Mark 12
1 And he began to speake vnto them in parables, A certaine man planted a vineyard, and copassed it with an hedge, and digged a pit for the winepresse, and built a tower in it, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange countrey.
Then Jesus began to speak to them using illustrated stories. “Once there was a man who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to some farmers, and left on a journey.
2 And at the time, he sent to the husbandmen a seruant, that he might receiue of the husbandmen of the fruite of the vineyard.
When harvest-time came, he sent one of his servants to the tenant farmers to collect some of the grapes from the vineyard.
3 But they tooke him, and beat him, and sent him away emptie.
But they grabbed hold of him, beat him up, and sent him away with nothing.
4 And againe he sent vnto them another seruant, and at him they cast stones, and brake his head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
So the man sent another servant. They hit him over the head and abused him.
5 And againe he sent another, and him they slew, and many other, beating some, and killing some.
He sent another servant, and this one they killed. He sent many other servants, and they beat some of them and killed others.
6 Yet had he one sonne, his deare beloued: him also he sent the last vnto them, saying, They will reuerence my sonne.
In the end the only one left was his son whom he loved, and eventually he sent him, thinking ‘they will respect my son.’
7 But ye husbandmen said among themselues, This is the heire: come, let vs kill him, and the inheritance shalbe ours.
But the farmers said to themselves, ‘Here's the owner's heir—if we kill him, we can get what he would have inherited!’
8 So they tooke him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall then the Lord of the vineyard doe? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and giue the vineyard to others.
Now what is the owner of the vineyard going to do? He will come and kill those farmers, and then he will lease the vineyard to others.
10 Haue ye not read so much as this Scripture? The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the head of the corner.
Haven't you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone rejected by the builders has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was done of the Lord, and it is marueilous in our eyes.
This is from the Lord, and it's marvelous to see!’?”
12 Then they went about to take him, but they feared the people: for they perceiued that he spake that parable against them: therefore they left him, and went their way.
The Jewish leaders tried to have him arrested because they realized that the illustration was directed at them, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him alone and went away.
13 And they sent vnto him certaine of the Pharises, and of ye Herodians that they might take him in his talke.
Later they sent some Pharisees with some of Herod's supporters to Jesus in an attempt to catch him out by what he said.
14 And when they came, they saide vnto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou considerest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God truely, Is it lawfull to giue tribute to Cesar, or not?
They arrived and said, “Teacher, we know you are a truthful person and you don't look for approval, because you don't care about status or position. Instead you teach God's way in accordance with the truth. So is it right to pay tribute to Caesar or not?
15 Should we giue it, or should we not giue it? but he knew their hypocrisie, and said vnto them, Why tempt ye me? Bring me a peny, that I may see it.
Should we pay up, or should we refuse?” Jesus, realizing how hypocritical they were, asked them, “Why are you trying to catch me out? Bring me a coin to look at.”
16 So they brought it, and he said vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription? and they said vnto him, Cesars.
They gave him a coin. “Whose is this image, and whose inscription?” Jesus asked them. “Caesar's,” they replied.
17 Then Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Giue to Cesar the things that are Cesars, and to God, those that are Gods: and they marueiled at him.
“Then give back to Caesar what belongs to him, and give back to God what belongs to him,” Jesus told them. They were amazed at his reply.
18 Then came the Sadduces vnto him, (which say, there is no resurrection) and they asked him, saying,
Then the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, came and asked a question:
19 Master, Moses wrote vnto vs, If any mans brother die, and leaue his wife, and leaue no children, that his brother should take his wife, and rayse vp seede vnto his brother.
“Teacher, Moses instructed us that if a man dies, leaving his widow childless, then his brother should marry his wife, and have children by her on his behalf.
20 There were seuen brethren, and the first tooke a wife, and when he died, left no issue.
Once there were seven brothers. The first one got married, and then died without having children.
21 Then the seconde tooke her, and he died, neither did he yet leaue issue, and the third likewise:
The second married his widow, and then died, childless. The third did the same.
22 So those seuen had her, and left no yssue: last of all the wife died also.
In fact all seven died without having children. In the end the woman died too.
