Bible Commentaries
Mark 12

Verse 1

began. See note on Mark 1:1 .

by = in. Greek. en App-104 . as in Mark 12:36 .

man . Greek. anthropos . App-123 .

set an hedge = placed a fence.

winefat . Occurs only here in N.T. = a wine-vat. "Fat" is from A.S. foet = a vessel (compare Dutch vatten = to catch). Northern Eng. for vat.

tower = watch-house. See note on Matthew 21:33 .

let it out , &c. See note on Matthew 21:33 .

huabandmen = vine-dressers.

went into a far country = went abroad. See note on Matthew 21:33 .

Verse 2

at the season. The fourth year after planting it; no profit till then. See Leviticus 19:23 , Leviticus 19:24 .

to. Greek. pros. App-104 .

servant = bond-servant.

from. Greek. para. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 12:25 , Mark 12:34 .

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 . Same word as in Mark 12:38 ; not the same as in Mark 12:44 . This shows that part of, or the whole rent was to be paid in kind. See note on "let it out", Matthew 21:33 .

Verse 3

caught = took.

Verse 4

unto. Greek. pros. App-104 . As in verses: Mark 12:6 , Mark 12:13 , Mark 12:18 .

another. Greek. allos App-124 .

at him, &c. = him they stoned. This word "stoned" is omitted by all the texts.

sent him away shamefully handled. L T Tr. WH R with Syriac read "insulted him".

Verse 5

many others. All these were "His servants the prophets" up to John the Baptist. Supply the Ellipsis from Mark 12:4 thus: "Many others [He sent, whom they used shamefully], beating some and killing some".

beating. = scourging.

Verse 6

therefore. Omitted by [L] T Tr. A WH R with Syriac.

his = his own.

wellbeloved = beloved. App-135 .

last. A Divine supplement, here.

reverence = have respect to.

Verse 7

said . . . This = said that (Greek. hoti) this is, &c.

among = to. Gu pros. App-104 .

Verse 8

killed him . As the Lord had already revealed to the disciples (Mark 10:32-34 ).

out = outside.

Verse 9

shall = will.

the lord. Implying and leading up to the interpretation. App-98 . A.

unto others . The new Israel, as foretold in Isaiah 66:7-14 .

others . Greek. Plural of' allos . App-124 .

Verse 10

have ye not read . ? See, App-143 .

not = not even. Greek. oude. Compound of ou . See App-105 .

The Stone, &c. Quoted from Psalms 118:22 . Compare Acts 4:10-12 . See App-107 .

is = this is.

Verse 11

This was , &c. = this was from Jehovah (Greek. para. App-104 .)

the LORD ' S = Jehovah's. App-98 . B. a.

in. Greek. en . App-104 . Same word as in tiro. 23, -25, 26-, 35, 38, 39. Not the same as in verses: Mark 12:12 , Mark 12:14 ; Mar 12:-26 .

Verse 12

for = because.

knew = came to know, or perceived. Greek ginosko. See App-152 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 12:14 , Mark 12:15 , Mark 12:24 .

against. Greek pros. App-104 .

Verse 13

Pharisees . App-120 .

to catch = that they might catch.

catch . Greek. agreuo = to take in hunting: hence, to ensnare. In Matthew 22:15 it is pagideuo = to ensnare ("entangle "). Both are Divine supplementary render ings of the same Aramaic word: Matt. giving the result of the hunting. Neither of the two words occurs elsewhere.

words = discourse. Greek logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 14

Master. Teacher. As in Mark 12:19 , Mark 12:32 . App-98 . Mark 12:1 .

we know. Greek oida. See App-132 .

for = about, or concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .

no man = no one. Greek oudeis, a compound of ou. App-105 .

for = because.

regardest not = lookest ( App-133 .) not (Greek. ou . App-105 ) on (Greek. eis. App-104 .)

God. Greek. Theos. App-98 .

in = with. Greek. epi. App-104 .

tribute . Occurs only here and in Matthew 17:25 with Matthew 22:17 , Matthew 22:19 . See notes there.

not. Greek. me . App-105 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 12:10 , Mark 12:15

Verse 15

Shall we give , &c. A Divine supplement, here.

not . Greek me. App-105 . Same word as in Mark 12:24 . Not the same as in verses: Mark 12:10 , Mark 12:14 , Mark 12:34; Mark 12:34 ,

penny = denarion . See note on Matthew 22:19 . App-51 .

Verse 16

image , &c. See note on Matthew 22:20 .

Verse 17

Jesus. App-98 .

answering said. Hebrew idiom. See note, on Deuteronomy 1:41 .

marvelled = were wondering. T WH R read "wondered beyond measure" (exehaumasan, instead of ethaumasan, with Authorized Version L Tr. A and Syriac.)

Verse 18

Sadducees. (No Article.) See App-120 .

which = they who. Greek. hoitines, marking them as a class characterized by this denial.

no. Greek. me . App-105 . As in Mark 12:19 ; not the same as in verses: Mark 12:20 , Mark 12:22 , i.e. they denied it subjectively.

asked = questioned.

Verse 19

Moses . See note on Mark 1:44 and Matthew 8:4 .

If, &c . Deuteronomy 25:5 , Deuteronomy 25:6 . Assuming a simple hypothesis. See App-118 .

Verse 20

no . Greek. ou. App-105 . Some as in Mark 12:22 ; not the same as in verses: Mark 12:18 , Mark 12:19 .

Verse 21

neither. Compound of ou. App-105 .

Verse 22

woman died also = woman also died.

Verse 23

had = gat.

Verse 24

Do ye not . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

therefore = on account of (dia. App-104 .Mark 12:2; Mark 12:2 ) this; referring to the reasons about to be stated in the next two clauses.

know. Greek. oida. App-132 .

neither . Greek. mede. A compound of me . App-105 .

power = (inherent) power, App-172 .

