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Mark 12:10

“Haven’t you read this scripture: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’ ”

After the chief priests and teachers of the law questioned Jesus’ authority, he told them of a man who planted a vineyard and prepared the property for wine-making before he rented it out and left on a long journey.

When he returned, he sent a messenger to collect some of the fruit from the vineyard. The tenants killed the messenger and many more who came after. Finally the man had only his beloved son to send and they killed him too.

Jesus asked those listening a question:

Mark 12:9 – “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

Having killed previous prophets sent by God, the chief priests and teachers of the law knew that Jesus spoke against them. They were angry and wanted to find a way to kill him, but decided not to incite the crowd just then. Later they sent a few Pharisees to question and trick Jesus. They asked if they should pay taxes to Caesar or not.

Mark 12:15-17 – “Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “bring me a denarius and let me look t it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.

Sadducees who were there asked more questions. They wanted to know if a man died and his brother wed his wife (as was custom) and so on and so forth through seven brothers, when the wife died, whose wife would she be? These Sadducees also did not believe in resurrection.

Jesus asked them if they did not know the scriptures or the power of God. For in heaven all will be like the angels and there will be no need for marriage. He also refuted their belief that there was no resurrection by asking if they had not read the account of Moses and the burning bush…

Mark 12:26-27 – “…how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Feeling that Jesus had given a good answer, one of the teachers of the law asked which was the most important commandment.

Mark 12:29-31 – “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

The teacher agreed with him and, seeing that the man had answered wisely, told him “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one else dared question him.

Next Week: Jesus continues to teach.

References: The Holy Bible (NIV)