Mark 12
Summary. This chapter mainly concentrates on who the Lord Jesus is and His will to save all, even those who crucified Him. The Lord tried to open people's hearts because their eyes had seen something many people wanted to see, but their hearts were darkened. When they talk about Him and His work, it does not make them stop and think about who the Lord Jesus really is on this earth, but they only believe that He came to take their power away from them. The power of this world is nothing, but that is what all humans’ eyes look for: to have power on this earth. The Lord Jesus came to point the way to the other world, but they did not hear and understand. The chapter presents a few events as the Lord Jesus interacts with the leaders of the people. 1) The Lord Jesus gives the parable of the tenants addressing their authority question. The parable is given to think about who the Lord Jesus really is. Yet they sought to arrest Him because they perceived He spoke against them, the leaders of the people. But what the Lord spoke did not reach their hearts because jealousy from their hearts covered their ears. They have seen and heard the Holy Word coming out from the Lord Jesus’ mouth, but their jealous hearts have covered it all. That is why all they could think about was how to destroy Him. Even when the Lord talked about the Father, their ears were covered, they did not want to understand. 2) The leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians to test the Lord about people’s duty. They wanted to point out that the Lord Jesus was against paying taxes and stirring people against the governing authority. 3) Sadducees asked about the resurrection, and one of the scribes asked about the most important commandment of God. They wanted to know His standpoint because they called Him a teacher, but this showed disrespect towards the Lord. As a human position, they put Him as a teacher; therefore, He was above them, but they came up with many questions only to trap Him in His answers, not to learn from Him. This was a wicked way of students; they themselves have called Him teacher but had no respect towards the Lord. 4) The Lord Jesus teaches about who Christ is. 5) The Lord Jesus teaches against corrupt leaders. Mainly, the Lord tells them to look at the leaders with watchful eyes: are they walking as the Law has been written, or are they walking beside it? People need to open their eyes to know what is wrong and not wrong. He tells them not to take what they see but to always look first at what the Law tells them. At that time, they did not have the Bible, but they had the Law. 6) The Lord Jesus teaches about offering to the Lord. We should give from the most valuable we have, not from the leftovers.
[1]
And He began to speak to them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a winepress, and built a tower, and rented it out to farmers, and journeyed to a distant land.
[2]
And at the season he sent to the farmers a servant, that he might receive from the farmers of the fruits of the vineyard.
[3]
And having taken him, they beat him, and sent him away empty.
[4]
And again he sent to them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and treated shamefully.
[5]
And he sent another, and him they killed; also many others, indeed beating some, then killing some.
[6]
He had yet one, a beloved son; he sent him last to them, saying, They will reverence my son.
[7]
But those farmers said to themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.
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And they took him, and killed him, and cast him [] out of the vineyard.
[9]
What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
[10]
Have you not even read this scripture:
The stone which those building rejected,
This has become the head corner;
This has become the head corner;
[12]
And they sought to lay hold of Him ; and they feared the multitude; for they perceived that He spoke the parable against them. And having left Him , they went away.
Comments Mark 12:1-12
For Mark 12:1-12 see Comments Matthew 21:33-46 and Comments Luke 20:9-19. Analyzing these portions of the Scriptures, we can say that the Lord has spoken this parable more than once to different groups of people. Each time the Lord told the parable, it was the same parable, but in a different way of pointing out; the emphasizing is different. Each Gospel has its own purpose: the same parable, but different people listening. During the day, from morning until evening, people approached the Lord. The Lord said the parable in one area, and then, when the Lord went further, another group approached. The Lord still said the same parable and explained it, and that is why each Gospel has differences only in certain spots, but the whole story is the same. Each Gospel puts the parable once but does not necessarily render the same instance happening.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 12:1, Matthew 21:33, Luke 20:9. The Lord Jesus continued to speak to the chief priests, scribes, and elders in parables. He gave them the parable of the tenants (See Comments Matthew 21:33). Some of the Gentiles are chosen ones; the Lord will use some of them for a purpose. Note that this parable doesn’t talk about the saved ones but only about the chosen ones for doing work for the Lord.
