Mark 12

Christ in the Bible: Mark’s Gospel

Keith Simons

This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

Chapter 12

The garden and the cruel workers

Verses 1-12

A servant does his work on behalf of his master. The servant brings the messages that his master sends. If someone is against the servant, that person is against the master too. If someone is cruel to the servant, the master will be angry.

A son has his father’s authority. If the father is important, the son is important too. If someone is against the son, that person is against the father too. If anyone kills the son, the father will certainly *punish that bad person.

The master made a good garden. Fruit would grow well there. He chose men who would work in the garden. Then he went away.

But the men would not give any fruit to the master’s servants. They were very cruel to the servants. And they even killed the master’s son. In the end, the master had to *punish them.

Jesus wanted the leaders to know that they were against God. God had tried to help them. He had sent his servants to them. Those servants had spoken God’s message to them. But the leaders had not obeyed God’s message. They did not obey the Bible. They were cruel and bad men.

In the end, God sent his son, Jesus. But the leaders still did not want to obey God. They were against Jesus, so they were against God too.

God would certainly *punish them. But he would be good to his son. Jesus spoke about Psalms 118:22-23. The builders did not want a certain stone. But the master chose that stone. He made it the most important stone in the building. The leaders did not want Jesus. But God chose Jesus. And God would make him important. See Philippians 2:5-11.

The *Pharisees’ question

Verses 13-17

There were three important groups who were against Jesus. They were called the *Pharisees, the Herodians and the *Sadducees.

The *Pharisees believed that the *Jews should obey all God’s *laws. And they wanted the *Jews to obey other rules too, which the *Pharisees’ leaders had made.

The Herodians seem to be friends of King Herod. The *Jews did not rule their own country. Instead, the king of Rome (called Caesar) ruled. But Rome is a long way from Israel. So Caesar had asked Herod to rule Israel on his (Caesar’s) behalf. But for a few years, Caesar had chosen a man called Pilate to rule there.

The *Sadducees were against the *Pharisees. We shall read about the *Sadducees in Mark 12:18-27. The most important *priests were all *Sadducees.

Jesus always taught people that they must obey God. So the *Pharisees came to Jesus with the Herodians. And they asked him whether he was against the government. Caesar demanded that people pay him money. The *Pharisees wanted to know whether people should pay that money.

The men who asked the question did not really want to know the answer. They were against Jesus. And they wanted the crowds to be against Jesus too. The crowds did not like Caesar. They thought that his government was cruel. But if Jesus told the people not to pay Caesar, then the Herodians would be against Jesus. And they could put Jesus in the prison.

Jesus did not have any money. So he asked the leaders to lend him a coin. And he looked at it. There was a picture of Caesar on the coin. And Caesar’s name was on the coin.

So Jesus told them that, clearly, the coin was Caesar’s. If he demanded his coin, then they should give it to him.

But our lives are God’s. He made us. He causes us to be alive. He gives us the things that we need. And he tells us that we must obey him.

So we should give our lives to God.

In the end, many *priests believed Jesus (Acts 6:7). Several *Pharisees believed him too (John 19:38-39; Acts 23:6).

The *Sadducees’ question

Verses 18-27

The *Sadducees said that they believed the books of Moses. These are the books called Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. But really, the *Sadducees did not believe several important things that those books teach. They did not believe that God will make dead people alive again. They did not believe that there are *spirits or *angels.

But the *Sadducees were important. The most important *priests were *Sadducees. So the *Sadducees ruled the temple (*God’s Great House).

The *Sadducees became important because they liked the government. So the rulers helped the *Sadducees.

These *Sadducees knew that Jesus had given a good answer to the *Pharisees (Mark 12:13-17). But they thought that they knew the true facts about death. So Jesus would seem to be a fool if he argued against them.

The *Sadducees told Jesus about a *law that Moses had made. The *law’s purpose was to help a woman after her husband’s death. If that woman had no children, her dead husband’s brother should marry her. You can read that *law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.

Then the *Sadducees told a story about 7 brothers who married the same woman. They were all obeying God’s *law. But if dead people became alive, they would not be obeying God’s *law then. God’s *law did not let a woman have 7 husbands!

The *Sadducees were wrong for two reasons:

(1) They did not know the Bible.

(2) They did not believe that God is powerful.

