Mark

Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Using parables, Jesus continued by saying:

“A man planted a vineyard, built a fence around it, dug a winepress, and constructed a watchtower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenants and traveled abroad.

 In due time, he sent a servant to collect the fruit from the tenants. 

But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him back empty-handed. 

Again, the man sent another servant. They also struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 

He sent yet another, and they killed him. In the same way, they treated many others: some they beat, and others they killed. 

One was still left, his beloved son. So, finally, he sent him to the tenants, for he thought, ‘They will respect my son.’ 

But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let’s kill him, and the property will be ours.’ 

So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 

Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

And Jesus added:

“Have you not read this passage of the Scriptures:

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone; 

this is the Lord’s doing,

and we marvel at it?”

They wanted to arrest him because they realized that Jesus meant this parable for them, but they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

About Paying Tribute to Caesar

They sent some Pharisees and members of Herod’s party to Jesus, planning to trap him with his own words.

They approached and said:

“Teacher, we know that you are truthful; you are not influenced by anyone, and your answers do not change based on who is listening, but you truly teach God’s way. Tell us, is it against the law to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not?”

But Jesus saw through their trick and answered:

“Why are you testing me? Bring me a silver coin and let me see it.”

They brought one to him, and Jesus asked:

“Whose image is this and whose name?”

They replied: “Caesar’s.”

So Jesus said to them:

“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”

And they were completely astonished.

On the Resurrection

The Sadducees also approached Jesus. Since they deny the resurrection, they questioned him in this way:

“Master, in the Scriptures, Moses gave us this law: If anyone dies and leaves a wife but no children, his brother must take the woman and, with her, have a baby who will be considered the child of his deceased brother. 

Now, there were seven brothers. The first married a wife, but he died without leaving any children. 

 The second took the wife, and he also died, leaving no children. The same thing happened to the third. 

 In fact, all seven brothers died, leaving no children. Last of all, the woman died. 

 Now, in the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife? For all seven brothers had her as wife.”

Jesus replied:

“Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?

 When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry, but are like the angels in heaven. 

Now, about the resurrection of the dead, have you ever thought about the burning bush in the book of Moses? God said to Moses:

I am the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac,

and the God of Jacob. 

He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living. You are completely wrong.” 

On the Most Important Precept

A teacher of the law had been listening to this discussion and admired how Jesus answered them. So he came up and asked him:

“Which commandment is the first of all?”

Jesus answered:

“The first is:

Hear, Israel!

The Lord, our God, is One Lord; 

 and you shall love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind,

and with all your strength. 

And after this comes a second commandment:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these two.”

The teacher of the law said to him:

“Well spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he is one and there is no other besides him.

 To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice.”

Jesus approved this answer and said:

“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

On the Messiah and David

As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said: “The teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the Son of David. How can that be?

For David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared: The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet!’ 

 If David himself calls him Lord, in what way can he be his Son?”Many people came to Jesus and listened to him gladly.

Invective Against the Scribes 38 As he was teaching, he also told them: “Beware of those teachers of the law who enjoy walking around in long robes and being greeted in the marketplace; 

 and who like to occupy reserved seats in the synagogues; and the first places at feasts. 

 They even devour the widow’s and the orphan’s goods while making a show of long prayers. How severe a sentence they will receive!” 

The Widow’s Offering 41 Jesus sat down across from the temple treasury and watched as people dropped their money into the collection box. Many rich individuals contributed large offerings. 

 But a poor widow also approached and placed in two small coins. 

Then Jesus called his disciples over and said to them: “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has given more than all the others who contributed. 

For they all gave from their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, gave everything she had—her very livelihood.”