Mark 12
To the leaders and rulers of Israel the Lord spoke a parable. He said, "A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a place for the wine vat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country."
When the crops were in, he sent a servant to gather the fruit. The farmers mistreated him and sent him away empty-handed. The owner sent others and they were mistreated or killed. Finally, he sent his well-beloved son, saying, "They will reverence my son." But he was killed and cast out of the vineyard. Then the owner would come, destroy the farmers, and give the vineyard to others.
This parable showed how God sent prophet after prophet to Israel. They were beaten, stoned and killed. Last of all He sent Jesus, but they hated Him. 'The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner." (See Psa. 118:2222The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psalm 118:22).)
Knowing that the Lord had spoken this parable against them, the rulers and elders sought to lay hold of Him, but did not for fear of the people.
The Three Shepherds
Certain of the Pharisees and the Herodians (shepherds of Israel) were sent to catch the Lord Jesus in His words. They asked if it was part of the law (of Moses) to give tribute to Cæsar or not. He asked them to bring Him a penny. He asked them whose image was on the coin. They said Caesar's. He said for them to render to Cæsar what belonged to him, and to God what belonged to Him.
The Sadducees (shepherds of Israel), who do not believe in resurrection, also came, saying that Moses had written that if a man died, leaving his wife a widow with no children, his brother should take her to be his wife. They said, what if seven brothers each in turn took the same women to wife and died, with the woman dying last. Whose wife would she be in the resurrection?
"And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God? 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." God spoke unto Moses, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob... He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err."
Then a scribe came asking which was the first commandment of all. Jesus said, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." These two commandments are more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
The scribe answered, "Thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He." Jesus answered, 'Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask Him any question." The scribe would have Jesus know that there is one God. Jesus made it clear in His ministry that He was God. Jesus accepted the measure of faith that the scribe evidenced in his answer.
While teaching in the temple, Jesus asked why the scribes say that Christ is the son of David, "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. David therefore himself calleth Him Lord; and whence is He then his son?"
Jesus said that they should be warned of the scribes. They love to go in long clothing, and to be saluted in public places, and to have the chief seats in synagogues and the high rooms at feasts and they devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. Greater Judgment is reserved for such.
At the treasury, Jesus watched how they put money in the box. Many rich people put in much. But there was a certain poor widow who cast in two mites, the smallest coins that could be offered. Speaking to His disciples, Jesus said that this poor widow had given more than they all. They gave of their abundance, while she in her poverty cast in all, even her living.