But God is very powerful. He will cause dead people to be alive again. Then they will be like *angels; they will not marry.

Jesus told the *Sadducees about Exodus 3:6. God called himself: ‘The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Those three men died long before God said that. But only people who are alive can be God’s servants. So clearly, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive. They were not alive on the earth. They were alive in *heaven.

The teacher’s question

Verses 28-34

Both the *Pharisees and the *Sadducees wanted to cause trouble for Jesus. That was why they asked their questions (Mark 12:13-27).

But we must not think that all the important *Jews were against Jesus. Many of them wanted to know the things that Jesus was teaching. These people wanted to learn.

This teacher asked his question because Jesus had answered the other questions well. The teacher’s question was important. So the teacher hoped that Jesus would answer his question well, too.

God had given many *laws to the *Jews. And their leaders had made some more rules, too. The teacher wanted to know which *law was most important.

Jesus said that it is the *law in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. People should always remember who God is. He is the only God. So people should love him. They should give their lives to him. They should think about him. And they should work for him.

Then, people should obey Leviticus 19:18. They should love other people. And they should help those people. Then they will be doing God’s work.

The teacher said that Jesus was right. Jesus’ answer was very good. These *laws are the most important *laws. Then the teacher said something extra. These *laws are more important even than the gifts that people offer to God.

Jesus saw that the teacher answered well. The teacher’s words were like Micah 6:6-8. A person who does not love God may make many gifts to him. But God does not want those gifts. God wants people to love him. God wants people to obey him. And God wants people to be kind and fair to other people.

The son of David

Verses 35-37

Jesus wanted the crowd to think about something that the teachers taught. They said that the Christ was the son of David. (See my notes about Mark 8:27-30 and Mark 11:1-11.)

Jesus did not say that the teachers were wrong about that. Perhaps the teachers meant that the Christ belonged to David’s family. That was right (Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1).

But the word ‘son’ shows the idea that the ‘father’ is more important. And David is not more important than the Christ.

David knew this. God’s *Holy Spirit helped David to write about the Christ in Psalms 110:1. There, David calls the Christ ‘my *Lord’, which means ‘my master’. Nobody calls his son, ‘my master’.

People who think that they are great

Verses 38-40

Some teachers were doing things that were very wrong. They wanted people to think that they were great men. So they wore long clothes. They sat in the best seats. They prayed so that other people would hear them.

But these teachers were not doing the things that good men should do. A good man would help poor women after their husbands had died. But these same teachers were taking money from these poor women.

God knew what those men were doing. He would be their *judge.

The woman who gave everything

Verses 41-44

Other people gave more money than this woman did. But they still had plenty of money. This woman gave everything to God. She had nothing else.

Jesus said that, really, the woman gave a bigger gift than anyone else. She gave all her money because she loved God very much.

Perhaps other people thought that she was a fool. But when she gave her money, she was also giving her life to God. She wanted him to have everything. And God would not disappoint her.

This book is in EasyEnglish Level A (1200 words).

Gospel ~ a book that tells about the things that Jesus did. And it includes some things that he taught. There are 4 Gospels in the Bible. They are the books by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
punish ~ to cause someone pain. Usually, it is because that person has done wrong things.
Pharisees ~ a group of Jews. Pharisees went to a special school to learn God’s laws. They tried to obey all God’s laws. But many Pharisees did not like the things that Jesus taught.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
law ~ a country’s rules; the rules that God gave to Moses; one of these rules. The Jews had to obey the laws that God gave to Moses.
Sadducees ~ a group of Jews who did not believe that people’s spirits continue to live after death. They believed that dead people could not become alive again.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
spirit ~ the part of a person that is alive, but which we cannot see. There are also bad spirits and good spirits. The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit.
holy ~ special for God.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
law ~ a country’s rules; the rules that God gave to Moses; one of these rules. The Jews had to obey the laws that God gave to Moses.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
priest ~ a man who offered gifts to God on behalf of other people. The Jews had priests who worked in *God’s Great House.
Jew ~ a person who is born from the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
spirit ~ the part of a person that is alive, but which we cannot see. There are also bad spirits and good spirits. The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit.
holy ~ special for God.
angel ~ one of God’s special servants in heaven. Angels bring messages from God.
heaven ~ God’s home.
heaven ~ God’s home.
holy ~ special for God.
Lord ~ a name for God or for Jesus. The word means ‘master’. But it also translates God’s name from the language called Hebrew. And in that language, God’s name may mean ‘He is always God.’
judge ~ to say what is right or wrong, good or bad; A judge is a person with authority to say if another person is right or wrong.

