121 And he began to speak to them in similes: 'A man planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around, and digged an under-winevat, and built a tower, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad; 2 and he sent unto the husbandmen at the due time a servant, that from the husbandmen he may receive from the fruit of the vineyard, 3 and they, having taken him, did severely beat 'him', and did send him away empty. 4 'And again he sent unto them another servant, and at that one having cast stones, they wounded 'him' in the head, and sent away—dishonoured. 5 'And again he sent another, and that one they killed; and many others, some beating, and some killing. 6 'Having yet therefore one son—his beloved—he sent also him unto them last, saying—They will reverence my son; 7 and those husbandmen said among themselves—This is the heir, come, we may kill him, and ours shall be the inheritance; 8 and having taken him, they did kill, and cast 'him' forth without the vineyard. 9 'What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. 10 And this Writing did ye not read: A stone that the builders rejected, it did become the head of a corner: 11 from the Lord was this, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' 12 And they were seeking to lay hold on him, and they feared the multitude, for they knew that against them he spake the simile, and having left him, they went away;
13 and they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they may ensnare him in discourse, 14 and they having come, say to him, 'Teacher, we have known that thou art true, and thou art not caring for any one, for thou dost not look to the face of men, but in truth the way of God dost teach; is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? may we give, or may we not give?' 15 And he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, 'Why me do ye tempt? bring me a denary, that I may see;' 16 and they brought, and he saith to them, 'Whose 'is' this image, and the inscription?' and they said to him, 'Caesar's;' 17 and Jesus answering said to them, 'Give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;' and they did wonder at him.
18 And the Sadducees come unto him, who say there is not a rising again, and they questioned him, saying, 19 'Teacher, Moses wrote to us, that if any one's brother may die, and may leave a wife, and may leave no children, that his brother may take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. 20 'There were then seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, he left no seed; 21 and the second took her, and died, neither left he seed, and the third in like manner, 22 and the seven took her, and left no seed, last of all died also the woman; 23 in the rising again, then, whenever they may rise, of which of them shall she be wife—for the seven had her as wife?' 24 And Jesus answering said to them, 'Do ye not because of this go astray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God? 25 for when they may rise out of the dead, they neither marry nor are they given in marriage, but are as messengers who are in the heavens. 26 'And concerning the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the Book of Moses (at The Bush), how God spake 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 dead men, but a God of living men; ye then go greatly astray.'
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.