23 In the resurrection then, when they shall rise againe, whose wife shall she be of them? for seuen had her to wife.
In the resurrection, whose wife will she be, because she was the wife of all seven brothers?”
24 Then Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Are ye not therefore deceiued, because ye knowe not the Scriptures, neither the power of God?
Jesus told them, “This proves you're mistaken, and that you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God.
25 For when they shall rise againe from the dead, neither men marry, nor wiues are married, but are as the Angels which are in heauen.
When the dead rise, they don't marry, and aren't given in marriage. They're like the angels in heaven.
26 And as touching the dead, that they shall rise againe, haue ye not read in the booke of Moses, howe in the bush God spake vnto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob?
But concerning the resurrection, haven't you read in Moses' writings the story of the burning bush, where God spoke to Moses and told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’
27 God is not ye God of the dead, but the God of the liuing. Ye are therefore greatly deceiued.
He's not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are completely mistaken!”
28 Then came one of the Scribes that had heard them disputing together, and perceiuing that he had answered them well, he asked him, Which is the first commandement of all?
One of the religious teachers came and heard them arguing. He recognized that Jesus had given them a good answer. So he asked him, “Which is the most important commandment of all?”
29 Iesus answered him, The first of all the commandements is, Heare, Israel, The Lord our God is the onely Lord.
Jesus replied, “The first commandment is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is one.
30 Thou shalt therefore loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soule, and with all thy minde, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandement.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your spirit, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
31 And the second is like, that is, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. There is none other commandement greater then these.
The second is ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There's no more important commandment than these.”
32 Then that Scribe said vnto him, Well, Master, thou hast saide the trueth, that there is one God, and that there is none but he,
“That's right, Teacher,” the man replied. “It's true as you said that God is one, and there is no other.
33 And to loue him with all the heart, and with all the vnderstanding, and with all the soule, and with all the strength, and to loue his neighbour as himselfe, is more then all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
We are to love him with all our heart, all our understanding, and all our strength, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is far more important than offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Then when Iesus saw that he answered discreetely, he saide vnto him, Thou art not farre from the kingdome of God. And no man after that durst aske him any question.
Jesus saw that he gave a thoughtful answer, and said, “You're not far from the kingdom of God.” After this no one was brave enough to ask him any more questions.
35 And Iesus answered and said teaching in the Temple, Howe say the Scribes that Christ is the sonne of Dauid?
While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the religious teachers state that Christ is the son of David?
36 For Dauid himselfe said by ye holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footestoole.
As David himself declared, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that the Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’
37 Then Dauid himselfe calleth him Lord: by what meanes is he then his sonne? and much people heard him gladly.
Since David himself calls him Lord, how can he be David's son?” The large crowd listened to what Jesus said with great delight.
38 Moreouer he saide vnto them in his doctrine, Beware of the Scribes which loue to goe in long robes, and loue salutations in the markets,
Jesus continued to teach them, saying, “Beware of religious leaders! They love to walk around in long robes, to be greeted respectfully in the marketplaces.
39 And the chiefe seates in the Synagogues, and the first roumes at feastes,
They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues, and the best places at banquets.
40 Which deuoure widowes houses, euen vnder a colour of long prayers. These shall receiue the greater damnation.
They cheat widows out of what they own, and cover up the kind of people they really are with long-winded prayers. They will receive severe condemnation in the judgment.”
41 And as Iesus sate ouer against the treasurie, he beheld how the people cast money into the treasurie, and many rich men cast in much.
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury collection box, watching people tossing in coins. Many of the rich were extravagantly throwing in a lot of money.
42 And there came a certaine poore widowe, and she threw in two mites, which make a quadrin.
Then a poor widow came along and put in just two small coins.
43 Then he called vnto him his disciples, and said vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, that this poore widowe hath cast more in, then all they which haue cast into the treasurie.
He called his disciples together and told them, “I tell you the truth: this poor widow has put in more than all the rest together.
44 For they all did cast in of their superfluitie: but she of her pouertie did cast in all that she had, euen all her liuing.
All of them gave from their wealth what they had, but she gave from her poverty what she didn't have. She put in all she had to live on.”
