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Mark 12

And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

What does Mark 12:26 mean?

Explanation

The verse referenced, Mark 12:26, is a part of a conversation between Jesus and the Sadducees about the resurrection of the dead.

In this particular verse, Jesus is referring to a passage from the Old Testament to demonstrate the reality of the resurrection to the Sadducees, who did not believe in it.

He quotes a familiar episode from the book of Exodus where God speaks to Moses through the burning bush, stating, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Jesus' argument here is that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, as these patriarchs are referred to in the present tense even though they had long passed away by the time of Moses.

This emphasizes the belief in an eternal life where the dead are, in some sense, still living unto God.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, there was a religious group known as the Sadducees who were associated with the priestly class of the Jews.

They were conservative in their beliefs, accepting only the written Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) as authoritative and rejecting oral traditions and teachings not found within it.

This included a belief in the resurrection of the dead, angelic beings, and spirits, which the Pharisees and other Jewish sects accepted.

The conversation in Mark 12:18-27 arises from this theological difference and Jesus' clarification of the doctrine of the resurrection.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Jesus’ response to the Sadducees is seen as affirming the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and the continuing existence of the soul after physical death.

This belief is foundational to Christian eschatology and the hope for eternal life with God.

The use of the present tense regarding the patriarchs suggests that though they died physically, they are alive in the presence of God.

The implication is that God's relationship with his followers transcends death.

Different denominations may have varied nuances on the understanding of life after death, but most agree on the reality of the resurrection.

Practical Applications

Applying the message of Mark 12:26 to daily life involves a renewed perspective on death and life.

It encourages believers to hold on to the hope of resurrection and eternal life, facing death not as an end but as a transition.

It can provide comfort in bereavement, strengthen faith in God's promises, and motivate a righteous and godly life in anticipation of the life to come.

Cross-References

Exodus 3:6: "Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God."

Matthew 22:31-32: "But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
Luke 20:37-38: "Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him."

Language Study

The key terms to explore in this verse, principally in the original Greek text of the New Testament, include "God" (Θεός, Theos), "Abraham", "Isaac", "Jacob", and "speaking" (λέγω, legō).

The use of "I am" (ἐγώ εἰμι, egō eimi) by God indicates a present and continuous existence, which is pivotal to Jesus' argument that God is still the God of these patriarchs.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of life after death and the eternal nature of deity is not unique to Judaism and Christianity. Ancient Egyptian religion, for instance, also had a profound belief in the afterlife and gods that were ever-present.

However, in this context, the notion is uniquely tied to the monotheistic faith in YHWH and the personal, covenantal relationship God has with the patriarchs, which Jesus uses to confirm the belief in resurrection.

Scientific Perspectives

A scientific perspective does not typically affirm or provide explanations for doctrines like the resurrection since they transcend the natural and empirical processes that science investigates.

Questions about life after death and the existence of a soul are therefore beyond the scope of science and are instead matters of religious, philosophical, or metaphysical debate.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have provided commentary on this verse.

Some like R.T.

France emphasize Jesus' masterful use of scriptural exegesis to reveal profound truths.

William Lane notes that by appealing to the authority of Scripture which the Sadducees accepted, Jesus effectively demonstrates the truth of the resurrection from within their own framework.

Other commentaries might focus on how this dialogue exemplifies Jesus’ role as teacher and how his interpretations of scripture often challenged and expanded the contemporary understanding of its teachings.

Mark 12

Mark 12

What does Mark 12:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 12:26 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?