Mark 12:2, Matthew 21:34, Luke 20:10a. The Lord Jesus sends His servants to the people when they sin to tell them to repent and bring them back to the Lord, to make their own hearts rebuke them that they have sinned against the Lord. Their hearts will make them repent and turn back to the Lord. If you think back to the Old Testament, the Lord always sent His prophets and servants to the people when they walked astray to bring them to repentance. Also, in the New Testament, we see that the Father sent John the Baptist to bring people to repentance, and then He sent the Lord Jesus, His beloved Son, to save all human souls (See Comments Matthew 21:34).
Mark 12:3-6, Matthew 21:35-37, Luke 20:10b-13. In these passages, all the Gospels show the same thing: the love of the Father towards humans. He sent His servants, and the Bible tells how they, the tenants, treated them, but the Lord has not given up. He is willing to save the humans, and after all, He sent His beloved Son. Then, why do humans not want to think about the love of God? Selfishness is in them from the beginning; you can do good to humans, but they are never willing by themselves to accept it. Therefore, the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to guide the humans to Him, but they still don’t believe Him, and they reject Him in the same way. They reject not just the One the Father sent, but they reject the Father Himself, and this is clear here in these passages. When the punishment comes, they have no argument; they do nothing good. Even though the Holy Spirit has guided them, how many have come and believed? That is the conclusion about humans: they do not respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. You can pour all the good down to humans, but they never appreciate it. As the Bible says, in many places, all things have their own time to come. When the end time comes, the human voice will not be heard; just be aware of evil thoughts that humans are building by themselves, with nobody pursuing them to think evil. See Comments Matthew 21:35-37.
Mark 12:7-8, Matthew 21:38-39, Luke 20:14-15a. See Comments Matthew 21:38-39.
Mark 12:9, Matthew 21:40-41, Luke 20:15b-16. See Comments Matthew 21:40-41.
Mark 12:10-11, Matthew 21:42, Luke 20:17. See Comments Matthew 21:42. Mark 12:12.The meaning of this verse is clear.
Comparison Analysis
Mark 12:1, Matthew 21:33, Luke 20:9. The Lord Jesus continued to speak to the chief priests, scribes, and elders in parables. He gave them the parable of the tenants (See Comments Matthew 21:33). Some of the Gentiles are chosen ones; the Lord will use some of them for a purpose. Note that this parable doesn’t talk about the saved ones but only about the chosen ones for doing work for the Lord.
Mark 12:2, Matthew 21:34, Luke 20:10a. The Lord Jesus sends His servants to the people when they sin to tell them to repent and bring them back to the Lord, to make their own hearts rebuke them that they have sinned against the Lord. Their hearts will make them repent and turn back to the Lord. If you think back to the Old Testament, the Lord always sent His prophets and servants to the people when they walked astray to bring them to repentance. Also, in the New Testament, we see that the Father sent John the Baptist to bring people to repentance, and then He sent the Lord Jesus, His beloved Son, to save all human souls (See Comments Matthew 21:34).
Mark 12:3-6, Matthew 21:35-37, Luke 20:10b-13. In these passages, all the Gospels show the same thing: the love of the Father towards humans. He sent His servants, and the Bible tells how they, the tenants, treated them, but the Lord has not given up. He is willing to save the humans, and after all, He sent His beloved Son. Then, why do humans not want to think about the love of God? Selfishness is in them from the beginning; you can do good to humans, but they are never willing by themselves to accept it. Therefore, the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to guide the humans to Him, but they still don’t believe Him, and they reject Him in the same way. They reject not just the One the Father sent, but they reject the Father Himself, and this is clear here in these passages. When the punishment comes, they have no argument; they do nothing good. Even though the Holy Spirit has guided them, how many have come and believed? That is the conclusion about humans: they do not respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. You can pour all the good down to humans, but they never appreciate it. As the Bible says, in many places, all things have their own time to come. When the end time comes, the human voice will not be heard; just be aware of evil thoughts that humans are building by themselves, with nobody pursuing them to think evil. See Comments Matthew 21:35-37.
