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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 12:27 mean?

Explanation

Mark 12:27, found in the New Testament of the Bible, is a statement made by Jesus Christ during a conversation with the Sadducees, a Jewish sect that did not believe in the resurrection.

In this verse, Jesus is correcting their misunderstanding of the Scriptures and the power of God.

Literally, the verse highlights that God is associated with the living, not with the dead, implying that there is life after death.

On a deeper level, it speaks to the nature of God as eternal and life-giving, and it affirms the belief in the resurrection, suggesting that those who have died in faith are not gone forever but are alive with God.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Mark 12:27 is within the period of Jesus' ministry in first-century Judea.

Jesus is responding to the Sadducees, who had approached Him with a theoretical question about marriage at the resurrection, which they themselves did not believe in.

They tried to trap Jesus with a complex situation involving the Levirate marriage law.

Jesus used this opportunity to teach about the resurrection, which was a significant religious debate of the time, and He quoted from the Torah to make His point to the Sadducees, who held the Torah in high regard.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Mark 12:27 proclaims a few key doctrines.

Firstly, it affirms the belief in the resurrection and eternal life.

Secondly, it underscores the identity of God as being intrinsically linked to the living, showing that God's realm and power extend beyond mortal death.

Different theological perspectives might emphasize various aspects of this verse.

For instance, Christian eschatology takes this verse as evidence of life after death, while some Jewish interpretations might focus on the affirmation of God's ongoing relationship with the forefathers of Israel.

Practical Applications

In terms of practical applications, Mark 12:27 encourages individuals to live with the knowledge that there is more to life than just the physical existence. It invites believers to have hope in the face of death and to trust in the promise of eternal life.

This verse can also serve to comfort those who are grieving, reminding them that their loved ones who had faith in God are not truly dead but are alive with Him.

Cross-References

Luke 20:38: "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him."
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."
Romans 6:11: "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Mark 12:27, several keywords stand out:

"God" (θεός, theos): Refers to the deity or the Supreme Being; in Christian faith, God is the creator and sustainer of the universe.
"dead" (νεκρῶν, nekrōn): Literally means "dead persons".

In the context of this verse, it underscores the misconception that God's covenant is limited to earthly life.

"living" (ζώντων, zōntōn): This is the present participle form of "to live" (ζάω, zaō), highlighting continuous action; figuratively, it denotes spiritual life or eternal life.

The phrase emphasizes that God is intimately associated with the living, not the dead, affirming ongoing life beyond death.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparative religion, the concept of a deity presiding over the living rather than the dead can be contrasted with ancient mythologies that often had specific gods for the underworld or the dead, such as Hades in Greek mythology or Osiris in Egyptian religion.

Christianity differs in this respect because it professes that the same God who creates and sustains life is also the God who rules over and gives life to the deceased.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, Mark 12:27 delves into matters of faith and belief in life after death, which are beyond the scope of empirical science.

However, the verse may intersect with psychological studies on human attitudes towards death, the afterlife, and the impact of such beliefs on human behavior and coping mechanisms.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Mark 12:27.

Many agree that Jesus is clarifying the doctrine of resurrection against the Sadducees' disbelief.

John Calvin comments that Jesus is showing that the souls of the faithful do not vanish after death but have a continued existence.

Matthew Henry's commentary highlights the mistake of the Sadducees in underestimating God's power.

Craig S.

Keener, in his "The IVP Bible Background Commentary," notes that Jesus is not just refuting the theology of the Sadducees but is also affirming God's active role in relation to the patriarchs.

Mark 12

Mark 12

What does Mark 12:27 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 12:27 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?