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.

He started sharing stories with them. Imagine a man who created a beautiful vineyard. He protected it with a hedge, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, and then rented it to farmers. After all this, he left for a distant land.

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

When the time was right, he sent a servant to the vineyard workers, hoping to collect his share of the vineyard's bounty.

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

They seized him, assaulted him with cruelty, and heartlessly cast him away with nothing.

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.

Once more, he sent them another helper. But they attacked him, hurt him badly, and sent him away, deeply humiliated.

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

Once more, he dispatched another, but they cruelly ended his life, along with countless others. They brutally assaulted some, while others they mercilessly murdered.

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

Still having one son, his cherished one, he finally sent him to them, hoping, they would respect his son.

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

The greedy farmers whispered, "He's the heir. If we kill him, all his riches will be ours."

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

They seized him, ended his life in brutality, and discarded him heartlessly from 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.

So, what will the vineyard's owner do? He will come, destroy those farmers, and entrust his vineyard to others.

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

Haven't you read this scripture? The stone that was once discarded by the builders has now become the cornerstone.

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

This is God's work, and to us, it's simply breathtaking.

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.

They wanted to seize him, but were afraid of the public's reaction. They knew he had directed the parable at them, so they left him alone and walked away.

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

Some Pharisees and Herodians, with deceit in their hearts, approached him, hoping to trap him with his own 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?

When they arrived, they asked him, "Teacher, we know you are honest and unbiased, teaching God's truth without favoring anyone. So, is it right to pay taxes 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.

Should we pay or not? But he, aware of their deceit, asked them, "Why are you testing me? Show me a coin so I can see it."

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

They presented it to him. He asked them, "Who does this image and inscription belong to?" They replied, "It's 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.

Jesus responded, "Give to the government what belongs to it, and to God what belongs to Him." Everyone was amazed by His wisdom.

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

The Sadducees, who didn't believe in life after death, approached him with a question.

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.

Teacher, Moses told us that if a man passes away without children, his brother should marry his widow to continue his family line.

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

Once upon a time, seven brothers existed. The eldest married but sadly passed away without leaving any children.

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

Then the second brother married her, but he too passed away without leaving any children. The third brother did the same.

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

All seven men were wed to her, yet she bore no children. Finally, she too passed away.

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

So, in the afterlife, when they all awaken, who will she be married to? After all, all seven men were her husband at different times.

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

Jesus responded, "Isn't your confusion due to your lack of understanding of the scriptures and God's power?"

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.

When they awaken from death, they won't marry or be married. They'll be like the angels 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?

Regarding the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read Moses' book? It tells of when God, speaking from a bush, declared Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

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

He isn't a God for those who've passed, but for those who live. You're mistaken if you think otherwise.

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?

A scholar approached, having listened to their thoughtful debate and impressed by the wisdom of his responses, he curiously asked, "What is the most important commandment?"

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

Jesus responded with deep conviction, "Listen closely, my people of Israel, the most important commandment is this: Our God, our one and only Lord, is singular and unique."

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.

Passionately love God with every bit of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the most important rule.

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

The second greatest rule is simple yet profound: Treat others with the same love and kindness you give yourself. There's no commandment more important than this.

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:

The scholar told him, "You're absolutely right, Teacher. There is only one God and no other."

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.

Devote your whole being - heart, mind, soul, and strength - to love God, and show that same love to others as you would to yourself. This act of love surpasses any material offerings or 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.

Seeing the man's wise response, Jesus told him, "You're close to understanding God's kingdom." After that, no one dared to question Him further.

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

As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he questioned, "Why do the scholars claim that the Messiah is David's son?"

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, inspired by the Divine Spirit, said, "God told my Lord, 'Sit at my right side, until I make your enemies a place for your feet.'"

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

So, David himself refers to him as Lord, how then can he be his son? This question resonated deeply with the ordinary people who listened to him with joy.

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,

In his teachings, he warned them, "Be cautious of the scholars who flaunt their elaborate attire and crave public admiration."

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

In the heart of the synagogues, they craved the seats of honor, and at grand feasts, they yearned for the places of honor, their hearts filled with pride and desire for recognition.

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

Those who exploit widows, swallowing up their homes, and hide their greed behind lengthy prayers, will receive a greater condemnation.

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.

Jesus sat across from the treasury, observing as people dropped money into it. He noticed that the wealthy gave generously.

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

A humble widow, with barely anything to her name, gave her last two coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

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:

He gathered his followers and said to them with deep sincerity, "Truly, this humble widow has given more than anyone else to 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.

While everyone else gave from their wealth, she, in her poverty, gave everything she had, all she had to live on.