Mark 12:7-8, Matthew 21:38-39, Luke 20:14-15a. See Comments Matthew 21:38-39.
Mark 12:9, Matthew 21:40-41, Luke 20:15b-16. See Comments Matthew 21:40-41.
Mark 12:10-11, Matthew 21:42, Luke 20:17. See Comments Matthew 21:42. Mark 12:12.The meaning of this verse is clear.
[13]
And they send to Him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might catch Him in speech.
[14]
And having come, they say to Him , Teacher , we know that Thou are true, and Thou are not caring for anyone; for Thou does not regard the appearance of men, but in truth teach the way of God . Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Should we give, or should we not give?
[15]
But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, Why do you test Me ? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.
[16]
And they brought it. And He says to them, Whose is this image and the inscription? And they said to Him , Caesar’s.
[17]
And Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God . And they marveled at Him .
Comments Mark 12:13-17
For Mark 12:13-17 see Comments Matthew 22:15-22, and Comments Luke 20:19-26. The Lord spoke the parable of paying taxes to Caesar at different times and to different groups of people, as we can see from these portions of the Scriptures. The Lord asked to see the denarius more than once because they have different sizes and different pictures; they have pictures that have different meanings in different ways. Each Gospel gives us an account of what the Holy Spirit gave to the writers, and each Gospel has its own purpose. When it comes to money, questions never end; therefore, pay attention to the answer the Lord has given to them.
“Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.” Think of what the eyes see when you look at money. The money belongs to the world, but the Lord did not pay them money. The Lord did not come to apply for the job of teacher; the people have lifted Him up and put Him to be a teacher; if you apply and get the job, then you need to pay taxes as a teacher. The greedy eyes will never stop searching and asking Him to pay money. As time passes, this question will come more frequently in order to make the Lord pay money. Here, it clearly shows how greedy humans are; greed covers the eyes. This verse clearly tells us to watch out for greed; therefore, pay attention to the answer the Lord has given them.
Q: Did their question come with good intentions, or did they want to search for what the Lord contributes to humans? A: This question is just to know if everything comes first for pleasing humans, which, in fact, goes against God’s teaching: first God and then humans. People contribute money to the Lord as well. The Bible tells in many places about those who brought what they had to help the Lord’s ministry, and this is the point: they wanted a portion of it as well. If the people brought something to help people, the Lord must distribute some portions as well for the government asking (as taxes). But are those things ever coming to the Lord’s possession? The Lord never used those for His own personal purpose. The Lord worked for His own living. All the things people brought for the Lord, the Lord distributed to the disciples, and the disciples distributed back to the people; nothing ever came for the Lord’s pleasure Himself. Their main point was to ask for payment from the Lord. Humans find ways to take even from the ones who do not have; the rule and order will come to enforce payment, and everyone would feel guilty not to pay. If they come to tell you it is a duty and you don’t do your duty, that will convict people to feel guilty.
Q: Were they, in fact, trying to imply with their question that the Lord should pay taxes as well? A: Yes, they were trying to imply that He should pay taxes based on what He received from people.
Mark 12:13-14a, Matthew 22:15-16, Luke 20:19-26. See Comments Matthew 22:16.
“And they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians.” They sent more to hear more because the idea was to catch the Lord in His talk. Sending one time didn’t catch the talk; as time went by, different ones were sent to ask, just to see the answer. It was a way to catch something in His answer; it was not only one time they challenged the Lord.
Q: Why did they send people asking questions many times? A: The purpose was to compare each time the Lord’s answer; that was the way they tried to criticize: by the Lord’s answer, they wanted to find the mistake. That is why the Lord has been asked the same questions many times, but the Bible mentions only one time because every time, the answer is the same; that is why it is written only once.
Mark 12:14b-17, Matthew 22:17-22, Luke 20:20-26. See Comments Matthew 22:21-22.
“And they marveled at Him.” The purpose of this question about paying taxes was to find fault in the Lord Jesus. Their intention was only to find a mistake in Him in order to stop His work. His answer did not capture their hearts. As the Bible tells, they marveled at His answer; marveled, but it was not enough for them. However, that feeling would capture their hearts and make them think by themselves who He was that they were trying to test. In this place, it clearly shows that it is their own fault to be condemned. The Lord gave them a straight answer, and they marveled; that was all they felt, but they do not think of the Lord as who He is. He is the Son of God.
