Mark 12

 

 1 And (1) he began to speak unto them in (a) parables, (*) A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with a hedge, and dug a pit for the (♣) winepress, and built a tower in it, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange country.

 

(1) The calling of God is not tied either to place, person, or time, without exception.
(a) This word Parable, which the Evangelists use, doth not only signify a comparing of things together, but also dark speeches and allegories.

(*) Isaiah 5:1; Jeremiah 2:21; Matthew 21:33; Luke 20:9 .

(♣) The Greek word signifieth the vessel or fat, which standeth under the winepress to receive the juice or liquor.

 

 2  (b) And at the time, he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive of the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

 

(b) When the fruits of the ground used to be gathered.

 

 3 But they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

 

 4 And again he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones, and brake his head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

 

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

 

 6 Yet had he one son, his dear beloved; him also he sent the last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

 

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

 

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

 

 9 What shall then the Lord of the vineyard do? He (*) will come and destroy these husbandmen, and give the vineyard to others.

 

(*) He sheweth the plague that shall befall these ambitious and covetous rulers, whose hearts are hardened against Christ.

 

 10 Have ye not read so much as this Scripture? (*) The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the head of the corner.

 

(*) Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8 .

 

 11 This (*) was done of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

 

(*) It is the ordinance of God that it should be so, which most commonly is contrary to man’s reason; and thus that which was spoken figuratively of David, is fulfilled in Christ, read Matthew 22:16 .

 

 12 Then they (c) went about to take him, but they feared the people, for they perceived that he spake that parable against them, therefore they left him, and went their way.

 

(c) They were greedy and very desirous.      

 

 13  ¶ (*) (2) And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees, and of the Herodians, that they might take him in his talk.

 

(*) Matthew 22:15; Luke 20:20 .

(2) The Gospel joineth the authority of the Magistrate with the service of God.

 

 14 And when they came, they said unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man; for thou (d) considerest not the (*) person of men, but teachest the (e) (♣) way of God truly, Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

 

(d) Thou doest not so judge by outward appearance, that the truth is thereby darkened any whit at all.

(*) As the qualities of the mind or body, or of outward things.
(e) The way whereby we come to God.

(♣) As godly manners, agreeable to God’s Law.

 

 15 Should we give it, or should we not give it? But he knew their hypocrisy, and said unto them, (*) Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it.

 

(*) He gave them to understand that he knew their malicious intent.

 

 16 So they brought it, and he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.

 

 17 Then Jesus answered, and said unto them, (*) Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God, those that are God’s. And they marveled at him.

 

(*) Romans 13:7 .

 

 18  ¶ (3) (*) Then came the Sadducees unto him, (which say, there is no resurrection) and they asked him, saying,

 

(3) The resurrection of the body is avouched against the foolish ignorance and malice of the Sadducees.

(*) Matthew 22:23; Luke 20:27 .

 

 19 Master, (*) Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, and leave his wife, and leave no children, that (♣) his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

 

(*) Deuteronomy 25:5; Matthew 22:24 .

(♣) This was a politic law given for a time for the preservation of families, read Matthew 22:24 .

 

 20 There were seven brethren, and the first took a wife, and when he died, left no issue.

 

 21 Then the second took her, and he died, neither did he yet leave issue, and the third likewise;

 

 22 So those seven had her, and left no issue, last of all the wife died also.

 

 23 In the resurrection then, when they shall rise again, whose wife shall she be of them? For seven had her to wife.

 

 24 Then Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye not therefore deceived, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God?

 

 25 For when they shall rise again from the dead, neither men marry, nor wives are married, but are (*) as the Angels which are in heaven.

 

(*) Not as touching the spiritual nature, but concerning the state of incorruption, and immorality, so that then there shall need no more marriage.

 

 26 And as touching the dead, that they shall rise again, 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?

 

(*) Exodus 3:6; Matthew 22:32 .

 

 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the (*) living. Ye are therefore greatly deceived.

 

(*) Then it followeth that they live, although they be deceased only of this life.

 

 28  ¶ (*) (4) Then came one of the Scribes that had heard them disputing together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, he asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

 

(*) Matthew 22:35 .

