121 And He began to speak to them in parables : " A man PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT, AND DUG A VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT A TOWER , and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey . 2 "At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers , in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers . 3 "They took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed . 4 "Again he sent them another slave , and they wounded him in the head , and treated him shamefully . 5 "And he sent another , and that one they killed ; and so with many others , beating some and killing others e . 6 "He had one more to send, a beloved son ; he sent him last of all to them, saying , 'They will respect my son .' 7 "But those vine-growers said to one another , 'This is the heir ; come , let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours !' 8 "They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard . 9 "What will the owner of the vineyard do ? He will come and destroy the vine-growers , and will give the vineyard to others . 10 "Have you not even read this Scripture : ' THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED , THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; 11 THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE Lord , AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES '?" 12 And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people , for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away .
13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement . 14 They came and said to Him, "Teacher , we know that You are truthful and defer to no one ; for You are not partial e to any , but teach the way of God in truth . Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar , or not? 15 "Shall we pay or shall we not pay ?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy , said to them, "Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at." 16 They brought one. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this ?" And they said to Him, "Caesar's ." 17 And Jesus said to them, " Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's , and to God the things that are God's ." And they were amazed at Him.
18 Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection ) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying , 19 "Teacher , Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD , HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER . 20 "There were seven brothers ; and the first took a wife , and died leaving no children . 21 "The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children ; and the third likewise ; 22 and so all seven left no children . Last of all the woman died also . 23 "In the resurrection , when they rise again , which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her." 24 Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken , that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God ? 25 "For when they rise from the dead , they neither marry nor are given in marriage , but are like angels in heaven . 26 "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again , have you not read in the book of Moses , in the passage about the burning bush , how God spoke 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 of the living ; you are greatly mistaken ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 12:1-27
Commentary on Mark 12:1-12
(Read Mark 12:1-12)
Christ showed in parables, that he would lay aside the Jewish church. It is sad to think what base usage God's faithful ministers have met with in all ages, from those who have enjoyed the privileges of the church, but have not brought forth fruit answerable. God at length sent his Son, his Well-beloved; and it might be expected that he whom their Master loved, they also should respect and love; but instead of honouring him because he was the Son and Heir, they therefore hated him. But the exaltation of Christ was the Lord's doing; and it is his doing to exalt him in our hearts, and to set up his throne there; and if this be done, it cannot but be marvellous in our eyes. The Scriptures, and faithful preachers, and the coming of Christ in the flesh, call on us to render due praise to God in our lives. Let sinners beware of a proud, carnal spirit; if they revile or despise the preachers of Christ, they would have done so their Master, had they lived when he was upon earth.
Commentary on Mark 12:13-17
(Read Mark 12:13-17)
The enemies of Christ would be thought desirous to know their duty, when really they hoped that which soever side he took of the question, they might find occasion to accuse him. Nothing is more likely to insnare the followers of Christ, than bringing them to meddle with disputes about worldly politics. Jesus avoided the snare, by referring to the submission they had already made as a nation; and all that heard him, marvelled at the great wisdom of his answer. Many will praise the words of a sermon, who will not be commanded by the doctrines of it.
Commentary on Mark 12:18-27
(Read Mark 12:18-27)
A right knowledge of the Scripture, as the fountain whence all revealed religion now flows, and the foundation on which it is built, is the best preservative against error. Christ put aside the objection of the Sadducees, who were the scoffing infidels of that day, by setting the doctrine of the future state in a true light. The relation between husband and wife, though appointed in the earthly paradise, will not be known in the heavenly one. It is no wonder if we confuse ourselves with foolish errors, when we form our ideas of the world of spirits by the affairs of this world of sense. It is absurd to think that the living God should be the portion and happiness of a man if he is for ever dead; and therefore it is certain that Abraham's soul exists and acts, though now for a time separate from the body. Those that deny the resurrection greatly err, and ought to be told so. Let us seek to pass through this dying world, with a joyful hope of eternal happiness, and of a glorious resurrection.