Q: Did their question come with good intentions, or did they want to search for what the Lord contributes to humans? A: This question is just to know if everything comes first for pleasing humans, which, in fact, goes against God’s teaching: first God and then humans. People contribute money to the Lord as well. The Bible tells in many places about those who brought what they had to help the Lord’s ministry, and this is the point: they wanted a portion of it as well. If the people brought something to help people, the Lord must distribute some portions as well for the government asking (as taxes). But are those things ever coming to the Lord’s possession? The Lord never used those for His own personal purpose. The Lord worked for His own living. All the things people brought for the Lord, the Lord distributed to the disciples, and the disciples distributed back to the people; nothing ever came for the Lord’s pleasure Himself. Their main point was to ask for payment from the Lord. Humans find ways to take even from the ones who do not have; the rule and order will come to enforce payment, and everyone would feel guilty not to pay. If they come to tell you it is a duty and you don’t do your duty, that will convict people to feel guilty.
Q: Were they, in fact, trying to imply with their question that the Lord should pay taxes as well? A: Yes, they were trying to imply that He should pay taxes based on what He received from people.
Mark 12:13-14a, Matthew 22:15-16, Luke 20:19-26. See Comments Matthew 22:16.
“And they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians.” They sent more to hear more because the idea was to catch the Lord in His talk. Sending one time didn’t catch the talk; as time went by, different ones were sent to ask, just to see the answer. It was a way to catch something in His answer; it was not only one time they challenged the Lord.
Q: Why did they send people asking questions many times? A: The purpose was to compare each time the Lord’s answer; that was the way they tried to criticize: by the Lord’s answer, they wanted to find the mistake. That is why the Lord has been asked the same questions many times, but the Bible mentions only one time because every time, the answer is the same; that is why it is written only once.
Mark 12:14b-17, Matthew 22:17-22, Luke 20:20-26. See Comments Matthew 22:21-22.
“And they marveled at Him.” The purpose of this question about paying taxes was to find fault in the Lord Jesus. Their intention was only to find a mistake in Him in order to stop His work. His answer did not capture their hearts. As the Bible tells, they marveled at His answer; marveled, but it was not enough for them. However, that feeling would capture their hearts and make them think by themselves who He was that they were trying to test. In this place, it clearly shows that it is their own fault to be condemned. The Lord gave them a straight answer, and they marveled; that was all they felt, but they do not think of the Lord as who He is. He is the Son of God.
[19]
Teacher , Moses wrote to us that, If someone’s brother should die, and leave a wife behind, and leave no child, that his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed for his brother.
[20]
There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed;
[21]
and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed; and the third likewise;
[22]
and the seven left no seed. Last of all the woman also died.
[23]
In the resurrection whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had her as wife.
[24]
Jesus said to them, Do you not because of this err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor 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 the heavens.
[26]
But concerning the dead, that they rise; have you not read in the book of Moses, on the 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 err greatly.
Comments Mark 12:18-27
For Mark 12:18-27, see Comments Matthew 22:23-32 and Luke 20:27-40.
Mark 12:24. “Jesus said to them, Do you not because of this err...” They don’t know by the heart knowledge, and without the heart knowledge, they will never understand the Scripture. The Lord has many places of warning for these types of people: the ones who use the head to control the heart will never have deep knowledge according to the teaching of the Scripture.
Mark 12:27. “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Luke 20:38 adds, “For all live to Him. The Lord Jesus tells us that no one who is in front of the Lord is dead. Don’t forget He is the Living God, and all are alive in front of Him. That is why when the Bible refers to the Lord, it always refers to Him as the God of the living because no one dies that can come and be in front of Him; they are living spirits.