Mark’s Good News

Mark’s Gospel

Hilda Bright

Chapter 12

The *parable of the *tenants in the *vineyard 12:1-12

v1 Jesus began to speak to them in *parables. ‘A man planted *grape *vines in his *vineyard. He planted a hedge round it. He dug a big hole in which to press the *grapes. He built a tall building from which to watch over the land. He let the *vineyard to some *tenants. Then he went away to another country. v2 At the right time, he sent a slave in order to receive from the *tenants his share of the fruit. v3 But the *tenants struck the slave and they sent him away without anything. v4 The owner sent them another slave. But they hurt his head and they behaved very badly towards him. v5 The owner sent another slave. The *tenants killed him. He sent many other slaves. They struck some of them and they killed other slaves. v6 The owner still had one more person to send. It was his son, whom he loved very much. The owner sent him last of all. He said, “They will respect my son.” v7 But the *tenants said to each other, “This man will receive his father’s property after his father dies. Let us kill him. Then the property will be ours.” v8 So they took him and they killed him. They threw him out of the *vineyard. v9 I will tell you what the owner of the *vineyard will do then. He will come and he will kill the *tenants. He will give the *vineyard to other people. v10 Surely you have read what the *Scriptures say! “The stone that the builders did not accept became the most important stone in the building. v11 The *Lord has done this. We think that this is wonderful.” ’ v12 The *religious leaders looked for a way to arrest Jesus. They knew that he had told the *parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Jesus and they went away.

Verse 1 A *parable usually has only one main teaching point. But this story has several points. Writers call this story an ‘allegory’. An allegory is a story in which each part contains a separate lesson.

A *vineyard was picture language for the *Jewish nation. Isaiah had used this picture in his ‘Song about the *Vineyard’ (Isaiah 5:1-7). Jesus described the care that the owner had taken. There was a hedge to keep out wild animals. The tower was a small building where the workers stored the wine. At harvest time, the workers would look out from the platform in order to guard the crop from thieves. The *grape juice flowed into the large hole after the workers had pressed the *grapes with their feet. God was like the owner of the *vineyard. He had done everything necessary to protect the *Jewish nation. They should have been a nation that produced the ‘fruit’ of good lives.

In Jesus’ time, there were often owners who went away. They left their *vineyards in the care of *tenants. The *tenants would pay the owner rent, either in money or in a share of the crop. The *Jewish leaders were like the *tenants. God had trusted them to obey him. They should have given him the ‘fruit’ of good lives.

Verses 2-5 The slaves who went to collect the harvest were like the *prophets. God had sent them on many occasions to demand sincere *worship. The rulers of the *Jewish nation had refused to respect the *prophets. They insulted Amos (Amos 7:12). They made fun of Jeremiah. They struck him and they put him in prison (Jeremiah 20:7; Jeremiah 37:15). They killed Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-21). God showed great patience when he sent the *prophets. He gave the *Jewish people every opportunity to do what was right.

Verse 6 In the end, God sent ‘his son, whom he loved’. God used these words about Jesus when John the *Baptist *baptised him (Mark 1:11). They show that Jesus was the *Messiah. In the *parable, the *tenants murdered the son. So, Jesus knew what was going to happen to him.

Verses 7-9 The *tenants believed that the owner was far away or even dead. But the owner returned to punish them. Many people still think that they are free to act against God. But God knows what they are doing. They forget that. God is very patient, but one day he will act in judgement.

God would be the judge of the people who refused to obey his message. They would receive their punishment. And God would choose other people to serve him. They would come from every nation. And God would make these people into his holy nation. They would become his royal priests (1 Peter 2:9).

Verses 10-11 Jesus used words from Psalms 118:22. Jesus was like the stone. The *Jewish leaders were like the builders. At first, they thought that the stone had no value. But it became the most important stone in the building. This might be the stone that united two parts at the top of the building. Or it was a corner stone. A corner stone unites two walls at the base of the building in order to give it a strong foundation. Many *Jewish leaders refused to accept Jesus. But he became the strong foundation of the Christian church. Other early Christian writers also used these words from Psalms 118 (Acts 4:11; Acts 4:1 Peter 2:7; Ephesians 2:20).

