Bible Commentaries
Mark 12

Verses 1-44

Chapter 12

1. The Parable of the Vineyard. (Mark 12:1-12 .Matthew 21:33-46; Matthew 21:33-46 ; Luke 20:9-19 )

2. The Question concerning the Tribute Money. (Mark 12:13-17 . Matthew 22:15-22 ; Luke 20:20-26 )

3. The Sadducees Questioning concerning Resurrection. (Mark 12:18-27 . Matthew 22:23-33 ; Luke 20:27-38 )

4. The Question of the Scribe. (Mark 12:28-34 .Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 22:34-40 )

5. His Question. (Mark 12:35-37 . Matthew 22:41-46 ; Luke 20:41-44 )

6. Beware of the Scribes. (Mark 12:38-40 . Matthew 23:1-39 ; Luke 20:45-47 )

7. The Servant’s loving sympathy and praise. (Mark 12:41-44 .Luke 21:1-4; Luke 21:1-4 .)

1. The Parable of the Vineyard. (Mark 12:1-12

The parable is a review of the history of Israel and its culmination in the rejection of the Son. With what calmness the perfect One relates it all. He is ready to have all done unto Him of which He speaks. A comparison with the Gospel of Matthew will show that Mark is brief and passes on rapidly, omitting utterances of the Lord which are not needed in his description of the Servant.

2. The Question concerning the Tribute Money. Mark 12:13-17

With this paragraph we have the different classes of Jews approaching the Lord to tempt Him. Pharisees and Herodians, Sadducees and a Scribe. The Lord manifests His wisdom and they are defeated. Then He turns questioner and warns against the scribes. His authority they could no longer question and now they tried to catch Him in His words. Pharisees and Herodians, so opposed to each other, could make a common cause in hating God’s Servant. If He had answered “yes” the Pharisees would have condemned Him for favoring the Gentile yoke. If He had said “no,” the Herodians would have accused Him as an enemy of Caesar. How wonderful His answer! They even had to marvel and yet it only intensified their hate. Caesar’s image told out the story of their sin.

3. The Sadducees Questioning concerning Resurrection. Mark 12:18-27

The Sadducees were rationalists and denied the existence of angels and the resurrection. They only believed in the giving of the law and accepted the Pentateuch. It was a fine spun argument. The Lord silences them from the portion of the Scriptures they endorsed.

4. The Question of the Scribe. Mark 12:28-34

A scribe now makes the last attempt. But he was indeed “not far from the Kingdom of God.” The one step was the acceptance of Christ, whose wisdom he had owned.

5. His Question. Mark 12:35-37

Then the Lord turned questioner. His wisdom had closed their mouths. In Matthew’s Gospel this significant question is more fully given. He refers to Psalms 110:1-7 . In connection with Matthew four great facts are stated by the Lord. 1) This Psalm was written by David. 2) It was written by inspiration. 3) It is a Messianic Psalms 4:1-8 ) Christ is David’s Lord and David’s Son. While it silenced the scribes it also silences the present day Sadducees, the higher critics with their inventions. They claim that Psalms 110:1-7 was not written by David and Christ is not foretold in it.

6. Beware of the Scribes. Mark 12:38-40

In Matthew the Holy Spirit reports the full discourse against the scribes and Pharisees (chapter 23) ending with the solemn statement, “Behold your house is left unto you desolate.” In Mark, where the divine design is to give us the picture of the Servant, only a few sentences are given. Yet they contain the chief characteristics of the corrupt leaders of the nation. Love of being seen, love of applause, love of preeminence, assumed religiousness and the devouring of the poor are all mentioned. These hireling servants shall have greater damnation.

7. The Servant’s loving sympathy and praise. Mark 12:41-44

He had rendered such perfect service free from seeking applause or preeminence and now He shows His loving sympathy to one of the poor widows who were being spoiled by the greed of the Pharisees. That poor, yet rich, widow had two mites. It was her all and she gave it. She might have given one mite and retained the other. She cast in all she had. And He saw it and His sympathy was towards her for she reminded Him of His own service in giving all. How it must have refreshed His heart. May we remember that nothing escapes His eye.