Q: How is the Lord’s answer here related to the resurrection of the body? A: The Lord’s answer here does not relate to the resurrection of the body yet; it relates to the living souls waiting. At the second coming of the Holy Son, all bodies that have died in the Lord will be raised up at that time. The Lord will give them a new heavenly body, and that is why, as believers, you should not cremate your body. You come from the ground, so let your body return to the ground. At the return of the Lord Jesus, all the souls that died in the name of the Lord will return back to receive judgment in front of the Father, but not in this flesh body. The flesh of sin is not there; this flesh is full of sin, and it can’t be in front of the Father. But if you have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, you can be in front of the Father in your new heavenly body. The heavenly body resembles our earthly body but is not the same; it looks alike but not the same.
Mark 12:26-27. Q: Does the Lord Jesus here really answer the question about raising from the dead? A: Those that died already but come in front of God, have they been raised or not? This answer here talks about resurrection, but resurrection in the body there is only one that is raised in the body. There is only one that can be resurrected in the earthly body, and that is the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s body never decayed; all the rest of humans have decayed; therefore, all others are resurrected in the body but not in the body of the earth. In that time, there will be a different kind of body, a heavenly body.
Q: Should a Christian cremate their body? A: To not cremate is in order to respect the Lord: the things that the Lord has created cannot be destroyed entirely. If God used the dirt to create humans, the dirt should go back to dirt, and that is why we should not cremate our dead bodies.
Mark 12:24. “Jesus said to them, Do you not because of this err...” They don’t know by the heart knowledge, and without the heart knowledge, they will never understand the Scripture. The Lord has many places of warning for these types of people: the ones who use the head to control the heart will never have deep knowledge according to the teaching of the Scripture.
Mark 12:27. “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Luke 20:38 adds, “For all live to Him. The Lord Jesus tells us that no one who is in front of the Lord is dead. Don’t forget He is the Living God, and all are alive in front of Him. That is why when the Bible refers to the Lord, it always refers to Him as the God of the living because no one dies that can come and be in front of Him; they are living spirits.
Q: How is the Lord’s answer here related to the resurrection of the body? A: The Lord’s answer here does not relate to the resurrection of the body yet; it relates to the living souls waiting. At the second coming of the Holy Son, all bodies that have died in the Lord will be raised up at that time. The Lord will give them a new heavenly body, and that is why, as believers, you should not cremate your body. You come from the ground, so let your body return to the ground. At the return of the Lord Jesus, all the souls that died in the name of the Lord will return back to receive judgment in front of the Father, but not in this flesh body. The flesh of sin is not there; this flesh is full of sin, and it can’t be in front of the Father. But if you have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, you can be in front of the Father in your new heavenly body. The heavenly body resembles our earthly body but is not the same; it looks alike but not the same.
Mark 12:26-27. Q: Does the Lord Jesus here really answer the question about raising from the dead? A: Those that died already but come in front of God, have they been raised or not? This answer here talks about resurrection, but resurrection in the body there is only one that is raised in the body. There is only one that can be resurrected in the earthly body, and that is the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s body never decayed; all the rest of humans have decayed; therefore, all others are resurrected in the body but not in the body of the earth. In that time, there will be a different kind of body, a heavenly body.
Q: Should a Christian cremate their body? A: To not cremate is in order to respect the Lord: the things that the Lord has created cannot be destroyed entirely. If God used the dirt to create humans, the dirt should go back to dirt, and that is why we should not cremate our dead bodies.
[28]
And one of the scribes having come up, having heard them debating together, having seen that He answered them well, he asked Him , Which commandment is the first of all?
[30]
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
[31]
The second this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is not another commandment greater than these.
[32]
And the scribe said to Him , Of a truth, Teacher , Thou have spoken well that He is One ; and there is none other but He ;
[33]
and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love the neighbor as oneself, is more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.
[34]
And Jesus having seen that he answered wisely, said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God . And no one no longer dared to question Him .
Comments Mark 12:28-34
For Mark 12:28-34, see Comments Matthew 22:35-40.
Passage Analysis
Mark 12:28. In this verse, we are told that “one of the scribes” came with the question, and in Matthew 22:35, we are told that “one of them, a lawyer,” came with the question.