Verse 12 The *religious leaders realised that Jesus had told this story about them. They were the ‘wicked *tenants’. They wanted to arrest Jesus, but they were too afraid of the crowd. They were afraid for their own safety. And if the crowd tried to prevent them from arresting Jesus, they might disturb the peace. Then there would be trouble from the *Romans.

The question about paying taxes to Caesar 12:13-17

v13 The *religious leaders sent some of the *Pharisees and some of the *Herodians to Jesus. They wanted a chance to accuse him about something that he said. v14 They came to him and they said, ‘Teacher, you are a man who speaks the truth. We know that. You do not let other people’s opinions about you make a difference. You teach the truth about the way of God, whomever you are speaking to. Is it against the Law to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? v15 Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But Jesus knew what they were trying to do. He said to them, ‘I know that you are testing me. Bring me a coin and let me look at it.’ v16 And they brought one. Jesus said to them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose name is on it?’ They said to him, ‘Caesar’s’. v17 Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Give to God what belongs to God.’ Jesus’ reply astonished them.

Verse 13 The *Pharisees and the *Herodians had already united in order to plot against Jesus (Mark 3:6). The *Pharisees considered the *Romans enemies. The *Herodians were a group with political ambitions, so they were friendly with the *Romans.

Verse 14 They began by praising Jesus, although they did not really respect him. But what they said about Jesus was true. He did not change his views in order to gain support. He was sincere in everything that he said.

The tax that they asked about was a tax on each person. Everyone had to pay a personal tax of one denarius to the great ruler in Rome every year. A denarius was a man’s wage for a day. The *Jews hated it because they were not a free nation. They had to pay the tax with a silver coin. The coin had the name of the great ruler in Rome on it. When this tax began in *AD 6, the *Jews were extremely angry. Judas from Galilee led *Jews to fight against the tax (Acts 5:37). Although the *Romans soon stopped his resistance, the Eager Men continued to plot against the *Romans. (See the note about Mark 3:18.)

The question was like a clever trap. Jesus might say that *Jews should pay the tax. Then, he would lose his popularity. People would think that he was not being loyal to his own nation. Jesus might say that they should not pay. Then, he would be in trouble with the *Romans.

Verse 16 Jesus did not have a coin himself, but the *Pharisees and *Herodians produced one. Tiberius Caesar was the great ruler in Rome at that time. His image and his name were on the silver coin with which the *Jews had to pay the tax.

Verse 17 They had asked whether they should ‘pay’ taxes to Caesar. Jesus told them to ‘pay back’ what belonged to Caesar. Taxes were not a gift to the state. They were a debt that they owed. The coin belonged to Caesar, from whom they received benefits. The *Romans made good roads. They kept peace and they made society work better. Therefore, people should be willing to pay for what the state did for them. But men belong to God because he created them (Genesis 1:26-27). Therefore, they should give God the honour and service that is his right. Paul said that ruling authorities have God’s authority (Romans 13:1-2). So, Christians’ duty to the state is part of their duty to God. But if the law of the state is against God’s laws, then duty to God must come first. Daniel served the king. But he refused to stop praying to God when there was a law against praying to anyone except the king (Daniel 6:6-10). Peter told the *Jewish leaders, ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).

Jesus showed great wisdom as he avoided the ‘trap’ in the question. And he spoke with great authority. And so he astonished everyone.

The question about life after death 12:18-27

v18 *Sadducees came to Jesus. They believed that there is no life after death. They asked Jesus a question. They said, v19 ‘Teacher, Moses wrote this law for us. “A man may die and leave a wife with no children. Then, his brother must marry the widow. This is so that he can have children for his brother." v20 There were seven brothers. The first one married. But, when he died, he left no children. v21 The second one married her, and he died. But he left no children. The third brother did the same. v22 The seven brothers left no children. Last of all, the woman died too. v23 In the *resurrection, whose wife will she be? All seven brothers had married the widow!’

v24 Jesus replied, ‘You are wrong because you do not know the *Scriptures. And you do not know the power of God. v25 When men and women rise from death, they will not marry. Nor will their parents give them in marriage. They will be like the *angels in heaven. v26 And now about whether dead people will rise to life. Surely you have read in the book of Moses the story about the bush. God said to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. I am the God of Jacob.” v27 He is not God of dead people, but of those who are alive. You are quite wrong.’

