they who cast into the treasury.

Jesus is pleased with sacrifical giving.

It is not equal giving, but rather it is equal sacrifice that Jesus looks at.

Man looks on the outward, but Jesus looks on the heart.

This widow gave from the heart. She gave all she had. She did not give her two mites for men to notice.

Her two mites was not going to make or break the budget. It would not even have been noticed if she had not put them in.

But she gave from the heart, and Jesus was well pleased.

Where are the Christians today with this kind of gift of giving?

Praise God for the Christians today that have a giving heart!