Verse 25

from = from among. Greek. ek. App-104 .

the dead . No Art. See App-139 .

Verse 26

And as touching = But concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

the dead = dead bodies, or corpses. With Art. See App-139 . Not the same as in Mark 12:27 .

in the bush = at (Greek. epi. App-104 .) the place concerning the bush: i.e. the passage about it in Exodus 3:6 . Compare Romans 11:2 "in Elijah"; see note there.

I and, &c. Quoted from Exodus 3:2-6 , and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

Verse 27

the dead = dead people. Not the same as in Mark 12:26 . No Art. See App-139 .

the living: i.e. those who live again in resurrection. See note on Matthew 9:18 . Therefore they must rise. This is the only logical conclusion of the Lord's argu ment. The whole subject is resurrection.

Ye , Note the emphasis on this pronoun. This clause is a Divine supplement, here.

Verse 28

came = came up; or came to [Him].

perceiving. Greek. oida . App-132 .

well = admirably, finely.

asked = questioned.

Which = Of what nature.

the first, &c. = the first of all the commandments.

Verse 29

Hear, O Israel, &c. Quoted from Deuteronomy 6:4 , Deuteronomy 6:5 .

The LORD. . . LORD = Jehovah . . . Jehovah. App-98 .

one . See note on Deuteronomy 6:4 .

Verse 30

love . See App-135 .

with = out of, or from. Greek. ek. App-104 .

all thy = thy whole.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndetom. App-6 .

soul . Greek. psuche . App-110 .

this (is] the first commandment. Note (in the Greek) the Figure of speech Homoeoteleuton ( App-6 ), for emphasis: haute, prote, entole .

Verse 31

Thou shalt , &o. Quoted from Leviticus 19:18 .

neighbour = the one near. Compare Matthew 5:43 .Luke 10:27 , Luke 10:29 , Luke 10:36 ,

none , &c = not (Greek. ou . App-105 .) another commandment greater.

Verse 32

Mark 12:32-34 are a Divine supplement, here.

Well = "Right", or as we say "Good".

the truth = according to (Greek. epi . App-104 .) the truth: i.e. truthfully. App-175 .

for = that.

there is one God. All the texts read "that He is One "(omitting the word "God").

but He = besides Him.

Verse 33

understanding = intelligence. Greek. sunesis = a putting together. Not the same word as in Mark 12:30 , which is dianoia = mind, the thinking faculty.

more , &c. Compare 1 Samuel 15:22 .

Verse 34

discreetly = judiciously. Greek nounechos. Occurs only here in N. T,

from = away from. Greek. apo App-104 .

the kingdom of God . See App-114 .

Verse 35

while He taught in the temple . See App-156 .

Christ = the Messiah. (With Art.) See Matthew 1:1 . App-98 .

the son of David . See App-88 .

Verse 36

David himself. These are the Lord's words. He did not "accept the current view", but He spake from the Father Himself. See Deuteronomy 18:18 . John 7:16 ; John 8:28 ; John 8:46 , John 8:47 ; John 12:49 ; John 14:10 , John 14:24 ; John 17:8 . This settles the authorship of Psalms 110:0 .

said. Quoted from Psalms 110:1 . Midway between Abraham and Messiah, this Psalm was given to David.

the Holy Ghost. See App-101 .

my Lord. App-98 . A. e. The same as Hebrew. Adonai. See App-4 .

on = at. Greek ek App-104 .

till I make . See note on Matthew 22:44 ,

make = shall have set.

Verse 37

Lord. App-98 . B. b.

the common people = the great crowd. Indicating numerical, not social, distinction.

Verse 38

doctrine = teaching.

Beware = take heed. App-133 .

of = away from (Greek. apo . App-104 .): i.e. take heed [and keep] away from. Not the some word as in Mark 12:44 .

love = desire, or will to. Greek. thelo. App-102 .

go = walk about.

long clothing = robes. Greek. stolais.

Verse 39

chief seats . See note on Matthew 23:6 .

uppermost rooms = first couches or places.

at = in. Greek. en. App-104 . Not the same as in. Mark 12:17 .

Verse 40

devour = eat up. Being occupied in making wills and conveyances of property, they abused their office.

greater damnation = heavier judgment.

Verse 41

Mark 12:41-44 is parallel with Luke 21:1-4 . See notes there.

the treasury. Situated in the women's court, occupying about 200 feet square, and surrounded by a colonnade. Inside, against the wall, were thirteen receptacles, called "trumpets" (from their shape) nine being for legal dues, and four for voluntary contributions. All labelled for their special objects.

beheld = observed thoughtfully. Greek. theoreo. App-133 .

cast = are casting.

money = copper money; called prutah, two of which made a farthing.

into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

cast in = were casting [in] (as He looked on),

much = many [coins]. Referring to number, not to value.

Verse 42

a certain poor widow = one poor widow.

threw = cast, as above,

mites. Pl, of lepton = the small thin Jewish copper coin (from leptos = peeled, or pared down). Occ only here, and Luke 12:59 ; Luke 21:2 . See App-51 .

a farthing. Greek. kodrantes. A [Roman] quadrans ; i.e. a fourth, being a fourth of the Roman " as ". Hence a fourthing = our farthing. Occurs only here, and Matthew 5:26 . See App-51 .

Verse 43

Verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .

this poor widow = this widow; and she a poor one.

Verse 44

of = out of. Greek ek. App-104 .

want = destitution.

all = the whole.

that = as much as.

living = life. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the means whereby her life was supported: i.e. her livelihood. Greek. bios. See App-170 .