Verse 18 The *Sadducees were a powerful group in the *Jewish *Sanhedrin. Most of them were priests. The *chief priest was a *Sadducee. They were wealthy, and they did not oppose the *Romans. They agreed with only the first five books of the *Old Testament. They said that there was no evidence for life after death in these books.

They did not believe in *angels. They did not agree with the traditions of the *Pharisees.

The *Sadducees came with a question that would make people laugh at Jesus. They did not ask in order to find out the true answer to a problem.

Verses 19-23 Moses gave a law called ‘levirate’ marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). A brother or close relative had to marry a widow so that she could have children. Then the dead man’s name and family would continue if a child was born. People then thought of the child as the child of the original husband. The story that the *Sadducees told had its origin in this law.

Verse 24 Jesus said that the *Sadducees did not know the *Scriptures. They did not understand a passage in one of first five books of the *Old Testament! Jesus explained this as part of his answer to their question. They were also denying God’s power to create life.

Verse 25 Jesus said first that life in heaven would not be the same as life on earth. He said that there is no need for marriage in heaven. One of the purposes of marriage is to have children in order to continue the human race. But in heaven, men and women will be like *angels, who do not die. Friendships in heaven will be even more wonderful than those on earth. When Jesus brought *angels into his answer, he showed the *Sadducees another truth. They did not believe in *angels.

Verse 26 Jesus then used a passage from Exodus. That was a book that the *Sadducees agreed with. When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, he used the words, ‘I am’. He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’ (Exodus 3:1-6). God did not say, ‘I was’. These *ancestors of the *Jews had died a long time before Moses. But they were still alive with God. Real life is a friendship with God that nothing can end. The death of the physical body makes no difference. The friendship continues. Jesus promised his *disciples, ‘Because I live, you will live also’ (John 14:19). Paul knew that this is true. He knew that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39).

Verse 27 Jesus had proved to the *Sadducees that they were quite wrong. They were wrong to deny the belief in *resurrection. They were taking no notice of their own *Scriptures. They were denying that God is *eternal. And his love never ends.

The question about the most important *commandment 12:28-34

v28 One of the *scribes came near. And he heard what the *Sadducees were discussing with Jesus. He noticed that Jesus had given them a good answer. So he asked Jesus, ‘Which is the most important of all the *commandments?’ v29 Jesus answered, ‘The first one is, “Listen, Israel (*Jewish people). The *Lord our God, the Lord, is one Lord. v30 You shall love the *Lord your God with all your heart and with all your *soul. You shall love him with all your mind and with all your strength.” v31 This is the second one, “You shall love your neighbour as you love yourself.” There is no other *commandment more important than these.’ v32 The *scribe said, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have said truly that there is one God. There is no other God but he. v33 To love God with all your heart and mind and strength is very important. So is to love your neighbour as you love yourself. These things are much more important than all burnt gifts to God and *sacrifices.’ v34 Jesus saw that the man answered well. He said to the man, ‘You are not far from God’s *kingdom.’

From that time, nobody dared to ask Jesus any more questions.

Verse 28 The *scribe would have been pleased that Jesus had answered the *Sadducees so well. He was a teacher of the law and he did not agree with the *Sadducees’ beliefs. His question was a matter that the teachers of the law often discussed. They said that there were 365 commands about what they must not do. There were over 200 commands about what they must do.

Verses 29-30 The first command that Jesus gave him was the Shema. The Shema is still important to the *Jews today. The word ‘Shema’ means ‘Listen’, and it is the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4. This verse was so important that the *Jews wrote it on tiny pieces of paper. They fixed them in a small box on their door-posts. This was to remind them that there is one God. It reminded them when they went out. And it reminded them when they came in.

They had to love God with all their thoughts and actions.