(4) Sacrifices and outward worship, never pleased God, unless such necessary duties as we owe to God and our neighbors went afore.

 

 29 Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, (*) Hear, Israel, The Lord our God is the only Lord.

 

(*) Deuteronomy 6:4 .

 

 30 Thou shalt therefore 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.

 

(*) Or, thought.

 

 31 And the second is (♣) like, that is, (*) Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

 

(♣) That is, dependeth on the first and proceedeth of the love of God.

(*) Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8 .

 

 32 Then that Scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth, that there is one God, and that there is none 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 more than all whole burnt (*) offerings and sacrifices.

 

(*) He meaneth all the ceremonies of the Law, wherein the hypocrites put great holiness.

 

 34 Then 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.

 

(*) Because he shewed himself willing to be taught and well perceived the difference between our outward profession, and that which God doeth principally require of us.

 

 35  ¶ (*) (5) And Jesus answered and said teaching in the Temple, How say the Scribes that Christ is the son of David?

 

(*) Matthew 22:42; Luke 20:41 .

(5) Christ proveth his Godhead even out of David himself, of whom he came according to the flesh.

 

 36 For David himself said by (f) (♣) the holy Ghost, (*) The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

 

(f) Word for word, in the holy Ghost, and there is a great force in this kind of speech, whereby is meant that it was not so much David, as the holy Ghost that spake, who did in a manner possess David.

(♣) Inspired by the holy Ghost and by the Spirit of prophecy.

(*) Psalm 110:1 .

 

 37 Then David himself calleth him Lord; by what means is he then his son? And much people heard him gladly.

 

 38  (*) (6) Moreover he said unto them in (g) his doctrine, Beware of the Scribes which love to go in (h) long (♣) robes, and love salutations in the markets,

 

(*) Matthew 23:6; Luke 11:43; Luke 20:46 .

(6) The manners of ministers are not rashly to be followed as an example.
(g) While he taught them.
(h) The word is a stole, which is a kind of woman's garment, long even down to the heels, and is taken generally, for any garment made for comeliness, but in this place it seemeth to signify that fringed garment mentioned in Deuteronomy 22:12 .

(♣) He condemneth not their apparel, but their vain ostentation and outward shew of holiness, whereby they deceived the simple people.

 

 39 And the chief seats in the Synagogues, and the first rooms at feasts,

 

 40 Which (*) devour widows’ houses, (♣) even under a color of long prayers. These shall receive the greater damnation.

 

(*) Matthew 23:14; Luke 20:47 .

(♣) Or, under the pretence, pray long.

 

 41  (7) (*) And as Jesus sat over against the treasury, he beheld how the people cast (i) money into the treasury, and many rich men cast in much.

 

(7) The doing of our duties, which God alloweth, is not esteemed according to the outward value, but to the inward affects of the heart.

(*) Luke 21:1 .
(i) Money of any kind of metal, as the Romans used, who in the beginning did stamp or coin brass, and after used it for current money.

 

 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a (*) quadrin.

 

(*) Which is about half a farthing.

 

 43 Then he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast (*) more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.

 

(*) Our Saviour esteemeth our gifts by our affections and ready wills.

 

 44 For they all did cast in of their superfluity, but she of her poverty did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

 

 

 

Steve

Home Page

http://www.genevabible.org

1599 Geneva Bible Online

Open your heart to the truth of Jesus Christ, please read the info on this link:

http://www.calvarychapel.com/?show=thegospel

 1 Corinthians 14:8

And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?

"Let not Geneva be forgotten or despised. Religious liberty owes it most respect."   John Adams, the second president of the United States

Before, and many years after the KJV was printed, the GENEVA BIBLE was the People's Choice, but an ungodly King made it illegal to publish it any longer:  http://www.genevabible.org/Geneva.html Click on "Geneva Bible History" on my site.

Yahoo Group Owner

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Watchmen-on-the-wall/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Geneva_Bible/

http://groups.google.com/group/Geneva-Bible

Daily Scripture:

http://www.genevabible.org/ScriptureOfTheDay.html