Q: Is here the same person asking the question? A: It is the same person, just the way sometimes in the past it is referred: if you are one of them (Pharisees or Sadducees or scribes) but not like them, the name will be crossed sometimes (lawyer). Only one among them all has the question; he might be called one of them, but it is different from them. Among them, one is a lawyer, and the thought has separated him out. Even nowadays, if you put people in a group together, there are still one or more people who do not have the same idea as the rest of them. He might be called one of the scribes, but he has his occupation; as an occupation on the side, he is a lawyer. The scribes and Pharisees are not the same; they just have different ideas, so they are separated out, and in that time, it became a level of people. Think this way: humans classify humans as the same type because something in them has been classified as a group. This man was neither of those (Pharisees or scribe), he was just a lawyer.
Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22:37-40. See Comments Matthew 22:39-40.
Mark 12:32-33. Q: Did this lawyer challenge the Lord here? A: Pay attention to the word “Teacher.” The person has recognized the Lord as a Teacher and that himself is below the Lord. It is not a challenge but testing. If you are a teacher, tell me what it is. That is not a challenge but testing. If you are a teacher, prove to me you know the answer. Even nowadays, people still do that and come and test the Lord.
Mark 12:34. Notice here in verse 34 that the Lord did not condemn this man.
“And no one no longer dared to question Him.” Now is the proof to people’s eyes; and their ears have heard what the Lord said. The Lord has been lifted up in front of them. He is a Teacher, and authority has been given to Him. They gave Him that authority, but they did not recognize it. They talked with their mouths but not with their hearts; they just said by mouth.
Passage Analysis
Mark 12:28. In this verse, we are told that “one of the scribes” came with the question, and in Matthew 22:35, we are told that “one of them, a lawyer,” came with the question.
Q: Is here the same person asking the question? A: It is the same person, just the way sometimes in the past it is referred: if you are one of them (Pharisees or Sadducees or scribes) but not like them, the name will be crossed sometimes (lawyer). Only one among them all has the question; he might be called one of them, but it is different from them. Among them, one is a lawyer, and the thought has separated him out. Even nowadays, if you put people in a group together, there are still one or more people who do not have the same idea as the rest of them. He might be called one of the scribes, but he has his occupation; as an occupation on the side, he is a lawyer. The scribes and Pharisees are not the same; they just have different ideas, so they are separated out, and in that time, it became a level of people. Think this way: humans classify humans as the same type because something in them has been classified as a group. This man was neither of those (Pharisees or scribe), he was just a lawyer.
Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22:37-40. See Comments Matthew 22:39-40.
Mark 12:32-33. Q: Did this lawyer challenge the Lord here? A: Pay attention to the word “Teacher.” The person has recognized the Lord as a Teacher and that himself is below the Lord. It is not a challenge but testing. If you are a teacher, tell me what it is. That is not a challenge but testing. If you are a teacher, prove to me you know the answer. Even nowadays, people still do that and come and test the Lord.
Mark 12:34. Notice here in verse 34 that the Lord did not condemn this man.
“And no one no longer dared to question Him.” Now is the proof to people’s eyes; and their ears have heard what the Lord said. The Lord has been lifted up in front of them. He is a Teacher, and authority has been given to Him. They gave Him that authority, but they did not recognize it. They talked with their mouths but not with their hearts; they just said by mouth.
[35]
And answering Jesus said, teaching in the temple, How do the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
[36]
David himself said by the Holy Spirit ,
The Lord said to my Lord ,
Sit onMy right hand,
UntilI make your enemies the footstool of your feet.
Sit on
Until
[37]
David himself calls Him Lord ; and from where is He his son? And the great multitude heard Him gladly.
Comments Mark 12:35-37
For Mark 12:35-37, see Comments Matthew 22:41-45, and Comments Luke 20:41-44.
Mark 12:36. This verse intends to make people think about the two “Lord” words. To whom may they be addressed, to your Lord or the Lord Himself? Now it comes to the truth of it: therefore, think again, who the first Lord is? The first “Lord” is the Father, and the second “Lord” is the Son. The Father told the Son, “Sit on My right hand, Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet,” which is a promise between the Father and the Son. People are still arguing about this.