Verse 31 The word for ‘love’ of a neighbour is the *Greek word ‘agape’. It does not mean the same as the pleasure of being with a friend. It means to want the best things for the neighbour. It means that we help neighbours. We help them, even if they do not give love in return. They may not show that they are grateful. But we still help them. The *Jews would have thought that ‘neighbour’ meant another *Jew. Jesus showed that a neighbour could be anyone. It was anyone who needed help (Luke 10:29-37). Jesus used the words of Leviticus 19:18 with the Shema. He was showing that love for a neighbour comes from love for God.

‘as you love yourselves’. We love ourselves as we look after our bodies. We love ourselves when we use our minds. We even have to forgive ourselves when God forgives us.

Verse 33 The *scribe agreed that the love of God and of neighbour was very important. It was more important than *religious ceremonies. God requires men to love and to obey him rather than to offer *sacrifices. The *prophets had emphasised that. Samuel told Saul, ‘to obey is better than to offer *sacrifice’ (1 Samuel 15:22). Hosea wrote that God says, ‘I desire love and not *sacrifice’ (Hosea 6:6).

Verse 34 Jesus encouraged the *scribe. Jesus said that he was ‘not far’ from God’s *kingdom. He had understood Jesus’ answer. He still had to make the decision to follow Jesus.

The question about the *Messiah 12:35-37

v35 Jesus was teaching in the *Temple courts. He asked, ‘Why do the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the Son of David? v36 The *Holy Spirit spoke by means of David. David said, “The *Lord said to my *Lord, ‘Sit at my right side, until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ” v37 David himself calls him “*Lord”. So how can the Christ be David’s son?’

The large crowd listened to Jesus with eager interest.

Verse 35 Jesus asked a question that was a puzzle. The ‘son of David’ was a way to describe the *Messiah. Blind Bartimaeus called to him in this way. Jesus was not denying that he came from the family of David. The *angel promised Mary that her son would be a king from David’s family (Luke 1:32). Zechariah sang about the man who would make it possible for God to *save people. He said that he would be ‘in the house of God’s servant David’ (Luke 1:69). Luke shows that Jesus came from David’s family (Luke 3:31). But Jesus wanted to show what the title ‘Son of David’ meant as a name for the *Messiah. The popular idea was that the *Messiah would be a soldier and king like David. He would defeat the *Romans and other nations and he would make the *Jewish nation an important political power.

Verse 36 Psalms 110 is one of the Psalms that David wrote. The *Jews believed that the Psalm was about the *Messiah. In verse 1, David refers to the *Messiah as his ‘*Lord’. Jesus asked how the *Messiah could be David’s son if he was David’s ‘*Lord’. He wanted to show that the *Messiah was much greater than David. God would give the *Messiah the place of honour. He would sit at ‘God’s right side’ until all his enemies suffered defeat. An enemy in Jesus’ time had to lie on the ground. Then the man who had defeated him could put his feet on the man’s neck.

Verse 37 The title ‘Son of David’ therefore means more than a military ruler. The *Messiah would be a king from the family of David. But he would be a king of peace. He would rule over people’s minds and lives.

The words about the interest of the crowd may belong at the beginning of the next section.

Jesus warns against the teachers of the law 12:38-40

v38 As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk about in long coats. They like to receive greetings in the market place. v39 They love to have the most important seats in the *Jewish meeting places. And they love to have places of honour at *feasts. v40 They rob widows of their property. They then say long prayers for a show. Their punishment will be more severe.’

Verse 38 Jesus warned the people about the teachers of the law. Unless the *disciples were careful, they might copy their wrong behaviour. A long coat was the sign of an educated person who did not have to work with his hands. He could walk with no need to hurry. The teachers dressed in long coats in order to attract attention. They liked the people to greet them with honour. Perhaps the people called them ‘Rabbi’ (teacher). The word actually means ‘My great master’.

Verse 39 The front seats in the meeting place for important people were those in front of the special cupboard. That cupboard contained the *scriptures. The teachers liked these because everyone would be able to see them. At the *feasts, the places of honour were those nearest to the host.

Verse 40 A teacher of the law should have worked to feed himself. He should not ask for money for explaining the law. But the teachers persuaded the people that it was an honour to make gifts to them. God would reward them if they gave generously. They cheated widows. They persuaded them to make large gifts that the widows could not afford. Then the teachers tried to seem very *religious. They said long prayers in public. God would punish them most severely because they were proud. And they loved money. Their religion was not sincere and their example was dangerous.