Mark 12:36. This verse intends to make people think about the two “Lord” words. To whom may they be addressed, to your Lord or the Lord Himself? Now it comes to the truth of it: therefore, think again, who the first Lord is? The first “Lord” is the Father, and the second “Lord” is the Son. The Father told the Son, “Sit on My right hand, Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet,” which is a promise between the Father and the Son. People are still arguing about this.
[38]
And in His teaching, He said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and to have salutations in the marketplaces,
[39]
and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts:
[40]
those devouring widows’ houses, and as a pretext praying long; these will receive greater judgment.
Comments Mark 12:38-40
For Mark 12:38-40, see also Comments Matthew 23:1-7
Mark 12:38-39. Q: Who are these scribes? A: In this place, when the Lord mentions in the Bible the scribes, nowadays you can compare with the leaders, but not the pastors of the church, but the leaders that put themselves to be as leaders for the purpose of self-proclaiming: those that step above people and make themselves to be known, but in their personal life, in the place where no one sees, nothing glorifies the Lord; those people who do things in the dark place, even the Lord Himself turns back to them because those people will make someone else fall from faith as well. There are too many these days that do things behind in the dark, and even the dark has to turn away and not look. As the Bible tells us, when the end time is coming near, the ones whom people lift up will be put down to the ground, and the ones that are first shall be last; here is the place where the Bible says it. You, yourself, watch out. Don’t judge by what you hear they do, use this verse to justify the actions of people. We may see many glorifying the Lord, but we don’t know anyone’s heart; only the Lord knows it, not by the actions they are doing. Someone may act perfectly in glorifying, but someone may not look right in action, but the Lord wants the heart that glorifies, not the action alone; as this verse tells, they dress properly and pray long, but no one knows their hearts, only the Lord.
These verses tell us about the ones that come saying that the way you do is wrong and you must change. They use their knowledge to justify and convince people that what they are doing is wrong and the right way to follow is in their way. For example, you go and participate in a group and contribute to make the group grow, but grow in what? Always remember: grow in the knowledge of the Word or grow in the knowledge of the world; use that as an indicator. Stay away from them, from those who do not grow in the Word. Don’t even eat at the same table with them because how they behave will convince you that their way is right. Use the Bible to be your right way, not people’s way to be the right way.
Mark 12:40. “Those devouring … greater judgment.” The widows are weak at that point when they lose their husbands. You go to these widows and tell them that the way to comfort the dead is to do certain things. But, the only way to comfort the dead is the Word of God, for what you give on this earth, money or things, that does not comfort the dead. We heard about the idea that you give more money and things to make the dead be in a better place, but money cannot buy a better place in heaven; only the Word of God would lead the dead to a place of rest in heaven if they lived their life on earth by the Word.
Mark 12:38-39. Q: Who are these scribes? A: In this place, when the Lord mentions in the Bible the scribes, nowadays you can compare with the leaders, but not the pastors of the church, but the leaders that put themselves to be as leaders for the purpose of self-proclaiming: those that step above people and make themselves to be known, but in their personal life, in the place where no one sees, nothing glorifies the Lord; those people who do things in the dark place, even the Lord Himself turns back to them because those people will make someone else fall from faith as well. There are too many these days that do things behind in the dark, and even the dark has to turn away and not look. As the Bible tells us, when the end time is coming near, the ones whom people lift up will be put down to the ground, and the ones that are first shall be last; here is the place where the Bible says it. You, yourself, watch out. Don’t judge by what you hear they do, use this verse to justify the actions of people. We may see many glorifying the Lord, but we don’t know anyone’s heart; only the Lord knows it, not by the actions they are doing. Someone may act perfectly in glorifying, but someone may not look right in action, but the Lord wants the heart that glorifies, not the action alone; as this verse tells, they dress properly and pray long, but no one knows their hearts, only the Lord.
These verses tell us about the ones that come saying that the way you do is wrong and you must change. They use their knowledge to justify and convince people that what they are doing is wrong and the right way to follow is in their way. For example, you go and participate in a group and contribute to make the group grow, but grow in what? Always remember: grow in the knowledge of the Word or grow in the knowledge of the world; use that as an indicator. Stay away from them, from those who do not grow in the Word. Don’t even eat at the same table with them because how they behave will convince you that their way is right. Use the Bible to be your right way, not people’s way to be the right way.