The widow’s gift 12:41-44

The widow’s gift is very different from the gifts of the teachers of the law. They wanted to gain. The widow wanted to give.

v41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where people put their gifts of money for the *Temple. He watched the crowd as they put their money into the collecting boxes. Many rich people put in large amounts. v42 A poor widow came and she put in two copper coins. They were worth a quarter of a penny. v43 Jesus called his *disciples to him. He said to them, ‘What I am going to say to you is true. This poor widow has put more than all those who made gifts of money. v44 They offered a lot, because they are rich. But she gave, although she is poor. She has put in everything that she had to live on.’

Verse 41 In the Court of the Women in the *Temple there were 13 boxes. They were wide at the base and narrow at the top. People put money in them. And the money helped to pay for *sacrifices or other *Temple costs. Many people threw in large sums. But they had plenty of money left.

Verse 42 The widow’s two coins were ‘lepta’. A ‘lepton’ was the smallest of all coins. Its name meant ‘the thin thing’. It had a very tiny value.

Verses 43-44 Jesus told his *disciples that the widow’s gift was really very generous. It was more generous than the gifts of those who gave large amounts. They had given what they could easily afford. And they still had money to spare. She gave at great cost to herself.

parable ~ a story with a hidden meaning.
tenants ~ people who live somewhere and pay rent.
vineyard ~ a place where people grow grapes.
grape ~ a small, sweet fruit that people make wine from.
grape ~ a small, sweet fruit that people make wine from.
vine ~ a plant that climbs. Its fruits are called grapes. People make wine from grapes.
scriptures ~ the books in the Old Testament or in the Bible.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
Lord ~ master; a name that we call God or Jesus; we call God or Jesus Lord when we obey them.
religious ~ something that people do as part of the worship of God.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything about Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
vineyard ~ a place where people grow grapes.
grape ~ a small, sweet fruit that people make wine from.
prophet ~ a person who told people what God wanted.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
Baptist ~ a person who baptises people (like John the Baptist).

baptise/baptism ~ to put a person in water, or to put water on a person. It is to show that they want to follow Christ.

'baptise/baptism ~ to put a person in water, or to put water on a person. It is to show that they want to follow Christ.
Messiah ~ the Jews' word for the king who would come and rescue them.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
Roman ~ Rome was the capital city of the rulers at that time. That which belonged to Rome was Roman.
Pharisees ~ a group of Jews who thought that they obeyed all God’s commands. Many Pharisees did not like the things that Jesus taught. These men thought that they were not doing any wrong things. So, they became very proud.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
Herodians ~ a political group, who were friends of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
AD ~ AD 50 means the year that was 50 years after Jesus came, and so on.
Sadducees ~ a group of Jews. They did not believe that a person continued to live on after death. They only used the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
resurrection ~ when a dead person becomes alive again.
angel ~ God’s special messenger.
messenger ~ a person who gives a message.
Sanhedrin ~ the group of Jewish priests and other leaders.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything about Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.

'chief priest ~ the most important priest in the Temple. The chief priest is often called the high priest.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.
ancestors ~ people in the past from whom one's parents came.
disciples ~ people who follow someone in order to learn from him.
eternal ~ with no beginning or end.
commandments ~ God's rules.
scribes ~ writers, especially the Jewish lawyers.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything about Jews.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
soul ~ the part of a person that we cannot see. It lives on after we die.
sacrifice ~ a gift to God to ask him to forgive sins; or to thank him for something. A gift to God, often an animal or bird, by the Jews to ask God to forgive their sins. Jesus gave himself to die as a sacrifice for our sins.
sin ~ when people do not obey God’s commands.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
kingdom ~ people or place that a king rules; or people that God rules.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus. It is about Jesus’ works and the things that he taught and about the first Christians.
Temple ~ the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.

'Holy Spirit ~ God’s Spirit. We cannot see him but he is there.
save ~ rescue from the results of sin.
sin ~ when people do not obey God’s commands.
feast ~ a special meal; a religious ceremony.
religious ~ something that people do as part of the worship of God.
worship ~ show honour to God, usually with other people.
scriptures ~ the books in the Old Testament or in the Bible.

Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible, which the writers wrote before the life of Jesus.