Mark 12:40. “Those devouring … greater judgment.” The widows are weak at that point when they lose their husbands. You go to these widows and tell them that the way to comfort the dead is to do certain things. But, the only way to comfort the dead is the Word of God, for what you give on this earth, money or things, that does not comfort the dead. We heard about the idea that you give more money and things to make the dead be in a better place, but money cannot buy a better place in heaven; only the Word of God would lead the dead to a place of rest in heaven if they lived their life on earth by the Word.
[41]
And having sat down opposite the treasury, He saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury; and many rich cast in much.
[42]
And having come, one poor widow cast in two lepta, which is a kondrantes.
[43]
And having called His disciples, He says to them, Truly I say to you, This poor widow has cast in more than all of those casting into the treasury:
[44]
for all did cast in out of that which was abounding to them; but she out of her poverty did cast in all as much as she had, all of her living.
Comments Mark 12:41-44
For Mark 12:41-44, see also Comments Luke 21:1-4.
Mark 12:41. In this place, we can notice that when rich people put money in, they put it in so people would see it. In this place in the Bible, the rich came, and you could notice the amount by the size: small size or big size; that was the way to tell whether you were rich or poor. Even nowadays, it is the same; there are many ways people use to show off their giving. If you want people to think you are rich, then the size of your offering must be significant as well.
Mark 12:42-44. These verses tell us that some people put money from the leftovers, which was not that important for them, but this widow put in two small coins, which was her living. Put it shortly: you give to the Lord the leftover, or you give to the Lord from the most valuable you have. These verses are clear: you give from what you don’t need, or you give from what you need, but you are willing to give the things you need to the Lord, which is the heart of giving that the Lord likes to see; give from the heart, not for the eyes of humans. What you give to the Lord can be small, but that small amount, after all, is more valuable than a significant amount.
Mark 12:41. In this place, we can notice that when rich people put money in, they put it in so people would see it. In this place in the Bible, the rich came, and you could notice the amount by the size: small size or big size; that was the way to tell whether you were rich or poor. Even nowadays, it is the same; there are many ways people use to show off their giving. If you want people to think you are rich, then the size of your offering must be significant as well.
Mark 12:42-44. These verses tell us that some people put money from the leftovers, which was not that important for them, but this widow put in two small coins, which was her living. Put it shortly: you give to the Lord the leftover, or you give to the Lord from the most valuable you have. These verses are clear: you give from what you don’t need, or you give from what you need, but you are willing to give the things you need to the Lord, which is the heart of giving that the Lord likes to see; give from the heart, not for the eyes of humans. What you give to the Lord can be small, but that small amount, after all, is more valuable than a significant amount.
Life and Faith Applications. 1) “And Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God.” If that is a requirement for the place where you are, do so; if that is by human telling, abide by what it says, but what they do with the money they will be accountable to God. We as believers must do the duty as well, as long as that duty is not against the Living Word of God, otherwise, they will come and accuse us that our God teaches us not to do the duty for society. The Living Word is a rule for all believers, but the government rule is a rule for people walking among people on earth. You must do your duty towards the government as well. The Bible does not teach us to disobey the government as long as the government does not give orders that are against the Law of God, this is the point of division (the split between). 2) Duty towards God is first, then the duty to the society and human rules; we abide first by the Living Word as a believer. 3) For the dead all we can say is to ask the Lord’s mercy; you can’t do anymore further for the dead, but bring all the needs to the Lord. If we have someone that we think about, the only One we can bring to, is the Lord; we as humans cannot do anything anymore. 4) We should never test the Lord. Sometimes humans think that is not testing but asking, but better to think well of the question you put to the Lord, whether the question is challenging the Lord if He can do; when you come to the Lord you say things, don’t let your mouth move before you think carefully what you say. The Lord is merciful, but not forgiving that easy if you come testing for His patience on you. 5) Give offerings to the Lord from the heart, not for the eyes of humans to see.